The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1757-1790)

by Benjamin Franklin

  At this time, Temple proposed to go to his father, . . . PBF 23:314, BF to Jan Ingelhousz, Feb. 12, 1777; PBF 22:612, BF to William Temple Franklin, Sep. 19, 1776; PBF 22:622, BF to William Temple Franklin, Sep. 22, 1776.

  Nothing has ever hurt me so much.... PBF 42:129, BF to William Franklin, Aug. 16, 1784.

  The several colonies approv’d and confirm’d. . . . PBF 22:571-75, “Protest against the First Draft of the Articles of Confederation,” before Aug. 20, 1776; 23:118, “Memoir on the State of the Former Colonies,” before Jan. 5, 1777.

  The Declaration of Independence was met.... PBF 22:554, “The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane,” Aug. 7, 1776; PBF 22:583, BF to Horatio Gates, Aug. 28, 1776; PBF 22:585, BF to Anthony Wayne, Aug. 28, 1776.

  The fleet under Lord Howe was vastly.... It had been previously determined to abandon.... The only source of uneasiness among us ...PBF 22:643, “The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane,” Oct. 1, 1776.

  In September, the Congress appointed me,. . . . PBF 22:625, “Instructions to Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee as Commissioners to France”; Lyman H. Butterfield, ed., Letters of Benjamin Rush (Princeton, NJ: 1951), vol. 1, 118.

  Our appointment on this business remained.... PBF 22:649, “The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane”, Oct. 2, 1776; PBF 22:625-30, “The Continental Congress: Instructions to Franklin, Silas Dean, and Arthur Lee as Commissioners to France,” Sep. 24-Oct. 22, 1776; PBF 22:643, “the Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane,” Oct. 1, 1776.

  Before my departure, I ordered all the money... PBF 46:u156, Franklin sketch of services to U.S., Dec. 29, 1788.

  Being once more order’d to Europe,. . . . PBF 22:670, BF to Samuel Cooper, Oct. 25, 1776.

  The manner in which the whole of this business.... It was, however, formed and established in despite of. . . . In commerce, such profits were offered as tempted.... The consequence was, that in a few months.... This is the greatest revolution the world has ever saw. . . PBF 25:100-02, “Franklin on the Miracle of the Revolution”, quoted from Richard Henry Lee, Life of Arthur Lee (Boston: Wells and Lilly, 1829), 343-46.

  5. MINISTER TO FRANCE, 1776-78: THE TREATY OF ALLIANCE

  I arrived in France.. . . . PBF 23:23, “Sketch of services to U.S.,” Dec. 29, 1788; PBF 25:79, “Franklin’s Description of His Ailments,” Oct. 17, 1777; PBF 23:33-34, BF to Jane Mecom, Dec. 8, 1776; PBF 23:28, BF to Silas Deane (Franklin journal), Dec. 4, 1776.

  I brought with me two grandsons. . . . PBF 23:30, BF to Silas Deane, Dec. 7, 1776; PBF 23:314, BF to Jan Ingenhousz, Feb. 12, 1777; PBF 25:553, Richard Bache to BF, Jan. 31, 1778.

  I was made extremely welcome in France.... PBF 23:31, BF to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, Dec. 8, 1776; PBF 4:466, BF to Jared Eliot, Apr. 12, 1753; PBF 23:32-33, BF to John Hancock, Dec. 8, 1776; PBF 23:29, BF to Silas Deane, Dec. 7, 1776.

  Knowing that all views of accommodation with Great.... PBF 23:50-57, 97-99, “The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners,” Dec. 21-23, 1776 and Dec. 30, 1776.

  I arrived in Paris in two weeks . . . PBF 23:113-14, BF to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, Jan. 4, 1777; 23:122, “the American Commissioners to Vergennes”, Jan. 5, 1777.

  In my opinion the surest way to obtain liberal aid... PBF 36:646, BF to Robert R. Livingston, Mar. 4, 1782.

  Consequently my “Memoir concerning the present.... I inform’d the French and Spanish that America . . . . PBF 23:118-19, “Memoirs on the State of the Colonies,” before Jan. 5, 1777.

  As to agriculture and commerce, . . . . PBF 23:120, “Memoirs on the State of the Colonies,” before Jan. 5, 1777.

  The hearts of the French were universally for us... PBF 23:197, “The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence,” Jan. 17, 1777.

  In our first conversation with the minister.... Means were proposed of our obtaining a large sum of money... PBF 23:467-69, “the American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence,” Mar. 12, 1777; PBF 29:142, BF to Joshua Johnson, Mar. 17, 1779.

  The desire in France of military officers.... PBF 23:471-72, “The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence,” Mar. 12, 1777.

  I apprehended that General Washington. . . . PBF 23:530, BF to George Washington, Mar. 29, 1777.

  Baron de Steuben, lately a lieutenant general. . . . PBF 24:98, letter to George Washington, May 29, 1777; PBF 24:499, BF to George Washington; 24:73, “The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence,” Mar. 25, 1777.

  Most officers going to America . . . Oh, how I was harass’d. . . . PBF 25:20, letter to Barbeu-Dubourg, Oct. 2, 1777.

  In response to these persistent requests, . . . PBF 23:549, “Model of a Letter of Recommendation,” Apr. 2, 1777.

  By 1779, the Congress expressed extreme embarrassment.... PBF 29:665, BF to Vergennes, June 11, 1779.

  All Europe was for us. . . . PBF 23:473, “The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence,” Mar. 12, 1777.

  The French fleet was nearly ready.... PBF 23:475, “The American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence,” Mar. 12, 1777.

  In early 1777, we received general alarming accounts... 23:260-62, The American Commissioners: Memorandum to Vergennes, Feb. 1, 1777; 23:288, “the American Commissioners to the Committee of Secret Correspondence,” Feb. 6, 1777.

  All Europe was on our side of the question... PBF 24:6, BF to Samuel Cooper, May 1, 1777.

  Mr. Hartley, a member of the British Parliament... PBF 26:334, BF to Vergennes, Apr. 24, 1778.

  In sum: The system of America is.... PBF 25:423, “Sir Philip Gibbes: Minutes of a Conversation with Franklin,” Jan. 5, 1778.

  I inform’d Mr. Hartley that our prisoners.... PBF 25:66-67, letter to David Hartley, Oct. 14, 1777; 25:275, The American Commissioners to Lord North, Dec. 12, 1777;PBF 25:650, BF to David Hartley, Feb. 12, 1778.

  Meanwhile, we had in France above two hundred prisoners, . . . . PBF 26:526, BF to David Hartley, May 25, 1778; PBF 26:534, BF to John Paul Jones, May 27, 1778; 27:422-23, The American Commissioners to American Prisoners in England, Sep. 19, 1778.

  Our first applications for exchanging prisoners were... PBF 27:576-77, BF to Wuybert, Lunt and MacKellar, Oct. 20, 1778; PBF 28:169, BF to David Hartley, Nov. 29, 1778; PBF 28:588, BF to David Hartley, Feb. 22, 1779; PBF 28:415-16, David Hartley to BF, Jan. 23, 1779; PBF 28:461, BF to David Hartley, Feb. 3, 1779.

  It appeared that Mr. Hartley. . . . PBF 29:176, BF to David Hartley, Mar. 21, 1779; 29:550, letter to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, May 26, 1779.

  I wished it were in my power to relieve.... PBF 29:340, BF to Jonathan Williams, Jr., Apr. 20, 1779; PBF 29:350, BF to John Adams, Apr. 21, 1779.

  The English conduct with regard to the exchange.... PBF 32:123, BF to James Lowell, Mar. 16, 1780.

  I believe in my conscience that mankind. . . . PBF 23:238, BF to Joseph Priestley, Jan. 27, 1777.

  I continue amazingly well and hearty.... PBF 24:90, BF to Jonathan Williams, Sr., May 27, 1777; PBF 23:238, BF to Joseph Priestley, Jan. 27, 1777.

  It was with pleasure that we acquainted. . . . PBF 27:525, The American Commissioners to Domenico Caracciolo, Oct. 9, 1778.

  Before his leaving, Mr. Hartley warn’d me to take care... PBF 26:374, BF to David Hartley, Apr. 29, 1778.

  Mr. Hartley also warn’d me of French spies . . . PBF 23:211, BF to Juliana Ritchie, Jan. 19, 1777; PBF 26:472, BF to Edward Bancroft, May 15, 1778.

  In financial matters, the total failure of remittances from the Congress .... PBF 25:40-41, The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Oct. 7, 1777.

  We were much troubled with complaints... PBF 25:211, The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Nov. 30, 1777.

  On December 4, 1777, a Mr. Austin.... ”Yes sir,” he replied... I started to return to the hotel.... We immediately issued a public announcement.... PB
F 25:234-36, “The American Commissioners: A Public Announcement,” Dec. 4, 1777, Letter to Vergennes, Dec. 4, 1777; PBF 25:260-61, the American Commissioners to Vergennes, Dec. 8, 1777; PBF 25:305, The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Dec. 18, 1777; PBF 25:684, BF to the Massachusetts Board of War: Extract, Feb. 17, 1778.

  Within several weeks, we had succeed’d in our negotiations.... PBF 25:635, Franklin and Silas Deane to the President of Congress, Feb. 8, 1778.

  The treaties were signed by the plenipotentiaries... PBF 25:722, BF to Thomas Cushing, Feb. 27, 1778; 25:728, “The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs,” Feb. 28, 1778.

  On the occasion of the signing of the treaty... Walter Isaacson, Benjamin Franklin (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003), 347, 548.

  Several of our American ships, ... PBF 25:722, BF to Thomas Cushing, Feb. 27, 1778; 25:728, “The American Commissioners to the Committee for Foreign Affairs,” Feb. 28, 1778.

  6. MINISTER TO FRANCE, 1778-79: AN AMBASSADOR’S LIFE

  Several months after arriving in Paris.... The extreme hurry.... BF to Mary Hewson, Aug. 15, 1784; BF to George Washington, June 3, 1789.

  Mr. De Chaumont.... BF to Richard Henry Lee, Apr. 12, 1785; Franklin’s sketch of services to U.S., Dec. 29, 1788.

  Valentinois is a fine airy house... BF to Robert R. Livingston, Sep. 3, 1782; PBF 25:28, BF to Jane Mecom, Oct. 5, 1777; PBF 28:421, BF to Margaret Stevenson, Jan. 25, 1779; PBF 31:361, BF to Mary Hewson, Jan. 10, 1780; PBF 34:348, BF to Georgiana Shipley, Feb. 3, 1781.

  The clay medallion.... PBF 29:612, BF to Sarah Bache, June 3, 1779.

  I had, at the request of friends.... PBF 32:590, BF to Thomas Digges, June 25, 1780.

  Think how I must have appeared... PBF 23:298, BF to Emma Thompson, Feb. 8, 1777.

  Besides being harass’d with.... letter to Jan Ingenhousz, Apr. 29, 1785.

  As to the Latin verse.... Jacques Brillon de Jouy to BF, Nov. 15, 1778; BF to Felix Nogaret, Mar. 8, 1781.

  They told me that in writing.... PBF 23:235-36, BF to Mary Hewson, Jan. 26, 1777.

  I found them a most amiable nation.... PBF 29:358, BF to Josiah Quincy, Sr., Apr. 22, 1779.

  The desire of pleasing.... PBF 32:518, BF to John Jay, June 13, 1780.

  At Passy, I found a little leisure... PBF 23:243-44, BF to Dumas, Jan. 28, 1777; PBF 30:514, BF to Elizabeth Partridge, Oct. 11, 1779.

  I had, at the request of friends... PBF 32:590-01, BF to Thomas Digges, June 25, 1780.

  France is the civilest nation... PBF 30:514, BF to Elizabeth Partridge, Oct. 11, 1779.

  I pitied my poor old sister... PBF 25:732-33, BF to Catherine Green, Feb. 28, 1778.

  Madame Brillon is one such friend... PBF 32:543, BF to William Carmichael, Jun 17, 1780; BF to Madame Brillon, Dec. 10, 1780.

  Madame Brillon wished to divert me.... Madame Brillon to Le Veillard, March 1777; Madame Brillon to BF, Sep. 13, 1778; BF to Madame Brillon, Sep. 15, 1778; BF to Madame Brillon, Jan. 11, 1781.

  Madame Brillion has the honor.... M. Brillion to BF, 30 July 1777.

  Upon returning home... BF to Madame Brillon, Nov. 29, 1777.

  No, you did not do me any harm.... Madame Brillon to BF.

  You were kind enough yesterday.... It is well.... The first is pride.... The second.... The third.... The fourth.... The fifth.... The sixth.... The seventh.... Madame Brillon to BF, Mar. 7, 1778.

  I am charm’d with.... People commonly.... And now as I am.... But why should... PBF 26:85, BF to Madam Brillon, Mar. 10, 1778.

  You are a man, I am a woman.... Farewell.... Madame Brillon to BF, Mar. 16, 1778.

  You adopt me..... Yesterday, I forgot.... When I go to paradise.... Madame Brillon to BF, Sep. 30, 1778; Madame Brillon to BF, Dec. 10, 1778.

  Since you assure me... BF to Madame Brillon, Dec. 10, 1778.

  I am thinking about.... I despise the back-biters.... Madame Brillon to BF, Dec. 20, 1778; Jan. 22, 1779; Mar. 20, 1779; Nov. 30, 1778.

  You may remember... It was, says he, the opinion.... PBF 27:430, BF to Madame Brillon: “The Ephemera,” Sept. 20, 1778.

  Another friend in France.... PBF 27:670, BF to Madame Helvetius, Oct. 1778; Madame Brillon to BF, 1778; Madame Brillon to BF, Nov. 12, 1781.

  I had often noticed.... PBF 34:u639, BF to L’Abbe de la Roche, Mar. 29, 1781; Claude-Anne Lopez, Mon Cher Papa (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1990), 265.

  On September 19, 1779, I addressed.... Sadly, she resolved to remain single.... Vexed by your barbarous resolution.... There M. Helvétius.... “Ah!” said he, “you make.... At these words.... Offended by this refusal... Walter Isaacson, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003), 366-67; Claude-Anne Lopez, Mon Cher Papa (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1990), 265-67.

  I often think of the happiness.... PBF 45:u480, BF to Madame Helvétius, Apr. 23, 1788.

  It was always with great pleasure to...I rejoice to learn.... Why do never.... PBF 28:421, BF to Margaret Stevenson, Jan. 25, 1779.

  I had enjoy’d continu’d health.... PBF 25:77-78, “Franklin’s description of his Ailments,” Oct. 17, 1777; PBF 33:429, BF to Sarah and Richard Bache, 1780.

  I had not much time to consider... PBF 23:313, BF to Jan Ingenhousz, Feb. 12, 1777.

  I have never entered... PBF 25:26, BF to Legegue de Presle, Oct. 4, 1777.

  Adventures of all descriptions.... First, a man came to tell me.... Next, a Mons. Coder came.... Then, a man came with a request.... Finally, I received a parcel.... PBF 28:224-26, “Extract from Franklin’s Journal,” Dec. 13, 1778.

  An anonymous letter was.... PBF 26:516, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin II:249-50, ed. by W. T. Franklin .

  My grandson Temple was well.... PBF 24:63, BF to Richard Bache, May 1777; PBF 24:90, BF to Jonathan Williams, Sr., May 27, 1777.

  I had a great deal of pleasure in Ben too... PBF 29:599-600, BF to Richard Bache, June 2, 1779; PBF 29:357, BF to Jane Mecom, Apr. 22, 1779.

  After this time I received a report from James Lovell.... PBF 26:662, James Lovell to BF, June 20, 1778; letter to Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier, Oct. 23, 1788; PBF 27:601, Richard Bache to BF, Oct. 22, 1778; PBF 27:604-05, Sarah Bache to BF, Oct. 22, 1778; PBF 29:437, BF to Benjamin Vaughan, May 5, 1779; PBF 32:610, BF to Richard Bache, June 27, 1780; PBF 35:471-72, BF to Richard Bache, Sept. 13, 1781; PBF 27:601, Richard Bache to BF, Oct. 22, 1778; PBF 27:604-05, Sarah Bache to BF, Oct. 22, 1778; PBF 29:437, BF to Benjamin Vaughan, May 5, 1779; PBF 32:610, BF to Richard Bache, June 27, 1780; PBF 35:471-72, BF to Richard Bache, Sept. 13, 1781; BF to Elizabeth Partridge, Nov. 25, 1788.

  With the addition... PBF 25:331, BF to Robert Morris, Dec. 21, 1777.

  I had always resolved to have no quarrel... PBF 29:608, BF to James Lovell, June 2, 1779.

  I frequently received letters... PBF 26:230-35, BF to Arthur Lee, Apr. 4, 1778; PBF 26:249, BF to Silas Deane, Apr. 7, 1778; PBF 26:308, BF to Jonathan Williams, Jr., Apr. 18, 1778.

  Herein a correspondence... It was with the utmost surprise.... That a measure of such moment... I trust, sir, you will think with me.... I trust too, sir, that you will not treat... This is the draft of a letter... It is true I have omitted... PBF 26:220-23, BF to Ben Franklin, Apr. 2, 1778; BF to Arthur Lee, Apr. 3, 1778.

  This is the letter I actually sent... Mr. Deane communicated to me... You ask me why.... It is true that I have omitted.... One more word about the accounts... PBF 26:231-35, BF to Arthur Lee, Apr. 4, 1778.

  I was very easy about... PBF 29:601, BF to William Carmichael, Jun 2, 1779.

  I trusted in the justice of... PBF 29:599, BF to Richard Bache, June 2, 1779.

  My experiences with Lee... There are two sorts of people.... An old philosophical friend of mine... I therefore advise these critical... PBF 34:41-44, “The Deformed and Handsome Leg,” Nov. 23, 1780.

  The body of our people are... We purpose, if possible... PBF 27:5-6, BF to Charles de Weissenstein, July 1, 1778.

  I received not
ice from Congress.... PBF 27:137-38, BF to James Lovell, July 22, 1778.

  My colleague... PBF 26:203-04, BF to Henry Laurens, Mar. 31, 1778; PBF 30:548, BF to James Lovell, Oct. 17, 1779; PBF 26:267-68, The American Commissioners to Vergennes, Apr. 10, 1778.

  To Mr. Lovell of Congress.... PBF 27:360-61, BF to John Paul Jones, Sept. 6, 1778; PBF 27:139-40, BF to James Lowell, July 22, 1778. (Written at 5 am!).

  We had no news.... PBF 27:360-61, BF to John Paul Jones, Sept. 6, 1778.

  7. MINISTER TO FRANCE, 1779-81: THE WAR CONTINUES

  On the 11th of February, 1779... PBF 28:536, BF to Vergennes, Feb. 14, 1779; PBF 29:252, BF to John Adams, Apr. 3, 1779; PBF 28:522, BF to Jonathan Williams, Jr., Feb. 13, 1779; PBF 28:510, Franklin’s Diary of Correspondence, Feb. 17, 1779; PBF 28:570, BF to Dumas, Feb. 19, 1779; PBF 28;571, BF to Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie., Feb. 19, 1779; PBF 29:547, BF to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, May 26, 1779.

  After that I constantly attended... PBF 29:548, BF to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, May 26, 1779.

  All our letters from... PBF 28:571, BF to Dumas, Feb. 19, 1779; PBF 32:56-57, BF to George Washington, Mar. 5, 1780.

  The Marquis de Lafayette spoke of the taking of Savannah.... I was glad to see in news from home... I saw by the Virginia papers... PBF 29:235, BF to Stephen Sayre, Mar. 31, 1779; PBF 33:368, BF to Sarah and Richard Bache, Oct. 4, 1780; PBF 29:458, BF to John Adams, May 10, 1779.

  At this time I did not totally... PBF 29:429, BF to Ingenhousz, May 4, 1779; PBF 31:456, BF to Joseph Priestley, Feb. 8, 1780.

  I rejoiced to hear that.... We make great improvements in nature... PBF 31:455-56, BF to Joseph Priestley, Feb. 2, 1780; PBF 31:452-53, BF to Richard Price, Feb. 6, 1790.

  In March 1779, I sent letters... I also sent the letter to Holland.... It was to be his last voyage.... PBF 31:487, BF to Thomas Digges, Feb. 15, 1780; BF to Sir Joseph Banks, Aug. 21, 1784; BF to Andrew Strahan, May 6, 1786.

  My apprehensions of.... PBF 29:358, BF to Josiah Quincy, Sr., Apr. 22, 1779.

  With this in mind, I wrote the following letter... I have before me your letters.... The clay medallion of me you.... When I began to read your account.... If you happen again to see General Washington.... Present my affectionate regards... PBF 29:61215, BF to Sarah Bache, June 3, 1779.