The Autobiography and Other WritingsSignet Classic, 1961 - 352 pages Benjamin Franklin's writings represent a long career of literary, scientific, and political efforts over a lifetime which extended nearly the entire eighteenth century. Franklin's achievements range from inventing the lightning rod to publishing Poor Richard's Almanack to signing the Declaration of Independence. In his own lifetime he knew prominence not only in America but in Britain and France as well. This volume includes Franklin's reflections on such diverse questions as philosophy and religion, social status, electricity, American national characteristics, war, and the status of women. Nearly sixty years separate the earliest writings from the latest, an interval during which Franklin was continually balancing between the puritan values of his upbringing and the modern American world to which his career served as prologue. This edition provides a new text of the Autobiography, established with close reference to Franklin's original manuscript. It also includes a new transcription of the 1726 journal, and several pieces which have recently been identified as Franklin's own work. |
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Page 164
... experiments . They were imperfectly per- formed , as he was not very expert ; but being on a sub- ject quite new to me , they equally surprized and pleased me . Soon after my return to Philadelphia , our library company received from Mr ...
... experiments . They were imperfectly per- formed , as he was not very expert ; but being on a sub- ject quite new to me , they equally surprized and pleased me . Soon after my return to Philadelphia , our library company received from Mr ...
Page 166
... experimental philosophy and lectured in that branch of science , undertook to repeat what he called the " Philadelphia Experiments , " and after they were performed before the King and court , all the curious of Paris flocked to see ...
... experimental philosophy and lectured in that branch of science , undertook to repeat what he called the " Philadelphia Experiments , " and after they were performed before the King and court , all the curious of Paris flocked to see ...
Page 175
... experiments might be instituted : first , to determine the most proper form of the hull for swift sailing ; next , the best dimensions and properest place for the masts ; then , the form and quantity of sails , and their position as the ...
... experiments might be instituted : first , to determine the most proper form of the hull for swift sailing ; next , the best dimensions and properest place for the masts ; then , the form and quantity of sails , and their position as the ...
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
PART ONEThe Autobiography | 15 |
PART TWO Selected Writings | 182 |
Copyright | |
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acquainted advantage affairs afterwards American American Philosophical Society appeared Art of Virtue Assembly attended Benjamin Franklin Boston brother Carl Van Doren Colonies common continued dear desire electrical electrised endeavour England expence father favour fire friends gave give glass glass harmonica Governor hand heard horses Jane Mecom JONATHAN SHIPLEY Keimer kind lately learned letter lived lodging London ment never observed occasion officers opinion paper Parliament Pennsylvania perhaps person PETER COLLINSON Philadelphia piece pleasure Poor Richard says Poor Richard's Almanack present printer printing house proposed Proprietaries province Quakers received respect sailed sect seems sent Smyth sometimes soon Stamp Act Street surprized thing thou thought thro tion took town Union Fire Company virtue waggons wise writing wrote young youth