Benjamin Franklin PDF
Preview Benjamin Franklin
YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page i Benjamin Franklin YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page ii Benjamin [To view this image, refer to the print version of this title.] YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page iii Franklin . YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page iv Copyright © by Edmund S. Morgan. All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, includ- ing illustrations, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections and ofthe U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers. Designed by Nancy Ovedovitz and set in Monotype Fournier type by The Composing Room ofMichigan, Inc. Printed in the United States ofAmerica by R. R. Donnelley & Sons. Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Morgan, Edmund Sears. Benjamin Franklin /Edmund S. Morgan. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN ---(alk. paper) . Franklin, Benjamin, –. . Statesmen—United States—Biography. . Scientists—United States—Biogra- phy. . Inventors—United States—Biography. . Print- ers—United States—Biography. I. Title. E..FM .(cid:2)—dc A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability ofthe Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity ofthe Council on Library Resources. YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page v For Marie YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page vi YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page vii Contents Preface ix An Exciting World “A Dangerous Man” An Empire of Englishmen Proprietary Pretensions The Importance of Opinion Endgame Becoming American Representing a Nation of States A Difficult Peace Going Home vii YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page viii Chronology Some of the People in Franklin’s Life Notes Credits Index viii YD7306.i-xii 5/13/02 11:02 AM Page ix Preface Entranced by the scientific discoveries of his day, Benjamin Franklin sometimes regretted having been born too soon. He missed “the Happiness of knowing what will be known Years hence.” By then there would be “Discoveries made of which we have at present no Conception.” He was right about that. But we may be permitted a small regret of our own for hav- ing been born too late to enjoy his company. We can never catch the warmth of his smile, the tone of his voice, the little gestures, the radiant presence that drew people to him wherever he went. Fortunately he has made it possible for us to know the man behind that presence better than most of those who enjoyed it could have. Franklin can reach us in writing that speaks with a clarity given to few in any language at any time, and writing was his favored mode of communication. We can read his mail. And we can read an astonishing amount of everything else he wrote. He has helped us by saving many of the letters he received, and ix
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