THAT profound observer of men and manners, Lord Bacon, hath observed on the advantages of biographical writing over other branches of historical composition, that "History of times representeth the magnitude of actions, and the public faces or deportments of persons, and passeth over in silence the smaller passages and motions of men and matters. But such being the workmanship of God, as he doth hang the greatest weights upon the smallest wires, maxima è minimis suspendens; it comes therefore to pass, that such histories do rather set forth the pomp of business, than the true and inward resorts thereof. But LIVES, if they be well written, propounding to themselves a person to represent, in whom actions both greater and smaller, public and private, have a commixture, must of necessity contain a more true, native, and lively representation." Of the truth of this sagacious remark, a more convincing evidence can hardly be adduced than the Memoirs which Dr. Franklin hath left of himself; and the reader has

to lament, that when the author resumed his narrative, at the request of some intelligent friends, he did it under the inconvenience of public business, and at a distance from his papers; but the greatest matter of regret is, that he did not bring the history of his own times down through the stormy and eventful period in which he made so conspicuous a figure, near to the close of his illustrious and exemplary career. Great light and much curious and interesting information respecting the same, may however be collected from his "Private and Political Correspondence," forming a sequel to these Memoirs.

The necessity of pursuing the narration with chronological precision is obvious and imperative; but the only matter for concern is the indispensable obligation of changing the style of the relation from the dignity of the first person, which diffuses exquisite beauty and gives peculiar energy to the preceding parts of the history. This however will in some instances be avoided, Dr. Franklin having left (written by himself) several separate relations of events, or circumstances, in which he was particularly concerned; these, together with some of his letters, elucidating similar objects, will be inserted (in his own words) in their proper places; which he probably would himself have done, had he lived to complete the Narrative of his Life. Where however this resource is wanting, all that remains to be done is to adhere scrupulously to the verity of facts and to the evidence of author

ities; with as close an attention to the simplicity of the preceding pages as may be, without falling into the error of servile imitation.

It will be proper here to enter into some detail on the state of Pennsylvania, at the period when the voyage to England took place, of which an account is given at the close of the last part of the Author's own Memoir; because, as he was obliged to trust solely to his memory, some slight inaccuracies escaped him that would otherwise have been avoided.

In January 1757, the house of assembly voted a bill for granting to his majesty the sum of one hundred thousand pounds by a tax on all the estates, real and personal, and taxables, within the province; but on submitting it to Governor Denny for his sanction, he refused it, in a message which, among other remarkable observations, contained the following avowal of his subservience to the Penn family. "The proprietaries are willing their estates should be taxed in the manner that appears to them to be reasonable and agreeable to the landtax acts of parliament in our mother-country. I am not inclined to enter into any dispute with you on the subject, since it cannot be decided on this side the water: nor can I see what good end it can answer, as the proprietaries have positively enjoined me not to pass any bill that is against their instruction. As his majesty's service, and the defence of this province, render it necessary to raise immediate

supplies, I must earnestly recommend it to you to frame such a bill as it is in my power to pass, consistent with my honor and my engagements to the proprietaries, which I am persuaded you will not desire me to violate. I have some amendments to propose to particular parts of the bill now before me, which I shall communicate to you, as soon as I know whether you determine to prepare a new bill, free from the objection I have above mentioned." Upon this the house of assembly came to a resolution, which was digested in the form of a remonstrance, by Mr. Franklin, as the internal evidence of the language plainly demonstrates. It was as follows:

"The representatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, do hereby humbly remonstrate to your honor, that the proprietaries' professed willingness to be taxed, mentioned by your honor, in your message of Tuesday last, can be intended only to amuse and deceive their superiors; since they have in their instructions excepted all their quit-rents, located unimproved lands, purchase-money at interest, and in short, so much of their vast estate, as to reduce their tax, as far as appears to us, below that of a common farmer or tradesman.

"That though the proprietaries' instructions are by no means laws in this province, we have so far complied with them, as to confine the sum given to be raised in one year. And had we complied with

them in the other particulars, the raising any thing near the sum required by the present exigencies of the province, would be absolutely impossible.

"That the apparent necessity of so large a sum for his majesty's service, and the defence of this his province, founded upon the governor's own estimate, has obliged us to an effort beyond our strength, being assured that hundreds of families must be distressed to pay this tax.

"That we have, in the due exercise of our just rights by the royal and provincial charters, and the laws of this province, and as an English representative body, framed this bill consistent with those rights.

"That the bill is agreeable to justice and equity with regard to the proprietaries, and is not repugnant to the laws of our mother-country, but as nearly agreeable thereto as our different circumstances will permit; nor is it contrary to any royal instruction whatever. That great as the sum is, and hard for this people to pay, we freely offer it to our gracious king for his service, and the defence of this colony from his majesty's enemies.

"That the proprietaries refusing to permit us to grant money to the crown in this time of war, and imminent danger to the province, unless we will consent thus to exempt their estates from the tax, we conceive to be injurious to the interests of the crown, and tyrannical with regard to the people.

"That we do further humbly conceive, neither