THE

ne possessor.

th

ica, was open dition of Franklin's y as 1792,-his extreme

works, suggests in his preface-surprise, that the continuation of the Memoirs, interesting as they were, should so long have been withheld from the public. In another London edition, of 1806, of the same work, it is roundly stated, that an ignominious bargain for the suppression of Franklin's papers, had been struck between his grandson and the British government and it is added, that previous to this bargain, arrangements had been made to publish them in three quarto volumes;-precisely the plan now pursued. The Edinburgh Reviewers seem to admit, in the article on Franklin's works, contained in their No. for July 1806, the authenticity of the intelligence, and pass some severe strictures on their government, for so unworthy a proceeding.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN L.L.D.

Erpaced by R: Godwar & Peppte from an cuginato painting by 22 W ostin for the Analetio Forgazine .

Published by Me Thomas 1818.
Published by

THE

ANALECTIC MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1818.

ART. I.-Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin, &c. Written by himself to a late period, and continued to the time of his death by his grandson, William Temple Franklin. Now first published from the original MSS. Quarto. London

1818.

THE

HE readers of this journal may not have forgotten, that we introduced to their notice in our 53d No., the volume of the correspondence of Franklin, published at London, somewhat more than a twelvemonth ago. It formed the second of a series of three quartos, of which the one we now announce is the first, although postponed in the order of publication, for reasons with which we are unacquainted. Many years had elapsed, since the appearance of any work of deeper interest to these states, than the volume of the Correspondence. It should have been immediately reprinted in this country, in a comparatively cheap form, by those who hold the American copy-right. The delay, in this instance, would seem to be a part of that fatality or spell, which so long hung over the manuscripts of our greatest philosopher and diplomatist.

In looking at the title-page of the present volume, no inquisitive critic can fail to be struck with the phrase-now first published from the original manuscripts—that is, nearly thirty years after the death of the illustrious author, although during the whole of this interval, almost every press in Europe and America, was open to the possessor. The editor of the first London edition of Franklin's works, suggests in his preface-as early as 1792,-his extreme surprise, that the continuation of the Memoirs, interesting as they were, should so long have been withheld from the public. In another London edition, of 1806, of the same work, it is roundly stated, that an ignominious bargain for the suppression of Franklin's papers, had been struck between his grandson and the British governmen and it is added, that previous to this bargain, arrangements had been made to publish them in three quarto volumes;-precisely the plan now pursued. The Edinburgh Reviewers seem to admit, in the article on Franklin's works, contained in their No. for July 1806, the authenticity of the intelligence, and pass some severe strictures on their government, for so unworthy a proceeding.

Mr. Temple Franklin, sensible of the invidiousness of the still longer suppression, of which we have now to complain, devotes the greater part of the preface of the present volume, to an attempt at explanation. We are, for our part, disposed to reject the odious supposition, that one, such as he describes himself, bred under Franklin, and bearing his name,' could be bribed into an act of treachery to his memory,' by that government especially, on which, of all governments, a descendant of the philosopher, should have maintained a perpetual, and proud independence. We are, however, far from being satisfied with the justificatory plea,' which he offers, and are not willing to allow the credit, which he would take for discretion in keeping the relics, so long in his private custody.' They would, forsooth, if committed to the world during the French revolution, have furnished weapons, to designing partizans and infuriated zealots.' They were, therefore, 'suspended,' until the return of halcyon days, and a brightened horizon, when their true value might be appreciated.'

We would remark, in the first place, that it is not quite consistent in the editor, to represent himself as swayed by apprehensions of the sort, and in the same breath, to deride them as preposterous when ascribed to the British ministry. He sneers at the idea of that ministry' being afraid of this arsenal of paper;' of an enlightened government being weak enough, to be frightened by the posthumous works of a philosopher.' And why not the government, as well as himself, who was not half so deeply interested in the consequences which he affects to have dreaded?'

We reprobate as strongly as we can, the anarchical spirit and destructive disorders, of the first years of the French revolution: we should have been sorry to see fresh aliment provided for them, in any shape. But, we cannot, without an effort, admit the bare possibility of a serious apprehension on his side, that it would be found in the genuine memoirs and works of Franklin, although we can conceive, why the British administration might have deprecated the publication of them, at that crisis. Most of the political tracts of Franklin, and a pretty full and accurate history of his political career and opinions, were, many years ago, arranged and published by the literary speculators,' whom our editor would fain stigmatise, but to whose industry, whatever may have been their motives, the world is considerably indebted. In the additions which he has made to their compilations, we cannot perceive, with all our sagacity, a stronger tendency to animate 'anarchists in their wild career,' or 'to rekindle the dying embers of national animosity.' And we may venture to predict, with confidence, that nothing more formidable in this respect, will be detected in selection of political, philosophical, and miscellaneous writings,hich is to make up the third quarto.

Franklin was, indeed, an implacable enemy of oppression and tyranny, in whatever guise; he incited to independence, colonies entitled and prepared to be free. But he stood pre-eminent as the foe of anarchy, misrule and disorder of every kind; he detest