The Autobiography of Ben Franklin | Page 2

this and much of his popularity through his
securing for a friend the office of stamp agent in America. Even his

effective work in helping to obtain the repeal of the act left him still a
suspect; but he continued his efforts to present the case for the Colonies
as the troubles thickened toward the crisis of the Revolution. In 1767
he crossed to France, where he was received with honor; but before his
return home in 1775 he lost his position as postmaster through his share
in divulging to Massachusetts the famous letter of Hutchinson and
Oliver. On his arrival in Philadelphia he was chosen a member of the
Continental Congress and in 1777 he was despatched to France as
commissioner for the United States. Here he remained till 1785, the
favorite of French society; and with such success did he conduct the
affairs of his country that when he finally returned he received a place
only second to that of Washington as the champion of American
independence. He died on April 17, 1790.
The first five chapters of the Autobiography were composed in England
in 1771, continued in 1784-5, and again in 1788, at which date he
brought it down to 1757. After a most extraordinary series of
adventures, the original form of the manuscript was finally printed by
Mr. John Bigelow, and is here reproduced in recognition of its value as
a picture of one of the most notable personalities of Colonial times, and
of its acknowledged rank as one of the great autobiographies of the
world.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY 1706-1757
TWYFORD, at the Bishop of St. Asaph's,<0> 1771.
<0> The country-seat of Bishop Shipley, the good bishop, as Dr.
Franklin used to style him.--B.
DEAR SON: I have ever had pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes
of my ancestors. You may remember the inquiries I made among the
remains of my relations when you were with me in England, and the
journey I undertook for that purpose. Imagining it may be equally
agreeable to<1> you to know the circumstances of my life, many of
which you are yet unacquainted with, and expecting the enjoyment of a

week's uninterrupted leisure in my present country retirement, I sit
down to write them for you. To which I have besides some other
inducements. Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which
I was born and bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of
reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life with a
considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of,
which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may
like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own
situations, and therefore fit to be imitated.
<1> After the words "agreeable to" the words "some of" were interlined
and afterward effaced.--B.
That felicity, when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say,
that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a
repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the
advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of
the first. So I might, besides correcting the faults, change some sinister
accidents and events of it for others more favorable. But though this
were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a repetition is
not to be expected, the next thing most like living one's life over again
seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as
durable as possible by putting it down in writing.
Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination so natural in old men, to be
talking of themselves and their own past actions; and I shall indulge it
without being tiresome to others, who, through respect to age, might
conceive themselves obliged to give me a hearing, since this may be
read or not as any one pleases. And, lastly (I may as well confess it,
since my denial of it will be believed by nobody), perhaps I shall a
good deal gratify my own vanity. Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the
introductory words, "Without vanity I may say," &c., but some vain
thing immediately followed. Most people dislike vanity in others,
whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter
wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of
good to the possessor, and to others that are within his sphere of action;
and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man

were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life.
And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to
acknowledge that I owe the