Benjamin Franklin

I have since had doubts of the practicability of the latter part of this proposal, on account of the narrowness of some streets, and the difficulty…

The business of the postoffice occasion'd my taking a journey this year to New England, where the College of Cambridge, of their own motion,…

By this plan the general government was to be administered by a president-general, appointed and supported by the crown, and a grand council was to…

The Board of Trade therefore did not approve of it, nor recommend it for the approbation of his majesty; but another scheme was form'd, supposed to…

"I apprehended that the progress of British soldiers through these counties on such an occasion, especially considering the temper they are in, and…

I received of the general about eight hundred pounds, to be disbursed in advance-money to the waggon owners, etc.; but that sum being insufficient, I…

In their first march, too, from their landing till they got beyond the settlements, they had plundered and stripped the inhabitants, totally…

As soon as the loss of the waggons and horses was generally known, all the owners came upon me for the valuation which I had given bond to pay. Their…

It was the beginning of January when we set out upon this business of building forts. I sent one detachment toward the Minisink, with instructions to…

The next day being fair, we continu'd our march, and arriv'd at the desolated Gnadenhut. There was a saw-mill near, round which were left several…

This gave me occasion to observe, that, when men are employ'd, they are best content'd; for on the days they worked they were good-natur'd and…

This silly affair, however, greatly increased his rancour against me, which was before not a little, on account of my conduct in the Assembly…

Notwithstanding the continual wrangle between the governor and the House, in which I, as a member, had so large a share, there still subsisted a…

In 1746, being at Boston, I met there with a Dr. Spence, who was lately arrived from Scotland, and show'd me some electric experiments. They were…

What gave my book the more sudden and general celebrity, was the success of one of its proposed experiments, made by Messrs. Dalibard and De Lor at…

Shirley was, I believe, sincerely glad of being relieved from so burdensome a charge as the conduct of an army must be to a man unacquainted with…

I mention'd, but without effect, the great and unexpected expense I had been put to by being detain'd so long at New York, as a reason for my…

Our captain of the paquet had boasted much, before we sailed, of the swiftness of his ship; unfortunately, when we came to sea, she proved the…

Even in the simple operation of sailing when at sea, I have often observ'd different judgments in the officers who commanded the successive watches,…

The Assembly looked into my entering into the first part of the engagement, as an essential service to the Province, since it secured the credit of…