187 



flow of the words, and at the same time, interested in the evi- 

 dences of the young printer's extensive and intelligent ac- 

 quaintance with the best of English books. 



After he became owner of the Pennsylvania Gazette he 

 wrote for it essays in the same vein, many of which have been 

 reprinted in recent editions of his writings. 



Some of the essays were humorous or satirical, others re- 

 lated to religious and moral subjects and the economy of life, 

 others still to the current events of the day. Among them was 

 an admirable exposition of what was then known about earth- 

 quakes ; and this, published in 1737, was his first contribution 

 to scientific literature. 



When he was living in England he constantly wrote for the 

 press, and among his productions at this time were a number 

 of papers, which although an essential part of his political 

 writings, should also be included in that carefully-edited col- 

 lection of Franklin's essays for which the world has been 

 expectantly waiting for a hundred years. Among the best are 

 the " Eeceipt for Diminishing a Great Empire," and the 

 " Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America," writ- 

 ten in Paris a few years later, which rank among the most 

 brilliant of political satires. 



HIS DOMESTIC AND LITERARY CORRESPONDENCE. 



Franklin was the brightest and most charming of corre- 

 spondents, and there is not one of his letters which is in the 

 least degree dull or formal. 



Over 1200 are printed by Bigelow, and they make up at 

 least nine-tenths of the bulk of his literary remains. Many 

 of them are little essays, and should be included in every 

 edition of his short papers. In no connection are they more 



