134 ROSENGARTEN— FRANKLIN's BAGATELLES. [May 17, 



too, the work of indexing these papers is being carried on, and a 

 printed Calendar will, it is hoped, soon make them available for 

 students and others engaged in historical research ; and his assistants, 

 who are expert copyists, will supply perfect transcripts. To their 

 careful handiwork is due the transcription of those of Franklin's 

 " Bagatelles," found in manuscript in his papers, here reproduced 

 as part of this paper. They show the infinite care and the exhaust- 

 less industry with which he prepared these papers, as though he 

 anticipated the respect with which to-day everything relating to 

 him is regarded in the country that is so proud of his fame. 



The original manuscripts show that Franklin's " Bagatelles " were 

 no inconsidered trifles, but were carefully written in his own good 

 English, were carefully translated into French by competent hands, 

 and that in more than one version, then carefully compared, and 

 the one chosen for printing carefully revised ; and' this studious 

 and loving care, although hidden from the general eye, no doubt 

 gave them that admirable form which has made them so popular, 

 and has commended them to readers of all nationalities from 

 Franklin's day to our own. It is certainly interesting through 

 these old papers to see just how he worked and wrote and gave a 

 final form to these his lightest writings. These papers show that 

 Franklin, in his letter of April 8, 1784, written at Passy to Mme. 

 Brillon, says that The Advice to Those Who Wish to go to America, 

 Remarks on the Politeness of Savages, The Handsome and Deformed 

 Leg and The Morals of Chess, with those he then sent — no doubt 

 The Ephemera, The Story of the Whistle, The Dialogue between 

 Franklin and the Gout — make a complete collection of all his 

 " Bagatelles " printed at Passy. If that be so, what authority had 

 Temple Franklin for the seventeen papers printed by him under 

 the title of "Bagatelles," other than his statement that they were 

 " found in a portfolio, endorsed ' Bagatelles?' " Yet who was better 

 able to speak with authority than Temple Franklin, grandson, 

 literary fellow-worker and testamentary owner? 



