Preface. xi 



most likely that all of the papers that were then lost were ruthlessly 

 destroyed, for if any of them were still in existence they would probably 

 have come to light before this time. 



The collection, as it now stands, is divided up approximately as follows : 



The American Philosophical Society. .. 13,800 pieces (78 per cent.) 

 The Stevens Collection in the Library 



of Congress 2,938 pieces ( 16.6 per cent.) 



The University of Pennsylvania 840 pieces ( 4.8 per cent.) 



Dr. T. Hewson Bache 100 pieces ( .6 per cent.) 



Total 16,678 pieces ( 100 per cent.) 



This completes the history, so far as is known, of the papers pre- 

 served by Dr. Franklin, and with the publication of the present Calendar 

 all of them are made readily available to the student of American history. 



In preparing this Calendar the Editor has adhered to the spelling 

 of proper names as given in the original manuscripts and has, when it 

 seemed desirable, endeavored to supply omissions in the letters so as 

 to promote the clear understanding of the text, all such additions have 

 been enclosed within [ ], while in the Index he has sought to give 

 such information as would enable the reader to identify the authors 

 of the letters and the persons mentioned therein. Letters which have 

 been published in full elsewhere, have been scantily calendared in these 

 volumes, and a footnote reference given to the publication in which they 

 appear in extenso. 



The very full Index, which accompanies these volumes, it is hoped 

 will render their contents readily available for reference. 



The Editor takes pleasure^ in acknowledging his indebtedness for 

 valuable assistance received from many sources in the preparation of 

 this Calendar, and especially to Mrs. Lightner Witmer for the admirable 

 manner in which she had calendared a very considerable portion of the 

 correspondence, and to Miss Rebecca Edmiston Kirkpatrick for the 

 conscientious and painstaking labor with which she has assisted in the 

 passage of the work through the press, and in the preparation of the Index. 



I. M. H. 



Philadelphia, 

 September, 1908. 



