The reviewer is careful not to quote from this letter or even to say where it may be found, and the inference the ordinary reader would draw from the way it is paraded is that it contains some very positive denial that Mrs. Foxcroft was Franklin’s daughter. But when it is examined, it is found to be a business letter like the others, referring to the lady in question as “Mrs. Foxcroft” instead of as “my daughter,” a perfectly natural way of referring to her and entirely consistent with the other letters. We give the letter in full. It is in the American Philosophical Society Collection, vol. xlv., No. 94:
London Sept. 7, 1774.
Mr. Foxcroft,
Dear Friend—
Mr. Todd called to see me yesterday. I perceive there is good deal of uneasiness at the office concerning the Delay of the Accounts. He sent me in the Evening to read and return to him a Letter he had written to you for the Mail. Friendship requires me to urge earnestly your Attention to the contents, if you value the Continuance of your Appointment; for these are times of uncertainty, and I think it not unlikely that there is some Person in view ready to step into your Shoes, if a tolerable reason could be given for dismissing you. Mr. Todd is undoubtedly your Friend. But everything is not always done as he would have it This to yourself; and I confide that you will take it as I mean it for your Good.
Several Packets are arrived since I have had a Line from you. But I had the pleasure of seeing by yours to Mr. Todd that you and Mrs. Foxcroft with your little Girl are all in good Health which I pray may continue.
I am ever my dear old friend
Yours most affectionatelyB. Franklin.
Index
Academy established by Franklin, 74-5.
---- of Madame Helvetius, 330.
Adams, John, 295, 297, 303-5;
criticisms of Franklin, 306-12;
his difficulties with Vergennes, 321;
opposed to France, 322-3, 341-6;
Franklin criticises, 345-6.
----, Mrs. John, 328-9.
Advertising, Franklin’s methods of, [141]-[2].
Air-baths, [25]-[6].
Albany Conference, [201], [352]-[3].
Allen, Chief-Justice, [122].
Alliance, treaty of, [299]-[303].
Almanac, Franklin’s, [143]-[52].
American Philosophical Society, [196].
Amusements as a youth, [18], [20].
Ancestors of Franklin, [42], [132].
Aristocracy, colonial, opposed to Franklin, [124].
Arithmetic, Franklin learns, [51].
“Armonica,” the, [185].
Asaph, St., the Bishop of, [227], [348];
his daughters, [227]-[8].
Asbestos purse, the, [63].
Assembly, Franklin clerk of, [159];
elected a member of, [199].
“Associators,” the, [199].
Austin, Jonathan, [301].
Autobiography, Franklin’s, [158].
Bache, Sarah, [119], [265].
Baker, Polly, [139].
Ballads by Franklin, [45].
Bancroft, Dr. Edward, [288].
Bartram, John, [192].
Beaumarchais, [279]-[83].
Black Prince, the, [315].
Blagden, Dr. Charles, [182].
Blood, causes of heat of, [29].
Books read by Franklin, [44].
Bows and arrows, Franklin suggests use of, [266].
Braddock, Franklin visits, [200].
Brillon, Madame, [325]-[7].
Broad jokes of Franklin, [125].
Broom-corn, [184].
Burgoyne, surrender of, [301].
“Busy Body” papers, [135].
Canada, cession of, [336];
Franklin’s journey to, [267]-[9].
Carroll, Rev. John, [96], [267].
Celibacy, Franklin’s dislike of, [106], [349].
Chatham, Lord, assists the Americans, [261].
Chaumont, Ray de, [275], [347].
Chevaux-de-frise devised by Franklin, [266].
Chimneys, smoky, [183].
Claims for extra service, [164]-[5].
Clerk of the Assembly, [159], [197].
Cobbett, his attack on Franklin, [123].
Colds, Franklin’s theory of, [27]-[9].
College of Philadelphia founded, [74]-[6].
Collins, John, [19]-[20], [45], [57].
Collinson, Peter, [172]-[3], [177].
Constitution of Pennsylvania, [349], [353]-[4].
----, signing of, [361]-[2].
Constitutional Convention of 1787, [356].
Constitution-making, [349]-[63].
Constitutions, American, translated into French, [355].
Contentment of Franklin, [21].
Conway, Mademoiselle, [332].
Courant, New England, [80]-[1].
Coverley, Sir Roger de, [144]-[5].
Creed, Franklin’s, [88]-[91].
Deane, Silas, [270], [278], [288], [289]-[91].
Death of Franklin, [39]-[40].
Deep water, effect of, on vessels, [181].
De Foe’s“Essay upon Projects,” [193].
Deism, Franklin’s, [80], [84], [91].
Denham, Mr., befriends Franklin, [59], [65], [133].
Despencer, Lord le, [98], [242].
Diseases of Franklin, [34]-[40].
Diurnal motion of the earth, [186]-[7].
“Dogood, Silence,” [135].
Dreams, Franklin’s fondness for, [26].
Edict of the King of Prussia, [241]-[2].
Education, defects of modern, [47]-[50].
Electricity, [172]-[8].
Eliot, Jared, [170].
“Ephemera, The,” [154]-[5], [325]-[6].
Epitaph of Franklin on himself, [153];
comic epitaphs, [154];
on the Penns, [223];
on Franklin, [224];
on the squirrel, [228].
Examination before Parliament, [234]-[9].
Exercise, Franklin’s opinion of, [37].
“Fireplace, Pennsylvania,” [170].
Fisheries, the, [337], [340]-[2].
Ford, Paul Leicester, his essay on the mother of Franklin’s son, [106]-[7].
Fothergill, Dr., [213].
Foxcroft, John, [104]-[5].
France, willingness of, to assist America, [277]-[8];
loans from, [317]-[18];
Franklin’s love for, [346];
appointed commissioner to, [270];
subserviency to, [343];
departure from, [347].
Franklin, Mrs., [114]-[18], [120]-[1], [137].
----, William, [105]-[7], [113], [214].
----, William Temple, [106], [214].
Free ships, [316].
French, enthusiasm of the, for Franklin, [273]-[5].
----, Franklin’s knowledge of, [71], [74], [325]-[6].
Fur cap, Franklin’s, [274].
Gazette, Pennsylvania, founded by Franklin, [135]-[42];
advertisements in, [142].
Girls, Franklin’s fondness for, [128]-[9], [332]-[3].
Godfrey, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, [134], [143].
Gout, dialogue of the, with Franklin, [35].
Governor, the Assembly’s contests with the, [204].
Governor’s salary, contests about, [201].
“Great Empire, Rules for Reducing a,” [240]-[1].
Gulf Stream, [181]-[2].
Hall, David, Franklin’s partner, [160].
Hartley, David, [319].
“Hat Honor,” [82]-[3].
Helvetius, Madame, [327]-[30].
Hopkinson, Thomas, [173].
Hospital, the Pennsylvania, [123], [195].
Houdetot, Countess d', [332]-[4].
Howe, Lord, [262], [269].
Hughes, John, [232].
Hutchinson Letters, the, [245]-[60].
Illegitimate children of Franklin, [104].
Immorality, Franklin’s, [103].
Indolence, Franklin’s, [21].
Izard, Ralph, [286]-[7].
“Jacobite, The Genealogy of a,” [139].
Jay, John, [318], [338]-[9], [341]-[2].
Junto, the, [66]-[70].
Kames, Lord, [158], [186], [215].
Keimer, [54]-[5], [65], [133]-[5].
Keith, Governor, [55], [56]-[9].
Kinnersley, Ebenezer, [173]-[4], [178].
Kite experiment, [175]-[6].
Languages, modern, [71]-[2].
Latin, Franklin learns, [71];
wants to abolish the study of, [72].
Lee, Arthur, [286], [291]-[5].
Leeds, Titan, [145]-[6].
Legislature, Franklin clerk of, [159];
elected a member of, [199].
Lehigh Valley, expedition to, [207]-[9].
“Liberty and Necessity,” Franklin’s pamphlet on, [60]-[3], [85]-[6].
Library, the Philadelphia, [193]-[4].
Liturgy, Franklin’s, [89]-[90].
Loans from France, [317]-[18].
London, Franklin’s first visit to, [59];
his life there, [60]-[5].
Louis XVI. gives his portrait to Franklin, [347].
Love of money, Franklin’s, [160].
Malthus, [190].
Manures, mineral, [184].
Marbois, [342].
Maritime suggestions, [188]-[90].
Marriage, Franklin favors, [106], [349];
attempts it for himself, [109], [111];
marries Mrs. Rogers, [112]-[13].
Mather, Cotton, [66], [68], [81], [158], [193].
Maury, [187]-[8].
Mecom, Jane, [130].
Mercury, the, [134]-[5], [142].
Meredith, Hugh, [133], [136].
Militia, Franklin organizes the, [198].
---- law drafted by Franklin, [206].
Mississippi, navigation of the, [341].
Mistress, Franklin’s advice on the choice of a, [126]-[7].
Modern languages, [71]-[2].
Molasses, export duty on, [302]-[3].
Money, Franklin’s love of, [160].
Moral code, Franklin’s, [102], [108].
Music, [185].
Nepotism, [164], [293].
Northeast storms, origin of, [169].
Nuncio, the papal, [96]-[7].
Oil, effect of, on waves, [182]-[3].
Ordination of bishops, [96]-[7].
Oswald, commission of, [337]-[9].
Paper money, Franklin’s pamphlet on, [70].
Parable against persecution, [155]-[8].
Paralytic people brought to Franklin, [331].
Parker, Theodore, [106].
Passy, Franklin at, [275].
Passy, Mademoiselle de, [306].
“Paxton Boys,” [219]-[20].
Peace, proposals of, [319];
treaty of, [335].
“Pennsylvania Fireplace,” [170].
---- Hospital, [195].
Peopling of countries, [190].
Perfumes, Franklin’s letter on, [126].
Persecution, parable against, [155]-[8].
Philadelphia, Franklin’s first journey to, [52]-[4].
---- Library, [193]-[4].
Plagiarism, [26], [152].
Plan of life, Franklin’s, [85].
Polly Baker’s speech, [139].
Pontiac, conspiracy of, [218].
“Poor Richard,” [143]-[52].
Portraits of Franklin, [30]-[3].
Postmaster of Philadelphia, [159].
Postmaster-General of the colonies, [162];
under Congress, [265].
Prayer-book, Franklin’s revision of, [98]-[101].
Priestley, Joseph, [213].
Privateering, Franklin opposed to, [317].
Profits of business, [159]-[61], [163]-[5].
Proprietary estates, taxing of, [204]-[5], [209]-[10], [216]-[17], [221].
Proprietorship, abolition of, [221]-[6], [231].
Ralph, a friend of Franklin, [59], [64].
Ray, Miss Catharine, [128].
Read, Miss, [54], [58], [60], [65]-[6], [112].
Reading as a boy, [42].
Recommendation, letters of, [319]-[20].
“Reprisal,” the, [271]-[2].
Retirement from business, [160]-[1].
Rittenhouse, David, [168].
Rolls, Franklin’s story of the, [54].
Romilly, Sir Samuel, visits Franklin, [350].
Royal government, petition to, [221]-[6], [231].
“Rules for Reducing a Great Empire,” [240]-[1].
Sabbath-breaker, Franklin as a, [78], [93].
Salaries of Franklin’s offices, [163]-[4].
Salary of the President, Franklin opposes, [357].
School-days, [41].
Scotch-Irish, the, [219]-[20].
Sedentary life of Franklin, [22].
Self-made man, Franklin as a, [41].
Senate, composition of the, [360].
Shallow water, effect of, [181].
Sloane, Sir Hans, [63].
Small-pox, inoculation for, [81].
Smith, Rev. William, [76], [122].
Smoke-consuming stove, [184].
Smoky chimneys, [183].
Soldier, Franklin as a, [207].
Spain, her interests in the Mississippi, [340].
Spectator, The, analyzed by Franklin, [46].
Stamp Act, [231]-[9].
States, the smaller, [358].
Stevenson, Miss Mary, [129].
----, Mrs., [211]-[12].
Storms from the northeast, [169].
Strahan, William, [213], [267].
Street-cleaning, [196].
Subserviency to France, [334]-[5], [343].
Swimming, [18]-[19].
Syng, Philip, [173].
Taxing the estates, [204]-[5], [209]-[10], [216]-[17], [221].
Temperance, [24]-[5].
Temple, John, his duel with Whately, [249].
Thompson, Mrs., calls Franklin a rebel, [331].
Thunder, Marquis of, [306].
Truxton, Captain, [348].
Turgot, [311]-[12].
Union, plans of, [352]-[3].
Vegetarianism, [22].
Veillard, Le, [347].
Ventilation, [29].
Venus, transit of, [168].
Vergennes, [277], [281], [303], [321]-[2], [324], [338], [341], [344].
“Virtue, The Art of,” planned by Franklin, [109].
Voltaire, resemblance of, to Franklin, [280];
embraces Franklin, [306].
War, Franklin’s opinion of, [191].
War, Quaker opinion of, [203].
Water, depth of, as affecting vessels, [181].
Water-drinking, [23].
Water-spouts, [180].
Wealth of Franklin, [165].
Wedderburn, [256]-[9].
Whately, Thomas, his duel with Temple, [249].
Whistle, story of the, [60].
Whitefield, Rev. George, [94]-[5].
Williams, Jonathan, [293]-[8].
Writing, Franklin trains himself in, [46].
THE END.
Transcriber’s Note.
Irregular spelling in quoted material is as per the original. Minor errors in punctuation corrected without note. The following typographical errors have been corrected:
Page 23: Original: “... other projects, to form a religous ...” (changed to “religious”)