THE

WORKS

OF

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN;

CONTAINING

SEVERAL POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL TRACTS

NOT INCLUDED IN ANY FORMER EDITION,

AND

MANY LETTERS OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE

NOT HITHERTO PUBLISHED;

WITH

NO TES

AND

Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight

hundred and thirty-six, by HilliarD, GRAY, AND Co., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

LENO

NEL YORK

CAMBRIDGE:
FOLSOM, WELLS, AND THURSTON,

PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.

ESSAYS AND TRACTS, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL,

BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Page

1

22

26

28

Plain Truth ; or Serious Considerations on the Present

State of the City of Philadelphia and Province of

Pennsylvania

Papers relating to a Plan of Union of the Colonies, adopt-

ed by Commissioners assembled at Albany in July,

1754 .

Short Hints towards a Scheme for uniting the North-

ern Colonies

Letter from James Alexander to Cadwallader Colden

respecting the above Hints

Remarks on the Hints for a Scheme of Union, by

Cadwallader Colden

Reasons and Motives on which the Plan of Union

was formed

Plan of Union adopted by the Convention at Albany;

with the Reasons and Motives for each Article

of the Plan

Three Letters to Governor Shirley

Letter I. Concerning the Voice of the People in

Choosing the Rulers by whom Taxes are Im-

posed

Letter II. On the Imposition of Direct Taxes upon

the Colonies without their Consent

Letter III. On the Subject of uniting the Colonies

more intimately with Great Britain, by allowing

them Representatives in Parliament

Plan for Settling two Western Colonies in North America,

with Reasons for the Plan

An Act for the better Ordering and Regulating such as are

willing and desirous to be united for Military Pur-

poses in Pennsylvania

A Dialogue between X, Y, & Z, concerning the present

State of Affairs in Pennsylvania

Report of the Committee of Aggrievances of the Assem-

bly of Pennsylvania

84

97

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW of the Constitution and Govern-

ment of Pennsylvania, from its origin; so far as

regards the several Points of Controversy, which

have from time to time arisen between the several

Governors of Pennsylvania and their several As-

semblies

. 107

Dedication

109

Introduction

112

CHAPTER I.

Abstract of the Charter granted to William Penn. Conditions to the

first Settlers of Pennsylvania. Penn's first Frame of Government.

His Reservation of Quit-Rents. His second Frame of Govern-

ment. Pennsylvania and the Territory of the Three Lower Coun-

ties united. Remonstrance of a subsequent Assembly against the

Union. Motives of the Planters for accepting the second Frame

of Government. Mr. Penn's Return to England, and Appointment

of five Commissioners to administer the Government. Disorders

which ensued during his Absence. Captain Blackwell's Govern-

ment.

116