Printed in The London Chronicle: or, Universal Evening Post , September 16–19, 1758. Partly on the testimony of Lord Baltimore’s uncle and secretary, Cecilius Calvert, and partly from internal evidence, Verner W. Crane attributed these “Queries” to Franklin. Although he was not officially connected with any group in Maryland, Franklin’s intervention in the disputes of that province is easily...
Printed in The London Chronicle: or Universal Evening Post , December 28–30, 1758; draft: American Philosophical Society. When people consider the supply of Twelve Millions as necessary for the service of the ensuing year, the greatness of the object astonishes; and they are apt to say, Whence can so vast a sum arise? Can England possibly bear the continuance of a war at so enormous an...
3From Benjamin Franklin to the Printer of The London Chronicle, 9 May 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle: or, Universal Evening Post , May 10–12, 1759. Paul Leicester Ford first identified Franklin as the author of this paper in 1889, and Verner W. Crane established the matter definitely in 1950 by pointing out the similarity of thought and treatment in certain passages with others of Franklin’s writings. Bigelow printed it in Works , IV , 244–58, but with the...
4Arguments Pro and Con: I, 18–20 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , October 18–20, 1768 As I have often experienced the great difference there is, in point of clearness of argument, between the most attentive consideration of a subject only in thought, and committing the arguments pro and con to paper, so that they be coolly reviewed, I bestowed an idle hour to draw up the arguments for and against the American claims, with as...
5Arguments Pro and Con: II, 27–29 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , October 27–29, 1768 Having, in your Chronicle of Oct. 20, mentioned some losses which this nation may sustain by inforcing the payment of taxes in America, it is but just we should now inquire into the benefits that may arise to us from the success of this measure. I believe no one will be so sanguine as to expect that the Americans will not so far resent our...