New-York tribune., 1874-10-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

OF BENJAMIN yaaskt wssyTsS lsp s4
kprzp rson Es osioisAL aSwss wmirrsss By JOHN
yss1SS n.1 On soss ssS j. Hpsaeo Co
Jf anv one should dispute the claim OF TINS
,ort q, n,acs I'm cotemporary literature the answer IL
q, nana IN the facts Of which Mr Bigeow preseh'ss
,uc,a statement and in the admirable manner IN wncn
No has carried its plan into execution Vne Ausopogr
phv of DR. Franklin closes with his mission TO Engahd III
,-,7 a. agent for colony Of Penusyvana. AT that
.me he was ftyone years old and just entering upon
the most brilliant part Of his public career He resided
abroad during the long period OF twentyeight years.
either agent Of the colonies minister OF the uned
States, and Of conducted an extensive oicai
and private correspondence. After his return from
Europe 1885, Eve years previous to his DEATH ne aso
carried on an active correspondence with MS
friends in the Old World, including many pubic onarac
ters of eminent position. among whom he had passeo
the most exciting and effective years OF MS shguay
fruitful lfe There is scarcely an important Heiuent IN
Franklins career which Is not described by hmsei III
his memoirs In his correspondence eminent
man appears 10 have left so complete record OF MS
own hfe The artless history Of his youth and early
manhood has been familiar almost every American
household for at least generations From the close
Of that imperfect fragment until his death, We
have connected, almost daily record OF MS hio on
his own pen. written when all the incidents posSes"
the freshness of present experience The data 'nu'
nshed form the materials OF the present volumes Win
eonsummate skill they have been gathered py tue cur
or from the scatteredi memorials Of many bulky VOL
umes and wrought up into continuous ana iaseinahs
narrative Every thing in his writings OF an au'opo
graphical character is presented In Strictly cniono
logical ORDER The text OF the original remains un-
changed, while whatever was necessary for the com
pete eucdaton OF the narrative has been supplied by
the editor in the form or footnotes' Oh "hon
the conciseness less praiseworthy thah
TIE clearness Mr.. BigelOw has thus turned 10
excellent account the opportunities afforded oy the
leisure Of his diplomatic mission in Paris Familiar IN
his daily routine with the places and events connected
with Frapk klins usrious career 1t was natural that
his attention should turned to the incidents OF his
life and he should thus be inspired WITH the zeai
essential successful accomplishment OF MS aruu
ous abors His task has been performed with equal d
gence discretion and good taste The narrative Is no
less remarkable for Its abstinence from unnecessary
details for the completeness OF its record OF all I'M
portant facts personality OF the editor is kept en-
tirey out sight He has not presumed to touch the
pure lmpid, and sparkling English" or the oleihaI
language. The charm Of the early memoir has thus'
in great measure preserved, while 1t has been
brought TO legitimate conclusion in keeping with the
character OF the perusing these vol
unes the reader will meet with surprises by any new
light regard 10 the or the services OF benjamin
Franklin. They only confirm the traditional impress
sons of his remarkable nature and singularly happy
temperament They present him In the most favorable
hight as philosopher. statesman, and patriot, man
OF Incompatible serenity Of disposition OF wonderful
sa9acIty OF Judgment and seasons OF emergency OF
rare practical wisdom. plain homespun, matterof-
fact genius in purpose and resoute in action free
almost TO fault from the illusions of fancy and sent-
ment, but OF unerring accuracy of perception of un
usual versatility in the application of his powers,
with great wdness and mOtherwt from the earliest
age after life profoundly versed IN the subtlees
OF diplomacy and the wiles of politics. But with all his
experience of the Of cabinets and courts his
honor as a statesman no more be questioned than
his integrity His gift OF adaptation to circum-
stances but it never at the expense
of principle sefrespect and TO extreme old
age preserved his fidelity to conscience no less than
his vgor intellect During his protracted career he
doubtless gave evidence that he not born without
original SID, and, in respects. fell short OF the
standard Of ideal excellence; but his memory VIII long
cherished by the American people for his unpretend
tng virtues and the which the present editor has
revereny laid upon his oairn will be accepted as
worthy Offering to his monument.