The New York herald., 1874-10-26
Literature
Autumn Books in England and
America.
American Biograohv
and History.
Benjamin Franklin and Horace
Greeley.
WHO WERE OUR AMERICAN ANCESTORS ?
General Activity of the Fall
Book Trade.
Glmpses Of France Under Louis
Napoleon.
General Activity of the Fall
Book Trade.
TRUE STORY OF CAPTAIN KIDD.
The Autobiography Of an
American Girl.
The Life OF Franklin

The Life OF Franklin.
The Hon. John Bigelow, well known ID diplomacy
and journalism, has conferred real service on
American literature by his new edition OF the
'IAfe OF Franklin" This work, in three volumes,
comes to US from the press OF those enterprlsing
ana public spirited booksellers, J. B. Lppncott &
Co., OF Philadelphia. 1t is one Of the best spec-
mems OF bookmaking we have seen. The paper is
genuine and white, the type work open and meant
for reading, while the portrait OF Franklin In the
opening pages is a fine steel reproduction OF the
pastel picture done from life by F. Duplessis In
1888, IN which we see the man Franklin more
clearly than in any OF the hundreds of prints and
pictures now In existence Mr.. BtgelOw's work Is
on novel plan. 1t is unlike the elaborate work
Of Sparks, which Is more contribution to biog-
raphy than real work. Nor does 1t resemble
the full and most meritorious book OF
Parton, In which that painstaking and brilliant
historian paints the man from studies, but in
she true Parton view. Mr. Parton's book on Frank
hn-his best. we think-is really memorial OF the
man and his times, the man being now and then
obscured BY his times. Mr.. Bigelow takes up the
autobiography, which comes down to Its. when
ne returned from England, where he had been the
agent of the colony of Pennsylvania This auto
ellie OF Johnson" does not cover the MOST event
ful time OF Franklin's life. For to him it was
gwen, as, indeed, 1t has been given to few men,
that his work should grow more and more SER
10uS and useful until the end. His last thirty
years were the most event1ul OF his life, and
he lived until he was over eighty-four. 1t was
during these years that he took part in the Revo-
luton, acted as Minister to France for the revolt
ing colonies, and did perhaps more than any other
man, except Washington, to secure the indepen
dence OF America and Its recognition as nation.
Taking up Franklins life in 1775, when the auto
biography closes, Mr.. Bigelow carries the nara
tive on by quoting from Frankin's letters and writ
ings And, as few other eminent men have writ
ten as complete record OF hts own lie, the NAN
trouble OF the writer has been the fulness OF ma
teral. We shall not attempt to
follow the narration OF the lie OF this
inustrious and remarkable man-but rather TO
ramble through these pages and pick up an
illustration here and there that may be new to our
readers and enable US to understand his incom.
parable wisdom, patience and skill.
THE PARTY OF VIRTUE.
We are nrst Impressed with paper which he re-
produced IN 1888, then eghty-two, in which he al
ludes to 20 great and extensive project,n which
had frst come to him In 1871, when he was about
twenty-five. Here are the heads OF the project
"That the great affairs Of the world the wars revo-
lutiOns are carried on and enected by parties.n
That 1.-The view OF these parties is their present
general interest. or what they take to be sucn.n
That "while party Is Carrying on general design,
each man has his particular private interest In
view," and that the time had come Ior srais-
ing united party OF virtue, by forming the virtuous
and good men Of all nations into regular body,
TO be governed by suitable, good and wise ules,
-h htphfy nd ytc rnn NOV hot,l ha
unanimous in their obedience to than common
people are to common laws" This party he pro-
posed to found upon creed, the main points OF
which should De:-.'That there Is one God, who
made all things; that He governs the world by
HIS providence; that He ought to be wOrshi pped
by alteration, prayer and thanksgiving; but that
the most acceptable service OF God is doing good
to man; that the soul ls immortal, and that God
will certainly reward virtue and punish vice. either
here or hereaiter.n 1t was Franklin's intention to
I0und secret society among the young and single
only, each member OF which should exercise
himself with thirteen weeks examination and
practice OF the virtues before admission, and that
the members should engage to anord their advice,
assistance and support to each other In pr0mot.
ing one anothers interests, business and advance.
ment IN lie; that the society should be called
.'lhe Free ard Easy"-"iree as being OF the
from The dominion OF the vice." and free from
oebt. (which exposes man to confinement and
species ofslavery to his creditors" This scheme
came to nothing, but Franklin, in his eighty.second
year. commends 1t as good scheme, and one by
which "a man Of toerable abilities might work
great changes, and accomplish great AFFAIRS among
mankind.n
o.s ENGLAND.
The bitterness which animated Franklin in his
feelings toward England only came with the war.
81 have long been OF opinion" he wrote when
nftythree years old, "that the foundations OF the
future grandeur and staDility OF the British en-
pire lie in America, and though like other founda-
tons they are low and little now, they are, never
theless, broad and strong enough to support the
greatest political structure that human wisdom
ever erected" "All the country from the St. Law.
renee 10 the Mississippi WILL in another century,
be filed with British people"-tnis was In 1861.
ninety years before gold made the Pacific empire
"the Atlantic sea wil be covered with your trading
ships, and your naval power therein, constantly
increasing, will extend your influence round the
whole globe and over the world.n These prophe-
cies were made at time when there were 100000
souls IN Pennsylvania--0ne-third German and an
other third Quakers-and the whole number OF
white men In the colonies was 300 O00 and IL shows
how accurate were the anticipations OF this grea
man as to the future Of America.
BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
Franklin's work In the Revolution Is so much q
matter OF history that we may spare q recital
OF 1t now. There are many instructive Rlimpses
OF his London life, notably an amusing letter
about his home, In which he represented himself
as ''Dr. Fat Sides" We also find MIN lament.
ing the election OF John wilkes, "a man OF bad
character, not worth farthing.n This did not
prevent his introducing Thomas pane m oan
ingenious, worthy young man, anxious to ind
place as ''clerk, assistant tutor In schooln "or
assistant surveyor" "of all OF which think MIN
capable.n The lords were unit to govern o herd
Of swine. ana "hereditary legislatorsn we're or