Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-14
AN ALLEGED AUTOGRAPH LEDGER
A Department Employe Who Gives
Benjamin Franklin Credit for More
Official Work Than he Did-An Inter
eStlng Relic.

A communication in the last issue Of the
Critic, literary weekly paper published in
New York city, states that the writer, whose
name Is not given, was requested by friend In
Europe "to procure for him copy Of the litho-
graphed autograph ledger Kept by Benjamin
Franklin while Postmaster General OF the Uni.
ted States, which he informed me had been.
published by one of the departments in Wash
ington. In compliance with his request wrote
to an acquaintance in Washington to ascertain.
whom should address and upon what terms
could procure a copy of the fac smile in ques-
ton. Twas told to send So and q copy would
be addressed to me. 1 did as instructed, and in
due course of mail received folio volume OF
some hundred and twenty odd pages Of ledger
with circular pasted in the inside of the
cover"
The writer then proceeds to give some ex-
tracts from this circular, which is dated Wash
W. w. Cox, office of the sixth auditor. The cir
cular states every word, figure and mark was
menting upon this the writer gives the first en-
try in the ledger, which is an account with one
Peter Brayten, under the date OF November
October. just twenty-five days before this en-
try was made the iflustrious Postmaster GEN
eral OF the United States was embarking from
Reprisal for France, and never saw the shores
OF his native land again until the 18th Of Sep
The autograph ledger above referred to has
been Kept ON exhibition for many years in
glass case in the ONCE Of the deputy sixth au
At present 1t Is in New Orleans whers it forms
a part of the Post Office exhibit IN the EXPOSE
,h II Is one Of the few records belonging to
building burned in 1885. Mr.. w. W. Cox q
colored man. and for many years head messen-
others by his personal exertiors. Conceiyine
the idea that he might be able to make money
by the sale of copies of this relic about the year
1867 he obtained the consent of the authorities
and made arrangements with q firm in New
York city to have the book Autographed. Sew.
then issued the circular above referred to with
a statement signed by w. Dennison POST
master General, DIR: c. F. Mcdonald, the
and other officials, which simply attested
to the correctness of the photographic copy.
!; The price asked was $40. A representative OF
these Autographs, which is In the possession of
Mr.. Chambers, of the six auditor office. It ID
the record of the account kept between the de-
partment and the several postmasters of the
colonies, and the dates Of the various entries
begin in the year 1775, and continue up to
would appear from a hasty comparison Of the
writing with that Of an autograph letter OF
Franklin. which was lithosraphed By MI. Cox
and is presumably genuine, are In Franklins
hand writing, and their dates show that they
were made before Franklin LETT this country.
made as SHOWN by the Dates wSls
Franklin was In Europe, and therefore the
ledger cannot be said to be q Franklin auto
thought that IT was written entirely by Frank-
lin. and said that the statements In the circ,,-
lar To that effect was not authorized. The ven.
,ure never proved profitable one, and the
larger part OF the edition remained In the hands
OF the publishers as Mr.. Cox was not able
and no one seems to know who has become heir
To the Autograph copies It is supposed by some
that the book is in the handwriting Of Mr.
VI r4VtK Inns ~, In,
ceeded him as Postmaster General. While it ID
clear tnat II was not all written by Franklin,
yet the book possesses great interest showing
system.