The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin : Published Verbatim from the Original Manuscript
MROLDaiKUBRWj THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PUBLISHED VERBATIM FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT, BY HIS GRANDSON, WILLIAM TEMPLE FRANKLIN, EDITED BY JARED SPARKS, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN KARVAREuCNIVEHC LONDON: GEORGE BELL & SONS; YOKE STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1884. : LONDON PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STKEET AND CHARING CROSS. THE LIBRARY B&LGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH ADVERTISEMENT. Of Franklin's very entertaining and instructive Autobio- graphy, there has, strange to say, been no authentic edition of a popular character, yet published in this country. That which has so often been presented to the British public, in every variety of form, from the diminutive octo-decimo to tlae imperial octavo, is a mere translation from a French trans- lation (see Mr. Sparks' preface, annexed) ; and, however well performed considering the circumstances, retains little of the racy freshness and pleasing simplicity of the original. Besides this, it differs in the narrative, is less comprehensive, and ex- tends only to the year 1730 instead of to 1757. The present Autobiography, which by way of distinction is designated "the genuine," was first published from Frank- lin's manuscript, by his grandson, William Temple Franklin, in 1817, in a selection of his works extending to six vols. 8vo. or three vols. 4to. ; since which, only one edition in this country has professed to follow it, and that is altogether unfaithful, being a mere abridged compilation, written in the third person by the compiler. Several complete editions, however, have been published in America ; the best of which, by many degrees, is that recently edited by Jared Sparks, one of the ablest biographers of the United States.
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