This latest volume in the continuing edition of one of America's most
versatile citizens shows Franklin's interests, already diversified,
beginning to broaden still more, until in 1748 he turns over the active
operation of his printing office and newspaper to a partner in order to
participate with more freedom in public affairs and scientific
investigations.When in the autumn of 1747 Philadelphia appears
threatened by incursions of French and Spanish privateers and the
Quaker-controlled Assembly of Pennsylvania does nothing to defend the
city, Franklin initiates and leads a movement to create a volunteer
militia--the "Association/" The citizens build a battery and borrow
canon, and Franklin organizes two lotteries to raise the necessary
funds.In 1749 Franklin sets on foot a scheme for establishing the
Academy of Philadelphia, which ultimately becomes the University of
Pennsylvania. His pamphlet, "Proposals relation to the Education of
Youth in Pennsylvania," here reprinted, is an important statement of his
educational views.On the scientific side, in 1747 Franklin begins a
series of letters describing the electrical experiments he and his
friends are conducting. The English scientist Peter Collinson reads the
letters to the Royal Society, and in 1751 they are printed in London as
a pamphlet. In this excursion into basic scientific investigation,
Franklin is the first to use the terms "positive" and "negative," "plus"
and "minus" as applied to an electrical charge. here, also for the first
time, an electric "battery" (Franklin's term) is described.This volume,
containing exactly four times as many documents as that of the Smyth
edition for the same period, will appeal to many different kinds of
readers.
