Chapter 1

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Author: Benjamin Franklin Editor: Frank Woodworth Pine Illustrator: E. Boyd Smith Release date: December 28, 2006 [eBook #20203] Most recently updated: October 19, 2022 Language: English Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20203 Credits: Produced by Turgut Dincer, Brian Sogard and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN *** Produced by Turgut Dincer, Brian Sogard and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net [Illustration: FRANKLIN ARMS] [Illustration: FRANKLIN SEAL] [Illustration: Franklin at the Court of Louis XVI "He was therefore, feasted and invited to all the court parties. At these he sometimes met the old Duchess of Bourbon, who, being a chess player of about his force, they very generally played together. Happening once to put her king into prize, the Doctor took it. 'Ah,' says she, 'we do not take kings so.' 'We do in America,' said the Doctor."--Thomas Jefferson.] AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WITH ILLUSTRATIONS _by_ E. BOYD SMITH EDITED _by_ FRANK WOODWORTH PINE [Illustration: Printers Mark] _New York_ HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 1916 Copyright, 1916, BY HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY June, 1922 THE QUINN & BODEN CO. PRESS RAHWAY, N. J. CONTENTS PAGE