With the exception of the selections from the _Autobiography_, the works are arranged in approximate chronological order, hence inviting a necessarily genetic study of Franklin's mind. The _Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain_, never before printed in an edition of Franklin's works or in a book of selections, is here printed from the London edition of 1725, retaining his peculiarities of italics, capitalization, and punctuation. Attention is also drawn to the photographically reproduced complete text of _Poor Richard Improved_ (1753), graciously furnished by Mr. William Smith Mason. _The Way to Wealth_ is from an exact reprint made by Mr. Mason, and with his permission here reproduced. One of the editors is grateful for the privilege of consulting Mr. Mason's magnificent collection of Franklin correspondence (original MSS), especially the Franklin-Galloway and Franklin-Jonathan Shipley (Bishop of St. Asaph) unpublished correspondence. With Mr. Mason's generous permission the editors reproduce fragments of this correspondence in the Introduction. The bulk of the selections have been printed from the latest, standard edition, _The Writings of Benjamin Franklin_, collected and edited with a Life and Introduction by Albert Henry Smyth (10 vols., 1905-1907). For permission to use this material the editors are grateful to The Macmillan Company, publishers. The editors are indebted to Dr. Max Farrand, Director of the Henry E. Huntington Library, for permission to reprint part of Franklin's MS version of the _Autobiography_. Chester E. Jorgenson is preparing an analysis and interpretation of Franklin's brand of scientific deism, its sources and relation to his economic, political, and literary theories and practice. Fragments of this projected study are included, especially in Section VII of the following Introduction. For the past two years Mr. Jorgenson has enjoyed the kindness and generosity of Mr. William Smith Mason, and has incurred an indebtedness which cannot be expressed adequately in print. The work of the editors has been vastly eased by Beata Prochnow Jorgenson's assistance in typing, proofreading, et cetera. They are extremely grateful to Professor Harry Hayden Clark for incisive suggestions and valuable editorial assistance. F. L. M. C. E. J. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. Franklin's Milieu: The Age of Enlightenment, xiii II. Franklin's Theories of Education, xxxii III. Franklin's Literary Theory and Practice, xlvi IV. Franklin as Printer and Journalist, lvii V. Franklin's Economic Views, lxiv VI. Franklin's Political Theories, lxxxii VII. Franklin as Scientist and Deist, cx