Benjamin Franklin and All His Witty Remarks: A Critical Edition of Three of Benjamin Franklin's Writings Main Menu Introduction Introduction to Franklin Critical Edition Emendations Emendations for three Franklin texts A Witch Trial at Mount Holly How absurd it is The Way to Wealth or Poor Richard Improved Sage Advice from Richard Saunders (a.k.a Benjamin Franklin) Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America Who are the real savages? Annotated Bibliography More Reads for Franklin-Lovers

Note on the Text

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            The following texts, Benjamin Franklin’s “A Witch Trial at Mount Holly,” “The Way to Wealth,” and “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America,” were all imported from Yale University’s the Papers of Benjamin Franklin online edition. This project conducted by Yale has been in the making since 1888. The Yale Project was formally created in 1954 by Yale University and the American Philosophical Society, both reputable organizations. Rare books, pamphlets, letter correspondences as well as second or third copies of some of Franklin’s texts can be found in the collection held, restored, and edited by Yale. Using this source was the best option when creating a critical edition of the three texts written above because of its authenticity and the fact that they have one of the best and most extensive collections of all of Franklin’s work. Although it is hard to say where the original holographs of these texts are, it is safe to say the copies from Yale are as authentic as is accessible.
            Franklin’s “A Witch Trial at Mount Holly” was originally posted in The Pennsylvania Gazette, on October 22, 1730. However, the original holograph’s location is unknown. The copy from the Yale Project is the best and most original copy found. Franklin’s “The Way to Wealth” was printed as the preface to the “Poor Richard Almanac” written by Franklin and the location of the original holograph for this text is also unknown. “Remarks Concerning the Savages”, is also, just as difficult to track down the holograph. Needless to say, all three of these texts’ holographs are in an unknown location but the copies from Yale are as authentic as most will get.
            In this critical edition you will find that very few edits were made. In all three texts chosen, only spelling was updated. Grammar and capitalizations were left in their original format for authenticity’s sake. Spelling was corrected and modernized, however, to make the flow of reading these texts easier. These emendations will allow for readers who have less experience with older spelling styles be able to read and understand all pieces of these texts. Understanding the texts better will also allow readers to more easily pick up on the satirical style used by Benjamin Franklin.