in Spain, 321, 322, 332;
criticisms of Vergennes, 325;
neglect of Congress to keep promises, 322, 326, 332;
begging from Vergennes, 327;
from Necker, 328;
difficulties over loan raised in Holland, 328;
extravagance of Laurens and Jackson, 329;
difficulties of Adams in Holland, 331, 332;
antedating of bills to elude a promise, 332;
further loans, 334, 336;
liquidation of accounts begins, 335;
peace alone puts an end to borrowing, 336.

Fisheries, importance of, to New England, 380;
right to, upheld by Adams, 380, 399.

Fitzherbert, ----, replaces Grenville, 372.

Florida, suggested as member of Confederation by Franklin, 208.

Folger, Abiah, mother of Franklin, 2.

Folger, ancestry of Franklin, 3.

Fox, C. J., member of opposition, 271;
attacks North regarding French and American alliance, 281;
in Rockingham cabinet, 365;
tries to outdo Shelburne by treating with colonies through France, 366;
willing to acknowledge their independence, 367;
urges Franklin to negotiate separately, 370;
retires from Shelburne's cabinet, 372.

France, policy of; early interest in English colonial controversy, 137;
regarded as probable ally of colonies, 222;
intervention suggested by Beaumarchais and Vergennes, 226-228;
enthusiasm over Franklin, 233-235;
secret assistance, 251;
self-interest of France, 252, 285, 368, 375, 380, 391, 396;
treaty of alliance with, 273-279;
war with England, 285;
financial assistance, 307-336.

Franklin ancestry, 2; from Northamptonshire, 2;
religious independence, 2.
Franklin, Benjamin. _Early years._ Ancestry, 2;
birth, 3;
intended at first for the church, 3;
assists father as tallow chandler, 4;
apprenticed as printer to his brother, 4;
"escapes being a poet," 4;
bold religious speculations, 5;
runs away, 6;
begins printing in Philadelphia, 6;
receives offer of help from Gov. Temple, 6;
fails to induce his father to assist, 7;
tricked by Temple into sailing for England, 8;
lives in London, 8;
"errata" in his career, 9;
bad company, 9;
infidelity, 9;
declines proposal to establish swimming school, 10;
returns home, 10;
composes epitaph, 11;
rise as printer in Philadelphia, 11, 12;
publishes "Pennsylvania Gazette," 12, 13;
matrimonial projects, 13, 14;
marriage, 15;
rise in society, 19;
establishes a library, 20;
effective methods of agitation, 21;
publishes Poor Richard's