Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 20.djvu/190

 of the numberless imitations of the ‘Tatler’ and ‘ Spectator.’ 5. ‘A Dissertation on Ancient Tragedy,’ 1760, given gratis to the subscribers to his translation of Sophocles. 6. ‘A Letter to a Bishop concerning Lectureships,’ ‘a piece of humour’ on the manner of election to such posts, and the miserable pay attaching thereto. Between 1748 and 1779 Francklin printed nine single sermons preached on charitable and special occasions, the most important of which was that delivered at St. George's, Bloomsbury, in May 1756, on the death of the Rev. John Sturges, from which it appears that he had hoped to succeed him in that position. An entire volume of his sermons on ‘The Relative Duties’ was published in 1765, and passed into a fourth edition in 1788. He died without leaving adequate provision for his family, and in 1785 there appeared for his widow's relief two volumes of ‘ Sermons on Various Subjects,’ followed by a third in 1787. Francklin lent his name, in conjunction with Smollett, to a translation of Voltaire's works and letters, but the ‘Orestes’ (produced at Covent Garden Theatre 13 March 1769 for the benefit of Mrs. Yates) and the ‘Electra’ (brought out at Drury Lane 15 Oct. 1774) are believed to have been his sole share in the publication. Some of his fugitive pieces were embodied in the ‘Miscellaneous Pieces’ brought together by Tom Davies, and there are many of his letters in the ‘Garrick Correspondence.’

[Welch's Westm. School (1852 ed.), pp. 311, 321, 326; Forshall's Westminster, pp. 108–9, 229–30; Hill's Boswell, i. 355, iii. 83, iv. 34; Cussans's Hertfordshire, vol. i. pt. i. p. 154; Taylor's Sir Joshua Reynolds, i. 261–2, 310, 317, ii. 73, 162; Gent. Mag. 1759, p. 45, 1784, pt. i. pp. 238–9, 1796, pt. i. p. 446; Genest, v. 119–120, 242–6, 441–7, 528–9; Churchill's Works (1804), i. 7–8, 82, ii. 367; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ii. 594, vi. 425; Hasted's Kent, i. 381; Records of Trin. Coll. Cambr.] 

FRANCKLIN, WILLIAM (1763–1839), orientalist, born in 1763, was the eldest son of Thomas Francklin (1721–1784) [q. v.], by his wife Miss Venables. He was admitted on the foundation at Westminster in 1777, whence he was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1781. Preferring to engage in the profession of arms, he was admitted a cadet in the service of the East India Company in 1782, appointed ensign of the 19th regiment of Bengal native infantry 31 Jan. 1783, lieutenant 20 Oct. 1789, captain in the army 7 June 1796, captain in his regiment 30 Sept. 1803, major in the army 25 April 1808, major in his regiment 29 March 1810, lieutenant-colonel in the army 4 June 1814, and in his regiment on 16 Dec. of the same year. On being invalided, 1 Oct. 1815, he was made regulating officer at Bhaugulpore. He retired in India in December 1825, and died 12 April 1839, aged 76. A distinguished officer, Francklin also enjoyed considerable reputation as an oriental scholar. In 1786 he made a tour in Persia, in the course of which he resided for eight months at Shiraz as an inmate of a Persian family, and was thus enabled to communicate a fuller account of the manners of the people than had before appeared. His journal was published as ‘Observations made on a Tour from Bengal to Persia in … 1786–7; with a short account of the remains of the … Palace of Persepolis,’ 4to, Calcutta, 1788 (reprinted in vol. ix. of J. Pinkerton's ‘General Collection of Voyages,’ 4to, 1808, &c.). A French version, ‘Voyage du Bengal à Chyraz,’ was published in vols. ii. and iii. of ‘Collection portative de voyages traduits de différentes langues orientales,’ 12mo, Paris [1797, &c.]. His next work, ‘The History of the Reign of Shah-Aulum, the present Emperor of Hindostan. … With an Appendix,’ 4to, London, 1798, serves as an important continuation of the ‘Seir ul Mutákherin, or History of Modern Times.’ Francklin also published: 1. ‘The Loves of Camarúpa and Cámalatà, an ancient Indian Tale … translated from the Persian’ [version by Na'ámat Allah?], 12mo, London, 1793. 2. ‘Remarks and Observations on the Plain of Troy, made during an Excursion in June 1799,’ 4to, London, 1800. 3. ‘ Military Memoirs of Mr. George Thomas, who … rose … to the rank of a General in the service of the native powers in … India. … Compiled and arranged from Mr. Thomas's original documents (Appendix),’ 4to, Calcutta, 1803; 8vo, London, 1805. 4. ‘Tracts, Political, Geographical, and Commercial; on the dominions of Ava, and the North-Western parts of Hindostaun,’ 8vo, London, 1811. 5. ‘Miscellaneous Remarks, in two parts: 1st. On Vincent's Geography of Susiana. 2nd. Supplementary Note on the Site of the ancient City of Palibothra,’ 4to, Calcutta, 1813. 6. ‘Inquiry concerning the Site of ancient Palibothra,’ &c. 4 pts. 4to, London, 1815–22. 7. ‘Researches on the Tenets and Doctrines of the Jeynes and Boodhists; conjectured to be the Brachmanes of ancient India. In which is introduced a discussion on the worship of the serpent in various countries of the world,’ 4to, London, 1827. To vol. iv. of ‘Asiatick Researches’ (1795), pp. 419–32, he contributed ‘An Account of the present State of Delhi;’ while to vol. ii. of ‘Miscellaneous Translations from Oriental Languages,’ published in 1834 by the Oriental