printing establishments then in Philadelphia, and was at once noticed and esteemed by his employers, for his industry and studious habits.

Having written a letter to a friend at New Castle, in Delaware, in which he gave a graphic account of his journey from Boston to Philadelphia, which letter was shown to Governor Keith, of that province, that functionary became much interested in the young journeyman printer, and invited him to his mansion. Friendship succeeded the first interview, and the governor advised him to set up business for himself, and offered his patronage. The plan of operation was rather an extensive one, and involved the necessity of making a voyage to England for materials. Franklin went to London, but found Sir William Keith's patronage of so little avail, that he was obliged to seek employment for his daily bread. He obtained a situation as journeyman printer in one of the principal offices there, and by the same line of industry, studiousness, punctuality, and frugality, he soon won to himself numerous friends.* Unfortunately he was thrown in the way of some distinguished infidels while he was in London, (among whom was Lord Mandeville,) and received flattering attentions from them. His mind became tinctured with their views, and he was induced to write a pamphlet upon deistical metaphysics, a performance which he afterward regretted, and candidly condemned.

With the fruits of his earnings Franklin resolved to take a trip to the Continent, but just as he was on the point of departure, he received an offer from a mercantile friend, about to sail for America, to accompany him as a clerk. He accepted it, and embarked for home in July, 1726.

With his new employer, at Philadelphia, Franklin had before him a prospect of prosperity and wealth, but soon

* We have seen the identical Printing Press which was worked by Franklin when in London. It is now in the National Museum at Washington city.

a heavy cloud obscured the bright vision. His friend died, and once more Franklin became a journeyman printer with his old employer. In a short time he formed a partnership with another printer, and commenced business in Philadelphia, where his character, habits, and talents, soon gained him warm friends, public confidence, and a successful business.* So multifarious were the public and private labors of usefulness of this great man, from this period until his death, that our circumscribed limits will permit us to notice them only in brief chronological order.

In 1732, Franklin began his useful annual, called “Poor Richard's Almanac." It was widely circulated in the Colonies, and in England, and was translated into several Continental languages of Europe. It continued until 1757. About the same time he commenced a newspaper, which soon became the most popular one in the Colonies. By constant, persevering study, he acquired a knowledge of the Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian languages. He projected a literary club, called the Junto, and the books which they collected for their use, formed the nucleus of the present extensive Philadelphia Library. He wrote many pamphlets containing essays upon popular subjects, which were read with avidity, and made him very popular. With his popularity, his business increased, and his pecuniary circumstances became easy in a few years.

In 1734, he was appointed government printer for Pennsylvania, and in 1736 he received the appointment of Clerk of the General Assembly. The next year he was made postmaster of Philadelphia. The income arising from these offices, and from his business, relieved him from constant drudgery, and left him leisure for philo

* In 1730, he married a young widow lady, whose maiden name was Read. He had sought her hand before going to England, but she gave it to another. Her husband died while Franklin was absent, and their intimacy was renewed soon after his return.

sophical pursuits, and the advancement of schemes for the public good.*

In 1741, he commenced the publication of the "General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, for the British Plantations," which had a wide circulation. In 1744 he was elected a member of the General Assembly,† and was annually re-elected, for ten consecutive years. It was about this time that he made some of his philosophical discoveries, upon the mysterious wings of which his fame spread world-wide.‡

In 1753 he was appointed a commissioner to treat with the Indians at Carlisle. In 1754, he was a delegate from Pennsylvania to a Convention of representatives of the Colonies that met at Albany to consult upon the general defence and security against the French. He there proposed an admirable plan of union.§ About this time he was appointed deputy Postmaster General. He was also active in improving the military affairs of the colony, and rendered General Braddock distinguished service in providing material for his expedition against Fort Du Quesne.

* He organized fire companies in Philadelphia, the first on the Continent, and he devised means for paving the streets and lighting the city with gas. All military discipline in the Province had become entirely neglected, but Franklin saw the utility of a thorough knowledge of tactics, and he applied himself to the task of instruction. He projected the "American Philosophical Society," the "Pennsylvania Hospital," and the "Pennsylvania University." In 1742, he published a treatise on the improvement of chimneys, and invented the celebrated stove which bears his name. This invention he gave to the public.

† He had previously held the office of Justice of the Peace, and an Alderman of the city.

His attention was powerfully drawn to the subject of electricity, in conse quence of some experiments which had been exhibited by Europeans in Boston; and he not only repeated them all with success, but he was led to such investigations of the nature and effects of electricity, as to discover many astounding truths such as the identity of lightning and the electrical spark of a machine.

This plan for a confederation of the several Colonies, contained all the essential features of the present Constitution of the United States, and exhibited the powers of a great mind. But it had the singular fortune to be rejected, both by the home government and by the Colonies; the former contending that it had too much democracy in it, and the latter, that it had too much prerogative in it.

In 1757, Franklin was sent by the General Assembly of the Province, to London, as its counsel in a dispute with the governor; and he so managed the case as to obtain a verdict for the Assembly. He remained a resident agent for the Colony, in England, for five years, and formed many valuable acquaintances while there. On his return, he was publicly thanked by the General Assembly, and the sum of twenty thousand dollars was presented to him as compensation for his important services.

In 1764, he was again sent to England as agent for the Colony, upon business similar to that for which he was first sent, and he was there when the Stamp Act was passed, loudly and boldly protesting against it. His opinions had great weight there; and, having been appointed agent for several of the Colonies, the eyes of statesmen at home and abroad were turned anxiously to him, as the storm of the Revolution rapidly gathered in dark and threatening clouds. He labored assiduously to effect conciliation, and he did much to arrest for a long time the blow that finally severed the Colonies from the mother country. Satisfied at length that war was inevitable, he returned home in 1775, and was at once elected a delegate to the General Congress. He was again elected in 1776, and was one of the committee appointed to draft a Declaration of Independence, voted for its adoption, and signed it on the second of August.

a 1776.

In September Franklin was appointed one of three commissioners to meet Lord Howe in conference on Staten Island, and hear his propositions for peace. The attempt at conciliation proved abortive, and hostilities commenced.* About this time a Convention was

* Franklin had formed a personal acquaintance with Lord Howe, in England. At the conference in question, when his lordship expressed his kind feelings toward the Americans, and his regret that they would not share in the protection of British power, Doct. Franklin told him plainly that he need not give himself any trouble on their account as the Americans were fully able to take care of themselves.

a Oct.

1777.

called in Pennsylvania, for the purpose of organizing a State government, according to the recommendation of the General Congress. Franklin was chosen its President, and his wisdom was manifested in the Constitution which followed. He was appointed by Congress a Commissioner to the Court of France, to negotiate a treaty of alliance. Although then over seventy years of age, he accepted the appointment, and sailed in October, 1776. He was received with distinguished honors, and strong expressions of sympathy in behalf of his country were made; yet the French ministry were so cautious, that it was not until after the news of the capture of Burgoyne reached them, and American affairs looked brighter, that they would enter into a formal negotiation. A treaty was finally concluded, and was signed by Franklin and the French Minister, in February, 1778. America was acknowledged independent, and the French government openly espoused her cause. Franklin was invested by Congress with almost unlimited discretionary powers, and his duties were very arduous and complex; yet he discharged them with a fidelity and skill which excited the admiration of Europe. Great Britain at length yielded, and consented to negotiate a treaty of peace upon the basis of American independence; and on the third day of September, 1783, Doctor Franklin had the pleasure of signing a definitive treaty to that effect.*

Franklin now asked leave of Congress to return home to his family, but he was detained there until the arrival

* It was on this occasion, that Doctor Franklin again put on a suit of clothes which ten years before, on the occasion of his being insulted before the English Privy Council, he declared he would never wear again until he had "signed England's degradation and America's independence."

† Doctor Franklin had two children, a son and daughter. The former was a royal governor of New Jersey before the Revolution, and adhering to the government, he went to England, where he died. His daughter married Mr. Bache, of Philadelphia, whose descendants are among the first families of that city at the present time.