me a member, and voted that I should be excused the customary payments, which would have amounted to twenty-five guineas, and ever since have given me their Transactions gratis. They also presented me with the gold medal of Sir Godfrey Copley for the year 1753, the delivery of which was accompanied with a very handsome speech of the president, Lord Macclesfield, wherein I was highly honoured."

Although the numerous important public duties which Franklin was called upon latterly to discharge, chiefly engrossed his time, he still returned to his philosophical studies on every occasion that offered, and made several curious and interesting discoveries.

Perhaps no philosopher ever stood on a prouder eminence in the world's eye than Franklin during the latter half of his life. The obscurity of his origin served but to make his elevation the more brightly conspicuous; and honours were showered on him from all quarters of the civilized world. In 1757 he visited England, and before his return made a tour in Scotland, where he formed an intimacy with Lord Kames, and had the degree conferred upon him of Doctor of Laws by the University of St. Andrews. In 1764 he again visited England, from which he proceeded to the continent of Europe. In Holland, Germany, and France, he was received with the greatest testimonies of respect from all men of science and distinction. At Paris Louis XV. honoured him with the most distinguished marks of his favour.

POLITICAL CAREER.

This part of Franklin's life need only be very generally touched on, the scenes and transactions in which he bore a part having long since become matter of history, with which almost every individual is now more or less acquainted. We have before mentioned that he was elected a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, as burgess for the city of Philadelphia, in 1747. Warm disputes at this time subsisted between the assembly and the proprietaries, each contending for what they conceived to be their just rights. Franklin, a friend of the interests of the many from his infancy, speedily distinguished himself as a steady opponent of the claims of the proprietaries, and he was soon looked up to as the head of the opposition. His influence with the assembly is said to have been very great. This arose not from any superior powers of elocution; he spoke but seldom, and he never was known to make any thing like an elaborate harangue. "His speeches," says his intimate friend, the late Dr. Stuber of Philadelphia, "frequently consisted of but a single sentence, or of a welltold story, the moral of which was always obviously to the point. He never attempted the flowery fields of oratory. His manner was plain and mild; his style of speaking was, like that of his writings, simple, unadorned, and remarkably concise. With this plain manner, and his penetrating and solid judgment, he was able to confound the most eloquent and subtle of his adversaries, to confirm the opinions of his friends, and to make converts of the unprejudiced who had opposed him. With a single observation he has rendered of no avail an elegant and lengthy discourse, and determined the fate of a question of importance."

Franklin had conducted himself so well in the office of postmaster for the state of Pennsylvania, and had shown himself so well acquainted with the business of that department, that it was thought expedient to raise him to a more dignified station. In 1753, he was appointed deputy-postmaster-general for the British colonies. It is said that the revenue from this source, in Franklin's hands, yielded to Great Britain three times as much as that of Ireland. In 1754, Franklin drew up

The descendants of the original settlers who had received grants of land from the British government, who claimed exemption from all taxes, and other privileges.

the celebrated "Albany Plan of Union," the purpose ef which was the establishment of a general government in the colonies, to be administered by a president-general, appointed by the crown, and by a grand council, consisting of members chosen by the representatives of the different colonies; the whole executive authority to be committed to the president-general; the legislative to the grand council and president jointly; and all laws to he approved of by the king. This plan was unanimously approved of by the commissioners for the crown and the colonies appointed to consult on the question, but its final fate was singular. It was rejected by the ministry of Great Britain as too democratical, and by every local assembly as too despotic. These verdicts were, perhaps, the best proof of its excellence, and of its having steered exactly in the middle betwixt the interests of both.

The British government having thus rejected a proposal of internal defence in the colonies, they were soon obliged to adopt measures of another sort for their protection. Aggressive operations were again threatened by the French; and in 1754, General Braddock was des patched from England with two regiments of regular English troops to resist them. The troops were landed at Alexandria, and marched thence to Fredericktown in Maryland, where they halted for carriages to transport their baggage, ammunition, &c., to the frontiers. Great reluctance was manifested by the country people to supply these, and, in fact, so few were sent in, and so many other difficulties occurred, that the general was about to abandon the expedition altogether. In this dilemma he was fortunately joined by Franklin, who, aware of the necessity and importance of the expedition, asked General Braddock what recompense he would afford to the owners for the use of their wagons and horses. General Braddock referred the terms to himself; they were drawn up and accepted; and Franklin immediately published them in an advertisement, with an animated appeal from himself to the loyalty and patriotism of his country men. The consequence was, that, in two weeks, 150 wagons and 260.horses poured into the camp, the owners of which, however, declined the security of the British commander for compensation, and insisted on having the personal bond of Franklin, This he accordingly gave them, and even advanced several hundred pounds of his own in present payment.

The expedition accordingly set forward, and its disas trous issue must still be well remembered. Although a brave man, Braddock had far too much confidence in the prowess of his regular troops, and too much contempt for the Americans and Indians. About one hundred of the latter joined him on his march, who would have proved of the utmost use to him as guides and scouts, but he treated them so slightingly that they all left him. No appearance of the enemy was seen until the troops had penetrated far into the interior; and the first intelligence which they had of the approach of a foe, was in finding that they had fallen into an ambuscade, where they were mowed down in hundreds by invisible antagonists secreted among the trees and bushes. A general rout and confusion almost immediately ensued. The drivers cut their horses' traces and fled, abandoning the wagons, which also obstructed the retreat of the soldiers. The general was with difficulty brought off, severely wounded; and, out of eighty-six officers, sixty-three was killed or wounded, with seven hundred and fourteen privates killed, out of eleven hundred who fell in the snare. All the artillery and stores, of course, were left to the enemy. As soon as the news of the defeat, and the loss of the wagons and horses, became generally known, the owners came in a body upon Franklin for the amount of their claims, for which he had given bond, amounting to nearly £20.000! It was with difficulty that many of these claimants were prevented from suing him, until government had time to examine into their charges and order

The assembly now laid a tax, to raise money for the defence of the province, and Franklin was appointed one of the commissioners to dispose of it. He had also carried a bill through the house for establishing and disciplining a voluntary militia. To promote the association necessary to form the militia, he wrote a dialogue upon the subject, which was extensively circulated, and thought to have great effect. While the several companies in the city and country were forming and learning their exercise, the governor prevailed upon Franklin to take charge of the north-western frontier, which was infested by the enemy, and provide for the defence of the inhabitants, by raising troops, and building a line of forts. Franklin did not think himself very well qualified for the military, but was willing to be of all the service in his power. He received a commission from the governor, with full authority, and a parcel of blank commissions for officers, to be given to whom he thought fit. Five hundred and sixty men were soon raised and placed under his command.

The first place selected for the erection of a fort was Gnadenhutten, a small settlement of Moravians; and thither Franklin set out in the middle of winter, amid torrents of rain, and through almost impassable roads. Upon arriving at the village, he lost not a moment in planning and marking out the fort, with a circumference of 455 feet; and the men were instantly set to work with their axes to cut down trees for palisades. Seeing the trees fall so fast, Franklin had the curiosity to look at his watch when two men began to cut at a pine. In six minutes they had it upon the ground, and it was fourteen inches in diameter. Each pine made three palisades, of eighteen feet long, pointed at one end. While these were preparing, other men dug a trench all round, of three feet deep, in which the palisades were to be planted. When these were set up, the carpenters built within them a platform of boards all round, about six feet high, for the men to stand on and fire through the loopholes. They had one swivel gun, which they mounted, and fired as soon as it was fixed, that the Indians might know they had such pieces. Thus their fort, such as it was, was finished in a week, though it rained so hard every other day that the men were almost unable to work.

"This gave me occasion to observe," says Franklin, "that when men are employed they are best contented. For on the days they worked, they were good-natured and cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a good day's work, they spent the evening gayly. But, on our idle days, they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault with the pork and the bread, and were continually in bad humour; which put me in mind of a sea captain, whose rule it was to keep his men constantly at work; and when his mate once told him that they had done every thing, and there was nothing further to employ them about, Oh,' said he, make them scour the anchor.

they had made small fires in the bottom of the holes; and we observed among the weeds and grass the prints of their bodies made by their lying all round, with their legs hanging down in the holes to keep their feet warm, which with them is an essential point. This kind of fire, so managed, could not discover them either by its light, flame, sparks, or even smoke; it appeared that the number was not great, and it seems they saw we were too many to be attacked by them with a prospect of advantage.

"We had for our chaplain a zealous Presbyterian minister, Mr. Beatty, who complained to me that the men did not generally attend his prayers and exhortations. When they enlisted they were promised, besides pay and provisions, a gill of rum a-day, which was punctually served out to them, half in the morning and half in the evening, and I observed they were punctual in attending to receive it." Franklin advised that the rum should be distributed only just after prayers; and never were prayers more generally or more punctually attended.

Franklin's military career, was, however, a short one, for he had scarcely completed his defensive preparations, when he received a summons to attend the assembly, where his advice and assistance were found indispensable.

The disputes between the proprietaries and the people, before referred to, continued to increase in 1755 and 1756, though a war was then raging on the frontiers the French having still possession of Canada. The popular assemblies insisted on the justice of taxing the proprietary estates; but the governors constantly refused to assent to such a measure. The assemblies at last resolved to appeal to the mother country; and a petition was accordingly made out, addressed to the king in council. Franklin was appointed to present this address, as agent for the province of Pennsylvania, and departed for England in June, 1757. During this time, the governor passed a law imposing a tax, in which no discrimination was made in favour of the estates of the Penn family, which were immensely large. The Penns thereupon used their most strenuous exertions to prevent its passing into a law. After long debate and deliberation, a proposal was made that Franklin should personally engage that the proprietary estates should pay no more than a just proportion of the tax. This he agreed to do the proprietaries withdrew their opposition, and tranquillity was once more restored to the province. The manner in which this dispute was terminated sufficiently evinces the high confidence entertained of Franklin's honour and integrity, even by those opposed to his political views. After this, Franklin remained some time at the British court, having, besides Pennsylvania, been also appointed agent for the states of Massachusetts, Maryland, and Georgia.

The French in Canada still continuing to molest and interrupt the trade of the other colonies, Franklin published his famous Canada pamphlet, in which he in a forcible manner pointed out the advantages which would result from the conquest of that province. An expedition was accordingly sent out under General Wolfe, the result of which is well known. At the treaty in 1762, France ceded Canada to Great Britain, and by her cession of Louisiana at the same time, relinquished all her possessions on the continent of America.

In the summer of 1762, Franklin returned to America, and received the thanks of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, as well for the faithful discharge of his duty to that province in particular, as for the many and important services done to America in general, during his resi dence in Great Britain. A compensation of £5000, Pennsylvania currency, was likewise decreed him for the services he had performed in England. He was also immediately re-elected to his seat in the assembly.

Upon the breaking out of the fatal disturbances in consequence of Mr. Grenville's Stamp Act, Franklin had again returned to England, as agent for Pennsylvania and other states. During his residence in England, he consulted, with unremitting industry, the best interests of his native country. He was every where received with respect, on account of his reputation as a writer and philosopher. Franklin was unwearied in his efforts to bring about a reconciliation. He had frequent interviews with Lord Howe and Lord Chatham, and other distinguished English statesmen, who entertained for him the highest respect and esteem. Most of the time during his present residence in England was occupied in these vain efforts. It is well known that the first violent demonstrations against the imposition of the Stamp Act, broke out in Franklin's native place, Boston, the capital of the state of Massachusetts. The governor, Hutchinson, and other functionaries, wrote to the home government, recommending the adoption of the most rigorous coercive measures, inveighing in unmeasured terms against the leading characters of the state. By some unaccountable means, these letters fell into Franklin's hands ere they reached their destination. He instantly transmitted them back to the assembly at Massachusetts, who, enraged at the conduct of the governor, sent a petition to the king, praying for his dismissal, and Franklin was appointed to present it. As might have been expected, the petition was dismissed as "frivolous and vexatious;" and Franklin incurred so much obloquy for his interception of the governor's despatches (the mode of which was never discovered), that he was dismissed from his office of deputypostmaster-general. He still continued in England, however, and left nothing untried to effect a reconciliation between the mother country and the colonies; but finding all his endeavours unavailing, he returned to America in 1775. The day after his arrival, he was elected by the legislature of Pennsylvania as a delegate to Congress. Hostilities had then commenced; but it would be repeating a thrice-told tale to enter into any account of the protracted and bloody struggle that ensued, or the nature of its termination. In 1778, Franklin was sent as ambassador to the court of France, where he soon brought about an alliance between that nation and the North American states. When the British ministry at length saw the necessity of recognising the independence of the states, the definitive treaty to that effect was signed at Paris, on the 3d of September, 1783, by Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Jay, for the states, on the one hand; and by Mr. David Hartley, for Great Britain, on the other. Franklin continued at Paris for the two following years; but at last, by his own urgent request, was recalled. Shortly after his return, he was elected president of the supreme executive council, and lent all his still perfect energies to consolidating the infant government. Age and infirmities, however, claimed their usual ascendency; and in 1788 he retired wholly from public life.

DEATH.

Franklin's last public act—and it was one in beautiful accordance with the whole tenor of his life-was putting his signature, as president of the Anti-Slavery Society, to a memorial presented to the House of Representatives, praying them to exert the full powers intrusted to them to discourage the revolting traffic in the human species. This was on the 12th of February, 1789. From this day forward, he was confined almost constantly to bed with the stone, from which he suffered the most excruciating agony. Yet, when his paroxysms of pain drew forth, as they did occasionally, an irrepressible groan, he would observe, he was afraid he did not bear his sufferings as he ought-acknowledged his grateful sense of the many blessings he had received from the Supreme Being, who had raised him from small and low beginnings to

such high rank and consideration among men, and made no doubt but his present afflictions were kindly intended to wean him from a world in which he was no longer fit to act the part assigned him. He latterly sunk into a calm lethargic state; and, on the 17th April, 1790, about eleven o'clock at night, he quietly expired. He was then aged exactly eighty-four years and three months. The following epitaph was written by himself many years previous to his death; [but only the simple inscription "Benjamin and Deborah Franklin, 1790," was placed upon the plain marble slab that covers his grave.-Am. Ed.] "The Body of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Printer, slike the cover of an old book, its contents torn out, and stript of its lettering and gilding], lies here food for worms; yet the work itself shall not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more beautiful edition, corrected and amended by THE AUTHOR.”

CHARACTER.

In looking back on Franklin's career, it is evident that the principal feature in his character was worldly pru dence-not in the usual and selfish acceptation of the term, but that prudence, founded on true wisdom, which dictates the practice of honesty, industry, frugality, temperance, in short, all those qualities which may be clas sified under the name of "moral virtues"-as being the only certain means of obtaining distinction, respect, independence and mental cheerfulness. There is no other writer who inculcates lessons of practical wisdom in a more agreeable and popular manner, and we much regret that the limits of this sheet prevent our giving many extracts illustrative of this quality. His whole conduct and writings, indeed, present the somewhat singular union of great genius with practical good sense, and of singu lar worldly shrewdness with the loftiest integrity of principle. The greatest worldly honours and few have attained higher-could not for a moment make him for get or deviate from the fixed principles with which he started in life. Ever keeping before his mind his own origin and rise, he justly considered every man to be originally on a par in as far as regarded real intrinsic worth; and equally, by precept and example, contributed more, perhaps, than any individual who ever existed, to breaking down these invidious bars to eminence and success in life which the conventional habits and artificial feelings of society had theretofore interposed to the elevation of those unblessed by birth and fortune.

As the present biography must be considered as more immediately instructive to the industrious and productive portion of mankind, we shall conclude it by giving the following " Advice to a Young Tradesman," written by Franklin at the time when his industrious and frugal habits were just beginning to be rewarded with independence and worldly respect.

"Remember that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a-day by his labour, and goes abroad, or sits idle one-half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides.

"Remember that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can make of it during that time. This amounts to a considerable sum where a man has a good and large credit, and makes good use of it.

"Remember that money is of a prolific generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six, turned again is seven and threepence; and so on till it becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding sow

Remember that six pounds a year is but a groat a day. For this little sum (which may be daily wasted either in time or expense, unperceived) a man of credit may, on his own security, have the constant possession and use of a hundred pounds. So much in stock, briskly turned by an industrious man, produces great advantage.

Remember this saying. The good paymaster is lord of another man's purse.' He that is known to pay punctually, and exactly to the time he promises, may at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use. After indu-try and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world than punctuality and justice in all his dealings: therefore, never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend's purse for ever. "The most trifling actions that affects a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night heard by a creditor, makes him easy six month's longer; but if he sees you at a billiard-table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day; demands it before he can receive it in a lump.

It shows, besides, that you are mindful of what you owe; it makes you appear a careful as well as an honest man, and that still increases your credit.

"Beware of thinking all your own that you possess, and of living accordingly. It is a mistake that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this, keep an exact account, for some time, both of your expenses and your income. If you take the pains at first to mention particulars, it will have this good effect-you will discover how wonderfully small trifling expenses mount up to large sums, and will discern what might have been, and may for the future be saved, without occasioning any great inconvenience.

In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain

industry and frugality; that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them every thing He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he gets (necessary expenses excepted), will certainly become rich-if that Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a blessing on their honest endea vours, doth not, in his wise providence, otherwise determine."

About forty years later, after a long life of experience, he penned the following similar admonitions, entitled, "Necessary Hints to those that would be Rich:"

"The use of money is all the advantage there is in having money.-For six pounds a year you may have the use of one hundred pounds, provided you are a man of known prudence and honesty. He that spends a groat a day idly, spends idly about six pounds a year, which la the price for the use of one hundred pounds.—He that wastes idly a groat's worth of his time per day, one day with another, wastes the privilege of using one hundred pounds each year. He that idly loses five shillings' worth of time, loses five shillings, and might as prudently throw five shillings into the sea.-] -He that loses five shillings, not only loses that sum, but all the advantages that might be made by turning it in dealing; which, by the time that a young man becomes old, will amount to a considerable sum of money.-Again, he that sells upon credit, asks a price for what he sells equivalent to the principal and interest of his money for the time he is to be kept out of it; therefore, he that buys upon credit, pays interest for what he buys; and he that pays ready money, might let that money out to use; so that he that possesses any thing he has bought, pays interest for the use of it. Yet, in buying goods, it is best to pay ready money, because he that sells upon credit expects to lose five per cent. by bad debts; therefore, he charges, on all he sells upon credit, an advance that will make up that deficiency. Those who pay for what they buy upon credit, pay their share of this advance. He that pays ready money escapes, or may escape, that charge."

A HUMAN being, supposing him to be soundly constiuted at first, will continue in health till he reaches old age, provided that certain conditions are observed, and no injurious accident shall befall. This is a proposition so well supported by an extensive observation of facts, that it may be regarded as established. It becomes, of course, important to ascertain what are the conditions essential to health, in order that, by their observance, we may preserve for ourselves what is justly esteemed as the greatest of earthly blessings, and dwell for our naturally appointed time upon the earth. A general acquaintance with these conditions may be easily attained by all, and to pay them obedience is much more within the power of individuals than is generally supposed.

The leading conditions essential to health may be thus numerated:-1. A constant supply of pure air; 2. A sufficiency of nourishing food, rightly taken; 3. Cleaniness; 4. A sufficiency of exercise to the various or gans of the system; 5. A right temperature; 6. A sufficiency of cheerful and innocent enjoyments; and, 7. Exemption from harassing cares.

AIR.

The common air is a fluid composed mainly of two gases, in certain proportions; namely, oxygen as 20 and nitrogen as 80 parts in a hundred, with a very minute addition of carbonic acid gas. Such is air in its pure and right state, and such is the state in which we require it for respiration. When it is loaded with any admixture of a different kind, or its natural proportions are in any way deranged, it cannot be breathed without producing injurious results. We also require what is apt to appear a large quantity of this element of healthy existence. The lungs of a healthy full-grown man will inhale the bulk of twenty cubic inches at every inspiration, and he will use no less than fifty-seven hogsheads in twenty-four hours.

Now, there are various circumstances which tend to surround us at times with vitiated air, and which must accordingly be guarded against. That first calling for attention is the miasma or noxious quality imparted to the air in certain districts by stagnant water and decay.