to read, can afford to purchase a thousand volumes for their own private property. A thousand persons can very well do so, and thus secure valuable reading for years at

a trifling expense. Every town in the Union ought to have several thousand dollars thus invested. It would pay immensely better than ten times the amount in the best bank or rail road stock.

Ever studiously desirous of doing good, in the year 1732 our subject commenced the publication of Poor Richard's Almanac, a little annual that for twenty-five years served as the medium for communicating to a nation of readers very much valuable instruction in a preeminently attractive form. From the boundless success of this little missionary, might many modern preachers learn wisdom as to the form and manner of efficiently administering their didactics.

In 1736, at the mature age of thirty years, Franklin's public life began by his appointment as Clerk of the General Assembly, the duties of which office he discharged with honor to himself and satisfaction to the state. About the same time he formed the first fire-company, a benevolent institution now as common throughout our country as it is invaluable.

In 1744 he wrote and published a pamphlet entitled Plain Truth, in which he urged the necessity of a regularly organized militia force for the defence of property in case of invasion, which there was continual reason to apprehend. This forcible tract produced an immediate and surprising effect upon the Quaker descendants of peaceful Penn. A meeting was called for the purpose of considering the subject, where, after a short speech from the author, papers were distributed for the signatures of such as would agree to arm and equip themselves. The number amount

ed to twelve hundred, and shortly after was increased to above ten thousand. These organized themselves into regiments, by one of which Franklin was chosen Colonel, But he, deeming himself unable properly to discharge the duties of that office, resigned in favor of a friend, who on his recommendation was substituted. This whole affair exhibits the commanding influence which may be exercised by a great mind over others. Even those whose principles were strongly opposed to war in any form, were induced by his persuasive power to assume arms in the just defence of their country and their rights. About this time he was elected justice of the peace, but thinking his knowledge of law insufficient for an intelligent discharge of duty in that station, he resigned it immediately. If moderu justices who know nothing of the law were wise enough to follow his example, there might be occasion for some special elections in several places. But men seek office now for their own pecuniary advantage. They do not, like our fathers, require urging to accept, and a conviction that the public good demands their services. The spirit of those old patriots who loved their country better than gold, has become almost obsolete, while it can never cease to be admired.

In September, 1746, he entered upon a course of scien tific experiments, resulting in his important discoveries in electricity, which have rendered his name as a philosopher immortal, and justly entitled him to the appellation of the Lightning KinG, which we have chosen as his fitting title of glory. His own useful applications to practical purposes, of the grand truths which he established relating to the nature and operations of the electric fluid, not less than the subsequent revelations in this interesting and important science, and their wonderful power to produce the most

surprising results, have given him a distinguished place among the most eminent savans of his own or any other age.

Most men in active business and political life, find at the age of forty years, little time for the study of physical or any other science, and still less of inclination than of time. Franklin, in the midst of all his arduous labors for his country, had leisure to study largely the intricate laws of nature, to investigate vigorously recondite phenomena, and to deduce successfully previously unknown principles. Here again his illustrious example is at once a reproach, an exhortation and a promise. There is much of time in the life of every man, however exacting may be the calls of his profession, that could, by an ever-watchful industry, be found or made and appropriated to the prosecution of scientific investigations, or some other elevated employment, which would yield the highest pleasure and at the same time advance him in his transcendental life. We are prone to rest satisfied with very moderate efforts, supposing that our duties to God, our neighbors and ourselves, are quite fulfilled by a mere observance of customary forms. If we labor diligently in our regular business, give liberally to the popular charitable institutions of our town, county and state, and attend systematically to the ordinances of our religion, the voice of community says, "Well done!" and our stupid conscience is schooled to endorse the plaudit. We have learned that great and extraordinary efforts are manifestations of great and original genius, to which, in our slothful modesty, we dare not pretend. When that greatest of military leaders assumed command of the army of Italy," he called his generals together and announced the manner in which he proposed to conduct the war. pedantic tacticians were astonished, and wonderingly in

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quired how he expected to accomplish his great designs? 'I will restore to war,' answered the young demi-god, its original enthusiasm, I will make each man a hero."" superior wisdom, the gigantic success of his plan, is told to listening eternity by the thunder-voices of Lodi, Jena, Wagram and Borodino. Would that some spiritual Napoleon-a Paul or Luther, some intellectual conqueror—a Newton or Franklin, might say, with equal effect, of his Ged-armed followers, "I'll make each man a hero!"

In 1751, Franklin was appointed Deputy Post Master General of America; an office of great importance, the conferance of which shows the high reputation which he possessed on both sides of the Atlantic, for business talent and fidelity. The next year, with four others, he was nominated a commissioner to confer with the chiefs of the Six Nations, concerning the best means of defending their country in case of war with France, which was anticipated. When it had actually commenced and the British troops under General Braddock were unable to advance for want of baggage-wagons, ever active in his country's cause, he set out scouring the country for the necessary supply of these vehicles, and not being furnished with public money to pay for them, unhesitatingly purchased on his own account. How long General Scott might have remained at Vera Cruz, if he had been compelled to wait for some individual citizen of the United States to purchase baggage-wagons on his own credit, even if that citizen were a certain war-loving millionaire of this generation, is an interesting though rather unfair question—un. fair, because the nineteenth is not the eighteenth century, nor the citizen referred to Benjamin Franklin.

During the French war, our hero was again elected colonel, which office he this time accepted; but his commis

sion, with many others, was soon after invalidated by a repeal of the preëxisting military laws for the colonies. Five years after the time of which we have just been speak. ing, he was sent to England, the fearless representee of his country's wrongs, the brave claimant of her rights, to present to the King a petition on the subject of taxation. Thus early, eighteen years before the outbreak of our rev. olutionary fires, was he looked to as a leading spirit in the onward march of a people who already began to remonstrate against the task-master's tyranny, and to cast forward an eager eye toward the promised land. While in England he was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Society and received the degree of Doctor of Laws from the Oxford University; marks of respect unusually significant when paid to a colonial subject. In 1765, he was examined before parliament on the subject of the stamp act, and in his fearless answers nobly testified his patriotic attachment to his native land. His was not that moral cowardice which basely shrinks from a full and distinct expression of opinion and feeling, when surrounded with hostile feeling and opposing opinion. He was strong enough to stand alone and look with an unquailing gaze into the lion's very eye. The same year he made a visit to Holland, where he was received with marks of the most distinguished attention from men of science and of literature, and reflected great honor on his country as the first American philosopher. We confess with shame that we have sent forth few worthy successors, while we remember with pride that we have seen here from other lands few if any equals surely no superior. The year succeeding he also travelled into France, where he met a no less favorable reception, making the acquaintance of King Louis XVI. and of many eminent literary characters.

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