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the English colonies. Looking upon France in relation to England as another Carthage, he formed the project of destroying her maritime ascendancy; as well to strengthen the political and commercial state of Great Britain, as to provide a permanent security for her foreign dependencies. The more he weighed the subject in his mind, the more was he satisfied that the true interest of Great Britain lay in weakening her rival on the side of America, rather than in Germany; and these sentiments he imparted to some of his friends, by whom they were reported to the indefatigable William Pitt, afterwards earl of Chatham; who no sooner consulted him on the practicability of te conquest, than he was convinced by the force of his arguments, and determined by the simple accu racy of his statements. The enterprise was immediately undertaken, the comma d given to general Wolfe, and conducted with such celerity, as completely to deceive France, who had no apprehensions for the safety of Canada, till the intelligence reached Europe of its being irrevocably lost. This acquisi tion gave a new turn to the political interests of the English colonies, and followed as it soon was by a new reign, it contributed very materially to the restoration of peace. The brilliancy of the conquest of Canada, and the powerful pamphlet written about this time by Franklin's intimate friend, Israel Mauduit, a merchant of London, on the impolicy of German wars, drew the attention of the nation to the importance of that country, and the necessity of preserving it for the welfare of our own colonies. There were not wanting, however, some politicians who considered the possession of Canada in another light, and as less desirable than the reten tion of Guadaloupe, which about the same time surrendered to the British arms.

On the prospect of peace with France, the earl of Bath, addressed “ A Letter to two great men,” (Mr. Pitt and the duke of Newcastle) on the terms necessary to be insisted on in the negotiations. He preferred the acquisition of Canada, to the acquisitions in the West Indies. In the same year (1760) there appeared, "Remarks on the Letter addressed to

two great Men," (written by Messieurs Burkesh) containing opposite opinions on this and other subjects. At this time Mr. Franklin stepped into the controversy, and wrote a pamphlet, in which he was assisted by his friend Mr. Richard Jackson, (who desired not to be known on the occasion) entitled, "The Interest of Great Britain considered with regard to the Colonies, and the acquisition of Canada and Guadaloupe," in which were pointed out in the most clear and forcible manner, the advantages that would result to Great Britain from the retention of Canada; demonstrating also, that the security of a dominion, is a justifiable and prudent ground upon which to demand cessions from an enemy;-that the erection of. forts in the back settlements, was almost in no instance a sufficient security against the Indians and the French; but that the possession of Canada implied every security, and ought to be had while in the power of the British government:-and that the French retaining Canada, would be an encouragement to disaffection in the British colonies, &c.

These arguments appear to have had the desired effect, for at the treaty in 1762, France ceded Canada to Great Britain, and by the cession of Louisiana at the same time, relinquished all her possessions on the North American continent.

Mr. Franklin about this time made a journey to Scotland, whither his reputation as a philosopher had preceded him: he was greeted by the learned of that country, and the uni

Of this name there were four, who obtained some eminence separately and associated. Edmund Burke the most celebrated of the four, and whose history is associated with the two great revolutions of the last century; his brother Richard, who became recorder of the city of Bristol; William Burke the cousin of these two, who was for a time secretary to general Conway, and an army paymaster in India, through whom Edmund received the most minute details of those events, which enabled him to bring Hastings before the house of lords; the fourth was Richard the son of Edmund, most celebrated as a confidential agent of the British government in Ireland, and at the conferences of Pilnitz, in 1791. Edit. 1 See Vol. IV. page 39.

versity of St. Andrews conferred upon him the degree of doctor of laws. Its example was followed by the universities of Edinburgh and Oxford. The entries of the honors conferred by the latter, on himself and son, are thus made:

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, esq. Provinc. Pensylvan. Deputat. ad Curiam Sereniss. Legat Tabellariorium per American Septentrionalem Præfectus Generalis et Veredariorum totius Nova Angliæ, et. R. S. S. cr. D. C. L. Apr. 30, 1762,

FRANKLIN, (WILLIAM) esq. Juris Municip. Consult. cr. M. À. Apr. 30, 1762.

Most of the other learned societies of Europe were equally ambitious of calling him a member, and nominated him as such: thus he was eventually consoled and rewarded for the neglect or opposition his discoveries in philosophy had originally experienced.

Soon after this period, a vacancy in the government of New Jersey having occurred, Dr. Franklin's son, without any solicitation whatever on the part of his father, but from his own personal merits, and in consideration of his military services in America during the last war, (backed by the pow erful recommendation of lord Bute,) was appointed governor of that province.

Governor Franklin filled this high and honorable situation with equal credit to himself and advantage to the province, till the commencement of the American revolution; when, unlike most of the governors of the other provinces at that eventful period, he remained undismayed at his post, till he was seized by the revolutionary government, conveyed to Connecticut, and rigorously detained as a prisoner for near two years, when he was eventually liberated in 1778, in exchange for an American general officer. He retired to England and obtained from the British government a pension, which he enjoyed till his death, in 1813.

It has been frequently asserted, that Dr. Franklin held out every temptation and inducement to his son to quit his allegiance to Great Britain, and to take part with the colonies. This was not so: Dr. Franklin made no attempt of the sort, whatever may have been his secret wishes on that subject. In

a letter to his son of Oct. 6, 1773, he says: "I know your sentiments differ from mine on these subjects. You are a thorough government man, which I do not wonder at, nor do I aim at converting you. I only wish you to act uprightly and steadily, avoiding that duplicity, which in Hutchinson adds contempt to indignation. If you can promote the prosperity of your people, and leave them happier than you found them, whatever your political principles are, your memory will be honored."

During the whole of the American contest, Dr. Franklin never had any communication whatever with his son, either directly or indirectly: but at the close of the war, in answer to an overture from him towards a reconciliation, the father thus feelingly expressed his sentiments on his son's late political conduct.

"DEAR SON,

Passy, August 16, 1784.

"I received your letter of the 22d ultimo, and am glad to find, that you desire to revive the affectionate intercourse that formerly existed between us. It will be very agreeable to me: indeed nothing has ever hurt me so much, and affected me with such keen sensations, as to find myself deserted in my old age, by my only son; and not only deserted, but to find him taking up arms against me, in a cause wherein my good fame, fortune, and life, were all at stake. You conceived, you say, that your duty to your king and regard for your country required this. I ought not to blame you for differing in sentiment with me in public affairs. We are men all subject to errors. Our opinions are not in our own power; they are formed and governed much by circumstances, that are often as inexplicable as they are irresistible. Your situation was such, that few would have censured your remaining neuter, though there are natural duties which precede

k See "Private Correspondence."

1 Governor Franklin (it is believed) formed and commanded the corps of royalists at New York.

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political ones, and cannot be extinguished by them. This is a disagreeable subject: I drop it. And we will endeavor, as you propose, mutually to forget what has happened relating to it, as well as we can. I send your son over to pay his duty to you. You will find him much improved. He is greatly esteemed and beloved in this country, and will make his way any where. &c."

In the summer of 1762, Dr. Franklin returned to Philadelphia, and shortly after 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 five thousand pounds Pennsylvania currency, was also decreed him for his services during six years. Even in his absence he had been annually elected a member of the assembly of representatives of the province, and he again took his seat in that body, and continued his exertions for the liberties and welfare of the country.

In December, 1762, considerable alarm was occasioned in the province, by what was called the Paxton murders. It is thus related:"A number of Indians had resided in the county of Lancaster, and conducted themselves uniformly as friends to the white inhabitants. Repeated depredations on the frontiers, had exasperated the inhabitants to such a degree, that they determined on revenge upon every Indian. A number of persons, to the amount of about one hundred and twenty, principally inhabitants of Donnegal and Peckstang, or Paxton, township, in the county of York, assem bled; and, mounted on horseback, proceeded to the settlement of these harmless and defenceless Indians, whose number had now been reduced to about twenty. The Indians had received intelligence of the attack which was intended against them, but disbelieved it: considering the white people as their friends, they apprehended no danger from them. When the party arrived at the Indian settlement, they found only some women and children, and a few old men, the rest being ab

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