These

and applause from mankind. He began his "electrical experiments" about the year 1747. manifested an inventive genius, and he had all the activity and perseverance necessary for any investigation. From studying the properties of nature he discovered a resemblance between lightning and the electrick fluid. He placed pointed metallick conductors upon the tops of houses with rods that went into the ground, that the passing clouds might discharge their fire, and do no injury to the building. Some physical reasons, and certain religious scruples, were at first raised against their use; but soon the metallick conductors became common in North America, and were adopted in other countries.

His other meteorological observations are also valuable, and are proofs of industry, as well as genius. He could readily turn his mind to any thing useful, and delighted to make his philosophical experiments subservient to the convenience of common life; in which he is as much to be praised, as for enlarging the bounds of science.

Among the writers upon politicks, and the persons who have acted an important part in the revolution of their country, Dr. Franklin has been highly esteemed, and conspicuously distinguished. He preferred the busy tumult of the world to the " calm delights of mild philosophy." In 1747, he was chosen representative for the city of Philadelphia. In that assembly he exerted all his influence in opposing the proprietary claims. In 1754, he proposed a plan for the general government of the colonies, which did not meet the approbation of the British court; nor of several eminent characters on this side the Atlantick. In 1757, he was sent to England as agent for the province of Pennsylvania, and he succeeded in his application to the British court, that the proprietary lands should be taxed for the publick service. He was also employed in the agency for Jersey, Maryland and Georgia. At this

time he was elected a fellow of the royal society of London; and received the degree of LL. D. from several universities. He was a member of all the celebrated academies of arts and sciences in Europe, and was also elected president of the philosophical society in Philadelphia. In 1762, he returned home, and received thanks for his services; but was again appointed agent. We read of his conversation with Mr. Grenville concerning the stamp act, and his exertions to prevent any act passing in the parliament of Great Britain to raise a revenue from the colonies. When the stamp act was repealed, he had more leisure than he had enjoyed for many years, and spent the time in travelling over several parts of Europe.

In 1774, Dr. F. was employed by the house of Massachusetts to present a petition, that the governour and lieutenant governour might be removed from their offices. According to his own account, the privy council were not disposed to do justice to himself, or his cause. Mr. Bollan, who was agent for the council of Massachusetts, and had been a lawyer of eminence in this country, desired to be heard; but was silenced because he was only agent for the branch which did not join in this prosecution. Finding that Mr. Wedderburne appeared for the governours, he desired to have council; but at the same time, was willing their lordships should give a decision merely from the papers without having a word said upon the subject. The business was deferred till another day, and he then appeared with Mr. Dunning and Mr. Lee, who did all in their power to support the petition. Mr. Wedderburne on the other hand, threw every kind of abuse on the house of representatives, and their agent, mingled with encomiums upon their gov. ernours. "The favourite part of his invective," says the Dr. "was levelled at your agent, who stood there the butt of his ribaldry and invective for near an hour, not a single lord adverting to the indecency or impropriety of treating a publick messenger in so ignominious a manner, who was only as the person delivering your petition, with the consideration of which no part of his conduct had any concern."* After his return to America, he was chosen a member of Congress. In this body he did not make any great figure. But he was sent in a publick capacity to France, and signed two treaties of alliance and commerce with that'nation, one dated Jan. 30, the other Feb. 6, 1778.

He was one of the commissioners who signed the provisional articles of peace in 1783. It was fortu. nate for New England that Mr. Adams and Mr. Jay were with him. Their talents as statesmen, and their particular services at this time saved these parts of the union from poverty and humiliation. This, the best friends of the old sage were obliged to acknowledge.

In 1785, Dr. Franklin returned to Philadelphia, and was appointed president of the supreme executive council.

He was one of the members of the convention who framed the constitution of the United States. He mingled not in the debates, but made a speech at the close of the business, which did not discover his talents as a statesman. It was time for him to retire from publick business. He had arrived at an age when human infirmities increase, and the "very strength is labour and sorrow." He died, April, 1790, aged 84.

Dr. Franklin never professed any religion. His friend president Stiles pressed him upon the subject, and wished to have him say he was a believer in christianity, but the philosopher evaded the question. He said that he had been led to think favourably of the sentiments of Dr. Kippis, Dr. Priestley, and others, with whom he had been acquainted in England. Their opinions did not bear the puritan. ick stamp, and he doubtless respected them more as philosophers than ministers of the gospel.

Dr. Franklin never published any large work; but his various tracts make up three large octavo volumes. It is said that in society he was sententious, but not fluent; a listener rather than a talker; an informing rather than a pleasing companion; impatient of interruption. He often mentioned the custom of the Indians, who remain sometime silent before they give an answer to a question they have heard attentively, unlike some of the politest societies in Europe where a sentence can scarcely be finished without interruption.

He made certain bequests and donations by his will, which discover his peculiarity of temper, and a mind swayed by vanity, as well as under the influence of minute calculation.

His epitaph is an instance of oddity, but is inge. nious. He made it to be put on his tombstone.

FULLER SAMUEL, one of the worthies who came over to New Plymouth. He was chosen deacon of Mr. Robinson's church, with Mr. Carver, who was afterwards governour of the plantation. As it was determined that the pastor should remain at Leyden, they sent Mr. Brewster, their elder, with the two deacons, who were qualified to instruct the people, and lead in the publick services. Mr. Fuller sailed from Holland, July 21, 1620. He took a servant boy with him, who died on the passage, Nov. 6, a few days before they made the land of Cape Cod. When gov. Carver died, they chose another deacon, but Mr. Fuller's services were in very special demand, both for the souls and bodies of the people. Beside his duty in the church, which he was active in performing, he was eminently useful as a surgeon and physician. Nor did he confine his benevolent offices to the inhabitants of New Plymouth, and to the aboriginals of the country, but readily gave his assistance to the people of Naumkeake after Mr. Endicot came to that part of Massachusetts Bay. Several of the people died of "scurvys and other distempers," and many were subjected to diseases arising from unwholsome diet and want of proper accommodations. Having no physician among themselves, it was happy for those planters that Plymouth could supply them with one so able as Mr. Fuller, who visited them at the request of Mr. Endicot, and met with great success in his practice. According to Mr. Prince, he went there more than once. He says, "gov. Bradford and Mr. Morton from him, seem to mistake in blending the several sicknesses at Naumkeake of 1628 and 1629 together, and writing as if Dr. Fuller first went thither to help in the sickness introduced there by the ships in 1629; whereas by gov. Endicot's letter of May 11, 1629, it appears that Dr. Fuller had been there to help them, which was above a month before the ship arrived in 29."

When he returned from Salem to Plymouth Mr. Endicot wrote to gov. Bradford a letter of thanks, speaking highly in praise of the physician, and also his hearty concurrence with their church in its form and discipline. From which it is evident that the conversation of Dr. Fuller had some effect upon his religious opinions, for there was a difference of sentiment before this interview, and a jealousy lest the Plymouth church should exercise a jurisdiction over the church in Salem.