The Life of Benjamin Franklin Part 23

The extensive knowledge which he possessed of the situation of the colonies and the regard which he always manifested for their interests, occasioned his appointment to the same office by the colonies of Ma.s.sachusetts, Maryland and Georgia.

He had now an opportunity of visiting those ill.u.s.trious Englishmen, whom his useful writings and discoveries had strongly bound to him, though they had never seen his face. The high opinion which they had formed of him at a distance, was greatly increased by a personal acquaintance.

Such vastness of mind with such sweetness of spirit and simplicity of manners, formed a spectacle as rare as it was lovely. And as a proof that SUPERIOR SENSE and superior benevolence will always prevail against prejudice, he was now courted by those learned societies who formerly affected to deride his discoveries in philosophy and electricity. The Royal Society of London, which had at first refused his performances admission into its transactions, now deemed it an honour to cla.s.s him among its fellows. The universities of St.

Andrews, of Edinburgh, and Oxford, conferred on him the degree of doctor of laws; and the most distinguished philosophers of Europe sought his correspondence. In reading his letters to those great men, we are at a loss which most to admire, the majesty of his sense, or the simplicity of his style. While in England, which was from July, 1757, to July, '62, he suggested to the British ministry the duty of dispossessing the French of that great country on the north of our colonies called Canada. To this end, he published his famous _Canada pamphlet_, exhibiting in strong colours the many mischiefs and murders committed on his countrymen, even in times of peace, by the Indians in French pay. This little tract served to rouse the British nation to the pitch he desired.

An army of English regulars and New-England militia were sent under the command of general Wolfe, who presently succeeded in driving the French out of a fine country, of which, by their cruelties, they had rendered themselves utterly unworthy.

About this time the celebrated doctor Cullen, of Scotland, made some curious discoveries in the art of producing cold by evaporation.

Hoping that the genius of Franklin might throw some lights on this dawning science, a friend of doctor Cullen's wrote a statement of the facts to Franklin. The American philosopher, though now immersed in political pursuits, took a little leisure to repeat doctor Cullen's experiments on cold, which he so improved as easily to produce ICE in the _dog days_. But it was one of those discoveries, which, as he says, he _never valued, because it was too expensive to be of general utility_.

About the autumn of 1761, he rendered himself prodigiously popular among the ladies in London, by completing that sweet toned little instrument of music, the HARMONICA.

I have been told that his fame at court on this account, so awakened the recollection of George III. that he caused it to be signified to Dr. Franklin, that he felt a disposition to "_do something for him_."

Our philosopher replied, that he wanted nothing for himself, but--that, _he had a son in America_. The king took the hint, and immediately made out a commission of "_Governor of his colony of New Jersey, for his beloved subject, Temple Franklin, Esq._" On such small things are the fortunes of men sometimes founded!

Doctor Franklin was now become so great a favourite that the people of all cla.s.ses seemed to take a pride in talking of him, and his sayings, insomuch that not a word of the brilliant sort could fall from his lips but it was sure to be caught up instantly and re-echoed through every circle, from proud St. James to humble St. Giles. The following impromptu made a great noise in London about this time.

One evening in a large party at his friend Vaughan's he was, laughingly, challenged by a very beautiful girl, a Miss Gun, to make her a couplet of verses _extempore_. Well, madam, replied he, with great gallantry, since every body is offering a tribute to your graces, let me tender the following:

"Cupid now to ensure his fun, Quits his _bow_ and takes to _gun_."

This handsome play on her name instantly suffused the cheeks of Miss Gun with celestial roses, making her look much more like an angel than before.

I mention this merely to show what an extraordinary mind that man must have possessed, who with such equal ease, could play the _Newton_ or the _Chesterfield_, and charm alike the lightnings and the ladies.

In the summer of 1762, he took leave of his friends in England to return to his native country. On his voyage he discovered in oil or grease thrown on the water, a property, which few people ever dreamt of. When we learn of _gold_ that it may by beating, be expanded into a leaf of such incredible fineness, that a guinea might in that way be made to cover Solomon's temple, or deck Noah's ark, we are filled with wonder of such a metal. Doctor Franklin tells us of equal wonders in oil. He informs us, that a wine gla.s.s full of pure oil poured on a mill pond, will presently spread over it, with a film inconceivably thinner than a cobweb, and so adhesive that the winds shall not excite it to mad-caps and breakers. Hence, he infers, that oil might be made a mean of saving ships during a violent storm at sea.

In this voyage he made also another discovery, which ought to be known to all going by sea, viz. that if persons perishing of thirst on a voyage, would but bathe half a dozen times a day in the sea water, which they easily might, by using their empty water casks as bathing tubs, they would obtain great relief from their thirst, and live several days longer; thence enjoying a better chance for their lives, by getting into port, or falling in with some friendly sail.

On his arrival in Philadelphia doctor Franklin was welcomed with marks of the most flattering respect by the citizens universally--handsome addresses and dinners were given him by literary societies and clubs--and the a.s.sembly, in the most public manner voted him their thanks for "the great honour and services he had rendered the country in general during his residence in England; and especially to the province of Pennsylvania." And they accompanied their thanks with a present of five thousand pounds.

Ye blind parents who can think hard of laying out a few dollars for books and education of your children, O think of this, and learn a course of conduct more to your own credit and to their temporal and eternal welfare.

In a few weeks after his return to Philadelphia there occurred in that neighbourhood an affair that serves to show the popularity of doctor Franklin in a very strong light.

In consequence of a number of murders committed on the frontiers by some villanous Indians, about a hundred and twenty young men of Dauphin county, christians in _name_ but perfect savages in nature, bound themselves by a horrid oath to exterminate a little tribe of about twenty tame Indians, who lived very harmlessly among the whites in York county. Mounted on horses, and with rifles and tomahawks in their hands, they set off very deliberately on this h.e.l.lish errand towards the settlements of the poor Indians. The old men, women, and children, in the cabins, soon fell weltering in their blood. The rest, who were at work, getting notice, fled to Lancaster, and were lodged in the jail as in a place of security. The blood thirsty whites broke open the jail and butchered every soul. All smeared with innocent blood, and furious as demons, they then pushed off for Philadelphia, to ma.s.sacre the feeble remains of a friendly tribe who had fled into that city for protection. The governor issued his proclamation. The rioters paid no regard to it, but moved on rapidly, well armed, and determined to cut their way to the hated Indians over the bodies of all who should oppose them. They are now on this side of Germantown, only one hour's march from Philadelphia. The inhabitants are all in terror. The governor quits his palace, and for safety flies to the house of doctor Franklin. He, calm as he was wont to be amidst the lightnings as they darted around him on his rods, went out to meet the rioters. We sincerely regret that we cannot give the speech which he made on this memorable occasion. It must have been impressive in a most extraordinary degree; for on hearing it they instantly abandoned their h.e.l.lish design and returned peaceably to their homes!

CHAPTER XL.

Had the fatal sisters, even now, put forth their shears and clipped his thread, yet would not the friend of man "_have fallen without his fame_." Admiring posterity would still have written on his tomb,

_Here lies the GREAT FRANKLIN._

But though great now, he is destined to be much greater still. A crisis is approaching that is to call forth all his talents, and to convince even the most unthinking, that in the dark day of trouble the "_wise shall shine forth like the firmament_." By the crisis here mentioned, I mean the events leading to the American revolution.

The British cabinet, as if entire strangers to that divine philosophy which commands its disciples to be "_no respecters of persons_,"

allowed themselves in the most fatal policy of sparing the British subjects in _England_ at the expense of the British subjects in _America_. After having drained much money from them in a variety of unconst.i.tutional ways, they came at length to the resolution of taxing _the colonies without their consent_.

This dark design was hinted in 1754, by the minister, to governor Shirley, of the Ma.s.sachusetts-Bay colony. The governor, well knowing his extraordinary penetration and judgment, broke this ministerial plan to Dr. Franklin; requesting _his_ opinion of it. Dr. Franklin answered this question of the governor, by urging an "_immediate union of the colonies with great Britain, by allowing them representatives in parliament_," as the only thing that could prevent those ceaseless encroachments on the one side, and those bitter animosities on the other, which, _he feared_, would one day prove the ruin of both countries. As to the ministerial plan of taxing the colonies by act of parliament, where they have no representation, he a.s.sured the governor that it would prove utterly abominable. "His majesty, sir," said he to the governor, "has no subjects in all his wide dominions, who more heartily love him than do his American subjects. Nor do there exist on earth, the Englishmen who hold more dear the glory of old England than they do. But the same spirit of their gallant forefathers, which makes them ready to lay down their lives and fortunes, in a const.i.tutional way, for their king and country, will for ever secure them from being slaves. We exult, sir, in the recollection, that of all the governments on earth, that of Great Britain has long been the _freest_; and that more blood has been shed for freedom's sake in England in one week, than on the whole continent for fifty years. Now, on the bright face of that government, the first and fairest feature is this: that no king can touch a penny belonging to the poorest subject, without his own consent, by his representative in parliament.

For, if, say they, '_a king can at pleasure take our money, he can take every thing else; since with that he can easily hire soldiers to rob, and then murder us if we but open our lips against him_.' As Americans glory in being Englishmen on the western side of the Atlantic, they very naturally claim the common right of Englishmen, not to be taxed without their own consent, by their representatives in parliament. But the British ministry, though they obstinately refuse to the Americans the sacred rights of representation, yet as wickedly insist on the right of _taxation_; and accordingly have brought into parliament the famous _stamp act bill_, whereby no business that requires a record on paper, as _deeds_, _bonds_, _wills_, _marriages_, _&c._ can be legally done but on paper that has received the _royal stamp_. Now, sir, you well know that the same minister who proposes this most iniquitous and unconst.i.tutional act, would not dare propose to any the most drunken tavern-keeper in England, a farthing tax on a pot of his ale without the consent of his representative in parliament; and yet, without being allowed a hearing in parliament, _three millions_ of free-born Americans, sons of Englishmen, are to be taxed at the pleasure of a distant minister! Not, honoured sir, that the Americans care a fig for the _pence_ imposed on this bit of stamp paper, but for the _principle_. For they well know that if parliament claim a _right_ to take from us a penny in the pound, there is no line drawn to bound that right; and what shall hinder their calling whenever they please for the other _nineteen shillings and eleven pence_? And besides, sir, where is the necessity for this _most degrading_ measure? Have not the Americans ever shown themselves the warmest friends of their king and country? Have they not, in all cases of danger, most readily voted both their men and money to the full extent of their means, and sometimes far beyond?

"And in addition to all this, are they not daily paying large monies in secret taxes to Great Britain?

"I. We are not _permitted to trade with foreign nations_! All the difference in the price of what we could buy cheaper from them, but must buy dearer from Britain, is a clear _tax_ to Britain.

"II. We are obliged to _carry our produce to Britain_! All that it sells for less _there_ than it would in any other market, is a clear _tax_ to Britain.

"III. All the manufactures that we could make, but are _forbidden_ and must buy of British merchants, is a clear _tax_ to Britain.

"And what _freeborn_ Englishman can, without indignation, think of being so daringly defrauded of his _birthright_, that if he wants a pipe of good wine, he cannot go to the island of Madeira and get it on easy exchange for his bread stuff, and return at once to his home and business; but must go a thousand miles farther from his family, even to Great Britain, and there run the gauntlet, through so many ruinous charges, as to bring his wine up to almost double what it ought to have cost? And all this most flagrant injustice done to the whole people of the colonies, just to enrich half a dozen British merchants engaged in the Portugal wine trade!

"A similar outrage on another of the dearest rights of Englishmen, _i.e._ '_to make the most that they honestly can of their property_,'

is committed on the British subjects in America, for the sake of favouring a few hatters and nail makers in England. No country on the globe, furnishes better iron or better beaver than does North America.

But the Americans must not make a hob-nail or a felt hat for themselves. No; they must send all their iron and fur to England for the hatters and nail makers _there_; who may give them their own price for the raw materials, and ask their own price for the manufactures.

"All that a wise government wishes, is, that the people should be numerous and wealthy enough to _fight the battles_ of their country, and to _pay the taxes_. But they care not so much whether the fighting be done by John or Thomas, or the tax paid by William or Charles.

"What imports it to the government, whether a merchant, a smith, or a hatter, grows rich in Old England or New England? And if, through increase of the people, _two_ smiths are wanted for _one_ employed before, why may not the _new_ smith be allowed to live and thrive in the _new_ country, as well as the _old_ in the _old_? In short, why should the countenance of a state be _partially_ afforded to its people, unless it be most in favour of those who have most merit?"

The whig papers in London soon got this letter, and laid it before the public.

Among a high-minded people like the British, who pride themselves in their love of liberty and their perfect scorn of _foul play_, such sentiments could not be read without the liveliest emotions. And though some, the ministerial junto for example, with the merchants and manufacturers, did not like such plain truths, yet the nation in general gave him great credit both for his singular honesty and abilities; and the name of Dr. Franklin became very dear to thousands of the most enlightened and virtuous patriots of Britain.

But the pleasure of admiration was dashed with fear, that the minister would suffer no good to be done to the nation by all this divine counsel, merely because the giver was not an _Englishman_.

The lights, however, which Dr. Franklin had thrown on this great subject, were pressed upon the minister with such courage by numbers of honest English writers, that he prudently delayed ordering the collection of the tax until he could get further information. It was not long before an opportunity was offered him to obtain this information in a way highly complimentary to Dr. Franklin, _i.e._ by summoning him, then in London as colony agent from Pennsylvania, February 2, 1766, _to appear before the Bar of the British House of Commons, to answer certain questions, &c._

The next day, accompanied by Mr. Strahan, afterwards member of parliament, with several ill.u.s.trious Englishmen, his warm friends, he went to the house. The concourse was immense. _To see Dr.

Franklin_--the American, whose philosophical discoveries and political writings had filled the world with his name, excited universal curiosity. The galleries were filled with ladies of the first distinction, and every seat below was occupied by the members from the house of lords. At ten o'clock he appeared at the bar before the eager waiting crowd. The profoundest silence ensued. All eyes were fixed on him; and, from their deep regard, it appeared, that though they beheld no stars nor garters glittering on his breast, no burning velvets nor flaming diamonds adorning his person, yet they were not disappointed.

They beheld a spectacle still more interesting and novel.--The spectacle of a man whose simple dress evinced that he asked no aid of the tailor and silkworm to recommend him, but stood solely on the majesty of his mind. The hour for examination being come, and the attendant officer beckoning him thereto, he arose--

"And in his rising seemed a pillar of state--deep on his brow engraven deliberation sat and public care. His looks drew audience and attention still as night, or summer's noontide air."

Who can paint the looks of the minister, as with darkly scowling eye-b.a.l.l.s, he beheld this terror of aristocracy! or who can paint the n.o.bLE LORDLINGS, as lost in equal _stare_, they gazed and gazed at the wondrous American, forgetting the while, "_to quiz_," as they were wont, "_his homespun coat and simple shoe-strings_."

But never did the mind-illumined looks of man shine more divinely bright than did those, that day, of the generous Barry, the G.o.dlike Chatham, and the high-minded Dunning, when they beheld the n.o.ble form of Franklin. Though born in North America, he shines before their eyes as a true born son of Britain--the luminous and brave interpreter of her SACRED CONSt.i.tUTION, and the wise politician who seeks to exalt her glory, lasting as the skies, on the broad base of impartial justice to all her children. With eyes sparkling with esteem unutterable, they hail him as a brother; and breathe the ardent wish that in the impending examination he may succeed in diverting the minister from that unconst.i.tutional course which may involve the ruin both of England and America.

The moment for trial being come, and the minister giving the signal to begin, the speaker thus commenced:--

_Q._ What is your name and place of abode?

_A._ Franklin, of Philadelphia.

Here followed nearly _three hundred questions_ and _answers_, which were once read with exceeding interest by men, women, and children in America. But as they turn altogether on that great quarrel which the British ministry formerly excited in this country; and which G.o.d, to his endless glory, was pleased to put asleep in our favour near half a century ago, then let all these questions and answers lie asleep with it. However, it is but justice to Dr. Franklin to observe, that when we consider these questions, what a wide range they take both of the British and American _relations_ and _interests_--together with the _luminous_, prompt, and decisive manner in which they were solved, we are lost in astonishment at the extent of his information and the powers of his mind, and are almost tempted to believe that the _answers_, and not the _questions_ must have been studied with the nicest discrimination of circ.u.mstances.