war, condemned not only to work, but to fight, for small wages, or a mere subsistence, not better than our slaves are allowed by us. Is their condition then made worse by their falling into our hands? No; they have only exchanged one slavery for another, and I may say a better; for here they are brought into a land where the sun of Islamism gives forth its light, and shines in full splendor, and they have an opportunity of making themselves acquainted with the true doctrine, and thereby saving their immortal souls. Those who remain at home have not that happiness. Sending the slaves home, then, would be sending them out of light into darkness.

666

I repeat the question, What is to be done with them? I have heard it suggested, that they may be planted in the wilderness, where there is plenty of land for them to subsist on, and where they may flourish as a free state; but they are, I doubt, too little disposed to labor without compulsion, as well as too ignorant to establish a good government, and the wild Arabs would soon molest and destroy or again enslave them. While serving us, we take care to provide them with every thing, and they are treated with humanity. The laborers in their own country are, as I am well informed, worse fed, lodged, and clothed. The condition of most of them is therefore already mended, and requires no further improvement. Here their lives are in safety. They are not liable to be impressed for soldiers, and forced to cut one another's Christian throats, as in the wars of their own countries. If some of the religious mad bigots, who now tease us with their silly petitions, have in a fit of blind zeal freed their slaves, it was not generosity, it was not humanity, that moved them to the action; it was from the conscious burden of a load of sins, and a hope, from the supposed merits of so good a work, to be excused from damnation.

"How grossly are they mistaken to suppose slavery to be disallowed by the Alcoran ! Are not the two precepts, to quote no more, Masters, treat your slaves with kindness: Slaves, serve your masters with cheerfulness and fidelity,' clear proofs to the contrary? Nor can the plundering of infidels be in that sacred book forbidden, since it is well known from it, that God has given the world, and all that it contains, to his faithful Mussulmen, who are to enjoy it of right as fast as they conquer it. Let us then hear no more of this detestable proposition, the manumission of Christian slaves,

the adoption of which would, by depreciating our lands and houses, and thereby depriving so many good citizens of their properties, create universal discontent, and provoke insurrections, to the endangering of government and producing general confusion. I have therefore no doubt, but this wise council will prefer the comfort and happiness of a whole nation of true believers to the whim of a few Erika, and dismiss their petition.

"The result was, as Martin tells us, that the Divan came to this resolution: The doctrine, that plundering and enslaving the Christians is unjust, is at best problematical; but that it is the interest of this state to continue the practice, is clear; therefore, let the petition be rejected.'

"And it was rejected accordingly.

"And since like motives are apt to produce in the minds of men like opinions and resolutions, may we not, Mr. Brown, venture to predict, from this account, that the petitions to the Parliament of England for abolishing the slave-trade, to say nothing of other legislatures, and the debates upon them, will have a similar conclusion? I am, sir, your constant reader, and humble servant,

"HISTORICUS."

The effect of this satire upon the public mind was the greater, from the fact, that, at that time, vast numbers of Christians were actually held in bondage by the Algerines. By the sea-faring men of that day, and their relations on shore, the horrors of the Algerine bondage were vividly realized; they were the frequent theme of the forecastle, the fireside, the newspaper, and the novel. There were few people in a seaport town, in 1790, who were not acquainted with some one who had been chased by the pirates of the Mediterranean, or held in captivity by them. Dr. Stuber, a distinguished Philadelphian of that day, mentions that many persons searched the bookstores and libraries of the town for "Martin's Account of his Consulship, anno 1687," from which the speech of Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim was said to have been taken.

CHAPTER VI.

CLOSING SCENES.

WHEN Dr. Franklin wrote this parody upon Mr. Jackson, he was nearer the end of his life than his most observant friends could have supposed. He wrote it in an interval of ease, that lasted four weeks, during which he was so free from pain that he could discontinue the use of opium, to which he had been often compelled to resort, to relieve the intolerable anguish of his complaint. Such was the vigor of his constitution, that his appetite at once returned, his strength increased, and he was able to exert all the force of his genius.

During this interval, he received an interesting letter from his old friend, Dr. Ezra Stiles, President of Yale College, asking him to give his portrait for the college library, if he had one to spare. Having made his request, the good president proceeded to ask him a question. He said that, as long he had known Dr. Franklin, he had never learned his sentiments respecting religion. "I wish," he added "to know the opinion of my venerable friend concerning Jesus of Nazareth. He will not impute this to impertinence or improper curiosity, in one, who, for so many years has continued to love, estimate, and reverence his abilities and literary character, with an ardor and affection bordering on adoration."

Dr. Franklin replied, that, with regard to the portrait, he had not one in his possession worthy of a place in the library of Yale, but that an excellent artist had lately arrived, and, if he would undertake the work, he would cheerfully pay the expense. 'But," said he, "he must not delay setting about it, or I may slip through his fingers, for I am now in my eighty-fifth year, and very infirm." He then answered the question with respect to his religious opinions, remarking that this was the first time he had ever been questioned on the subject:

"Here is my creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting

its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.

"As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think his system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw, or is like to see; but I appre hend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his Divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure.

"I shall only add, respecting myself, that, having experienced the goodness of that Being in conducting me prosperously through a long life, I have no doubt of its continuance in the next, though without the smallest conceit of meriting such goodness.

"P. S. I confide, that you will not expose me to criticisms and censures by publishing any part of this communication to you. I have ever let others enjoy their religious sentiments, without reflecting on them for those that appeared to me unsupportable or even absurd. All sects here, and we have a great variety, have experienced my good will in assisting them with subscriptions for the building their new places of worship; and, as I have never opposed any of their doctrines, I hope to go out of the world in peace with them all."

On one of the last days of this respite from suffering, he wrote a brief, last letter to his sister, apologizing for the crookedness of the lines, which, he said, was owing to the awkwardness of writing in bed.

Mr. Jefferson, who had recently returned from France, passed through Philadelphia, in March, 1790, on his way to join the government at New York as Secretary of State. He has left us an interesting, but too brief, account of his interview with Dr. Franklin on this occasion.

"I called," he says, on the venerable and beloved Franklin. He was then on the bed of sickness from which he never rose. My recent return from a country in which he had left so many friends, and the perilous convulsions to which they had been exposed, revived all his anxieties to know what part they had taken, and what had been their course, and what their fate. He went over all in succession, with a rapidity and animation almost too much for his strength. When all his inquiries were satisfied, and a pause took place, I told him I had learned with much pleasure that since his return to America, he had been occupied in preparing for the world the history of his own life. 'I cannot say much of that,' said he, 'but I will give you a sample of what I shall leave,' and he directed his little grandson (William Bache), who was standing by the bedside, to hand him a paper from the table, to which he pointed. He did so, and the Doctor putting it into my hands, desired me to take it and read it at my leisure. It was about a quire of folio paper, written in a large and running hand, very like his own. I looked into it slightly, then shut it, and said I would accept his permission to read it, and would carefully return it. He said, 'No, keep it.' Not certain of his meaning, I again looked into it, folded it for my pocket, and said again, I would certainly return it. 'No,' said he, 'keep it.' I put it into my pocket, and shortly after took leave of him."*

The manuscript proved to be Franklin's narrative of his negotiation with Lord Howe and Mrs. Howe, in London, in 1774.. It had been well if Mr. Jefferson had complied with Dr. Franklin's charge to "keep it." We should then have had a perfect copy. He thought it his duty, however, to give up the paper to William Temple Franklin, to whom Dr. Franklin had bequeathed all his

papers.

Elsewhere, Mr. Jefferson says of this interview: "I found our friend, Doctor Franklin, in his bed-cheerful and free from pain, but still in his bed. He took a lively interest in the details I gave him of your revolution. I observed his face often flushed in the course of it. He is much emaciated."

No important change appeared in his condition until about sixteen days before his death, when he became feverish, though he was