Genootschap der Proefondervindelijke Wijsbegeerte), in 1771, foreign member of Königliche Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften at Göttingen, 1766. The Franklin's vast European reputation rested primarily upon his scientific achievement. The eighteenth century was restlessly curious about natural phenomena, audacious in its inquiry, and sceptical in philosophical speculation. It recognized and welcomed in Franklin a sagacious, clear-sighted observer who had explored strange worlds of thought, and wrung new and tremendous secrets from nature's close reserve. mind of Europe, pondering with all the intensity of fresh enthusiasm upon natural science, was thrilled and amazed by the magnitude and meaning of his researches. He became, in a world enamoured of natural science, the object of universal interest and admiration. Artists painted him with lightnings playing in the background of the picture, or lighting up his benign features. Condorcet addressed him as the modern Prometheus; and men of learning, the foremost in their professions, modestly solicited his explication of old problems and his judgment upon new theories. The audacity of eighteenth-century thought was not confined to natural science. The spirit of the age interrogated the social order, tested its foundations, sank its probe deep into the crumbling substance of government and found only decay. What seemed so firmly based as to endure forever was built on stubble. Through law, religion, letters, politics, a subtle poison had diffused itself, and rank corruption mining all within infected unseen. The outside was fair and tranquil: ancient glories shone upon a radiant Versailles; Lucullus feasts were daily given; gay and silken throngs chattered in the dazzling halls of palaces; red-heeled courtiers dined and danced; while here and there, in town and country, men who had drunk bitter draughts of penury and despair saw upon the horizon images of portentous things to come. Filangieri relentlessly examined the European systems of law, civil and criminal, and at each step of his progress turned to Franklin for direction. Lorenzo Manini created the Cisalpine Republic, and leaned upon the encouraging arm of Franklin. The Physiocrats, Dupont de Nemours, Dubourg, Mirabeau, Turgot, Morellet, and the venerable apostle, Quesnai, were strengthened by the presence of Franklin in their speculative group. The great epigram created by the good Turgot — Eripuit caelo fulmen sceptrumque tyrannis — explains the incredible, almost fabulous, popularity in which Franklin was held in Europe. He was the living presence of the new age, the incarnation of democracy, the successful antagonist of tyrants, the builder of happy states founded upon freedom and justice. With whatsoever modesty he disclaimed the honour of Turgot's epigram, the world persisted in imputing to him alone the creation of the Republic and the triumphant leadership of the "dear insurgents." He was as unconscious as any fair dame or giddy courtier, "born to bloom and drop," of the strong current whose compulsive course was carrying the nation rapidly and irresistibly to ruin. During his residence in Paris he enjoyed familiar intercourse and in some instances close communion with those who in another decade, in the wild delirium of the Revolution, were to be first in the ranks of death. Elsewhere in these volumes is printed a letter to him from an obscure young notary in Arras, destined to a sinister history. At the mention of his name Robespierre- the long bright day of French regal splendour wanes, and the mutter of the coming storm disturbs the air. Frequently, Franklin received letters from a zealous experimenter in science who, withholding his true name, signed himself "the Representative." He who was then inquiring scientifically into the nature of flame was soon to play with wilder fire and help to kindle the most tremendous conflagration in history. It was Jean Paul Marat. Another friend, a physician, associated with Franklin in the investigation and exposure of the charlatan Mesmer, divulged to him his project of establishing himself and his friends in a settlement upon the Ohio River. His friends actually wandered to America, but he remained to play a part in the Revolution and to see his name Guillotin— given to that "Patent reaper whose sheaves sleep sound In dreamless garners under ground." The enthusiasm for le grand Franklin became a passion, became idolatry. He bore it all with composure; his serenity was undisturbed by flattery, his confidence undaunted by disaster. He received the tidings of misfortune with a smile and a jest. "Howe has taken Philadelphia," mourned Paris. "No," said Franklin, "Philadelphia has taken Howe." His cheer and confidence became the encouragement and the inspiration of France. When rumours of disaster circulated in the ports of France, the Frenchmen who came to condole with Père Franklin found the patriarch philosophically calm and confident. To all such reports he replied, “ça ira, ça ira"-"it will go on!" And when dark days came for France, in the wild days of the Terror, and men despaired of everything, they remembered the serenity of the great American, and they repeated to each other until the repetition became a watchword of hope and courage and endurance - "ça ira, ça ira.” Amid all the great life of the court and the salon, he was never neglectful of his smaller duties and humbler affairs. His mind was capacious of both. He placed his grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, and the grandson of his old friend Samuel Cooper at school in Geneva in the care of M. Marignac and examined the reports of their progress and attended to their small necessities with the same care that he devoted to the grave affairs of state. Elsewhere in this work his letters of advice and encouragement to William Temple Franklin are printed. At this point it may not be inappropriate to insert a letter of like character written by him to Samuel Cooper Johonnot, his Boston friend's grandson. TO SAMUEL COOPER JOHONNOT (P. H. S.) Passy, Jan. 7. 1782. ! MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND. I received your kind good Wishes of a Number of happy Years for me. I have already enjoy'd and consum❜d nearly the whole of those allotted me, being now within a few Days of my 78th. You have a great many before you; and their being happy or otherwise will depend upon your own Conduct. If by diligent Study now, you improve your Mind, and practice carefully hereafter the Precepts of Religion and Virtue, you will have in your favour the Promise respecting the Life that now is, as well as that which is to come. You will possess true Wisdom, which is nearly allied to Happiness: Length of Days are in her right-hand, and in her left hand Riches and Honours; all her Ways are Ways of Pleasantness, and all her Paths are Peace! I am glad to hear that you are entitled to a Prize. It will be pleasing News to your Friends in New England, that you have behav'd so as to deserve it. I pray God to bless you, and render you a Comfort to them and an Honour to your Country. I am, Your affectionate Friend, CHAPTER IX FINANCING THE REVOLUTION B. FRANKLIN. WHEN the joint commission was annulled, John Adams returned in the spring of 1779 to America. In a few months Arthur and William Lee and Ralph Izard, who had stayed on in Paris promoting strife and teasing Franklin with many petty annoyances, were commanded to return. Franklin enjoyed a free hand and some tranquil moments until John Adams was again sent to Europe in February, 1780, to represent Congress in any possible negotiations for peace. Adams was restive under restraint, and he was jealous of Franklin's superior authority. He committed the indiscretion of writing long and impertinent letters to Count de Vergennes without consulting Franklin. After vainly reminding him that there was but one American plenipotentiary in Paris and therefore but one person with whom the government could discuss questions of policy, the Count de Vergennes sent the entire correspondence to Franklin with a request that it should be |