dangerous kind of fuel than that used here, yet their houses escape extremely well, as there is little in a room that can be consumed by fire except the furniture; whereas in London, perhaps scarcely a year passes in which half a million of property and many lives are not lost by this destructive element."

He also made inquiries about covering houses with copper, and gave a description of the method, in a letter to a friend.

In a letter to John Bartram, a noted botanist, urging him to put his observations of nature into a book, Franklin showed the very practical character of his mind:

"Many people, are fond of accounts of old buildings and monuments; but there is a number who would be much better pleased with such accounts as you could afford them. And, for one, I confess, that if I could find in any Italian travels a receipt for making Parmesan cheese, it would give me more satisfaction than a transcript of any inscription from any old stone whatever."

A little more sentiment in his nature need not, we think, have made him less useful to mankind.

In the letter to his wife, just above referred to, he speaks thus of himself:

"For my own part, I think of late that my constitution rather mends. I have had but one touch of the gout, and that a light one, since I left you. I feel stronger

and more active. Yet I would not have you think that I fancy I shall grow young again. I know that men of my bulk often fail suddenly. I know that, according to the course of nature, I cannot at most continue much longer, and that the living even of another day is uncertain. I

therefore form no schemes, but such as are of immediate execution, indulging myself in no future prospect except one, that of returning to Philadelphia, there to spend the evening of my life with my friends and family."

And yet this old man of sixty-three, writing about his looking for death daily, lived more than twenty years after this, years filled with useful and brilliant deeds.

That he was not always in quite so serious a mood, appears from the lively correspondence that passed between him and his friend Miss Stevenson about her intended marriage. She had written to him:

"I met with a very sensible physician yesterday, who prescribes abstinence for the cure of consumptions. He must be clever, because he thinks as we do. I would not have you or mother surprised, if I should run off with this young man. To be sure it would be an imprudent step, at the discreet age of thirty; but there is no saying what one should do, if solicited by a young man of an insinuating address and good person, though he may be too young for one, and not yet established in his profession. He engaged me so deeply in conversation, and I was so much pleased with him, that I thought it necessary to give you warning, though I assure you he has made no proposal.

"How I rattle! This flight must be owing to this new acquaintance, or to the joy of hearing my old one is returned to this country*. I know which I attribute it to, for I can tell when my spirits were enlivened; but you may think as vou please, if you will believe me to be, dear sir,

Your truly affectionate

"HUMBLE SEGANT."

• From a trip to France,

To which, after speaking of other things, he replied:

"However, there are certain circumstances in life, sometimes, where it is perhaps not best to hearken to reason. For instance; possibly, if the truth were known, I have reason to be jealous of this same insinuating, handsome young physician; but, as it flatters more my vanity, and therefore gives me more pleasure, to suppose you were in spirits on account of my safe return, I shall turn a deaf ear to reason in this case, as I have done with success in twenty others. But I am sure you will always give me reason enough to continue ever,

"YOUR AFFECTIONATE FRIEND."

It was previous to this, that he wrote to this lady about a "reformed alphabet," on the principle of phonography; and it was doubtless when her mind was yet unoccupied by insinuating physicians, that she made inquiries about the construction of chimneys, under an unknown date; to which the doctor replied in a practical and complimentary way. After giving his opinion about the draft of chimneys, which, it seems, had been a subject of discussion, he adds:

"So you see I think you had the best of the argument; and, as you, notwithstanding, gave it up in complaisance to the company, I think you had also the best of the dispute. There are few, though convinced, that know how to give up even an error they have once been engaged in maintaining; there is, therefore, the more merit in dropping a contest where one thinks one's self right, it is, at least, respectful to those we converse with. And, indeed, all our knowledge is so imperfect, and we are, from a thousand causes so perpetually subject to mistake and error, that positiveness can scarce ever become even the most knowing; and modesty in

advancing any opinion, however plain and true we may suppose it, is always decent, and generally more likely to procure assent. Pope's rule,

'To speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence,'

is, therefore, a good one; and, if I had ever seen in your conversation the least deviation from it, I should earnestly recommend it to your observation."

When, at a later date, a "proposal proposal" had been made, and she wrote to ask the Doctor's opinion about her accepting it, he replied that he saw no objection to it, and added gracefully :

"I see your delicacy and your humility, too; for you fancy that if you do not prove a great fortune, you will not be loved; but I am sure, were I in his situation in every respect, knowing you so well as I do, and esteeming you so highly, I should think you a fortune sufficient for me without a shilling."

The good Doctor, in the present case, was sure that his approval of the marriage would entirely coincide with the lady's wishes, and he was ready to give it; but his opinion of advice in general may be learned from what he said to a person who wrote to him about a young man under his charge:

"As to my reproving and advising him, which you desire, he has not hitherto appeared to need it, which is lucky, as I am not fond of giving advice, having seldom seen it taken. An Italian poet, in his account of a voyage to the moon, tells us that

'All things lost on earth are treasured there.'

On which s mebody observed, there must then be in the moon a grat deal of good advice "

CHAPTER XXXI.

Compelled to Remain in England. ·Agent of Four Colonies.-American Resistance. -NonImportation of British Goods. — Testimonial from Boston.Writes to his Wife. - About Grandmothers.- Letter to Mrs. Mecom. Rumored Removal from the Post-office. His Rule in Regard to Office. Tour into Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and North of England. Dr. Priestly. Dr. Darwin. - Letter to "Doctor Franklin, America.". Warmly Received in Ireland. Honored by the Irish Parliament. - Meets Lord Hillsborough. — Invited to his Country Mansion. Treated with "Great Cordiality."- Franklin Not Blinded.-Letter to his Son.- Hillsborough's Subsequent Rudeness.In Scotland. Visits Lord Kames.David Hume. - Other Celebrities. Visits the Bishop of Asaph. — An Interesting Family.— Birthday of Franklin's Grandson. - Letters to Mrs. Hewson. - How to Bring up Children. Contrasts New England with Scotland and Letter to his Cousin Samuel. Wives Out of a Bunch."- Letter to his Wife. Meets Mr. Bache. — Advice About Public Offices. - Letter to his Wife. - Arrival of the Squirrels. Also of Peaches, Ar

Ireland.