were continued from the 1st of September, 1774, to the middle of March, 1775, Dr. Franklin exhibited a steady regard for the interest and honor of his country, which no personal considerations could shake. His quick perceptions of consequences and results put him on his guard against any admissions which would either in themselves infringe upon the principles which he laid down, or leave the door open for future interference. He desired, if any thing were done, to make it permanent, thorough, and satisfactory. He was placed, in the business, in a positi n of singular responsibility. It is evident, that if he would have accepted a connection with an embassy or commission such as Lord Howe desired, the measure would have been attempted; but he would not undertake to procure from his countrymen concessions which he thought they would not, or they should not make. A mere politician, seeking personal aggrandizement or profit, would rather have labored to procure the appointment than to convince ministers that, without compliance with the terms which he designated, it would be useless. Lord Hyde asked him, in direct terms, his opinion of the proposed commission, and his answer, given in terms similar to those in which he had expressed himself to Lord Howe, caused the plan to be abandoned. Thus did he sacrifice his personal ambition to the public good, and show himself, as he was truly styled, "at heart an American." And yet, that he was not indifferent to personal considerations, where honor to himself could be received without

prejudice to the public, is evident from the notice he has left of the visit of Lord Chatham to his lodgings. "He stayed with me near two hours, his equipage waiting at the door; and being there while people were coming from church, it was much taken notice of and talked of, as, at that time, was every little circumstance that men thought might possibly any way affect American affairs. Such a visit, from so great a man, on so important a business, flattered not a little my vanity; and the honor of it gave me the more pleasure, as it happened on the very day twelve months that the ministry had taken so much pains to disgrace me before the privy council." It is cred itable to Dr. Franklin's estimate of the value of opinion, that he was more gratified with the attentions of Lord Chatham, in the opposition, than with all the studied compliments of the party in power.

The account which we have given of the negotiations of Franklin in London, is compiled from a narrative written on his passage to America, for his son, and first published in W. T. Franklin's edition of his works. The account has all the colloquia ease of his autobiography. We learn, furthermore, from it, that these long-continued evasions and delays wearied out even Franklin's patience, which was at last thoroughly spent by listening to a debate in the House of Lords, in which the Americans were stigmatized as knaves, who sought a dispute only to avoid payment of their debts. Under the irritation which he felt, he drew up the following petition, to present to Lord Dartmouth before his departure:

"A Memorial of Benjamin Franklin, Agent of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

"Whereas an injury done can only give the party injured a right to full reparation, or, in case that be refused, a right to return an equal injury; and whereas the blockade of Boston, now continued nine months, hath, every week of its continuance, done damage to that town equal to what was suffered there by the India Company, it follows that such exceeding damage is an injury done by this government for which reparation ought to be made; and whereas reparation of injuries ought always (agreeably to the custom of all nations, savage as well as civilized) to be first required before satisfaction is taken by a return of damage to the aggressors, which was not done by Great Britain in the instance above mentioned, I, the underwritten, do therefore, as their agent, in the behalf of my country, and the said town of Boston, protest against the continuance of the said blockade; and I do hereby solemnly demand satisfaction for the accumulated injury done them beyond the value of the India Company's tea destroyed.

"And whereas the conquest of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the coasts of Labrador and Nova Scotia, and the fisheries possessed by the French there, and on the Banks of Newfoundland, as far as they were more extended than at present, was made by the joint forces of Great Britain and the colonies, the latter having nearly an equal number of men in that

service with the former, it follows that the colonies have an equitable and just right to participate in the advantages of those fisheries; I do therefore, in the behalf of the colony of the Massachusetts Bay, protest against the act now under consideration in Parliament for depriving that province, with others, of that fishery (on the pretense of their refusing to purchase British commodities), as an act highly unjust and injurious; and I give notice that satisfaction will probably one day be demanded for all the injury that may be done and suffered in the execution of such act; and that the injustice of the proceeding is likely to give such umbrage to all the colonies, that in no future war, wherein other conquests may be meditated, either a man or a shilling will be obtained from any of them to aid such conquests till full satisfaction be made as aforesaid."

This document he signed as Agent of the Province. Before presenting it, however, he handed it for perusal to his friend, Mr. Thomas Walpole, and asked his advice upon it. Franklin's description of this interview is quite amusing. The philosopher, on the point of departure for America, was bustling about in his room, packing up. The banker, to whom he had submitted this bellicose manifesto, stood in dumb amazement, looking alternately at the paper and at the writer, as if he doubted whether Franklin was quite in his senses. Franklin, who perhaps began now to have his own doubts about the wisdom of such a measure, desired his friend to

put it in his pocket, and consult another friend upon it. On the next day Walpole returned him the memorial, with a note, objecting to it as likely to be attended with dangerous consequences to himself, and to contribute to exasperate the nation. He afterward called upon him and more fully stated his objections. "I had no desire," says Franklin, "to make matters worse, and, being grown cooler, took the advice so kindly given me."

Lord Howe had told Franklin that his views of a mission were at present at an end, and that he hoped, if all things should still take a more favorable turn, he might hope for the doctor's co-operation. Thus ended that matter. And the result of the efforts of Dr. Fothergill and David Barclay is thus summed in a note which Franklin received from Dr. Fothergill on the evening before he left England. In that note Dr. Fothergill desired Franklin to assemble certain friends whom he designated, and others, "and inform them, that whatever specious pretenses are of fered, they are all hollow, and that to get a larger field on which to fatten a herd of worthless parasites is all that is regarded. Perhaps," continues the note, "it may be proper to acquaint them with David Barclay's and our united endeavors, and the effects. They will stun, at least, if not convince the most worthy, that nothing favorable is intended, if more unfavorable articles can not be obtained." Something is to be allowed for the mortification of defeat in the language of this note; but it is evident from it that the writer felt that he and his friends had