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the family to the place of worship, the meeting house being only enclosed, but neither ceiled nor plastered, the beams and rafters were all exposed to view. John saw that his austere father sat through the sermon with great uneasiness, but could not divine the cause. On returning home, “ John,” said his father, "it is my duty to give you a severe thrashing, (common in old times,) and you shall have it presently, so prepare yourself." "But you won't whip me, father, without telling me what for?" "No, certainly-your conduct at meeting, sir, is the cause. Instead of attending to the sermon, you were all the while gaping about as if you were counting the beams and rafters of the meeting house." "Well, father, can you repeat the sermon ?" "Sermon! no. I had as much as I could do to watch your inattention." If I'll tell you all the minister said, you won't whip me? "No, John, no; but that is impossible."-Young Franklin immediately named the text, and taking up the discourse, went through every head of it with surprising accuracy. "Upon my word," said the delighted parent, "I should not have thought it." "And now, father," said John, "I can tell you exactly how many beams and rafters there are in the meeting house." His ever springing affection for this parent is beautifully evinced by his journal. Almost every other page has the entry," wrote a letter to father."

Not long after removing to Wyoming, his wife died, leaving three small children, one an infant of a week old. Having no person to take care of them he determined to place them in charge of his kind friends in Canaan. Harnessing a horse to a little cart, he put in the three children, tied a cow by the horns, to follow, and drove on, having a cup in which, as occasion required, he milked, and fed the babe. Thus he traveled the rough way, more than two hundred miles, in safety, exhibiting all the patience and tenderness that might be expected from a mother.

Some may be curious to learn the appearance of this extraordinary man. Of excellent proportions, nearly six feet in height, thick set, and well knit, he seemed built for strength and endurance, without being too heavy to be active. His courage was unquestionable. Elisha Harding, Esq., who was an associate with him through those times of trial, says: "He was as brave a man as ever carried a gun." The small pox had treated him roughly, his face being much pitted, yet his countenance was not unpleasing. One peculiar feature was the upper lip, which was long, and the indentation in the centre, from the nose to the mouth, remarkably deep. The chin and lower part of the face were full of manly expression. His com

plexion was florid, the hair light, if not inclining to red, showing the high Saxon blood. Open, frank, fond of talking, full of anecdote, the Connecticut claim, and the sufferings of the settlers, his hobby, Col. Franklin would visit from house to house, from neighborhood to neighborhood, taking a circuit of miles, never in a hurry, yet always busy, tarrying a night with one, spending a day with another; the neighbours, hearing Col. Franklin had come, men, women and chilren gathering in to hear him; he would inform, argue, arouse, and cheer, in aid of the cause to which he had devoted his life; and every where was thrice and cordially welcome. Ambitious he certainly was. The love of popularity became his ruling passion, nor did he woo the pleasing and delusive gale in vain. For thirty years he was the idol of the people whose interests he especially espoused, and they would mutually and cheerfully have died for each other. As a public speaker, fond to display his knowledge, and not averse to behold a crowd listening to his voice, he could make no pretensions to eloquence; yet he rarely failed to command attention, even from the learned and accomplished, for he exhibited a thorough knowledge of his subject, a surprising memory, day, date, names, the purport of every document being stated by him, without referring to paper or note, with an accuracy rarely equaled. Earnest, often vehement, his whole soul seemed to be in the matter. He quoted no poetry, attempted no flight of the imagination, but illustrated his subject by an occasional quotation from scripture, and the introduction of popular aphorisms. After remaining many years a widower, he married Mrs. Bidlack, daughter of Capt. Fuller, whose husband, Capt. James Bidlack, had fallen in the battle.

Immediately after the garrison was withdrawn and the people restored to their possessions, committees were appointed in the interregnum of law, to regulate affairs in the settlement, adjust controversies, punish offenders and preserve order. Town meetings, not "legally warned," but informally called together, were holden, and taxes collected; while the militia were organized with a good deal of care, and led to a choice of officers. At a general parade in Shawney, Capt. Franklin was elected to the command of the regiment, and thenceforward was called through life by the well-known appellation of COL. FRANKLIN.

The first object of the settlers, both ostensible and real, was to obtain a trial for the right of soil. What ulterior scheme Colonel Franklin had then devised, will appear in the sequel. Petitions prepared to the Assembly of Connecticut, praying their interposition,

had been sent forward. Ardent, indefatigable, the rifle resting on his knee, he knew well the power, and kept the pen in motion. "Wrote to William S. Johnson, Jesse Root and Eliphalet Dyer." "Sent a letter to Esquire Antis." "Wrote a letter to the Justices of the Supreme Court." "Sent by Zerah Beach, Esq., copies of letters to the Governor of Connecticut and the committee." Wrote to

Esquire Grey." "Wrote to Major Smith." "Wrote to Major Smith." And these entries are made in his journal, intermixed with constant skirmishing, fighting and dying, and show the earnestness with which he devoted himself to the cause.

After the proceedings of the Council of Censors, the Connecticut Assembly, saying they had no jurisdiction, yet powerfully solicited by the settlers, and their petitions being sustained by the Susquehanna Company and friends at home, too numerous, and influential to be wholly disregarded, passed a resolution that the settlers ought to have the advantage of a fair trial, and also requesting Governor Griswold to write to the Government of Pennsylvania in their behalf. The letter was just and appropriate, and doubtless not without salutary influence.

Petitions to Congress having before been presented, were now renewed, and as this seems the most fitting place to trace the extraordinary action of that honorable body, we shall do so without interruption to the close.

Col. Franklin set out on the 6th of March, 1785, for New York, as agent of the settlers. Preceding this time, the following action had taken place:-

Friday, January 23, 1784.

"Congress assembled: Present-Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from the State of New Jersey, Mr. Beatty, and from Delaware, Mr. Tilton.

"On the report of the committee, consisting of Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Lee and Mr. Williamson, to whom was referred a petition of Zebulon Butler and others, claiming under the State of Connecticut, private right of soil within the territory westward of the Delaware, formerly in controversy between the said State and that of Pennsylvania, and lately determined by a court, constituted and appointed agreeably to the ninth of the articles of confederation and perpetual union, to be within the jurisdiction of the State of Pennsylvania, complaining that they are disturbed in their right by others, claiming under

the said State of Pennsylvania, and praying that a court may be instituted under the ninth article of the confederation, for determining the said right,

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Resolved, That a court be instituted according to the said ninth article of the confederation, for determining the private right of soil within the said territory, so far as the same is by the said article submitted to the determination of such a court.

"That the fourth Monday in June next, be assigned for the appearance of the parties, by their lawful agents before Congress, or the Committee of the States, wheresoever they shall be then sitting.

"That notice of the assignment of the said day, be given to the parties in the following form:

"To the claimants of the private right of soil within the territory westward of the Delaware, heretofore in controversy between the States of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and adjudged by the sentence of a court constituted and appointed agreeably to the ninth of the articles of confederation and perpetual union, to be within the jurisdiction of the State of Pennsylvania, it is hereby made known: That sundry individuals claiming private right of soil under the State of Connecticut, within the said territory, have made application to Congress, stating that they have been disturbed in their said right of soil by others, claiming under the State of Pennsylvania; and praying for the institution of a court for determining the said private right of soil, in pursuance of the ninth article of confederation: And that the fourth Monday in June next is assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents before Congress, or a Committee of the States, wheresoever they shall be then sitting, to proceed in the premises as by the confederation is directed.

By order of Congress.

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

"Resolved, That the said notice be transmitted by the secretary, to the Executives of the States of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with a request that they will take proper measures for having the same served on the parties interested under their States respectively."

Congress assembled: Present as yesterday.

A motion was made by Mr. Hand, seconded by Mr. Montgomery,

in the words following:

"Whereas, Congress have by their resolution of the 23d day of January last, on the petition of Zebulon Butler, and others, directed the institution of a court to determine the private right of soil within the territory westward of the Delaware, formerly in dispute between the states of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, agreeably to the ninth of the articles of confederation, and have assigned the fourth Monday in June next, for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, before Congress or a committee of the states, to proceed in the premises, as by the confederation is directed. And whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania have, by their resolutions of the 14th day of February last, instructed their delegates in Congress, as follows:

["In General Assembly, Saturday, February 14, 1784, A. M.

Resolved, 1st. That the delegates of this State be instructed to apply immediately to Congress for an explanation of their act of the 23d day of last month, it appearing to be uncertain whether the fourth Monday in June next is fixed for the purpose of appointing commissioners or judges to constitute a court for hearing, and determining the matter in question, or for the purpose of deciding how far the same is, by the ninth article of confederation, submitted to the determination of such a court.

"2d. That if Congress by their said act meant the appointment of commissioners or judges next June, then the said delegates move for a reconsideration of the said act, and represent to Congress, that the agents for the state of Connecticut did, upon the late trial at Trenton, suggest to the court there, that the tenants in possession of the lands in controversy, and particularly the companies of Delaware and Susquehanna, were improving and holding large tracts of land under title from the State of Connecticut; and that by the same article of confederation, a court is to be established for the trial of the private right of soil, only where it is claimed, under different grants of two or more states, so that Zebulon Butler and the other claimants cannot be entitled to such a court, unless they come within the description aforesaid, which it is apprehended they do not. That if Congress should consent to establish courts at the instance of persons, not first proving themselves to be included in the description aforesaid, the citizens of this State may be harrassed by a multitude of pretended claims at the suit of adventurers or invaders of the state, and in the present instance at the suit of persons who have settled in defiance of the resolution of Congress of the 23d day of December, 1775.