apt to be ungrateful," should ever unfortunately be verified, with respect to your services, remember that you have a right to unbosom yourself in communicating your griefs to your antient friend, and most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. Charles Thomson, Esq., Secretary to Congress. (Inclosed in the foregoing). SKETCH OF THE SERVICES OF B. FRANKLIN TO THE In England, He combated the Stamp Act, and his writings in the papers against it, with his examination in parliament, were thought to have contributed much to its repeal. He opposed the Duty Act, and though he could not prevent its passing, he obtained of Mr. Townshend an omission of several articles, particularly salt. In the subsequent difference he wrote and published many papers, refuting the claim of parliament to tax the colonies. He opposed all the oppressive acts. He had two secret negotiations with the ministers for their repeal, of which he has written a narrative. In this he offered payment for the destroyed tea, at his own risque, in case they were repealed. He was joined with Messrs. Bolland and Lee in all the applications to government for that purpose.-Printed several pamphlets at his own considerable expense against the then measures of government, whereby he rendered himself obnoxious, was disgraced before the privy council, deprived of a place in the post office of 3001. sterling a year, and obliged to resign his agencies, viz. [Their toils and services could hardly raise The slight return of gratitude or praise.] is applicable not only to the herocs particularly specified, but to the va liant and wise in other ages and countries. Orders were sent to the king's governors not to sign any warrants of the treasury for the orders of his salaries; and though he was not actually dismissed by the colonies that employed him, yet thinking the known malice of the court against him, rendered him less likely than others to manage their affairs to their advantage, he judged it to be his duty to withdraw from their service, and leave it open for less exceptionable persons, which saved them the necessity of removing him. · Returning to America, he encouraged the revolution; was appointed chairman of the committee of safety, where he projected the cheveaux de frize for securing Philadelphia, then the residence of congress. Was sent by congress to head-quarters near Boston with Messrs. Harrison and Lynch in 1775, to settle some affairs with the northern governments and general Washington. In the Spring of 1776, was sent to Canada with Messrs. Chase and Carrol, passing the Lakes while they were not yet free from ice.—In Canada was with his colleagues instrumental in redressing sundry grievances, and thereby reconciling the people more to our cause. He there advanced to general Arnold and other servants of congress, then in extreme necessity, 3531. in gold out of his own pocket, on the credit of congress, which was of great service at that juncture, in procuring provisions for our army. Being at the time he was ordered on this service, upwards of seventy years of age, he suffered in his health by the hardships of this journey; Lodging in the woods, &c. in so inclement a season; but being recovered, the congress in the same year ordered him to France. Before his depar ture, he put all the money he could raise, between three and four thousand pounds, into their hands; which demonstrating his confidence, encouraged others to lend their money in support of the cause. He made no bargain for appointments, but was promised by a vote, the net salary of 5007. sterling per annum, his expenses paid, and to be assisted by a secretary, who was to have 1000% per annum. to include all contingencies. When the Pennsylvania assembly sent him to England in 1764 on the same salary, they allowed him one year's advance for his passage, and in consideration of the prejudice to his private affairs that must be occasioned by his sudden departure and absence He has had no such allowance from congress, was badly accomodated in a miserable vessel, improper for those northern seas, (and which actually foundered in her return) was badly fed, so that on his arrival, he had scarce strength to stand. His services to the states as commissioner, and afterwards minister plenipotentiary, are known to congress, as may appear in his correspondence. His extra services may not be so well known, and therefore may be here mentioned. No secretary ever arriving, the business was in part before, and entirely when the other commissioners left him, executed by himself, with the help of his grandson, who at first was only allowed clothes, board, and lodging; and afterwards a salary never exceeding 3001. a-year (except while he served as secretary to the commissioners for peace) by which difference in salary continued many years the congress saved, if they accept it, 7001. sterling a-year. He served as Consul entirely several years, till the arrival of Mr. Bar. clay, and even after, as that gentleman was obliged to be much and long absent in Holland, Flanders, and England; during which absence what business of the kind occurred, still came to Mr. F. He served, though without any special commission for the purpose, as a Judge of Admiralty; for the congress having sent him a quantity of blank commissions for privateers, he granted them to cruisers fitted out in the ports of France, some of them manned by old smugglers, who knew every creek on the coast of England, and running all round the island, distressed the British coasting trade exceedingly, and raised their general insurance. One of those privateers alone, the Black Prince, took in one year 75 sail! All the papers taken in each prize brought in, were, in virtue of an order of council, sent up to Mr. F., who was to examine them, judge of the legality of the capture, and write to the admiralty of the port, that he found the prize good, and that the sale might be permitted. These papers, which are very voluminous he has to produce. He served also as Merchant to make purchases, and direct the shipping of stores to a very great value, for which he has charged no commission. But the part of his service which was the most fatiguing and confining, was that of receiving and accepting, after a due and necessary examination, the bills of exchange drawn by congress for interest money; to the amount of two millions and a half of livres annually; multitudes of the bills very small, each of which, the smallest, gave as much trouble in examin. ing, as the largest. And this careful examination was found absolutely necessary from the constant frauds attempted by presenting seconds and thirds for payment, after the firsts had been discharged. As these bills were arriving more or less by every ship and every post, they required constant attendance. Mr. F. could make no journey for exercise as had been annually his custom, and the confinement brought on a malady that is likely to afflict him while he lives. In short, though he has always been an active man, he never went through so much business during eight years, in any part of his life, as during those of his residence in France; which however he did not decline till he saw peace happily made, and found himself in the 80th year of his age; when, if ever, a man has some right to expect repose. Some time after Dr. Franklin's return to Philadelphia, a society for Political Inquiries was formed in that city, of which he was chosen president; and on account of his bodily infirmities the meetings were held at his own house. Two or three of the essays read in this society were published; its existence, however, was not of long continuance. Two other societies were also established in Philadelphia about this period, founded on the principles of the most liberal and refined humanity: one "for alleviating the miseries of public prisons," and the other, "for promoting the abolition of slavery, the relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bondage, and the improvement of the condition of the African race.”— Of each of these Dr. Franklin was president. He had as early as the year 1772, strongly expressed his abhorrence of the traffic in slaves, as appears by his letter of the 22d August in that year, to Mr. Anthony Benezett, inserted in the 1st Part of his Private Correspondence." The following ADDRESS with a PLANo of the latter society are supposed to have been drawn up by Dr. Franklin. An Address to the Public, from the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and the Relief of Free Negroes, unlawfully held in Bondage. It is with peculiar satisfaction, we assure the friends of humanity, that, in prosecuting the design of our association, our endeavors have proved successful, far beyond our most sanguine expectations. Encouraged by this success, and by the daily progress of that luminous and benign spirit of liberty, which is diffusing itself throughout the world, and humbly hoping for the continuance of the divine blessing on our labors, we have ventured to make an important addition to our original plan, and do, therefore, carnestly solicit the support and assistance of all, who can feel the tender emotions of sympathy and compassion, or relish the exalted pleasure & beneficence. Slavery is such an atrocious debasement of human nature, that its very extirpation, if not performed with solicitous care, may sometimes open a source of serious evils. The unhappy man, who has long been treated as a brute animal, too frequently sinks beneath the common standard of the human species. The galling chains, that bind his body, do also fetter his intellectual faculties, and impair the social affections of his heart. Accustomed to move like a mere machine, by the will of a master, reflection is suspended; he has not the power of choice; and reason and conscience have but little For the plan see vol. IV. p. 248, of this edition. influence over his conduct, because he is chiefly governed by the passion of fear. He is poor and friendless--perhaps worn out by extreme labor, age, and disease. Under such circumstances, freedom may often prove a misfortune to himself, and prejudicial to society. Attention to emancipated black people, it is therefore to be hoped, will become a branch of our national police; but as far as we contribute to promote this emancipation, so far that attention is evidently a serious duty incumbent on us, and which we mean to discharge to the best of our judgment and abilities. To instruct, to advise, to qualify those, who have been restored to freedom, for the exercise and enjoyment of civil liberty, to promote in them habits of industry, to furnish them with employments suited to their age, sex, talents, and other circumstances, and to procure their children an education calculated for their future situation in life; these are the great outlines of the annexed plan, which we have adopted, and which we conceive will essentially promote the public good, and the happiness of these our hitherto too much neglected fellow-creatures. A plan so extensive cannot be carried into execution without considerable pecuniary resources, beyond the present ordinary funds of the society. We hope much from the generosity of enlightened and benevolent freemen, and will gratefully receive any donations or subscriptions for this purpose, which may be made to our treasurer, James Starr, or to James Pemberton, chairman of our committe of correspondence. Signed by order of the society, Philadelphia, 9th of November, 1789. B. FRANKLIN, President. The Jabors of both these societies have been crowned with great success, and they continue to prosecute with unwearied diligence the laudable designs for which they were established. According to Dr. Stuber's account," Dr. Franklin's name, as president of the Abolition Society, was signed to the memorial presented to the house of representatives of the United States, on the 12th of February, 1789, praying them to exert the full extent of power vested in them by the constitution in discouraging the traffic of the human species. This was his last public act. In the debates to which this memorial gave rise, several attempts were made to justify the trade. In the Federal Gazette of March 25th, 1790, there appeared an essay, signed HISTORICUS, written by Dr. Franklin, in which he communicated a speech, said to have been delivered in the |