more than that." "Well, let it be 200; this for ten years, is 2000. You allow, then, I have lost £4000 sterling." "Aye, and much more too," said Moli

neux.

you es

"In the next place, I have lost an hundred friends; among whom, were the men of the first rank, fortune, and power in the province: at what price will timate them?" "D-n them," said Molineux, "at nothing: you are better without them, than with them." A loud laugh. A loud laugh. "Be it so," said Otis.

"In the next place, I have made a thousand enemies; among whom are the government of the province and the nation. What do you think of this item?" "That is as it may happen," said Molineux.

"In the next place, you know I love pleasure: but I have renounced all amusement for ten years. What is that worth to a man of pleasure?" "No great matter," said Molineux, have made politics your amusement." A hearty laugh.

66

you

"In the next place, I have ruined as fine health, and as good a constitution of body, as nature ever gave to man." "This is melancholy indeed," said Molineux" there is nothing to be said on that point."

you

"Once more," said Otis, holding his head down before Molineux, "look upon this head!" (where was a scar in which a man might bury his finger) "what do think of this? and what is worse, my friends think I have a monstrous crack in my scull." This made all the company very grave, and look very solemn. solemn. But Otis setting up a laugh, and with a gay countenance, said to Molineux; "now, Willy,

my

advice to you is, to say no more about your griev ances; for you and I had better put up our accounts of profit and loss in our pockets, and say no more about them, lest the world should laugh at us."

This whimsical dialogue put all the company, and Molineux himself, into good humour, and they passed the rest of the evening in joyous conviviality.'

Chapter XXFT.

Dr. Franklin chosen Agent--Remarks on certain Points of his Character.

THE different intrigues and interests, that had, during an important period, prevented the choice of a suitable agent, to take charge of the arduous affairs of the province in England, at length yielded, as the pressure of difficulties increased; and, in the year 1770, Dr. Franklin was entrusted with the agency. The next year, a jealousy of this eminent man, which prevailed among different classes, from various causes, shewed itself by the appointment of a colleague, a friend of Dr. Franklin, but selected from another province. Arthur Lee, of Virginia, who had made a visit to Boston, was appointed a joint agent. He was very warm and zealous in all the opinions of the patriotic party, and therefore possessed their entire confidence. The common adage, that no man is a

prophet in his own country was curiously verified in the case of Franklin, and there may be some interest in considering, what were the reasons that prevented the people of Massachusetts, from having an unlimited reliance on the great talents, and advantageous experience, of one of the most distinguished and the most widely known of all her citizens.

There were three causes of distrust, that operated on the minds of many people in Massachusetts to the disadvantage of Franklin. These were, his religion, his politics, and taken in connection with one or the other of these subjects, according as they prevailed in the minds of the observer, his worldly shrewdness and thrift. His deep sagacity, diversified experience, ingenious wit, punctuality, industry, economical views, disciplined temper, tolerant philosophy, extensive knowledge of men and things, and practical philanthropy, though they commanded a large share of respect and admiration, yet could not wholly overcome the prejudices against him, which originated in a difference of theological or political opinion. In addition to his other qualifications for the public service, he possessed the very useful one of a personal acquaintance with various parts of his own country and of England;* and on

*Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, January 6th, 1705-6, in a house that stood in Milk-street, opposite the old South Church. He passed the first seventeen years of his life in Boston, whence he migrated to Philadelphia. He went first to England, in 1724, returning in 1726. A second time in 1757, and came back in 1762. He made a third visit in 1764, and returned in 1775. He was sent to France, in 1776, and took a final leave of Europe in 1785. He died in 1790, aged 85. It appears therefore, that he lived seventeen years in Boston, twenty-seven in Europe, and forty-one in Pennsylvania.

the subjects he was particularly called to discuss, he had that superiority, which is given to the person who has actually traversed, examined and measured a region, over another who has only beheld it on a map, or merely pictured it in his mind from descrip

tion.

Dr. Franklin was born at a period, when the religious feelings that gave rise to the settlement of the colony, still existed with little abatement. His father was an honest, hard working, puritan tradesman, in whose family the son was accustomed to close labour, long prayers,* rigid tenets, and a severe abstinence from all cheerfulness and indulgence. His lively, strong, and active faculties were excited against irksome austerities, that appeared to him either hateful or ludicrous. He, like many other young men, injudiciously treated, revolted against what was taught by the narrow-minded and tyrannical, and easily fell into the error of associating the tenets of religion, with the practice of some of its professors. The restiveness of a powerful intellect, with the rashness of youthful inexperience, was repulsed by the exaction made by inferior minds, of implicit submission to their dictates. In this way, religion was rendered odious to him, not in itself,

* Wit was an early characteristic of Franklin, and traits of it, that should have been considered mere marks of a sprightly mind, were regarded by many as the evidence of a perverse heart. The instance of his suggesting to his father, when engaged in packing a barrel of beef for winter's use, that it would be a great saving of time, if instead of a long grace every day, over each piece he should ask a blessing over the whole at once, was one of those graceless effusions, among others, that left a strong tinge of prejudice against him in the minds of his austere connections.

sway,

but in the conduct of its professors. Those were the days of creeds and platforms, intolerance bore human teachers assumed infallibility in expounding what was mystericus and divine, and he who did not submit in every point, entirely. The opinions which he

was reprobated perhaps might

have embraced, or under which he might, at least, have sheltered himself from obloquy, were not then introduced. The irreligious impressions which were given him by the bigotry and intolerance of those about him, were unfortunately confirmed by the companions of his youthful career. Some of his fellow workmen and associates were without religion, and though one of the most effectual modes of disgusting a refined free-thinker with his opinions, would be to hear them from the lips of a low and vulgar infidel; yet he was not sufficiently above them in habits and manners, however superior in talents, to be thus affected. He pursued, not with bad intentions, but with misguided efforts, his speculations against religion, and thereby rivetted a prejudice in the minds of many persons, who, if they escaped his theoretical delusions, were never capable of imitating, or even appreciating, his long and able discharge of the great practical duties that are most useful to society.

His reputation for scepticism constantly followed him, and infected the minds of the clergy and the more rigid members of their congregations, with suspicions of Franklin's integrity, and fear of his principles; which were gradually weakened by his regular life, his benevolent exertions, and his great