Wilcox, the bookseller-Loaning books-Benjamin reviews "Religion of Nature "-Talk with Watts, and his opinion of it-Interview with Doctor Lyons-Doctor Pemberton-Lived to see his folly-Interview with Sir Hans Sloane-Ben- jamin's attack on beer drinking His sound argument—Jake, the ale boy-Called "A water drinker "-Discussion with 290 What became of Ralph-Benjamin teaching two companions to Visits Keimer's printing office-Calls on Deborah Read-Her . 313 Patterned after Cotton Mather's-The questions asked-- Benjamin's explanation-The compact signed-Bringing in books they owned -Establishing the first library in the land Questions discussed by the club-No improvement Proposition from Keimer-Discussion of it with Meredith Returns to Keimer-Printing money for New Jersey at Burlington-The Surveyor-General's life-His talk with Benjamin-Starting new firm, Franklin & Meredith-The first job-Predictions of its failure by Nickle and Merchants' Club-Doctor Baird differed-A proposition from a stationer -Interview with Webb-Plan for starting a paper made known-Keimer's 'paper-Benjamin's articles in Mercury-- Time is money-The lounger rebuked-Maxims-Avoiding slander and abuse-Revising his religious belief-Articles of belief-Code of morals adopted-Creed for "United Party of Virtue "-Letters to friends-Proposed prayers in Con- Publishing an almanack-Discussion about it-When it was circulation Franklin's fame spreading The Junto pleased -Franklin's account of success-How he conducted his paper-The libeller suppressed-Success of his stationer's shop-Visit to Boston-Visits his brother James-Reconcilia- tion-Takes his son home-He buries a child-His defence Clerk of the Assembly-Postmaster-Night-watch discussed in the Junto-Plan of a fire department-Many fire companies formed-Plan to pave the streets-Paper on smoky chimneys -Franklin invents a stove-Gives away the patent-Franklin founds the University of Philadelphia-Its great success- Franklin organized militia-Influence of Quakers against it Entering into partnership with Hall-His large income-Time for study and research-Rapid progress in science--His fame in both hemispheres-What Mignet said of his labours--Kinnersley on his lightning rod-Called again to political life--List of offices he filled-Drafting Declaration of Independence-Hanging separately-Anecdote-His first labours at Court of England-Minister to England-Sources of troubles-Hatred of Tories-Firm before House of Com- mons-Death of Mrs. Franklin-Famous letters to Strahan -The Eight Years' War-Franklin author of the Union— First name in history-Library and letter to Franklin, Mass. "I I. FROM OLD ENGLAND TO NEW ENGLAND. AM tired of so much persecution under the reign of our corrupt king," said a neighbour to Josiah Franklin, one day in the year 1685, in the usually quiet village of Banbury, England, "and I believe that I shall pull up stakes and emigrate to Boston. That is the most thriving port in America." Well, I am not quite prepared for that yet,” replied Franklin. "Our king is bad enough and tyrannical enough to make us all sick of our native land. But it is a great step to leave it for ever, to live among strangers; and I could not decide to do it without a good deal of reflection.” "Nor I; but I have reflected upon it for a whole year now, and the more I reflect the more I am inclined to emigrate. When I can't worship God here as my conscience dictates, I will go where I can. Besides, I think the new country promises much more to the common people than the old in the way of a livelihood." 'Perhaps so; I have not given the subject much attention. Dissenters have a hard time here under Charles II., and we all have to work hard enough for a livelihood. I don't think you can have a harder time in Boston." Josiah Franklin was not disposed to emigrate when his neighbour first opened the subject. He was an intelligent, enterprising, Christian man, a dyer by trade, was born in Ecton, Leicestershire, in 1655, but removed to Banbury in his boyhood, to learn the business of a dyer of his brother John. He was married in Banbury at twenty-two years of |