She then speaks of "the awe of his superiority preventing the familiarity she might have taken with him," but thinks she could now take more freedom. She hopes soon to send him "some crown soap," as soon as some "new wax comes in, after the frost." Unfortunately she has "no instruments to stamp the soap," which she hopes will not "depreciate its value."

The

From such private concerns, he turned to do a generous deed in the interests of science. war was going on with England, but Captain Cook, the great navagitor and discoverer, being now on his return home, Franklin directed the American cruisers, should they fall in with him, to "treat the captain and his people with civility and kindness, affording them, as common friends of mankind, all the assistance in their power." Which act was gracefully acknowledged by the King, in a letter written at his instance, and by the Royal Society, by the presentation of a gold medal.

He also granted, every year during the war, a passport to the Moravian vessel which carried supplies from London to the missionaries at Labrador; and also to a vessel sent out from Dublin to the West Indies, with provisions and clothing for sufferers there.

During the year, he also devoted some time. to philosophical researches. He prepared a paper for the Royal Academy of Science at Paris, on the Aurora Borealis, which he ascribed to the effect of electricity.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Letter to Washington. The Future of America. · Alliance of Neutral Powers.—Privateering. -Letter to Edmund Burke. On War. Anxious to return Home. - Enemies. - Letter to John Adams.- Cornwallis' Surrender.— Treaty of Paris. - Letter to Sir Joseph Banks. -Letter from his Grandson. From Mrs. Mecom. Letter to Thomas Brand Hollis.Thomas Hollis.- Doing Good as a Business."Gentlemen." -Animal Magnetism. The American Eagle. The Turkey. Letter to Henry Lawrence. - Anticipates Death. — Calumnies. General and Particular Infallibility. Saying of a French Lady. - Letter to Mrs. Hewson. His Infirmities.- Letter from Mrs. Mecom. His Son. - Letter to his Son. Treaty between Prussia and the United States. Washington's Opinion. Town Library in Franklin, Mass.- Letter to Mr. Strahan. Providence. Belief in God.

1

EARLY the next year, 1780, in a letter to Washington, Franklin showed his confidence in the happy issue of the contest for independence then going on:

--

"I must soon quit this scene," he was now seventy

four-"but you may live to see our country flourish, as it will amazingly and rapidly after the war is over; like a field of young Indian corn, which long fair weather and sunshine had enfeebled and discolored, and which in that weak state, by a thunder gust of violent wind, hail, and rain, seemed to be threatened with absolute destruction; yet the storm being past, it recovers fresh verdure, shoots up with double vigor, and delights the eye, not of its owner only but of every observing traveller."

The cause of America was strengthened this year by an alliance of several neutral powers, to inaugurate the principle, that "free ships make free goods." This action checked the British search for contraband goods which she had freely made in the ships of every country. Other nations indeed had practiced the same rule, but as England was the maritime superior among the different powers, it had caused great annoyance to all her neighbors, and they had resolved to humble her. Franklin fully approved of this action, and instructed American cruisers to bring in no more neutral ships, "as such prizes occasion much litigation, and create ill blood."

"I am not only," he said, "for respecting the ships as the house of a friend, though containing the goods of an enemy, but I even wish, for the sake of humanity, that the law of nations may be further improved, by determining, that, even in time of war, all those kinds of people who are employed in procuring subsistance for the species, or in exchanging the necessaries or conveniencies of life, which are for the common benefit of mankind, such as husbandmen on their lands, fishermen in their barques, and traders in unarmed vessels, shall be permitted to prosecute their sev

eral innocent and useful employments without interruption or molestation, and nothing taken from them, even when wanted by an enemy, but on paying a fair price for the same.'

In a letter to Edmund Burke, he said:

"Since the foolish part of mankind will make wars from time to time with each other, not having sense enough otherwise to settle their differences, it certainly becomes the wiser part, who cannot prevent those wars, to alleviate as much as possible the calamities attending them."

He went so far, in his abhorrence of war, as to say, that "there never was a good war, or a bad peace."

Such sentiments do honor to the head and heart that prompted them.

The multiplicity of his duties began to wear upon him, and made him anxious to be released.

"I find," he says early in 1781, "the various employments of merchant, banker, judge of admiralty, consul, etc., etc., besides my ministerial function, too multifarious and too heavy for my old shoulders; and have therefore requested Congress that I may be relieved.”

Another reason may be found in the persistent attempt of certain persons in Congress to effect his recall. But in place of accepting his resignation, that body showed their entire confidence in his ability and integrity, by laying new burdens upon him, appointing him to be one of five commissioners to negotiate a treaty of peace. Writing to John Adams, one of his colleagues, he said, "I esteem it an honor to be joined with

you in so important a business;" though at that time he had little expectation of an early cessation of hostilities. A week later, October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered, and the war was virtually ended, as to its necessary result. Negotiations for peace were conducted by the agents of the several interested powers through a period of years, ending at last, September 3, 1783, in the Treaty of Paris, by which the independence of the United States was fully acknowledged. While the treaty was pending, Dr. Franklin wrote to his friend Sir Joseph Banks:

"Be assured, that I long earnestly for a return of those peaceful times, when I could sit down in sweet society with my English philosophical friends, communicating to each other new discoveries, and proposing improvements of old ones; all tending to extend the power of man over matter, avert or diminish the evils he is subject to, or augment the number of his enjoyments. Much more happy should I be thus employed in your most desirable company, than in that of all the grandees of the earth projecting plans of mischief, however necessary they may be supposed for obtaining greater good.

"I join with you most perfectly in the charming wish you so well express, that such measures may be taken by both parties as may tend to the elevation of both, rather than the destruction of either.' If anything has happened endangering one of them, my comfort is, that I endeavored earnestly to prevent it, and gave honest, faithful advice, which, if it had been regarded, would have been effectual. And still, if proper means are used to produce, not only peace, but what is much more interesting, a thorough reconciliation, a