USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Walks & talks about historic Boston > Part 20
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This conversation led to an acquaintance with Lord Howe, who asked Franklin's opinion in regard to sending over a Commission to inquire into grievances and compose differences. "I wish, brother," said Miss Howe, "you were to be sent hither on such a service. I should like that bet- ter than General Howe going to command an army there." "I think, Madam," said Franklin, "they ought to provide for General Howe some more honorable business."
The Ministry became so anxious at this time to secure the services of Franklin in promoting a settlement with the Colonies, as to hint to him that he might expect not only the restoration of his old position, but almost any other he could ask for, upon which Franklin, in writing to. his son, says: "I need not tell you who knows me so well, how improper and disgusting this language was to me."
After prolonging his stay to await the result of the Con- tinental Congress, Franklin made his preparations to return to America.
On his arrival he found the Colonies in a high state of ex- citement. The battles of Lexington and Concord had been fought, and the Second Continental Congress was in ses-
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sion. He was the unanimous choice of the Assembly of Pennsylvania as a delegate to Congress. This Congress sent an humble petition to the Crown, giving Britain one more chance, one more opportunity of recovering the friend- ship of the Colonies, concerning which Franklin writes: "I think she has not sense enough to embrace it, as I consider she has lost them forever."
On the 20th of May, 1775, Congress having resolved that hostilities had been commenced by Great Britain, "It was voted that the Colonies ought to be put in a position of de- fence." On the 21st of July, 1775, the first sketch for a plan of confederation was presented to Congress by Franklin. The name which he proposed for the Confederacy was, "The United Colonies of North America." About this time Congress established a Post Office system of its own and appointed Franklin Postmaster General. He was on all the important committees of Congress, public or secret, and although seventy years of age, he entered upon his several duties with all the buoyancy and activity of youth. When the Continental paper money was under discussion, he ad- vised that the bill should bear interest, and it was a matter of regret, when too late, that his advice was unheeded.
In October, 1775. he was appointed by Congress to con- sult with Washington at his headquarters in Cambridge in relation to a reorganization of the militia. Gen. Nathanaiel Green met Franklin on this occasion and wrote, "I had the honor to be introduced to that very great man, Dr. Frank- lin, whom I viewed with silent admiration during the whole evening. Attention watched his lips, and conviction closed his periods."
He made an arduous journey to Canada to obtain the co- operation of the inhabitants there. He was appointed in 1776 one of a committee of five to prepare a Declaration of Independence. The other members of the committe were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams. Roger Sherman and Robert B. Livingston.
The original draft by Thomas Jefferson of this momentous document, contains interlineations in the handwriting of Franklin. The Declaration was adopted by Congress on the Fourth of July, 1776. It is related that when John Hancock signed it in his bold, handsome hand. he re- marked, "King George can read that without his glasses." Then as the others signed their names, he remarked, "We
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must be unanimous, we must all hang together," when Franklin quickly replied, "Yes, if we would not hang sep- arately." After the battle of Long Island General Howe
Drafting the Declaration of Independence
expressed to General Sullivan, who had been taken prisoner and liberated on parole, a desire to confer with a delega- tion of Congress, and that body appointed Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge a Committee of Conference.
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They met Lord Howe at Staten Island, opposite Amboy, within the British lines. His lordship received and enter- tained them politely, but informed them he could not treat with them as a Committee of Congress. His powers only permitted him to consult with them as private gentlemen of influence in the Colonies. This statement put an end to the conference, and the committee reported the result to Congress. John Adams, in his diary, gives a very amusing account of the journey of the committee from Philadelphia to Staten Island. In October, 1776, Congress voted to make application to France for aid in the struggle for independ- ence and three commissioners were appointed, namely, Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee, to nego- tiate with that power.
Messrs. Deane and Lee were already in Europe. Frank- lin, with his two grandsons, left Philadelphia in October, 1776, embarking on the United States man-of-war "Reprisal," mounting sixteen guns and commanded by Captain Wickes.
The sloop of war was chased several times by British cruisers, but obeyed orders and shunned engagements. Franklin and his grandsons went on board a fishing boat at Auray and reached Nantes December 7, 1776. Here they remained eight days and were treated with the greatest distinction. It was not known in Europe that Congress had decided on any application for aid, it was thought that he was present on some official errand. On the 21st of December he arrived in Paris and met his colleagues, Messrs. Deane and Lee.
The diplomatic course of Franklin in France covered a period of nearly nine years. His reputation in Paris was established in 1767-1769 when he visited that city, and this reputation was greater than in England or America, but it was now matured by the lapse of time, and he was re- ceived with a degree of distinction rarely accorded to any foreigner. He remained in Paris but a few days, establish- ing himself at Passy, about three miles from the centre of the city. John Adams describes his residence there as a very magnificent place, the rent of which must have been enormously high. The owner was a staunch friend of America, and was content to have Franklin occupy his home on very moderate terms, and after the Revolution receive his pay from our Government in grants of public
The Interview betirecu American Commissioners and General Howe
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land. Franklin at once gave his attention to the object of his mission. While the French court was not yet prepared for an open breach with England, it had already advanced two hundred thousand dollars for the shipment of arms and military stores to America, it being arranged that Congress should send tobacco and other products in return. M. Vergennes, the Minister of War, received the Commis- sioners very kindly, but thought it best for the present, to defer any open recognition, but the Commissioners received ostensibly, from a private source, but really from the King's Treasury, for the use of Congress, a quarterly allowance. amounting in the whole to about four hundred thousand dollars, and half as much more from the "farmers general" to be repaid by remittances of tobacco. Being thus supplied with over half a million dollars, they sent to America arms and equipments, fitted out armed vessels, and supplied the American cruisers touching at French ports. The British Ambassador at Paris, Lord Sternmont, protested against the underhanded aid rendered the Americans. Vergennes made a show at rebuking the Commissioners, who were not deterred from their operations. The Commissioners wrote to Lord Sternmont, relative to exchange of prisoners. His Lordship promptly replied: "The King's Ambassador re- ceives no application from rebels unless they come to im- plore his Majesty's mercy." Franklin's reply, signed also by Deane, to this impertinence, was: "My Lord. in answer to a letter, which concerns some of the most material inter- ests of humanity, and of the two nations, Great Britain and the United States of America, now at war, we received the enclosed indecent paper, as coming from your lordship, which we return for your lordship's more mature consider- ation." The British Ministry finding the balance of prison- ers against them, were soon glad to accept the proposition. thus magnificently put aside by Lord Sternmont."
When the news of Burgoyne's surrender to the Ameri- cans under General Gates at Saratoga was received in France, it decided the French Cabinet in its course. "The capitulation of Burgoyne," writes Franklin, "has caused the most profound joy in France, as if it were a victory won by her own troops over her own enemies. Such is the universal ardent and sincere good will and attachment of this nation for us and our cause." He availed himself of this moment of enthusiasm to promote the interests of his
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country. On the 7th of December Vergennes informed the American Commissioners that his Majesty was "disposed to establish more direct relations with the United States." Two treaties were signed February 6th, 1778, one of amity and commerce, the other of alliance for mutual defence, by which the king agreed to "make common cause with the United States should England attempt to obstruct the com- merce with France, and guaranteed to the United States their liberty, sovereignty and independence." Franklin writes : "The King has treated us with generosity and mag- nanimity, taking no advantage of our present difficulties to exact terms, which we would not willingly grant when es- tablished in prosperity and peace. England is in great con- sternation." The American Commissioners appeared in Court on a footing with the representatives of other inde- pendent powers. Franklin was presented by Vergennes, to Louis, the Sixteenth, at Versailles, and was received by the clapping of hands and other tokens of welcome from the surrounding courtiers. He appeared at this royal audience. very simply attired, with straight, unpowdered hair, a brown cloth coat and round hat. A crowd had collected to see him. His age, his venerable aspect, his simple dress, contrasted with the finery about him, the recollection of his services to science and humanity, all combined to waken the utmost enthusism of the spectators. The King received him with much cordiality, charging him to assure the United States of his friendship, and expressing his satisfac- tion at the conduct of their commissioners during their residence in France. On his withdrawing from the audi- ence the crowd in the passage ways received Franklin with renewed manifestations of welcome and followed him for some distance. The enthusiasm with which he had been received in Versailles was renewed in Paris. He called on Voltaire who was in his eighty-fifth year. Franklin pre- sented one of his grandsons to him and asked his blessing on him. "God and Liberty," said Voltaire. raising his hands over the young man's head, "that is the only bene- diction appropriate to the grandson of Franklin."
It was during the residence of the Commissioners in France that the Marquis De Lafayette sailed for America, in a ship of his own, to serve in the American Army.
Franklin's reputation in France so towered over his col- leagues that they were ciphers by his side. They were re-
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called and on September 14, 1778, Franklin was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France. He ac- complished in France by his diplomacy as much as did Washington with all his victories.
"He did the work but he never learned the dialect of diplomacy. He was that strange creature, a republican at the court of a pure monarchy. In Paris, his defects were virtues. As a politician at the Court he was the dire enemy of England, to the jaded society of Paris, he was the representative of a new world of feeling and thought. His New England astuteness seemed to Parisian courtiers, pa- triarchial innocence. His naive stories and illustrations, which a thousand admirers were ready to translate and re- peat in every circle in the town were as bracing as quinine. His very costume, his hair hanging, his spectacles on his nose and white hat under his arm, in the midst of absurd perukes, and brocaded suits, came like a revelation of na- ture to the Versailles of fashion. He became, to his own amusement, the idol of Paris. Versailles was never. per- haps, quite certain that the New England Philosopher was not of red Indian descent. But love does not reason. Paris had fallen in love with Franklin, and in homage to him, even grew enamored of simplicity. He was a diplomat of high rank in the art. His colleagues, rivals, and detractors were unable to understand the source of his influence, but did not venture to deny the fact, and could not accuse him of neglecting the interests of his country.
As a diplomatist he was not peremptory in insisting on the rights of his own country, still less on his own dignity. He studied the French men and French women, who ruled France, and he probed to the bottom the instincts of the French governing class without losing his own. About allowances in general he was not solicitous. Jefferson rightly said of him: "By his reasonableness, moderation and temper. he so won the confidence of the French ministers, that it may truly be said that they were more under his influence than he was under theirs." With a prospective war with France and Spain on their hands, the British Government began to con- sider the expediency of making peace with the United States. Franklin was approached by various emissaries. He gave one answer to all such overtures, that any propo- sition implying a return of the United States to a depend-
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ence was impossible, only a peace on equal terms would be considered.
It was about this time that that famous naval adventurer, John Paul Jones was in France, having espoused the cause of the United States. John Adams describes him as "the most ambitious and intriguing officer in the American Navy. His voice is soft, his eye has keenness and wildness and softness."
"In compliment to Franklin, whose poor Richard's max- ims were very popular in France, he named his 42 gun ship of the mixed French and American squadron of which he had command, the "Bon Homme Richard." His victory in this ship over the British man-of-war, "Serapis" obtained for him the present of a solid gold belted sword from the French King. It is now admitted that the liberal and timely aid rendered by France to the United States in the Revolution- ary struggle, was due in great measure to the personal in- fluence and diplomatic skill of Benjamin Franklin. The hostility of France to Great Britain was an element which entered very largely in securing that aid, but the French King and Ministry had a high personal regard for Franklin. And on his part, he was deeply impressed with the noble and gener- ous manner in which France, without stipulating for a single privilege, had afforded us aid in our distress.
"In the Summer of 1780, Count Rochambeau arrived at Newport, Rhode Island with a French Army of 6,000, and in 1781, Franklin procured from France an additional loan of three million of livres, and the sum of six millions, not as a loan, but as a gift." On the 12th of March, 1781, being then in his 76th year, Franklin wrote to Congress asking for a recall. Congress replied by appointing him, one of a Commission of Five, including John Adams, John Hay, Thomas Jefferson and Lauvens, to negotiate a Treaty of Peace. Franklin accepted the new appointment and on the 30th of November, 1782, a Treaty with Great Britain was signed and this Treaty was duly ratified in Congress.
Franklin arranged highly favorable terms, and for the payment of our debt to France; negotiated a Treaty with Sweden, the first power to welcome us into the family of nations, and also a Treaty with Prussia.
At last in March 1785, Congress heeded Franklin's re- peated application for a recall. Thomas Jefferson was ap- pointed Minister to the French Court.
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"You have come to fill Dr. Franklin's place," someone asked. "O, No, Sir," replied Jefferson, "no man living can do that, but I am appointed to succeed him!" Mignet, the French writer, says of Franklin, "His company was sought after, not only as the most illustrious, but as the most agreeable the times afforded. He impressed his friends with sentiments of tenderness, admiration and respect, nor was his attachment to them less strong."
On his return to America, he received welcome from manyy public bodies. Washington, in a letter, assured Franklin, "that no man could salute him with more sincer- ity and pleasure." After settling down in his own home, Franklin writes: "I am surrounded by my friends, with a fine family of grandchildren about my knees; and an af- fectionate good daughter, and son-in-law, to take care of me. And after fifty years of service, I have the pleasure to find the esteem of my country with regard to me undi- minished." But he was not permitted to retire from public service. He was elected President of the State, which he filled for three successive years. In 1787 he was elected one of the delegates from Pennsylvania to the Convention for forming the National Constitution : which met in Philadel- phia. He introduced into that Convention, a motion for daily Prayers, which was not adopted, making these memo- rable remarks in its support : "In the beginning of the con- test with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our pray- ers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in that Struggle, must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of estab- lishing our future national felicity. And have we now for- gotten that powerful Friend, or do we imagine, that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, for a long time. and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I have of this truth that God reigns in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it possible that an Empire can rise without his aid?"
Franklin wrote many strong papers during the last years of his life, which showed no deterioration of his great in- tellectual Society of a Memorial to Congress. His last let- ter is one addressed nine days before his decease to Jeffer-
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son, the Secretary of State, upon the subject of the North Eastern boundary, which shows a mind clear and strong.
"A friendship founded upon the sincerest mutual esteem,
existed between Franklin and Washington.
After be-
queathing in the codicil to his Will, his fine crab tree walk- ing stick, with a gold head curiously wrought in the form of a liberty cap, to Washington, Franklin adds, with one of his felicitous terms of expression, "if it were a sceptre, he has merited it, and would become it." He writes to Wash- ington in 1789: "I am now finishing my eighty-third year, and probably with it, my course in this life, but in what- ever state of existence I am placed hereafter, if I retain any memory of what has passed here, I shall retain the es- teem, respect and affection I have always had for you, my dear friend." To this, Washington, with unwonted warmth and earnest expression, replied: "If to be vener- ated for benevolence ; if to be admired for talents ; if to be esteemed for patriotism : if to be beloved for philanthropy, can gratify the human mind, you must have the pleasing consolation to know that you have not lived in vain. And I flatter myself that it will not be ranked among the least grateful occurrences of your life to be assured, that, so long as I retain my memory, you will be recollected with respect, veneration and affection by your sincere friend George Washington." His fatal illness occurred in 1790 and required the constant attention of his physician, Dr. John Jones. On the 17th of April, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, he quietly expired, closing a long and use- ful life of eighty-four years and three months. He ex- pressed a wish in his Will, that his body should be buried with as little ceremony and expense as may be. The fu- neral took place on the 21st of April and was attended by the members of the City and State Governments. the vari- ous societies of the City and some twenty thousand citi- zens. The bells were muffled and tolled, flags displayed at half mast, and the consignment of the body to the earth was signalized by peals of artillery. His remains lie in the northwest corner of Christ Church Cemetery in the City of Philadelphia, by the side of those of his wife. A marble stone, six feet long, four feet wide, bears this inscription : "Benjamin and Deborah Franklin"
"In person, Franklin was symmetrically and compactly
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formed, in later life inclined to corpulency. His height was five feet, nine or ten inches. His features were an index to the good temper, amenity, cheerfulness, and affa- bility which were his characteristics. Childhood, that best detector of a gentle heart, was ever welcome to his knee."
Franklin carried into public life, the same spirit and qualities which had marked his private life, thoroughly upright, fair and straightforward in all his dealings, and intensely patriotic, and thus achieved the highest success as a statesman and a diplomatist. A sincere believer in the rights of all men, he estimated, at their true worth, the various distinctions which he found introduced into civil- ized nations and polite society in Europe. In his personal bearing he was sedate and weighty. Men instinctively felt his worth, and submitted themselves to his wisdom." "His country," says Bigelow, "owes much to Franklin for his service in various political capacities ; the world owes much to the fruit of his pen ; but his greatest contribution to the welfare of mankind, probably, was what he did, by example, to dignify manual labor.
"He was a champion of the Indians, when to advocate their cause was to displease the many. He was among the earliest opponents of the slave trade and of slavery.
He omitted no opportunity to protest against War, and its iniquity, and he branded as piracy the custom of pri- vateering, however sanctioned by international usage. As a statesman and philosopher, his fame is imperishable.
As an active benefactor of his race he is entitled to its lasting gratitude. As one of the founders of the American Union, he must ever be held in honorable remembrance by- all who prize American institutions. As the zealous foe to oppression in all its forms, he merits the thankful regard of good men of all ages and climes."
THE FRANKLIN FOUNDATION.
The Codicil to his Will dated June 23, 1789, provided that the Fund if accepted by the inhabitants of the town of Boston, be managed under the direction of the Selectmen united with the Minister of the oldest Episcopalian, Con- gregational and Presbyterian Churches in that town, who were to make loans on certain conditions to young married
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artificers under the age of twenty-five years. Dr. Franklin who died in 1790, calculated that in one hundred years, the one thousand pounds would grow to 131,000 pounds, of which he says: "I would have the managers then lay out, at their discretion, 100,000 pounds in Public Works, which may be judged of most general utility to the inhabitants. The remaining 31,000 pounds I would have continued to be let out on interest for another 100 years. At the end of this second term, if no unfortunate accident has pre- vented the operation, the same will be 4,061,000 pounds, of which I leave 1,061,000 to the town of Boston and the 3,000,000 to the disposition of the Government of the. State, not presuming to carry my views further." 'T'he town of Boston accepted this donation at a Town Meeting, held June 1, 1790. A futile suit brought by Franklin's heirs in 1791, prevented the diversion of the Fund at the expiration of the 100 years. On January 17, 1894, by di- rection of the three ministers and the Board of Aldermen of the City, which board claimed to be the successors of the Selectmen, $329,300.48 of the Fund was paid to the City Treasurer for the purchase of land and the erection thereon of the Franklin Trade School and for the equipment of the same. On January 31, 1906, the amount available for expendi- ture of the Managers was 0426,824.78. The Franklin Fund, which with its accumulations, will become available in 1991, amounted January 31, 19II, to $200,628.75. The Franklin Trade School, or Franklin Union, as it is now called, oc- cupies the new building at the corner of Appleton and Berkeley Streets, and was opened September, 1908. This building contains 34 class rooms and 6 draughting rooms and accommodates 1700 students. There is also a Techni- cal and Scientific Library, and a large hall with a seating capacity of 1000, for lectures, concerts, discussions and similar purposes. The building, with equipment, cost about $30,000. The site, which was purchased in 1906, cost $100,000.
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