State rights and democratic union. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1839-18??, 1839-08-13
From che Saturday Chronicle.
FRANKLIN.
BY LORD RRoUGHAM.

N1uU - aASc tHVae lGtldkkdOl6 men Cekf0lnly
g our times Is 9 politician, OF Of any age as
philosopher. was franklin, who also stands
alone IN combining together these two char.
acteTs, the greatest that man can sustain, and
IN thls, that having borne the first part in
enlarging science, BY one Of the greatest dis.
coveries ever made. he bore the second part
by founding one Of the greatest empires in
the world.
70 this truly great man every thing seems
TO concur that goes towards the constitution
OF exalted merit. First, he was the architect
Of his own fortune. Born in the humblest
station, he raised himself by his talents and
industry, first "a the place inssociety which
may be attained with the help only Of orli.
nary abilities, great application, and good
luck: but next to the loft,er heights which
daring and happy genius alone can scale; and
the poor Printers boy, who at one period of
his life had no covering to shelter his head
from the dews of night, rent in twain the
proud dominion of England, and lived to BE-
the Ambassador of Commonwealth which
he had formed; at the Court of the naughty
Monarchs of France who had been his allies.
Then, he had been tried by prosperity as
we'll as adverse fortune, and mad passed un-
hurt through the perils of both. No ordinary
apprentice, no common place ioufncyman
ever laid the foundation OF his independence
in habits of industry and temperance more
deep than be did, whose genius was after
wards to rank him with the GaIiloes and
Newtons of the old world. No patrician
born to shine in Courts. or assist the conn.
ellis of Monarchs, ever bore bis honnrs in a
lofty station more easily, orsRas less spoilt by
the enjoyment of them than this common
workman did when negotiating with ROYAL
Representatives, or caressed By all the beauty
and fashion of the most brilliant Court al
Europe.
Again, he was self.taught in all he knew,
His hours Of study we're stolen from those ol
lsleep and of meals; or gained by some huge.
lnious ccnttivanee for reading while the work
Iof his daily calling went. Assisted by none
fof the helps which affluencs tenders to I'll
istudies Of the rich, he had q supply theplacc
lof tutors; BY redonbled diligen and Of com.
mentaries, By repeated perusal Nay, Gle
Possession of books was to be obtained BY co.
lpying what the art which he himself exerci.
lsed, furnished easily to others.
Next, the circumstances under which 9th.
Iers succumb ne bad made 10 yield, and benz
Ito his own purposes successful leader Of a
Il revolt, that ended in complete triumph, after
I appearing desperate for years; great discoV.
eter in philosophy, without the ordinary helps
to knowledge, a writer famed for his chastf
lstyle, without classical education; skilful
lnegociatpr. though never bred to politics
lending as fayorlte. nay, a pattern of fashion
when the guest of frivolous Courts, the life
which he had begun in garrets and work
shops.
Lastly combinations Of faculties, in others
ldeemed impossible, appeared easy and natu
raj in him. The philosopher, delighting il
speculation, was also eninently man of &C
ton. Ingenious reasoning, refined and sub
tie consultation, were in him combined will
strong resolution, and inaexible 6rmnesS o
purpose. To lively fancy, he joined learn
ed and deep reflection; his original and IN
Iventive genius stopped to the convenien
alliance Of the most ordinary prudence 4
Ievery day affairs; the mind that scared abov
the clouds, and was conversant with the loft
Hest Of human contemplations, disdained nc
to make proverbs and feign PARALLELS for tn
lguidance of apprenticed youths and servil
maidens; and the hands that sketched fire.
lconstitution for whole continent, or dFeV
down the lightning from heaven, easily an
cheerfulv lent themselves TO simplify tn
apparatus by which truths were 10 be illus
trated, or discoveries pursued.
His whole course both in actsag and SPEC
lulation was simple and ptsiR, ever preierrIn
the easiest aud shortest road, nor ever havin
recourse to any nut the sitnplest means
Icompass hissends. His policy rejected q
|reiinements, and aimed At accomplishing i
purposes by the most rational and obvious e
pedieats. His language was unadorned, an
used as the medium Of communicating b
Thoughts, not Of raising admiration, but i WI
lpure, expressive, racy. His manner Of fe'
Isoning was manly and cogent, the address
i rational being 10 others Of the same Crde
and SO concise, that pIeferring decision
discussion, he never exceeded quarter OF q
hour in any public address. His corresPo
! Idence upon business whether private or {
state affairs, Is q model Of clearness and cor
Ipendions shortness; nor can any state pape
Isurpass in dignity and impression, those
which he is believed to have been the auth.
in the earlier part Of the American revolt
Itionary war. His mode of rhilosophisir
was the purest application Of the inductil
lprincipia, SO eminently ADAPTED to his natu
and so clearly dictated b. commSa sens
that we can have little doubt il would 1tal
been suggested BY franklin, If i had b
been unfolded BY Bacon, though 4 is as Gle
that in this case It would haze been expoun
ed in far more simple Germs. But Of all d