The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-12-02
Rtscellameolls.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

A writer in Blackwood's Magazine, several
years since, relates from personal knowledge
the following anecdotes Of Franklin, illustrative
of the character Of the man who could hide his
day.
BY nature, perhaps, like Washington, whose
character, by way Is greatly misunderstood, he
was man of strong passions, which, after ma
ny years, by continual guardianship, trial, and
severe discipline, he had brought entirely under
his control. This, we say positively, was the
character of Washington: this we believe to
have been the character of franklin.
We happened to know something of the doc
tors determination, however, in two cases
both growing out Of the same event, where the
natural temper OF the man broke out--bazed
up, like smolhered fre-became visible, as il
were, all at once, in spite of himself Some
time about The year 1853, he was in this coun-
try, acting as agent for Of our transatlantic
possessions. The troubles had already began
there.
One day he went before the privy council. as
agent, with petition from the assembly of Mas
sachusetts; or more carefully speaking-one
day, when petition from the rovncal assenp
bly, of Massachusetts, Bay, already presented BY
him. was rakenn M. he was treated with great in
dignity, insuted, grossly abused by the solicitor
general Wederburne. He bore it without any
sign Of emotion. AN eyes were upon him. No
change or shadow Of change went over his face.
His friends were amazed his forbearance. They
wondered al his equanmity they were almost
ready to reproach him for ii. Such untimely
self command could only proceed from indiffe-
renee TO the great cause, or, so they thought,
from strange moral insensibility. On his way
from the place Of humiliation, they gathered
about him. lie stopped, he stood still his man
ner, look, and voice, were those Of a man, who
has quietly concentrated every thought and
every hope under heaven, all his energies, upon
a single point Ellis master shall pay for it !"
said he, and passed on.
The other circumstance grew out ofthe same
affair As mark Of especial consideration for
the privy council, the doctor appeared before
them in superb dress, after the court fashion
Of the time. He wore itbravely-he looked un-
commosly well in it. Finding, however, that
his courty garb, thus chosen, thus worn, had
be en- of no avail, as refuge or shelter TO him
that on The contrary, il had only made him a
better mark, and exasperating his adversary /;
that worse than all his consderate loyalty had
been misunderstood, for piece OF dirty adulatlon,
or worse yet, for piece OF wretchcd foppery; he
went, on leaving The council, straghtway home;
threw The dress aside; and, from that hour, ne
yer wore it again, till the day on which he went
with full power into the court of the Bourbons,
to sign the treaty between France and America
the United States Of America What must
have been his feelings That paper gave the
death blow 10 British dominion over the West
ern world. IL was done the threat was accom-
pshed! Franklin was at peace with hun ell !;
the majesty Of Great Britain had paid-bterly
paid, for the insolence OF the Solicitor General.