The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-16
Mfseellameous.
CHARACTER OF FRANKLIN.
by GEORGE BANCROFT.

In Boston, indeed, where the pulpit had mar
shaed Quakcrs and witches to the gallows, one
newspaper, the New England Courant, the
| fourth American periodical, was established, as
an organ of independent opinion, by James
Franklin. Its temporary success was advanced
by Benjamin, his brother and apprentice, boy
of fifteen, who wrote pieces for its humble
lumns, worked in composing the types, as well
as in printing of the sheets; and himself, as
carrier distributed the papers to the customers.
The little sheet satirized hypocrisy, and spoke of
religious knaves as of all knaves the worst This
was described as tending "to abuse the minis
tiers of religion in manner which was intolera-
ble.n 81 can well remember" writes Increase
Mather, then more than forescore years Of age,
"when the civil government would have taken
an ellectual course TO suppress such cursed Il
bel" In July Of the same year, a resolve passed
the council appointing censor for the press OF
James Franklin but the house refused its con
currence. The ministers persevered; and, in
January 1923, committee of inquiry was raised
by the Legislature. Benjamin Franklin, being
examined, escaped with an admontion; James,
The publisher; refusing to discover the author Of
the offence, was kept in jail for month; his
paper was censured as rejecting injuriously on
the reverend ministers of the gospel; and, by vote
of the house and council he was forbidden to
print it, except il be first supervised"
Vexed at the arbitrary proceedings OF the as
sembly willing to escape from town where
good people pointed with horror at his freedom;
indignant, Also at the tyranny of brother, who,
as passionate master, often beat his apprentice,
BENJAMIN Franklin, then but seventeen years
old. sailed clandestinely for New York and,
| finding there no employment, crossed to Amboy;
went on foot 10 Delaware; for want of wind,
| rowed in boat from Burlington to Philadelphia;
and, bearing marks of his labor at the oar, weary,
hungry having for his whole stock Of cash sin
| gle dollar, the runaway apprentice-greatesto Of
the sons Of New England Of that generation, the
humble pupil of the free schools OF Boston, rich
| in the boundless hope of youth and the uncon-
scous power of genius, which modesty adorned
stepped on shore to seek food, occupation, shell
| ter and fortune.
On the deep foundations Of sobriety, frugality
and industry, the young journeyman built his
| fortunes and fame ; and he soon came to have
n printing Office Of his own. Toiling early and
| late, with his own hands he set types and work
ed al the press; with his own hands he would
| trundle to the office in wheelbarrow the reams
of paper which he was to use. His ingenuity
was such, he could form letters, make types and
wood cuts and engrave vignettes in copper The
assembly Of Pennsylvania respected his merit,
and chose him its printer He planned a news
paper; and, when he became its proprietor and
editor, he fearlcssly defended absolute freedom
Of thought and speech, and the inallenabe
powers Of the people. DESTROYS Of advancing
| education, ne planHtu Improvements - Wy
| schools of Philadelphia he invented the system
of subscription Libraries, and laid the foundation
of one that was long the most considerable libra
| nv in America he concerted the establishment
Of an academy, which has rpened into a unIver-
sitv he saw the benefit of union in the pursuit
Of science, and founded philosophical society
for is advancement The intelligent and high
" cultivated Logan bore testimony to his merits
i before they had burst upon the world -" Our
most ingenious printer has the clearest under
standing with extreme modesty He IS GER
tainly an extraordinary man"-"of singularly
good Judgment but of equal modesty, excel
Il lent. vet humble" EDO not imagine, he adds,
that overdo in my character Of Benjamin
Franklin, for | am rather short IN It" when
the scientific world began to investigate the
wonders of electricity. Franklin excelled all OBJ
servers in the marvellous simplicity and lucid
exposition of the experiments, and in the adml-
rabIe sagacity with which he elected from them
the laws which they illustrated. 1t was he VINO
first suggested the explanation OF thunder gusts
and the northern lights on electrical principles,
and, in the summer of 1852, going out INTO inc
fields with no instrument but kite, no compa-
MON but his SON, established his theory, by Cd
tanning a line of connection with thunder
cloud Nor did he cease till he has made the light
ming household pastime, taught his family 70
catch the subtle fluid in its inconceivably rapia
leaps between the earth and the sky, and com
PEELED il to give warning OF its passage by 'he
! harmless ringing of bells. .-
, With placid tranquility, Benjamin Franklin
looked quietly and deeply into the secrets OF ma
tire His clear understanding was never per-
verted by passion or corrupted by the pride OF
theory. The son of rigid Calvnist the grand
son OF tolerant Quaker, he had from boyhood