209 



The Diplomatic Services of Benjamin Franklin. 



I have been asked to address you on the subject of Dr. 

 Franklin's diplomatic services — a department of activity in 

 which our great compatriot, and the founder of this Society, 

 conferred upon his country and upon humanity benefits not 

 inferior to those by which, as a scientific discoverer, he brought 

 the whole world into his debt. 



In the address of welcome made to Benjamin Franklin, 

 upon his return from his last mission to Europe, the Assembly 

 of this Commonwealth, by the mouth of its Speaker, the 

 Hon. John Bayard, greeted him with these words: " We are 

 confident, sir, that we speak the sentiments of this whole 

 country, when we say that your services in the public councils 

 and negotiations have not only merited the thanks of the 

 present generation, but will be recorded in the pages of history 

 to your immortal honor." * 



We are here, Mr. President, to set the seal of the conclud- 

 ing years of this nineteenth century to the fulfillment of the 

 prophecy made over one hundred years ago, by the enthusi- 

 astic voice of Franklin's contemporaries. 



The diplomatic services of Benjamin Franklin are naturally 

 to be referred to two periods ; and the dividing line is the out- 

 break of the American Kevolution. In the first period, his 

 efforts were directed towards England, and his aim was to ob- 

 tain for his countrymen, as citizens of the great British empire, 

 the acknowledgment of rights inalienably theirs by reason of 

 their birth. 



In the second period, the claims of the colonists of North 

 America having been practically denied, the energies of his 



* " The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin." Edited by John Bigelow (New York, 

 1887). ix, 248. 



PROC. AMER. PRTLOS. SOC. XXVIII. 133. 2A. PRINTED JUNE 3, 1890. 



