215 



been previously composed, so as to afford a placid, tran- 

 quil expression of countenance, and lie did not suffer the 

 slightest alteration of it to appear during the continuance of 

 the speech, in which he was so harshly and improperly 

 treated." * 



A man conscious of the integrity of his purpose and the 

 innocence of his actions can well afford to wait for vindication. 

 And Dr. Franklin had not very long to wait. Not quite a 

 year had elapsed — it was Wednesday, the 1st of February, 

 1775 — when Lord Sandwich, in opposing in the Upper House 

 the conciliatory measure introduced by the Earl of Chatham, 

 seeing Dr. Franklin a few feet distant leaning upon the bar, 

 went out of his way to express his belief that the plan under 

 consideration was not that of any British peer, but of a person 

 whom he saw before him, one of the bitterest and most mis- 

 chievous enemies the country had ever had. In reply to whom 

 Lord Chatham, not content with accepting the sole respon- 

 sibility for the authorship of the project, proceeded to eulogize 

 the great philosopher in these memorable words : " I make no 

 scruple to declare that, were I the first minister of this coun- 

 try, and had I the care of settling this momentous business, I 

 should not be ashamed of publicly calling to my assistance a 

 person so perfectly acquainted with the whole of American 

 affairs as the gentleman alluded to, and so injuriously reflected 

 on ; one whom all Europe holds in high estimation for his 

 knowledge and wisdom, and ranks with our Boyles and New- 

 tons ; who is an honor, not to the English nation only, but to 

 human nature !" 



" I found, it harder," modestly remarks Dr. Franklin in re- 

 porting the incident, " I found it harder to stand this extravagant 

 compliment than the preceding equally extravagant abuse, but 



* Works, v, 311. 



