225 



with the United States — Sweden being the first power in 

 Europe which voluntarily offered its friendship without being 

 solicited — but was charged to tell Dr. Franklin that the king 

 had so great esteem for him that it would be a particular satis- 

 faction to his majesty to have such a transaction with him. 

 Dr. Franklin is himself our informant, nor does he conceal the 

 pardonable gratification which he felt at hearing the flattering 

 assurance, adding: " I have perhaps some vanity in repeating 

 this ; but I think, too, that it is right that Congress should know 

 it, and judge if any use may be made of the reputation of a 

 citizen for the public service." * 



The diplomatic career of Dr. Franklin closes with the year 

 1785, when he went home not indeed to enjoy restj as he had 

 fondly hoped, but to a change of scene and of employment. 

 And here, in the city of his adoption, death overtook him 

 rich in years, in honors, and, what he prized more, in the 

 memory of valuable benefits conferred upon his country and 

 upon mankind. Such men are few in any age ; their number 

 is not great in all the combined centuries that together make 

 up the short life of our race upon this planet. 



It is only meet that we should cherish their names with 

 respect, and gratefully hand down to posterity the story of 

 their honorable and meritorious deeds. 



Upon the close of the last speech, Mr. Williams 

 said : 



I am instructed by the Committee, which I represent 

 in closing this commemoration, publicly to express the 

 appreciation of the Society for the attendance of its 



* Franklin to Secretary Livingston, Passy, 25 June, 1782, Works, viii, 109. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XXVIII. 133. 2c. PRINTED JUNE 3, 1890 



