I791] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 339 



waiting for some time, and almost beginning to despair of success, he 

 drew the first spark with his knuclcle from a key suspended to the string 

 of the kite. Another and another succeeded ; and as the string became 

 wet, he collected fire copiously. What must have been his raptures on. 

 the success of this grand experiment ; leading him to anticipate that 

 happy and beneficent application of the principles of electricity, to the 

 saving of life and property, which alone would have recorded his name 

 among the benefactors of mankind ; even if his discoveries of those 

 principles could never have been extended or applied to any other use- 

 ful purpose in the world. Similar must his raptures have been to those 

 of a Newton, when by applying' the laws of gravitation and projection 

 first to the moon, he was enabled to extend them to the whole solar 

 system, as is beautifully described by the poet : 



What were his raptures then ! how pure ! how strong! 

 And what the triumphs of old Greece and Rome 



With his compar'd When nature and her laws 



Stood all subdued by Him, and open laid 

 Their every latent glory to his view. 



All intellectual eye; our solar round 

 First gazing thro', he by the blended power 

 Of Gravitation and Projection saw 

 The whole in silent harmony revolve. 

 First to the neighb'ring Moon this mighty key 

 Of nature he applied — Behold ! it turn'd 

 The secret wards; it open'd wide the course 

 And various aspects of the Queen of Night; 

 Whether she wanes into a scanty orb 

 Or, waxing broad, with her pale shadowy light, 

 In a soft deluge overflows the sky.* 



Dr. Franklin's letters, giving an account of his electrical experiments 

 and discoveries, and, among the rest, of this grand experiment of draw- 

 ing electricity from the clouds, were soon published in Europe, and 

 translated into different languages. "■ Nothing was ever written on the 

 subject of electricity," says Dr. Priestly, " which was more generally 

 read and admired in all parts of Europe, than those letters. Electri- 

 cians everywhere employed themselves in repeating his experiments, or 

 exhibiting them for money. All the world, in a manner, and even 

 kings themselves, flocked to see them, and all returned full of admira- 

 tion for the inventor of them." 



Amidst this general admiration, Dr. Franklin himself continued to 

 communicate his knowledge and discoveries under the humble appella- 

 tion of conjectures or guesses : But no man ever made bolder or happier 

 guesses, either in philosophy or politics ; He was likewise a bold experi- 

 menter in both. He had by accident received a discharge of two of 



* Thomson's poem to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton. 



