344 Z//^^ AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/Ql 



fmd thee — and part with thee no more, forever ! Let all thy fellow- 

 citizens; let all thy compatriots; let every class of men with whom 

 thou wert associated here on earth — in devising plans of government, 

 in framing and executing good laws, in disseminating useful knowledge, 

 in alleviating human misery, and in promoting the happiness of man- 

 kind — let them consider thee as their guardian-genius, still present and 

 presiding amongst them ; and what they conceive thou wouldst advise 

 to be DON'E, let them advise and do likewise — and they shall not greatly 

 deviate from the path of virtue and glory I 



I hope that I make no reflection upon my ancestor, nor any, not 

 merited, upon Dr. Franklin, when in connection with this eulogy 

 I mention a little anecdote dc fainillc. At the conclusion of the 

 eulogy, which was delivered in Dr. Smith's best style, every one 

 was crowding him to offer to him congratulations upon the success 

 of his effort. When he got home, his daughter Rebecca — the 

 one whom I have described in Volume I.* as the inspiring sub- 

 ject of Gilbert Stuart's divine pencil, and whose wit was equal to 

 her beauty — was there to greet him. " Well, my daughter," said 

 the Doctor, " I saw you seated among the magnates at the church. 

 You heard me, I suppose?" "Oh, yes," said the girl, " I was 

 there and heard every word." "And how did you like the 

 eulogy, let me ask?" said the Doctor. "Oh, papa," said the 

 daughter, looking archly into her father's face, " it tcyzj- beautiful, 

 very beautiful, indeed; only — papa — only — only — " "Only 

 what?" replied the Doctor. "Only — papa — now }'ou wont be 

 offended — will you ? I don't think you believed more than one- 

 tenth part of what you said of old Ben Lightning-rod. Did 

 you ?" The Doctor, without either affirming or denying, laughed 

 heartily. If he had spoken, he would probably have said : " My 

 dear daughter, I was invited to pronounce an eulogy, not to ana- 

 lyze and describe a very complex character. In such a case you 

 must make a picture which shall owe its effects to the skilful 

 handling of lights ; not one which shall have the truth which 

 numerous and deep shades would give it. I have done that for 

 which I was appointed, and that which I was expected to do. 

 The dead can never vindicate nor defend themselves. Therefore, 

 of them, is given the counsel, ?iil nisi bonuvi!' 



It must not be supposed, by anything that I say above or by 



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