34^ LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/9 1 



in office until his death, June 26th, 1796. He was succeeded by 

 Thomas Jefferson, who was elected January 6th, 1797, and con- 

 tinued until his resignation in 18 1 5. 



The eulogy has been printed several times ; first by order of the 

 society before which it was pronounced by Franklin's grandson, 

 Benjamin Franklin Bache. It is also found in Maxwell's edition 

 of Dr. Smith's works printed in 1 803. In that edition Dr. Smith 

 appends the following memorandum : 



While this Eulogium was originally in the press, the following verses, 

 beautifully poetical and descriptive of the character of Dr. Franklin, 

 were found on Jhe writing-desk of my study; but whether dropped 

 there by some one of the nine muses, or by what mortal favorite of 

 theirs, I could not then learn. They were accompanied with a request, 

 that they might be annexed to the Eulogium ; but apprehending that 

 the publisher, Mr. Bache, who was Dr. Franklin's grandson, might 

 think it indecent in him to give circulation to the last two stanzas, 

 however much he might approbate the first three ; they were suppressed 

 at tliat time, and from a persuasion also, that, at a future day, they 

 might more easily be endured by the warmest of Dr. Franklin's sur- 

 viving friends. 



The verses were found in the handwriting of my dear wife, and not 

 recollecting, at that time, ever to have seen or read them, and asking 

 from what original she had copied them, she laughed, as I thought, at 

 the scantiness of my reading on a subject so recent as the death of Dr. 

 Franklin, whose panegyrist I had been appointed, by a grave society of 

 philosophers. I replied, with a mixture of a little raillery in my turn, 

 that if she would not satisfy me respecting the author of the verses, or 

 from what source she had copied them, I should consider myself as 

 happily yoked to a very good poetess, and ascribe the composition to 

 herself, unless clubbed between her, and her dear friend, Mrs. Ferguson. 

 I knew either of them to be capable of the work, and from the spirit, 

 wit and manner of it, as well as from frequent hints in their conversa- 

 tion, concerning Dr. Franklin, whose genius and talents they both ad- 

 mired, I knew also that the last two stanzas, as well as first three ac- 

 corded well with their sentiments. I have discovered lately, by means 

 of my worthy friend, Benj. R. Morgan, Esq., that the Rev. Jonathan 

 Odell, formerly Missionary at Burlington, New Jersey, and now Secre- 

 tary of the British Province of New Brunswick was the real author. I 

 had indeed suspected him to be so, and questioned him accordingly 

 (for he dined at my house that day), but it seems that he joined with 

 the ladies to keep me in suspense, and in conveying a satirical hint, by 

 means of the verses, that I was a very warm panegyrist : 



