50 f/SBN B Y PERSE VERANCE. 



and encouragement from his example. They who may never 

 overtake the light, may at least follow its path, and guide their 

 footsteps by its illumination. 



Were we to pursue the remainder of Franklin's history, we 

 should find the fame of the patriot vying with that of the 

 philosopher in casting a splendour over it ; and the originally 

 poor and unknown tradesman standing before kings, associat- 

 ing as an equal with the most eminent statesmen of his time, 

 and arranging along with them the wars and treaties of mighty 

 nations. When the struggle of American independence com- 

 menced, he was sent as ambassador from the United States to 

 the court of France, where he soon brought about an alliance 

 between the two countries, which produced an immediate war 

 between the latter and England. In 1783, he signed, on the 

 part of the United States, the treaty of peace with England, 

 which recognised their independence. Two years after he 

 returned to his native country, where he was received with 

 acclamation by his grateful and admiring fellow-citizens, and 

 immediately elected President of the Supreme Executive 

 Council. He closed his eventful and honourable life on the 

 17th of April 1790, in the eighty-fifth year of his age,* 



* The most authentic edition of Franklin's memoirs is that entitled. 

 The Life of Benjamin Franklin, written by himself. By John Bigelow. 

 ■\ vols. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia. 



