BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 5 



" there was not even a good bookstore accessible nearer than 

 Boston." 



In the scheme for the formation of the American Philosoph- 

 ical Society, which was drawn up in 1743 and brought forward 

 in that or the following year, Franklin observed that the hard- 

 est drudgery of the early settlement of the colonies having 

 been performed, there were many persons in every province in 

 circumstances that set them at ease and afforded them leisure 

 to cultivate the fine arts and improve the common stock of 

 knowledge. " To such of those who are men of speculation 

 many hints must from time to time arise, many observations 

 occur, which if well examined, pursued, and improved, might 

 produce discoveries to the advantage of some or all the British 

 plantations, or to the benefit of mankind in general." As a 

 remedy for the wide separation of such persons, whereby many 

 useful particulars might remain uncommunicated, die with the 

 discoverers, and be lost to mankind, it was suggested that one 

 society be formed of virtuosi or ingenious men, residing in the 

 several colonies, who should maintain constant correspondence ; 

 Philadelphia to be its headquarters, because it was the most 

 central place ; and that there should be always at least seven 

 members a physician, a mechanician, a geographer, and a gen- 

 eral natural philosopher who should meet once a month or 

 oftener, to exchange communications with one another, take 

 care and notice of the papers of correspondence, and distribute 

 copies of communications of value to more distant members 

 in order to get their opinions upon them. Among the subjects 

 to which the society should give attention were included the 

 recognised branches of science and the useful arts, and "all 

 philosophical experiments that let light into the nature of things, 

 tend to increase the power of man over matter, and multiply 

 the conveniences and pleasures of life." The plan also made 

 provision for correspondence with the Royal Society of Lon- 

 don and the Dublin Society ; for the distribution of quarterly 

 abstracts of proceedings; and for the publication of annual 

 collections of experiments, discoveries, and improvements. On 

 the 5th of April, 1744, Franklin wrote to Cadwallader Golden 

 " that the society, so far as it relates to Philadelphia, is actually 

 formed, and has had several meetings, to mutual satisfaction." 

 Its meetings were kept up for about ten years and then discon- 

 tinued. Another society, called at first the Junto, was formed 



