304 November 1748, 



determine how far this opinion was ground- 

 ■ed. On this occalion he related a very 

 pleafant accident, which happened to him 

 with this mountain flax : he had, feveral 

 years ago, got a piece of it, which he gave 

 to one of his journeymen printers, in order 

 to get it made into a fheet at the paper mill. 

 As foon as the fellow brought the paper, 

 Mr. Franklin rolled it up, and threw it in- 

 to the fire, telling the journeyman he would 

 fee a miracle, a fheet of paper which did 

 not burn : the ignorant fellow alTerted the 

 contrary, but was greatly aftonifhed, upon 

 feeing himfelf convinced. Mr. Franklin 

 then explained him, though not very clear- 

 ly, the peculiar qualities of the paper. As 

 foon as he was gone, fome of his acquaint- 

 ance came in, who immediately knew the 

 paper. The journeyman thought he would 

 fhew them a great curiofity and aftonifli 

 them. He accordingly told them that he 

 had curioufly made a iheet of paper, which 

 would not burn, though it was thrown in- 

 to the fire. They pretended to think it 

 impofiible, and he as ftrenuoully maintain- 

 ed his affertion. At lafl: they laid a wager 

 about it ; but whilft he was bufy with flir- 

 ring up the fire, the others flyly befmeared 

 the paper with fat : the journeyman, who 

 was not aware of it, threw it into the fire, 



and 



