viii The Franklin Bi-centennial 



day of January, Anno Domini one thousand nine hun- 

 dred and six: 



And WHEREAS, By his services to the city of Philadel- 

 phia in suggesting and promoting the first public library 

 established in this country, the school which subse- 

 quently developed into the University of Pennsylvania, 

 the Pennsylvania Hospital, the American Philosophical 

 Society, the formation of the first Masonic lodge estab- 

 lished in America, and other institutions of charity and 

 learning; 



By his services to Pennsylvania in the defense of its 

 frontier against the French and Indians, in resisting 

 the unjust claims of the proprietors, as a member of 

 the Assembly and its Speaker, as the agent of the Colony 

 in England, as president of the convention which framed 

 the first Constitution for the State, and as president of 

 the State for three consecutive terms; 



By his services to all the colonies in defending their 

 rights and advancing their interests abroad, and as a 

 member of the Continental Congress in promoting their 

 development and formation into an independent nation; 



By his services to the United States as a Commis- 

 sioner, and subsequently as their sole Plenipotentiary at 

 the Court of France, during the revolution, under cir- 

 cumstances most difficult and discouraging, which were 

 of decisive benefit and efifect in establishing the Inde- 

 pendence of the United States, and as a delegate from 

 Pennsylvania to the convention which framed the Con- 

 stitution of the United States; and. 



By his contributions to knowledge, through his dis- 

 coveries in electrical and other sciences, he earned the 

 grateful remembrance of the people of this State, and 

 it is proper that the approaching bicentenary of his 

 birth should be appropriately celebrated, therefore: 



