I JO Carson: Franklin 



uncommon boy. He drew the strength of his body 

 from a sturdy race of blacksmiths on his father's side, 

 and the strength of his mind from a remarkable mother, 

 the daughter of " a learned and godly Englishman," an 

 adept in Indian languages, a skilled surveyor, and the 

 courageous enemy of persecution. 



He was indeed fortunate in obtaining employment so 

 soon after his arrival, but there must have been some- 

 thing engaging in his manners and trustworthy in his 

 countenance to account for his having met and capti- 

 vated the Governor, Sir William Keith, within a month, 

 for whose subsequent perfidy he was in no way respon- 

 sible. After two or three false starts he became a well- 

 known printer, editor, compiler, publisher, bookseller, 

 bookbinder and stationer. He made lamp black and 

 ink, dealt in rags, and sold soap and live geese feathers. 

 He became a burgess, a justice of the peace, a clerk 

 of the General Assembly, Postmaster General, the 

 Colonel of a regiment, and studied French, Spanish and 

 Italian. As he prospered in business, he rose in the 

 public esteem and projected plans for public improve- 

 ment. Until he came, the sidewalks were unpaved, the 

 streets were unlighted, the fire brigade had no existence, 

 the night watch was unknown, the town was without 

 a library, without a hospital, without a college, without 

 a philosophical society; houses were cold until he gave 

 them stoves, chimneys smoked until he cured them, de- 



