OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 241 



literary facility in the first two tongues. His pamphlet "Plain 

 Truths," published in 1743, was a timely warning against the 

 French and Indian War that gave him an immense popularity. 

 In 1752 he began a series of contributions to European journals 

 that only ceased with his death. 



His career as a statesman began somewhat humbly. In 1736 

 he was made clerk of the Pennsylvania assembly, and in 1737 

 postmaster of Philadelphia. The next decade and a half were 

 occupied with his scientific labors. In 1753 he was made post- 

 master general of the American colonies with William Hunter, 

 and in 1754 he was deputy from Pennsylvania to the congress at 

 Albany of commissioners from the several colonies to devise 

 mutual protection against the Indians of the Six Nations. Here 

 he projected and formulated "a plan for the union of all the 

 colonies under one government, so far as might be necessary for 

 defense and for other important general purposes." It was 

 adopted by all colonies but Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. 

 Between 1757 and 1762 he was agent for the colony against the 

 Penn family, "proprietor of the province of Pennsylvania," to 

 require the latter family to pay taxes and contribute to the gen- 

 eral defense. This cause he won in the English courts. In 1775- 

 77 he was made a delegate to Continental Congress, and as such 

 devised a plan for the union of the colonies, also a postal system, 

 afterward adopted by the United States. He was one of the 

 committee of five that framed the Declaration of Independence. 

 In 1785 he was made "President" of Pennsylvania and was unani- 

 mously elected in 1786 and 1787. He was delegate to the con- 

 vention that framed the constitution and was one of the chief 

 forces in building up the idea of the federation of states, rather 

 than a strongly centralized government. 



His crowning triumphs were diplomatic. In 1764 he was sent 

 abroad to secure the repeal of the Stamp Act, and although the 

 colonists became indignant when it was put in force and accused 



