F R A 
fused to listen to the proposals, though en- 
forced by all the arguments Dr. Franklin 
could make use of. On his return, to Phi- 
ladelphia, Congress, sensible how much he 
was esteemed in France, sent him there to 
put a finishing hand to the private negotia- 
tion of Mr. Silas Deane ; and this impor- 
tant commission was readily accepted by 
the doctor, though then in the 71st year of 
his age : the event is well known ; a treaty 
of alliance and commerce was signed be- 
tween France and America ; and M. le Roi 
asserts, that the doctor had a great share in 
the transaction, by strongly advising M. 
Maurepas not to lose a single moment if he 
wished to secure the friendship of America, 
and to detach it from the mother country. 
In 1777, he was regularly appointed Ple- 
nipotentiary from Congress to the French 
court; but obtained leave of dismission in 
1780. Having at length seen the full ac- 
complishment of his wishes, by the conclu- 
sion of the peace in 1783, which gave in- 
dependence to America, he became desir- 
ous of revisiting his native country : he 
therefore requested to be recalled ; and, 
after repeated solicitations, Mr. Jefferson 
was appointed in his stead. On tire arrival 
of his successor, he repaired to Havre de 
Grace, and, crossing the channel, landed at 
Newport in the Isle of White, from whence, 
after a favourable passage, he arrived safe 
at Philadelphia, in September 1785. He 
was received amidst the acclamations of a 
vast multitude, who flocked from all parts 
to see him, and who conducted him in tri- 
umph to his own house ; where in a few 
days he was visited by the members of 
Congress, and the principal inhabitants of 
Philadelphia. He was afterwards twice 
chosen President of the Assembly of Phila- 
delphia; but his increasing infirmities ob- 
liged him to ask permission to retire and 
spend the remainder of his life in tranquil- 
lity, whielfwas granted in 1788. After this 
the infirmities of age increased fast upon 
him ; he became more and more afflicted 
with the gout and the stone till the time of 
his death, which happened the 17th of 
April, 171)0, about 11 o’clock at night, at 
84 years of age, leaving one son, Governor 
William Franklin, a zealous loyalist, who 
now resides in London ; and a daughter, 
married to Mr. William Beach, merchant 
in Philadelphia. 
Dr. Franklin was author of many tracts 
on electricity and other branches of natural 
philosophy, as well as on political and mis- 
cellaneous subject^. He had also many 
FRA 
papers inserted in the Philosophical Trans- 
actions, from the year 1757 to 1774. 
FRANKS. See Letter. 
FRAPPING, in naval affairs, the act of 
crossing and drawing together the several 
parts of the tackle, or other complication of 
ropes, which had been already strained to 
their utmost extent ; in thus sense it resem- 
bles the operation of bracing a drum. The 
frapping increases tension, and consequently 
adds to the security acquired by the pur- 
chase. 
FRAUD. All deceitful practices in de- 
frauding, or endeavouring to defraud, ano- 
ther of his own right, by means of some 
artful device, contrary to the plain rules of 
common honesty, are condemned by the 
common law, and punishable according to 
the heinousness of the offence. 
The distinction laid down, as proper to 
be attended to in all cases of this kind, is 
this, that, in such impositions or deceits, 
where common prudence might guard per- 
sons from the offence, it is not indictable, 
but the party is left to his civil remedy ; but 
where false weights or measures are used, 
or false tokens produced, or such measures 
taken to defraud or deceive, as people can- 
not by any ordinary care or prudence be 
guarded against, there it is an offence in- 
dictable. Persons convicted of obtaining 
money or goods by false pretences, or 
sending threatening letters to extort money 
or goods, may be punished by fine and im- 
prisonment, or by pillory, whipping, or 
transportation. 30 G. II. c. 24. 
FRAXINUS, in botany, English ash- 
tree, a genus of the Polygamia Dioecia 
class and order. Natural order of Sepia- 
rise. Jasmineae, Jussieu. Essential charac- 
ter: hermaphrodite; calyx none, or four- 
parted ; corolla none, or four-petalled ; sta- 
snins two ; pistal one ; seed or capsule one, 
lanceolate. There are four species. The 
wood of the ash-tree is in great use among 
several artificers, as wheel-wrights, cart- 
wrights, carpenters, turners, &c. also for 
making ploughs, harrows, axle-trees, oars, 
&c. It is said to be as lasting for build- 
ing as oak, and often preferred before 
it ; though the timber of the trunk greatly 
excels that pf a bough. Some ash is also 
so curiously veined, that the cabinet-makers 
think it equal to ebony, and call it green 
ebony; so that the woodmen, who light 
•upon such trees, may have for it what they 
will. The season «'or felling this tree, is 
from November to February ; for if cut 
down too early, or too late, it is liable to 
