14 
FRA 
He obtained his recal from the bufy ftation he had fo well 
filled, in 1785, and returned to Philadelphia, wliere he 
was chofen prefident of tlie fupreme executive council. 
In 1787 he fat as delegate from the ftate of Pennfylvania 
in the convention appointed to frame the federal confti- 
tution of the union. When the deliberations on this im¬ 
portant affair were terminated, he delivered a truly wife 
and patriotic fpeech, recommending perfeft unanimity in 
adopting the refoVutions of the majority, though not en¬ 
tirely conformable to the opinions of individuals, as was 
the cafe with refpedl to himfelf. The high regard in 
which he was held by his fellow-citizens appeared in his 
being chofen prefident of various focieties, among which 
were thofe for alleviating the miferies of public prifons, 
and for the abolition of flavery, objedfs of benevolence 
in which he heartily concurred. His increafing infirmi¬ 
ties caufed him in 1788 to withdraw from all public bufi- 
nefs; and on April 17, 1790, he clofed in ferenity and 
refignation an aftive and ufeful life, aged eighty-four 
years and three months. 
Dr. Franklin perhaps has fcarcely been furpaffed by 
any man in that folid pradtical wifdom, which confiffs in 
purfuing valuable ends by the mod appropriate means. 
His cool temper and found judgment fecured him from^ 
falfe vievrs and erroneous expedlations ; he faw things in 
their real light, and predidled confequences with almofi: 
prophetic accuracy. In all his fpeculations and purfuits, 
ibmething beneficial was ever in contemplation. He 
juftly fays of himfelf, “ I have always fet a greater value 
on the charadler of a doer of good than any other kind of 
reputation.” Though by no means inattentive to his 
own intereft, as his rife in the world to high fiations and 
an opulent fortune fufficiently proves, yet he never ceafed 
zealoufly to promote the good of the fociety of which he 
was a member, and of mankind in general. It was im- 
offible that the fcenes of violent party contefts in w hich 
e was engaged, fliould not have expofed him to cenfure 
and obloquy from his antagonifls ; but his general cha- 
radfer is landlioned by the efleem and veneration of his 
country, which ranks him among its bed and moft va¬ 
luable citizens. As a natural philofopher, his fame is 
principally founded upon his eledlrical difcoveries. He 
lias, however, difplayed great ingenuity and fagacity 
upon other topics, particularly relative to meteorology 
and mechanics.' It was his peculiar talent to draw ufeful 
leffons from the commoned occurrences, which would 
have paffed tinnoticed by the generality of obfervers. As 
a political writer he is charadlerifed by force, clearnefs, 
and fimplicity. Of his mifcellaneous pieces many are 
marked with a cad of humour, which renders them 
equally entertaining and impredtve. Bcfides his publica¬ 
tions already advei ted to, there was publiflied a collec¬ 
tion of his Political, Mifcellaneous, and Philofophical, 
Pieces, 4to. and 8vo. 1779. Several of his philofophical 
papers are alfo contained in the American Philofophical 
Tranfadfions ; and his Effays, Humorous, Moral, and Li. 
terary, with liis Life, written by himfelf, have appeared 
lince his death in two fmall volumes. A complete col- 
ledtion of his works, with biographical memoirs, has long 
been expedled from the hand of a relation. 
FRANK'LIN, a county of the American States, the 
north-wedernmod in Vermont, bounded north by Lower 
Canada, and ed by lake Champlain, 1 1 was lately taken 
from Chittenden county, and contains twenty townlhips. 
FRANK'LIN, a county of the American States, in 
Pennfylvania, bounded north by Mifflin, north-ead by 
Cumberland, ead by York, fouth by Wadiington county 
in Maryland, wed by Bedford county, and north-wed by 
Hunterdon. It is computed to contain Soo fquare miles, 
equal to 51 2,000 acres. It lies chiefly between the North 
and South Mountains, and comprehends the middle part 
of the beautiful and rich valley of Connegocheague; 
which is watered by the creek of its name, which falls 
into Potowmack at William’s Port in Maryland. This 
FRA 
county exhibits a mod luxurious landfcape in fummer, 
from the top of South Mountain. Iron ore is found here 
fufflcient already to furnilh work for a furnace and forge. 
The county is divided into eleven townlhips, which con¬ 
tain 15,655 inhabitants. 
FRANK'LIN, a county of the American States, in 
Kentucky, bounded north by Scott county, north-weft 
and wed by Shelby, fouth-ead by Fayette, and fouth by 
Woodford. Chief town, Frankfort. 
FRANK'LIN, a county of the American States, in 
Halifax didrift, North Carolina, containing by thecenfus 
of 1796, 7559 inhabitants. It is bounded north by Gren¬ 
ville, fouth by Johndon, north-ead by Warren, foiith- 
wed by Wake, and wed by Orange county. Clrief town, 
Louifburg. 
FRANK'LIN, a fmall ifland in the American States, 
at the mouth of St. George’s river, in Lincoln county, 
Maine ; four leagues fouthward of Thomadon. 
FRANK'LIN, a county of the American States, in 
Virginia, bounded north by Bedford, north-wed by Bote¬ 
tourt, wed by Montgomery, fouth-wed by Henry, fouth 
by Patrick, and ead by Campbell county. It is about 
forty miles long, and tw'enty-five broad, and contains 6842 
inhabitants. A range of the Alleghany mbuntains palies 
through it on the north wed. It is.confeqitently hilly in 
general. 
FRANK'LIN, av.uunty of the American States, in 
Georgia, fituated in the Upper Didriff, bounded ead and 
north-ead by Tugulo river, which feparates it from the 
date of South Carolina ; wed and north weft by the coun¬ 
try of the Cherokees; fouth by the head branches of 
Broad river; and fouth-ead by Elbert county. It con¬ 
tains 1041 inhabitants.. The court-houfe is feventeen 
miles from Hatton’s Ford on Tugulo river, twenty-five 
from Elberton, and feventy-feven from Wadiington. 
FRANK'LIN, a townfliip in Norfolk county, Maffa- 
chufetts; taken from Wrentham, and incorporated in 
1778, containing 17,000 acres of land ; bounded north by 
Charles river, which feparates it from Medway, and lies 
thirty miles fouth of Bolton. 
FRANK'LIN, a new townfhip of the American States, 
in Duchefs county. New York. By the date cenfus of 
1796, there were 210 of its inhabitants qualified to be 
elettors.—Alfo, a new townfhip in Delaware county, of 
whofe inhabitants 239 are eleAors. It lies fouth-wed; 
from, and borders on, Harpersfield, and its wed line runs 
along the fouth-eadern bank of Sulquehannah river. This 
town was divided by an a 61 of the legiflature, 1797. 
FRANK'LIN, a towndiip of the American States, in 
Weftmoreland county, PennI'yl vania.—There are alfo three 
others in the fame date, viz. in York county, Fayette 
county, and in Wadiington county. 
FRANK'LIN, a townfhip of the American States, the 
northernmod in New-Londoti county, Connecticut, fix 
miles ■ north-wed of Norwich. It contains above one 
thoLifand inhabitants, who are chiefly wealthy farmers. 
FRANK'LIN-COL'LEGE. See Lancaster, inPenn- 
fylvania. 
FRANK'LIN-FORT, a fort in Alleghany county, 
Pennfylvanii, near the pod called Venango, ereCted in 
1787, to defend the frontiers of Pemifylvania from the 
depredations of the neighbouring Indians. It is feated 
on the fguth-weft bank of Alleghany river, oppofite the 
mouth of French creek; fifty-iiiree miles fouth-fouth-eaft 
of Prefque ille, and fixty-three northward of Pittftmrg. 
FRANKLIN'I A, yi in botany. See Gordonia. 
F''RANK'LY, adv. [from frank. Liberally; freely; 
kindly ; readily.—When they had nothing to pay, he 
frankly forgave them both. LukevW. 42. 
Oh, were it but my life, 
I’d throw it down for your deliverance, 
As frankly as a pin. Shakefpeare, 
Without conftraintj without referve,—He entered very 
frankly 
