profuse dissipation, by sinecure appointments | charged to assure you, that means will be with large salaries, and the very arbitrary and impolitic restrictions on your trade and manufactures, which are beyond example in the history of the world, and can only be equalled by that illiberal spirit which directs it, and which has shewn itself so abundantly in petitions from all parts of their islands, and in the debate in their house of commons, when you had been lately amused with the vain hope of an extension of your trade, and which were conducted with such temper and language as might be supposed to suit their copper-colored allies in America, but must fix a stain on the character of a civilized nation forever.

When I had the pleasure of residing in your capital some years ago, it gave me pain to observe such a debility and morbid languor in every department of your government, as would have disgraced anarchy itself; the laws are too weak to execute themselves, and vice and violence often reign with impunity; and even the military with you seem to claim an exemption from all civil restraint, or jurisdiction, and individuals are forced to trust to themselves for that security and protection which the government of the country can no longer afford them. We congratulate you however, on the bright prospect which the western hemisphere has afforded to you, and the oppressed of every nation, and we trust that the liberation of your country has been effected in America, and that you never will be called on for those painful, though necessary exertions, which the sacred love of liberty inspires, and which have enabled us to establish our freedom forever.

found to establish your freedom in this re-
spect, in the fullest and amplest manner. And
as it is the ardent wish of America to promote,
as far as her other engagements will permit, a
reciprocal commercial interest with you, I am
to assure you, they will seek every means to
establish and extend it; and it has given the
most sensible pleasure to have those instruc-
tions committed to my care, as I have ever re-
tained the most perfect good will and esteem
for the people of Ireland. And am, with every
sentiment of respect, their obedient and hum-
ble servant,
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

Versailles, October 4, 1778.

AN ACCOUNT OF FRANKLIN'S INTRO duc-
TION TO THE Academy of France, and
HIS ASSOCIATION WITH VOLTAIRE.

His introduction into the academy, was as high a testimonial of esteem as one great people could offer another. As he entered D'Alembert saluted him with the celebrated line,

Eripuit cælo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis.

Condorcet thus describes this grateful and memorable ceremony:-" At this same time Paris boasted, also, the presence of the celebrated Franklin, who, in another hemisphere, had been the apostle of philosophy and toleration. Like Voltaire, he had often employed the weapon of humor which corrects the absurdities of men, and had displayed their perverseness as a folly more fatal but also worthy of pity. He had joined to the science of metaphysics the genius of practical philosophy; as Voltaire, that of poetry. Franklin had delivered the vast continent of America from the

We hope the political Quixots of Great Britain will no longer be able to disturb the peace and happiness of mankind, and which Providence has permitted perhaps to shew the mon-yoke of Europe, and I was eager to see a man strous abuse of power; yet lost to all public virtue as they are, we wish they may turn from their wickedness and live; and we doubt not the noble efforts of America will meet the full approbation of every virtuous Briton, when they shall be able to distinguish between the mad pursuits of government and the true interest of their people. But as for you, our dear and good friends of Ireland, we must cordially recommend to you to continue peaceable and quiet in every possible situation of your affairs, and endeavor, by mutual good will, to supply the defects of administration. But if the government, whom you at this time acknowledge, does not, in conformity to her own true interest, take off and remove every restraint on your trade, commerce and manufactures, I am

whose reputation had long been spread over both worlds.-Voltaire, although he had lost the habit of speaking English, endeavored to support the conversation in that language, and afterwards resuming the French, he said, 'I could not resist the desire of speaking the language of Mr. Franklin, for a moment.' The American philosopher presented his grandson to Voltaire, with a request that he would give him his benediction. 'God and liberty,' said Voltaire, it is the only benediction which can be given to the grandson of Franklin.'

"They went together to a public assembly of the Academy of Sciences, and the public at the same time beheld with emotion these two men, born in different quarters of the globe,

venerable by their years, their glory, the em- | propose a method less cruel. It is a method ployment of their life, and both enjoying the of which we have an example in the scripture. influence which they had exercised over the The murder of husbands, of wives, of brothers, age in which they lived. They embraced each sisters, and children, whose pleasing society other amidst public acclamations, and it was has been for some time enjoyed, affects deeply said to be Solon who embraced Sophocles. the respective surviving relations; but grief for But the French Sophocles had trampled on the loss of a child just born is short, and eaerror and advanced the reign of reason; and sily supported. The method I mean is, that the Solon, of Philadelphia, having placed the which was dictated by the Egyptian policy, constitution of his country on the immovable when the infinite increase of the children of foundation of the rights of man, had no fear Israel was appehended as dangerous to the of seeing his uncertain laws, even during his state; and Pharaoh said unto his priests, beown life, open the way to tyranny, and prepare hold the people of the children of Israel are more fetters for his country." and mightier than we; come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass that when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. And the king spake unto the Hebrew midwives, etc. -Exo. Chap. 1., Now,' says the doctor, 'let an act of parliament be made, enjoining the colony midwives to stifle, in their birth, every third or fourth child. By this means may you keep the colonies to their size. And if they were under the hard alternative of submitting to one or the other of these schemes for checking their growth, I dare answer for them they would prefer the latter."

DR. FRANKLIN.

INTERESTING NOTICE IN RELATION TO HIM,
AND EXTRACTS FROM ARTICLES PRINTED
BY HIM IN LONDON IN 1779.

The author of the "Systeme de la Nature" says "What imports it to me, that Maupertuis is a good geometrician, if he be a despotic and merciless president, and if I be obliged to live in his domain or his academy? A beneficent man is, in my opinion, much more estimable, than a being who is learned, but cruel." -Mirabeau the Elder. Not so with our Dr. Franklin-for, "Whatever he writes, his fellowcitizens read with eagerness, delight, and pleasure-and whatever he performs, the civilized part of the world approves."-Turgol to Dr. Price.

From among "the political, miscellaneous, and philosophical pieces of Dr. Franklin, printed in London, 1779, p. 297," is extracted the following, and placed at your service. CIVIS.

"At the conclusion of the peace of 1762, when certain projectors asked the English to leave the French in possession of Canada, in order that they might check the too rapid increase of the English colonies, the celebrated Dr. Franklin observed, 'It is a modest word, this check for massacreing men, women, and children; and for all the other horrors of Indian warfare." It was being very far-sighted indeed, to feel so soon the necessity of checking the excessive population of the then English colonies. But,' continues this truly great man, with that Socratic simplicity which is the peculiar characteristic of his writings. If it be, after all, 'thought necessary to check the growth of our colonies, give me leave to

Note by the transcriber. They seem to have found out since that time, another method or scheme which, bye the bye they never have dared to own, and have always disavowed' it personally to our ambassadors; though they have never discontinued it in practice, until general J. made an example of two of their notorious assistants; and could he have been so fortunate as to have caught the two principal agents, col. W―e and col N-s, and made them also the objects of 'exact justice,' we should not hear for a length of time of any more 'secret schemes for the depopulation of the frontiers of the United States."

-Bost. Pat.

INTERESTING ACCOUNT

GIVEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON, (FRANK-
LIN'S SUCCESSOR at Versailles,) of the
VENERATION AND ESTEEM OF THE FRENCH
PEOPLE FOR DR. FRANKLIN.

Mr. Jefferson, in a letter to Dr. William Smith, expresses himself, "I can testify that there appeared to me more veneration and respect attached to the character of Dr. Franklin in France, than to that of any other person in the same country, foreign or native. I had an

opportunity of knowing particularly how far | cal sentiments and feelings. When the death

of Washington was announced, Bonaparte and the national representatives wore mourning. On the death of Franklin, the national assembly put on the emblems of grief, and appointed one of their members, Abbe Fauchett, to pronounce his eulogy; the place in which he spoke was hung with black, and decorated with the most expensive devices. In the course of the oration the orator burst forth in this apostrophe:

these sentiments were felt by the foreign ambassadors and ministers at the court of Versailles. The fable of his capture by the Algerines, propagated by the English newspapers, excited no uneasiness, as it was seen at once to be a dish cooked up to please certain readers; but nothing could exceed the anxiety of his diplomatic brethren, on a subsequent report of his death, which although premature, bore some marks of authenticity. I found the min-"Thou bright luminary of freedom, why should isters of France equally impressed with his talents and integrity. The Count de Vergennes, particularly, gave me repeated and unequivocal demonstrations of his entire confidence in him."

I call thee great? Grandeur is too often the scourge of the human kind, whose felicity thy goodness was ever exerted to promote. Thou hast been the benefactor of the universe; be thy name ever revered. May it be the com

man is more entitled to our gratitude? It was not sufficient to control the lightning of Heaven and to avert the fury of the growing tempest; thou hast rendered unto mankind a service still greater; thou extinguishest the thunder of earthly despots, which was ready to be hurled upon their trembling subjects.

When he left Passy, it seemed as if the vil-fort of the wretched, the joy of the free. What lage had lost its Patriarch. On taking leave of the court, which he did by letter, the king ordered him to be handsomely complimented, and furnished him with a litter and mules of his own, the only kind of conveyance the state of his health could bear. The succession to Dr. Franklin at the court of France, was an excellent school of humility to me. On being presented to any one, as the minister of America, the common place question was 'Is it you, sir, who replace Dr. Franklin?' I generally answered, "no one can replace him, sir; I am only his successor."

What pleasure must it have been to thee on earth, to perceive others profiting by thy precepts and thy example. With what greater rapture must thou now contemplate thy own diffusion of light; it will illumine the world, and man, perceiving his natural dignity, will raise his soul to Heaven and bow to no empire but that which is founded on virtue and reason. I have but one wish to utter: it is a wish dear to my heart; a wish always cherished in thy virtuous and benevolent bosom-surely it will ING EULOGY PRONOUNCED BY THE ABBE when uttered in the name of Franklin. It is derive some favor from the throne of God,

EULOGY ON DR. FRANKLIN. ACTION OF THE FRENCH ASSEMBLY ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS DEATH; GLOW

FAUCHETT.

The people of France have, on various occasions, evinced that they partook of our politi

that, in becoming free, men may become also wiser and better-there is no other means of deserving liberty."

THE CONTINENTAL NAVY.

THE FIRST SEA FIGHT.

ACTION BETWEEN THE CONTINENTAL BRIG
OF WAR TYRANNICIDE, AND THE BRITISH
SLOOP OF War Despatch, 1776.

speaking of the revolutionary pension law, seized the opportunity to give us the following interesting scrap of history:

The following history may discover how a man may engage in the public service, and yet The late rev. Dr. BENTLY, of Salem, Mass., not be qualified according to law for the bounty whose decease was equally deplored by the of a term short of one year's service. Joshua friends of religion, patriotism and literature-Ward, who belonged to Salem, but who has who for many years enriched the columns of lived many years in Marblehead, a painter, the "Essex Register" with his remarks, when marched on the 19th of April, to Charlestown

LIST OF NAVAL FORCES

ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN, OCTOBER, 1776.

BRITISH.

Ship Inflexible, lieutenant Schank, 18 twelve pounders. Schooner Maria, lieutenant Starke, 14 six pounders. Schooner Carleton, lieutenant Dacres, 12 six pounders. Radeau Thunderer, lieutenant Scott, 6 twenty-four, 6 twelve pounders, 2 howitzers. Gondola Loyal Convert, lieutenant Longcroft, 7 nine pounders. Twenty gun-boats, each a brass field piece, some twenty-fours to nines, some with howit

gun, serving as armed tenders. Twenty-four long boats with provisions.

CONTINENTAL.

Neck, as a fifer of the first company in colonel | tion to the generous care of his fellow-citiTimothy Pickering's regiment of militia, com- zens." manded by capt. William Pickman, and soon after entered the army under captain Thomas Barnes. From Cambridge he was ordered to Watertown to guard the public stores, and remained at this station till the battle of Bunker's Hill. He then joined the regiment under colonel Mansfield on Prospect Hill, in Charlestown, in the Massachusetts line, and acted as fife-major, till he joined gen. Sullivan's brigade, on Winter Hill, when he was promoted as fifemajor general. He continued in the service till the first day of January, 1776, when he was discharged, having continued the time of his enlistment. He then entered captain Benjamin Ward's company, and performed garrison duty at fort William and Mary, now fort Pickering, till the 19th of June following. He then volun-zers. Four long-boats, with each a carriage teered with the first lieutenant Haraden, a well known brave and able officer, with others of his companions, on board the Tyrannicide, a public armed brig of 14 guns and 75 men, commanded by captain John Fiske, afterwards a major general in Massachusetts, and eminent by his public services. He was in this brig during three cruises, and was at the taking of eight prizes, the first of which was the king's armed schooner Dispatch, belonging to lord Howe's fleet, then on their passage from Halifax to New York, it being 10th July. In the engagement one man was killed in the Tyrannicide, three wounded, and one died of his wounds. He continued in this vessel till the 14th of February, 1777, when he returned from a four and an half months' cruise in the West Indies, and all were discharged. He is now 72 years of age. In the action with the Dispatch, which lasted 7 glasses, her commander, John Goodrich, 2d lieut. of the Renown of 50 guns, then in the fleet, was killed, and several men. Mr. Moore, sailing master, was wounded and his limb amputated. Mr. Collingsin, midshipman, had his limb amputated but he died. The Dispatch was so disabled that they were obliged to take her in tow, and they brought her into Salem, after being out 17 days. The Dispatch had eight carriage guns, 12 swivels, and a complement of 41 picked men from different ships in the fleet. This was the first sea fight. The Tyrannicide was the first vessel that was built for the public service, and her commission was signed by John Hancock. The Dispatch was no prize to the crew, excepting a small bounty on her guns. And yet this worthy man in his poverty, comes not within the letter of the law, and instead of his bounty, must accept a hearty recommenda

Schooner Royal Savage, 8 six pounders, and 4 four pounders, burnt the 11th of October, at Valicour. Schooner Revenge, 4 six pounders, and fours, escaped to Ticonderoga the 13th of October. Sloop, 10 four pounders, escaped to ditto the 13th of October. Cutter Lee, I nine pounder in her bow; I twelve pounder in her stern, and 2 six pounders in her sides; abandoned the 13th of October. Galley Congress, 2 eighteen pounders in her bow, 2 twelve pounders in her stern, and 6 six pounders in her sides; run on shore and burnt the 13th of October. Galley Washington, I eight and I twelve pounder in her bow, 2 nine pounders in her stern, and 6 six pounders in her sides; taken the 13th of October. Galley Trumbull, like the Washington, escaped to Ticonderoga the 13th October. Eight Gondolas, carrying I eight pounder in the bow, and 2 nine pounders in the sides; some of these had 4 guns in their sides-one taken the 12th, one sunk the 11th, four burnt the 13th; one escaped, and one missing. Schoonertaken from major Skeene, was gone for provisions. Galley Gates, expected to join them in a few days.

A LIST OF THE SEAMEN DETACHED FROM

THE KING'S SHIPS AND VESSELS IN THE
RIVER ST. LAWRENCE, TO SERVE ON LAKE
CHAMPLAIN,

Isis, 100 seamen; Blond, 70; Triton, 60; Garland, 30; Canceau, 40; Magdalen, Brunswick, Gaspee 18 seamen each; Treasury, and armed brigs, 90 men each.

Province armed vessels.-Fell, 30, lately | He succeeded in setting fire to several vessels but was not able to effect anything decisive before daylight, when he was obliged to retire.

wrecked; Charlotte, 9; volunteers from no ship, 9; ditto from the transports 214. Total 670, exclusive of 8 officers, and 19 petty officers.

In the progress of the revolutionary war, Paul Jones obtained the command of a squadron, with which, 1778, he undertook to annoy the coasts of Great Britain. On the 2d of December, 1777, he arrived at Nantez, and in January he repaired to Paris, with the view of making arrangements with the American min-ent winter. That party had been with me isters and the French government. In February he convoyed some American vessels to the Bay of Quiberon, and, on his return to Brest, communicated his plan to Admiral D'Aruillers, who afforded him every means of forwarding it. He accordingly left Brest, and sailed through the Bristol Channel without giving any alarm. Early in the morning of the 23d of April, he made an attack on the harbor of Whitehaven, in which there were about three hundred sail.