Benjamin Franklin. 345 happening between them, he removed to New York, from whence he went to Philadelphia; where, after serving as a journeyman for some time, he attracted the notice of Sir William Keith, the governor, who persuaded him to set up for himself. Accordingly, he came to England to procure printing materials; but, things not then succeeding to his wish, he worked as a journeyman printer in London, and, in 1726 he returned to Philadelphia, where he became clerk to a merchant. He next entered into partnership with a person named Meredith, in the printing business, which he afterwards conducted alone. In 1730 he was united to a widow lady. About this time, he contributed towards forming the public library at Philadelphia, and in 1732 he published his " Poor Richard's Almanack," in which he gave some useful rules of prudence, and good management. In the year 1736, he was appointed clerk to the general assem-. bly in Pennsylvania, and in the following year, he became Postmaster of Philadelphia. He was of a very studious, and philosophical turn, and he made several discoveries in electricity. In 1747 he was a representative of the general assembly, in which situation he was of great service to his country. By his means, a militia bill was passed, and he was appointed Colonel of the Philadelphia regiment. In 1757 he was sent to England as agent for Pennsylvania. At this time, he was chosen Fellow of the Royal Society, and was made a Doctor of Laws by the Universities of St. Andrew's, Edinburgh, and Oxford. In 1762 he returned to America, but soon afterwards was employed on a mission to England. After this, he again returned home. He was very active in the war between England and the colonies, and was sent to France, where, in 1778, he signed a treaty of alliance, which produced a war between that country and England. In 1783, he signed the treaty of peace, and in 1785 returned to America, where he was chosen President of the Supreme Council. He died in 1790.". Now when a man rises from a humble station of life to one of power and dignity, there is generally something in his conduct which has helped to account for this advancement. It is not indeed every man who can thus raise himself in the world; neither is it perhaps desirable. A man often rises higher in life without being at all happier for it; but still we cannot help rejoicing when we see that diligence and industry prosper. Without these, a man will not rise from a condition of poverty ;-he will, on the contrary, be probably very poor and very unhappy, from want, and difficulties, and debts. We do not enter into any particulars respecting Dr. Franklin's character or his opinions, but the following statement will shew us that it was not without industry, and care, and good management, that he rose to his high station in life. When Benjamin Franklin was a young man, he worked in a printing-office in London. He attended diligently to his business, and made it his endeavour to lay by some money. He drank nothing but water. The other workmen, to the number of about fifty, were great drinkers of beer. But Franklin knew very well that it was not drinking beer that gave a man strength; and he proved this, for he was more strong and active than any of them. The rest of them had four or five shillings to pay every Saturday night, but Franklin had no expence of this sort. When he saw how his fellow-workmen were living, he said, "They are sure to be poor, they wish it, they do not try to have it otherwise." Still he lived in perfect good will with them all. He would never take bread and cheese, and beer for breakfast; but he got a basin of watergruel, with a slice of butter in it, and toasted bread, and a nutmeg. This he considered a whole. some, nourishing, and comforting breakfast, and did not puzzle the head, as beer does. He said he never would keep "Saint Monday." He was very quick and clever, and thus got that sort of work which was the most profitable. He rose early in the morning, and went to-bed soon at night, and gave so little trouble to the family where he lodged that the mistress of the house, rather than part with him, let him have his lodging at a lower price than she would have taken any body else for. He was particularly careful of his money, and he bought nothing that was not absolutely necessary, except a few books. When he got on in the world, he made it a fixed rule to be regular and exact in all his payments. He used to say of himself, "I took care to be industrious and frugal, and I tried to avoid every thing that appeared contrary to the character of a diligent and prudent man of business. I was plainly dressed; I was never seen in any place of public amusement; I never joined in sports of the field. I took care not to seem as if I thought myself above my business, so that I often wheeled home, in a barrow, the paper that I had been buying at the warehouse. Thus merchants were glad of my custom, and thus my trade flourished." V.. APHORISMS OR MAXIMS. BE as tender of the reputation of others as of your own. We are most likely to obtain our desires, when we are rendered willing to submit them to the will of God. When men are in such haste to set out on journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to worship God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and blessing. He who forgives his enemy, when he has him in his power, obtains the noblest victory. No partial affection should interfere with present duty. When we are influenced by faith, and the fear and love of God; and act with integrity, kindness, forgiveness, and a desire of peace, we conduct our affairs with the best wisdom. There are many distinctions amongst us, both during life, and in the disposal of our bodies after death; but in the eternal world no distinction subsists, except betwixt those," who have served the Lord, and those who have served him not." It is safest for man to judge favourably of his fellow creatures; if he err to err on the side of candour and clemency; and to leave it to the heartsearching God to determine between the upright and the hypocritical. Those enterprizes must end well, which are conducted with piety and integrity, in simple dependance on God, and cordial acquiescence in his will. Nothing but unreserved obedience to the precepts and statutes of God's word, can prove the sincerity of our faith, and our love to the Saviour. Resolutions formed in anger, and executed without deliberation, make work for bitter recollection and repentance. We have learned a most important lesson, when we are brought to dread sin more than poverty or suffering. The diseases of the soul, like those of the body, should be resisted before they have gathered strength. Charity School Regulations. 349 LINES WRITTEN BY THE LATE PRINCESS AMELIA. UNTHINKING, idle, wild, and young, I laughed and danced, I talked and sung; WE received the paper from which the following Regulations are taken more than a year ago, but delayed its insertion in consequence of some remarks at the end, which might seem too flattering to ourselves. As, however, the hints may be useful, we see no good reason for wholly neglecting them : REGULATIONS For the Management of some Private Charity Schools for Boys and Girls, established in a Populous City, by a Gentleman residing there. 1. On the first morning of a child's admission, one of the parents must go with it to the school, and hear the rules read over aloud. These rules must be strictly attended to by the parents as well as the children. 2. All new scholars are to be admitted on Mondays. 3. Parents are to send their children to school neat and clean, but not fine; and none are to go |