be delivered at the end of the voyage. This disappointment would have been too much for some young men to bear; not so, however, with the hardy Boston lad, who had a habit, on receiving a knock-down blow, of getting up again and smiling.

When Franklin arrived in London, a friend named Denham told him of Sir William Keith's character: "There was not the least probability he had written any letters; those who knew him had not the smallest dependence on him." He laughed at the notion of the Governor giving a letter of credit, "he had no credit to give." Mr. Denham soothed the young man's wounded feelings and, with great good sense, advised him to seek employment in London. "Improve yourself, and when you return to America you will be able to set up with greater advantage." In London, Benjamin took a cheap lodging with a shipmate named Ralph, who proved to be a friend in need --for he was continually in need of money, and showed his friendship by frequent borrowing. He was a remarkably agreeable fellow, which was well, for he never repaid the loans. Franklin soon obtained employment and began to save money, commencing each day with a breakfast of 'hot-water-gruel, sprinkled with pepper and a bit of butter in it." That sounds appetising, and the price was three-halfpence, same as a pint of beer. His fellow workmen breakfasted on bread and cheese and beer, and the number of pints they drank in a day was astounding. "Thus," said Franklin, "did these poor devils keep themselves always under."

While working in a printing office he contracted an acquaintance with an ingenious young man, named Wygate, "who, having wealthy relations, was better educated than most printers, was a tolerable Latinist, spoke French, and loved reading." Going one day with this young friend and others along the river-side, he stripped and leaped into the Thames, swimming all the way from Chelsea to Blackfriars, performing feats as they went along. This proclaimed him an athlete, and he was strongly advised to open a swimming school in London; but he declined, and contented. himself by writing, some years afterwards, an instructive pamphlet on The Art of Swimming.

Franklin's friend, Mr. Denham, was a good man, who had formerly been in business at Bristol and failed. He then emigrated to America and succeeded, and now, on returning to England, invited his old creditors together at dinner, and paid them in full. Such honourable conduct is delightful to mention, and we now and then read of similar cases; but it is to be feared that some excellent individuals omit the duty, owing to absent-mindedness. Franklin had been eighteen months in London, and had lent his dear friend, Mr. Ralph, twenty-seven pounds, which might be regarded as a bad debt, when Mr. Denham proposed that he

should return with him to Philadelphia as his clerk. They left Gravesend on July 23, 1726, and on the voyage Franklin drew up a plan for the regulation of his own life. The original is lost, but the scheme must have been sound and workable, for, referring to it in after life, the author says, "It is the more remarkable, as being formed when I was so young, and yet being pretty faithfully adhered to quite through to old age." Hence we see that a staunch, single-minded youth of twenty, aided by correct principles, is quite capable of judging correctly; therefore let no one despise a man because he is young. Mr. Denham opened a general store in Water Street, Philadelphia, where his clerk attended diligently to business, studied accounts, studied men, and became an expert salesman. Master and man lodged together and, sad to relate, in a few months' time both were stricken down with illness. Franklin, by reason of his iron constitution, recovered; but the employer died, leaving his clerk a little legacy in token of kindness.

Mr.

Then back to Keimer's printing office on good wages. Keimer, being a Jew, closed his office on Saturday; consequently our friend had two clear days a week for study—and he studied, learning French well, and getting a good notion of Italian and Spanish. He drilled some cheap journeymen, cast his own type, and worked strenuously; but the concern did not flourish, and he left. While waiting employment he established a Literary Club, called "The Junto," from which he derived great benefit during a membership of forty years. Keimer neglected The Pennsylvanian Gazette, of which he was publisher, whereupon Franklin took it up, conducted it his own way, and succeeded. He then married, and soon found how true it is that "After getting the first hundred pounds it is more easy to get the second." In 1733 he was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia, which enabled him better to distribute his paper and procure news. Thenceforward he prospered greatly, his energy was amazing, and for more than half a century his life was a triumph, both as regards usefulness and happiness. Space forbids more than the merest outline. In 1744 he established a Philosophical Society of which he was secretary. In 1750 he was chosen Councillor and Alderman of Philadelphia, and was elected a burgess to represent the citizens in the Assembly. In 1753 he was made Postmaster General of America, and in a brief time, by his marvellous activity, made it yield three times as much revenue to the Crown as the Post Office in Ireland.

When Benjamin Franklin was forty-eight years of age he became the originator of a mighty nation. It was in 1754 that he proposed a plan for the Union of all the Colonies under one government, which plan was unanimously adopted by the Convention at Albany, but was rejected by the Board of Trade in England as too democratic." Of his scheme he says, "The Colonies, so

united, would have been sufficiently strong to have defended themselves; there would have been no need of troops from England; and of course the subsequent pretext for taxing America, and the bloody contest it occasioned, would have been avoided.”

In 1754 our friend was sent to England as representative of Pennsylvania and other colonies, a proof of the high esteem in which he was held. On making the English coast the vessel was well-nigh wrecked, and the practical philosopher wrote to his wife_Were I a Roman Catholic I should perhaps vow to build a chapel in gratitude for this escape; but as I am not, if I were to build at all it should be a lighthouse." Franklin appears to have been delighted with England and English society, and his flourishing circumstances warranted him in relaxing the severity of his economy. "For my part," he wrote, "I find I love company, chat, a laugh, a glass, and even a song, as well as ever;" and after five years of geniality, varied with much correspondence on scientific matters, he again returned home and found his friends as hearty and affectionate as ever. During his absence he had been chosen to represent Philadelphia in the Provincial Assembly, and on his first appearance was voted three thousand pounds and thanks.

A few years later Franklin was again in England, and on February 3rd, 1766, appeared at the Bar of the House of Commons, when he was examined at great length as to the financial position of the American Colonies. He contended that they had paid more, in proportion to their abilities, than had Britain; and by his thorough knowledge, clear statements, and dignified demeanour, he so convinced the Marquis of Rockingham that he resolved to recommend the repeal of the Stamp Act, which was accomplished the same year. At that time Franklin had no desire for separation, for on being asked "In what light do the people of America regard the British Parliament?" he replied "As the great bulwark of their liberties and privileges." His letters, preserved in the British Museum, attest his loyalty to England. He had a high opinion of the thorough integrity of King George III., and the King spoke of Franklin with great regard; so that we may deem it more than possible that if all matters in difference had been referred to those two honest men, an arrangement could and would have been made to the satisfaction of both countries; in which case England might have looked now upon America as her greatest "commercial asset." Mr. Grenville put the cat among the pigeons by insisting on a revenue from the Colonies, while Franklin's emphatic instructions from the Assembly of Pennsylvania were to neglect no effort to prevent so great an injustice; but common sense was in abeyance, reason at a discount. A caricature represents a Ministerial orator addressing a flock of turkeys "Gentlemen, I have invited you to meet me to know

with what sauce you would prefer to be eaten." "But we do not wish to be eaten." "Gentlemen, you dodge the question.”

After several visits to France, revolution being imminent, Franklin returned home, and assisted in drafting that wonderful document the Declaration of Independence. When the statesmen assembled to sign the same on the 4th July, 1776, they were in grim earnest, and our friend was the only one who relieved the gloom with a little joke. "We must be unanimous," said Mr. Hancock. "Yes," replied Franklin, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

He was now seventy years old, and had earned repose, but his countrymen had absolute confidence and induced him to go to Paris as Plenipotentiary. He soon made his presence felt, and by prudence and sagacity defeated all attempts to sow discord between France and the United States. During the voyage he made experiments in relation to the Gulf Stream, of which he wrote to our Dr. Priestley, with whom he had long held correspondence on scientific and political matters. Another Birmingham correspondent was that much-buried man, John Baskerville, printer, whose success fell short of his deserts. In 1767 he wrote to Franklin in Paris" After having obtained the reputation of excelling in the most useful art known to mankind, of which I have your testimony, is it not to the last degree provoking that I cannot get bread by it? I must starve had I no other dependence.

Benjamin Franklin negotiated with England for peace, and did not forget the kindly duty of pleading for leniency to prisoners. He retired finally in 1785, having spent fifty-three years in the service of his country; and, after enjoying that good old gentlemanly ailment the gout, he died at the age of eighty-four. Then passed away a rare man; one who had nothing crooked in his nature; one whose genius was that of common sense, integrity, and indomitable industry. His famous epitaph, written many years before his death, must not be omitted:

"THE BODY

OF

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Printer,

(LIKE THE COVER OF AN OLD BOOK,
ITS CONTENTS TORN OUT,

AND STRIPPED OF ITS LETTERING AND GILDING,)
LIES HERE, FOOD FOR WORMS.

YET THE WORK ITSELF SHALL NOT BE LOST,
FOR IT WILL (AS HE BELIEVED) APPEAR ONCE MORE

IN A NEW

AND MORE BEAUTIFUL Edition,

CORRECTED AND AMENDED

BY

THE AUTHOR."

A. L.

ence

Albert Ricbard Vardy.

to thee it was given

Many to save with thyself.'

THE death of the Rev. A. R. Vardy has removed from the life of Birmingham a great head-master, a fine scholar, and a Christlike worker. In considering his career, our first duty, as men of Birmingham, is to express our thankfulness that an influso unobtrusive yet so profound was-apparently of set purpose mainly devoted to this city. As an educationalist Mr. Vardy was known throughout Great Britain, and his was a weighty voice in the counsels alike of the Head-Masters' Conference and of the Association of Head-Masters. Apart from this corollary of his work here, and from his consideration of the problems of secondary education from the national standpoint, what would, and perhaps should, have been his leisure was for years given freely to the advancement of local life in its highest sense.

The head-mastership of King Edward's School is itself exacting enough it carries with it, directly and indirectly, innumerable opportunities of local usefulness; and Mr. Vardy embraced these so fully that even his strong constitution at last broke down. Those who knew him have lost a friend who can never be replaced. They can wish for themselves nothing better than that his influence may remain with them. For endeavouring to achieve their ideals no reward was sweeter than his kindly sympathy. Disinterestedness, insight, sunny serenity-these qualities he possessed in a remarkable degree.

Mr. Vardy came to Birmingham in 1872, on his appointment as head-master of the King Edward's Foundation. He was then thirty-one years of age. He had been educated at the City of London School under the Rev. Dr. Mortimer, and afterwards at Trinity College, Cambridge. He entered Trinity, with a scholarship, in 1860; and gained several college prizes, and also the Carus Greek Testament and other Divinity prizes. In 1863, he won the Dealtry prize, and was elected Foundation Scholar. In the following year he graduated with mathematical and classical honours, bracketed 11th in the Senior Optimes and 16th in the first class of the Classical Tripos. He also gained a Chancellor's Classical Medal, and eventually, in 1866, was elected a Fellow of his college. At Cambridge his favourite recreations were walking and boating; his skill as an oarsman was well known. On leaving Cambridge he became, for a short time, private tutor in the family