Resolved to improve his style, Franklin set about the matter with his peculiar energy, and had the good fortune to take for his model one of the best which the literature of England furnishes. This was the "Spectator," of which he accidentally became, possessed of an odd volume. With a view to imitate its style he laboured with great industry, and in the end was encouraged, by his success, to hope that he might one day become a tolerable English writer, of which he was very ambitious.

True to the cultivation of his mind to the utmost extent in his power, he practised self-denial to a degree which has seldom been equalled. Thus, at the age of sixteen, meeting with a book recommending a vegetable diet, its great cheapness immediately determined him to adopt it. For this he assigns two reasons—the first being, that it enabled him to bargain with his brother to give him half the sum to support himself that his board had hitherto cost; the second, that his repasts being much more easily and quickly despatched than those of the other printers, he could devote the greater part of meal-hours to his studies. About this time he made himself master of the science of arithmetic, which he had in vain attempted at school, and acquired some slight acquaintance with geometry.

Having read Locke "On the Human Understanding," and the "Port-Royal Art of Thinking," and profited by some "Sketches on Logic and Rhe toric," which he found at the end of an English Grammar, Franklin found an opportunity of trying his strength as a writer, and giving evidence of the benefit derived from those studies for which he had sacrificed his meals by day and his rest by night.

His brother had, in 1720, speculated in the publication of a newspaper, which was the second that appeared in America, and known as " The New England Courant." This brought the intelligent men of Boston frequently to the printing-office, where Franklin heard them discussing the merits of the different articles that appeared. In this way he was led to the desire of signalising his prowess in its columns; and having written a paper in a disguised hand, he put it at night under the door. On being submitted to the local critics it met with particular approval, and, in their guesses at the author, no one was mentioned but men of some mark in the town. Thus encouraged, he continued for some time to write in the same way, keeping his secret till curiosity was raised high; and when he disclosed it, he found himself treated as a person of some consequence by his brother's learned acquaintances.

That worthy, however, did not exhibit any sign of joy at the efforts being successful. In fact, he had always treated Franklin with anything rather than indulgence, and had been in the habit of beating him with a harshness which often rendered an appeal to their father necessary. The decision was usually given in the younger son's favour; but, whether from his having been generally in the right, or that he was the better pleader, he does not take upon himself to decide. This had made him anxious for an opportunity of shortening his apprenticeship, and at length one was presented.

An article in the newspaper gave so much offence to the local government, that the printer was censured and imprisoned. During the time that the latter was in durance, Franklin, whose studies had never been allowed to interfere with proper attention to his business, conducted the paper; and, notwithstanding the rigour shown by the Assembly, criticised its proceedings with great courage and severity. Moreover, he had managed matters so well, that when his brother was released, and ordered no longer to print the newspaper, it was resolved, by those who took an interest in it, that in future it should be issued in our hero's name. At the same time, lest the former proprietor should be accused of merely screening himself behind one of his appren tices, the indentures were discharged. But, in order to secure his brother's services to the end of the term formerly agreed on, "the flimsy scheme" was devised of making him sign new indentures, which were to be kept secret. Having thus settled matters, as he imagined, the elder brother, in a month or two, resorted to the old mode of maltreating him; and Franklin, aware that he durst not produce the private indenture, asserted his freedom.

The enraged printer took the only species of revenge in his power, that of cautioning every one in Boston against employing him; so that, after duly weighing and considering all the circumstances, the youth saw no other course open than to go and try his fortune in New York. Knowing, however, that if his father were apprised of his intention, he would oppose this step, it was found necessary to decamp without his leave. Franklin, therefore, having raised a little money by the sale of his books, took his passage in a sloop, and the breeze being favourable, set foot on the quay at New York in three days Here he met with no success in his applications for work, but was advised to proceed to Philadelphia, where he arrived after a passage that threw him into a fever. This he allayed with copious draughts of cold water, and landed in a condition which he describes as most miserable.

Next morning he set out to seek for employment, which he found with a printer in the town, who sent him to lodge at the house of a man, whose daughter he immediately fell in love with, and afterwards married. Accidentally, a letter written by him to a brother-in-law was shown to the Governor of the province, who thereupon introduced himself to Franklin, and persuaded him that he should immediately establish himself as a printer at Philadelphia. Thus incited, he made a voyage to Boston, with a letter from the Governor to his father, recommending the undertaking; but the old chandler refused to enter into the scheme or advance the requisite capital, and Franklin was compelled to return to Philadelphia, without having in any degree advanced the matter.

On communicating his father's resolution to the Governor, the latter declared that he would advance the money himself; so it was arranged that the future philosopher should sail for England by the first vessel, with letters of credit to the extent of a hundred pounds, with which to purchase the types and other articles necessary.

On arriving in London, Franklin discovered, to his intense horror and dismay, that the Governor's letters of credit were utterly worthless; and, thus thrown on his own resources, he offered his services to a printer in Bartholomew Close, who accepted them, and was highly satisfied with the signs he showed of sobriety, industry, and economy. In this position he remained for a year, at the end of which he was offered a clerkship in a store to be opened in Philadelphia Influenced by a desire to return to his native country, he accepted the offer, and, after a long voyage, arrived at his destination in October 1726.

His master dying at the end of six months, Franklin returned to his former employment. He soon formed a business of his own, and undertook the management of a newspaper, which, in his hands, was successful beyond all expectation. He was appointed printer to the House of Assembly, and, very soon, its clerk. The Governor placed his name on the commission of the peace, the corporation of the city chose him one of the common council, and shortly after an alderman, and the citizens elected him as their representative in the Assembly.

It was in the year 1746 that Franklin's attention as directed, with his usual earnestness of purpose, to those electrical studies which led to his discovery of the great theory of electricity, and secured him undying fame. Happening to meet at Boston with a Dr. Spence, who had just returned from Scotland, he witnessed some experiments, not very expertly made by that individual. By the exercise of his characteristic perseverance, he was enabled, in June 1752, to perform that celebrated scientific achievement which sent his fame through Europe. When his electrical discoveries were first announced in England, indeed, they attracted little notice; and his paper, on being read to the Royal Society, appeared so absurd as to meet with nothing hut ridicule. But the subject having made a great noise on the Continent, and being much spoken of generally, the members were induced to reconsider the matter; and one of their number having verified the grand experiment of bringing down lightning from the clouds, they made ample amends for their mistake by electing him a member, and presenting him with the Copley Medal, which was accompanied by a particularly kind and gratifying speech from the President, Lord Macclesfield. Some years after the degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the University of St. Andrew's, and subsequently by that of Oxford.

In 1783 he signed the treaty of peace with England which recognised the independence of the United States; and on returning home he was promptly chosen President of the Supreme Executive Council by his grateful countrymen. On the 17th of April, 1790, he died, full of years and honours; leaving a striking example of how much industry will do in advancing the fortunes of its possessor, when fairly and properly exercised and applied.

"Nothing," it has been said, "can be accom-plished without a fixed purpose—a concentration of mind and energy. Whatever you attempt to do, whether it be the writing of an essay, or whittling of a stick, let it bo done as well as you can do it. It was this that made Franklin and Newton, and hundreds whose labours have been of incalculable service to mankind. Fix your mind closely and intently on what you undertake—in no other way can you have a reasonable hope of success. An energy that dies in a day is good for nothing—an hour's fixed atten tion will never avail. The inventions that bless mankind were not the result of a few moments' thought and investigation. A lifetime has often been given to a single object. If you, then, have a desire to bless your species, or to get to yourself a glorious name, fix your mind upon something, and let it remain fixed."