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Near Seminara, in Calabria, an earthquake opened a chasm blazed to a great height for three hours. Then, for about in which a lake was formed 1785 feet long, and 937 broad. It was called Lago del Tolfilo. The inhabitants of the district, from fear that the miasma from such a lake would be prejudicial to their health, tried to drain off its waters by means of canals. Their work proved vain, for the lake was found to be constantly filling from springs which issued at the bottom of

the chasm.

In 1811 the volcanic island, afterwards called the Sabrina, was observed to rise from the sea near St. Michael, at the Azores. Its erater shot up cinders 700 or 800 feet above the level of the sea. These cinders were followed by an immense column of smoke. It began to rise in June. On the 4th of July it was high enough above the sea to form an island about a mile round. In its centre was a crater full of hot water, which discharged itself over one of the edges into the sea.

One of the most singular products of a volcano is MUD. When the aqueous vapours from the crater are condensed by the cold atmosphere, heavy rains are produced, which fall upon

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the volcanic dust on the sides of the mountain, and form a current of mud called by the Italians "lava d' aqua," aqueous lava, an enemy much more dreaded than a stream of melted lava. It is disputed by some geologists whether it was not by such a flood of volcanic mud, rather than by volcanic showers, that Pompeii was destroyed. This, hover, is only

mud on the surface of volcanoes.

twenty-four hours, they continued to burn about three feet above the crater from which the mud was ejected. Near a village called Baklichi the flame rose so high as to be seen twenty-four miles off. Large fragments of rock were thrown to a great distance round. These, as we have seen in fig. 20, must have been torn from the cavities of the strata beneath. At Damak, in the province of Samarang, in the island of Java, there is a similar mud volcano, where the mud is of high temperature. At Girgenti, in Sicily, and at Sassueto, in Northern Italy, they are also found under the name of Salses.

LESSONS IN ENGLISH.-No. XL.

By JOHN R. BEARD, D.D

DERIVATION: PREFIXES (continued).

BEFORE proceeding further with these prefixes we may now expose a common error. It is generally thought that words have severa disconnected significations. Several significations many words have, but these significations are all allied one with another. And they are allied one with another in such a way that a genealogical connexion runs through them all. I mean that the second ensues. from the first, and conducts to the third. The meanings of words In some volcanic districts mud is found to ooze occasionally flow from a common source like the waters of a brook. That from the ground. Near Laureana in Calabria, the swampy common source, or parent-signification, is, in all cases, one that soil of two ravines became filled with calcareous matter, which denotes some object of sense, for objects of sense were named oozed out of their respective sides just before the shock of an before other objects. Our first duty then is to ascertain the physiearthquake was felt in that district. This mud flowing down-cal meaning of a word. From that meaning the other meanings ward from both ravines, at last became united, formed one flow as by natural derivation. Those secondary or derivative stream, increased in force, and was a mud river 225 feet wide significations then can scarcely be termed meanings; they are not and 15 feet deep. In its progress it overflowed a flock of goats, so much meanings as modifications of the primary import of the and tore up trees, which it carried on its bosom like the masts root. Certainly they are not independent significations. Thus of small boats. When the mud became dry it was reduced in viewed, words have not two or more senses, but in the several cases depth to about seven feet, and it was found to contain frag- the one sense is varied and modified. Even in instances in which opposite meanings are connected with the same word, the filiation may be traced, as both Jacob and Esau sprang from the same stock. I will take an example in the word prevent. Prevent means both to guide and to hinder, to lead to, and to debar from. The opposition is sufficiently decided. Yet these two opposed meanings are only modifications of the root-sense of the word. First I will exhibit the diversity and then explain it. Prevent, signifying to guide, aid forward :—

ments of earth of iron colour.

I have now to call your attention to a real mud volcano, as represented by Von Humboldt, see fig. 21. Near Carthagena, in New Grenada, South America, there is a high hill called Popa. To the south-west of this hill there is a village district called Turbaco. In the midst of a thicket of palms is a marshy ground called Los Volcancitos. The tradition of the inhabitants is, that this ground was once all in flames, but that the fire had been extinguished by a monk who sprinkled the place with holy water. Since then the fire volcano has become a watery one.

The volcancitos are about 15 or 20 in number, stand in cones from 19 to 25 feet high, and measure around their bases from 78 to 85 feet each. On the top of each of these volcancitos is an aperture or depression from 15 to 30 inches in diameter, and filled with water, through which air-bubbles are constantly escaping, as seen in fig. 21. In other parts of the ground there are apertures for such escape of air, but which are not surrounded by cones. The cones have, no doubt, been raised by the clayey mud contained in the fluids, and the dull sound, which precedes every ebullition in the water of the cone, indicates that the ground is hollow. It seems that each crater receives its supply of air and gas from separate channels. These little craters are always filled with water, even in the driest seasons. The temperature of the water is not higher than that of the atmosphere.

These mud volcanoes originate with earthquakes, and their rise is accompanied with subterranean detonations and with jets of flame. Their diminished action supplies us with a specimen of the perpetual though subdued activity of the interior of the earth. The muddy water seems at the first ebullition to have been of a high temperature, but afterwards the temperature becomes lower. This fact implies that the vents, which at first communicated with deep-lying strata of great heat, have, by some means, become obstructed or choked up, and that the vents of the cooler water do not rise from any great depth below the surface.

These mud volcanoes are found in different parts of the globe. In the Caspian Sea, on the peninsula of Abscheron, is situated the mud volcano of Jokmali. It was formed November 27, 1827. At first flames sprang up from the soil, and

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Carew.

"Where our prevention ends, danger begins." "Which though it be a natural preventive to some evils, yet without either stop or moderation, must needs exhaust his spirits."-ReliqWottonianae.

"Physick is either curative or preventive; preventive we call that which preventeth sickness in the healthy."-Brown, "Vulgar Errors."

"Prevent us, O Lord, by thy grace," means "aid us forward." "Preventive of sickness," signifies that which causes sickness not to come. There is the contrariety. Now for the explanation. Prevent is made up of two Latin words,—namely, prae, before, and venio, I come or go. Now, you may go before a person for two opposite purposes. You may go before him in order to guide, aid, and conduct him onward; or you may go before him to bar up his way, to hold him back, to prevent his advance. And as either of these two purposes is prominent in the mind of the speaker, so the word is used by him to signify, to guide, or to hinder. The proper meaning, then, of prevent is, to come before: hence, 1, to guide, or, as a natural consequence, 2, to aid; or again, 1, to obstruct, and as a natural consequence, 2, to stop, &c. And how the moral and spiritual imports come out of the physical, is also seen in the diverse applications of the word; for, as we have just read of preventive medicine, so in divinity you may read of "prevenient grace."

These remarks, illustrations of which occur in what has just preceded, and will occur in what is about to follow, may serve to show you that language must be studied genealogically. Indeed every word has a history; and in the dictionaries, every account

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E, of Latin, or rather Greek origin, in the forms e, ef, ex, denotes out of, as in egress (e and gradior, Lat. I walk), a walking out; excess (ex and cedo, Lat. I go), a going beyond,—that is, too far; effect (ef and facio, Lat. I do), a thing made out, produced; a

result.

that a disease is in-born, native to the soil; epidemic that it is very prevalent. Epi is found in epigram (epi and grapho, Gr. I write), epilepsy (epi and Gr. lepsia, a taking), epiphany (epi and Gr. phaino, I appear), epistle, &c.

"He that would write an epitaph for thee,
And do it well, must first begin to be
Such as thou wert; for none can truly know

Thy worth, thy life, but he that hath liv'd so." Donne. Equi, of Latin origin (aequus, equal), denoting equality, forms part of several words; as, equipoise (equi and peser, Fr. to weigh; pendére, Lat. to hang), equity; equivocal (equi and vox, Lat. a voice).

"Faith-here's an equivocator that could swear in both the scales E. "All occasions must be taken of sending forth pious heavenly against either scale; who committed treason enough in God's sake, yet ejaculations to God."-Bishop Hall. could not equivocate to heaven; oh, come in equivocator."-Shaks

Ex, "The ecclesiastical courts possessed the power of pronounc-peare, “ Macbeth." ing excommunication; and that sentence, besides the spiritual conse

Es, of French origin (Lat. e, ex), is in English found in wordsquences supposed to follow from it, was attended with immediate effects of borrowed from the French, as in escalade (es and scala, Lat. a the most important nature. The person excommunicated was shunned ladder), a scaling (of a city), escape (Fr. eschapper, to get away), by every one as profane and impious; and his whole estate, during his escheat (Fr. escheoir, to fall due), a forfeit, eschew (Fr. eschever, lifetime, and all his moveables, forever were forfeited to the crown."- to shun), escutcheon (es and scutum, Lat. a shield). Hume, "History of England."

Ef."Two white sparry incrustations, with efflorescencies in form of shrubs, formed by the trickling of water."-Woodward," On Fossils." En is a prefix found in the English, the French, and the Greek languages. Into the English it appears to have come from the Latin, through the French. Many words of Latin origin have passed through the French into the English. En is the form in Greek. In Latin, en becomes in. In French both en and in are used. The same is the case with the English. Though en and in are the same particle, it may be advisable to handle them separately, in order that their respective usages may become apparent.

En is found in the forms en, em. The prefix signifies in or into. e. g.,

"He (Samson) rises and carries away the gates wherein they thought to have encaged him."-Bishop Hall.

So in encamp, encase, enchain, enchant, enclose (or inclose), endemic (en and demos, Gr. a people), peculiar to a district. En sometimes has an intensive or augmentive effect on the verb of which it forms a part; as in encourage, enfeeble, enkindle (candle), encrease (increase), encumber (incumber, from the French encombre, Lat, cumulus, a heap).

"Encumber'd soon with many a painful wound,
Tardy and stiff he treads the hostile round;
Gloomy and fierce his eyes the crowd survey,
Mark where to fix and single out the prey."

Rowe, "Pharsalia."

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There is a tendency to substitute i for e in many words. This tendency deserves encouragement, if only for the sake of uniformity. Enter, coming from the Latin (intra, within) through the French (entre, between, among), is found in enterprise (enter and Fr. prendre, Lat. prehendere, to take, to take hold of), an undertaking; also in enterment (in and terra, Lat. the earth), now more common as interment. It is found also in entertain (Fr. entretenir, Lat. inter and tenere, to hold).

"His office was to give entertainment

And lodging unto all that came and went,

Not unto such as could him feast againe,

And double quite for that he on them spent ;

But such as want of harbour did constraine,
Those, for God's sake, his dewty was to entertaine."
Spenser, "Faërie Queene."

Epi, a prefix of Greek origin, signifying upon, as epidemic, upon or ove: (widely spread over) a people. Endemic declares

Cawthorn.

"Hence without blushing (say whate'er we can) We more regard the escutcheon than the man; Yet, true to nature and her instincts, prize The hound or spaniel as his talent lies." Eu, of Greek origin, signifying well, occurs in euphony (eu and phoné, Gr. a sound), euthanasia (eu and thanatos, Gr. death), a happy death; the eu in eunuch is a part of the word; eunuch being from euné, in Greek, a bed; eunuchs were chamberlains. Men were made eunuchs by the jealousy of Eastern despots. They were also made so, in order to give them a contro-alto voice. The latter fact is well alluded to in this quotation :

"Our present writers, for the most part, seem to lay the whole stress in their endeavours upon the harmony of words; but then, like eunuchs, they sacrifice their manhood for a voice, and reduce our poetry to be like echo, nothing but a sound."—Lansdown, "Peleus and Thetis."

Ever, of Saxon origin, signifying always, is seen in everlasting, evermore; evermore appears in the older writers as evermo. "I shall readily grant that the words for ever and ever-lasting do not always, in Scripture, signify an endless duration.”—Barrow," Sermons." Extra, of Latin origin, with the meaning out of, appears in extraneous, out of (not belonging to) the subject; extraordinary extra and ordo, Lat. order), out of the usual order.

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Some lands, either because they were in the hands of irreligious and careless owners, or were situate in forest and desert places, or for other now unsearchable reasons, were never united to any parish, and, therefore, continue to this day extra-parochial."-Blackstone, "Commen taries."

For, of Saxon origin, whose original is probably found in the German ver, which denies and reverses the action expressed in the verb, occurs in forbid (not to bid, that is to bid not). "Rather how hast thou yielded to transgress The strict forbiddance, how to violate

The sacred fruit forbidd'n." Milton, "Paradise Lost." For is found also in forbear, not to bear or take; to abstain. "Phidias, when he had made the statue of Minerva, could not forbear to engrave his own name, as author of the piece."-Dryden.

Fore, a different word from the preceding, of Saxon origin (vor, Germ. in advance; vorwarts, Germ. forwards), appears in foretell, forecast, forefathers, forehead.

"The foreknower is not the cause of all that are foreknown."-Hammond.

In forgive (Germ. vergeben), the idea seems to be that of giving away, giving without a return, giving freely, and hence to pardon (Fr. pardonner; in low Lat. perdonare).

Cowper.

"Not soon provoked, however stung and teased, And if perhaps made angry, socn appeased; She rather waves, than will dispute her right, And injured makes forgiveness her delight." Hept, of Greek origin (hepta, seven), forms the first syllable of heptagon (Gr. gonia, an angle), that which has seven angles, and consequently seven sides; and heptarchy, a seven-fold govern

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Seeds naked, never more than four. The common bugle is so hardy a plant that its blue blossoms will sometimes venture to unfold themselves amidst the dreariness of January, though not with the vigour of a more genial season: In May it may readily be found in woods and moist pastures, and varies with a pale lilac or even white blossom. The stem is erect, but the creeping shoots issuing from it distinguish the species, Among the old names of this plant is that of the sicklewort, or carpenter's herb; it being supposed that when the labourer or the workman was cut by a sickle or any other sharp instrument, the plant would tend to heal the wound. In France they associated with it another plant as similarly efficacious: "He needs neither physician nor surgeon who hath bugle and sanicle." But the proverb of our continental neighbours is wrong, as the latter flower is absolutely injurious. There are three other species of the bugle: the pyramidal bugle, growing in dry heathy pastures in the high. lands of Scotland, and flowering in June; the Alpine bugle, growing on mountains in Carnarvonshire, Derbyshire, and Durham, and flowering in July; and the yellow bugle, which flowers in April and May, and grows in sandy fields in England. The latter is often called the ground pine, and is not uncommon in Kent and Surrey.

The stem of the wood germander is about a foot and a half high, the leaves are wrinkled, and the corolla of a pale yellow. The plant grows in woods, and also in the clefts of rocks and among rubbish, and flowers in July. So bitter is the whole plant, that it is said it might be used instead of hops, in making beer. Very bitter also is the water germander, with its branched stems, its hoary leaves, and its pale-purple coroila. It grows in wet meadows, and flowers in July and August. Nor less bitter is the wall germander. Its stems are nearly erect, about a foot high, with rounded corners, leaves fringed, and crimson flowers. This plant grows on old buildings, and flowers in July.

In July and August the flowers of the common cat-mint may be observed in hedges and waste places growing in spikes. They are white, and have the lower lip dotted with crimson. The leaves are stalked, and heart-shaped; the stems are two or three feet high; and the whole plant is soft and downy. Of its smell cats are extravagantly fond.

Of mint, a different plant, there are not fewer than ten kinds. Horse-mint grows in moist, waste ground, and has pale purple flowers in August and September. The spear-mint is so called on account of its leaf being narrower, and more like a spear or spike than the other varieties. It grows in watery places. Its stems are two or three feet high; its whorls of pale purple flowers appear in August. Peppermint is said by the French botanists to have been found only in this country. It has a smooth purple stalk, and purple flowers which appear in August and September. This plant cannot be mistaken, from its penetrating smell, and more pungent glowing taste, sinking, as it were, on the tongue, which is followed by a very agreeable sensation of coldness. The distilled water and essential oil of peppermint are used in a variety of cordial and medicinal preparations. Pennyroyal was likewise considered very effective. Gerard says, "If this herb be dried and taken to sea it will purify corrupt water without hurting those who drink it." It has been regarded as very useful when water is not good, on land. The old herbalist describes it also as a valuable medicine. This plant grows in moist heaths and pastures in England, and the south of Ireland; has a light purple corolla, externally hairy, and flowers in September.

One plant has been thus poetically and graphically described:
"And there upon the sod below,
Ground-ivy's purple blossoms show
Like helmet of Crusader knight

Its anther's cross-like form of white." Ground-ivy grows by old walls, hedges, and road-sides, and flowers in April and May, but frequently before these months, the leaves may be found clustering, though the aromatic odour which

they emit when spring comes, is scarcely sensible. The ground-ivy may be easily recognised by one peculiarity: its flowers grow in threes between the stalk and the leaf. Few animals, except impelled by hunger, will touch this plant, and to horses it is said to be injurious. The white dead-nettle, or white archangel, stands about a foot high, its stems being covered with short deflected hairs; the leaves are veiny and hairy, and the flowers, which appear in May and June, large, white, and hairy; but individual flowers may be procured at all seasons. The plant grows among rubbish, and by hedges, walls, and road-sides. It is something like the true nettle, but its rings of white flowers at once distinguish it, as the blossoms of the true nettles are all green. It has a very disagreeable odour ; There is a variety with purple flowers and spotted leaves, called but it is said to be used as a table-vegetable in Sweden. the spotted dead-nettle; and besides this, there is the red, the cutleaved, and the hen-bit dead-nettle.

nettle has a stem about a foot high, with opposite branches; its roseOf the hemp-nettle there are several kinds. The red hempcoloured flowers, spotted with crimson and white, and growing in dense whorls, and appearing in August and September. The plant flowers, with a large, cleft, upper-lip, or the downy-hemp nettle, grows in gravelly fields, and among rubbish. The pale yellow are found in sandy corn-fields in July and August. The common hemp-nettle, growing in cultivated grounds, hedges, and waste places, has flowers in June and July, with a purple upper-lip, and a nearly equal three-lobed lower one, variegated with white and purple; while in the latter month, the large-flowered hempnettle, with its yellow corolla, grows among corn.

Whorls of six dull-red flowers, appearing in July and August, adorn the hedge woundwort, which grows among rubbish and by hedge-walls, and sometimes rises to the height of three feet, with leaves veined and hairy. The hair or down of this and other plants serves to protect them from heat and cold, and is also of use state that one species of wild bee knew what materials would slowly to some insects. Kirby and Spence, the eminent entomologists, conduct heat long before the celebrated experiments made as to them by Count Rumford. It goes to the species called the downy woundwort, and to plants of similar structure, scraping off the wool, rolling it into a ball, and then sticking it to the plaster that covers its cells. This plant grows in hedges and by roadsides; its stems are two feet high, and its corolla of a light purple. We have altogether six native species of woundwort: the name applied to them being descriptive of the healing power which they were supposed to have. Gerard mentions applying the marsh woundwort in more than one instance with good effect.

ORDER II. ANGIOSPERMIA. Seeds in a capsule.

There are no fewer than seven species of broom-rape. The greater broom-rape grows on gravelly soil, on the roots of broom and furze. Its stem, about a foot high, is erect, dusky, fleshy, covered with short glandular, hairs, and scattered lance-shaped erect scales. It has a spike of about twenty flowers, with a purplish-brown corolla, which appears in June and July. The broomrape looks at a glance like a withered plant.

One of the most elegant and showy of our native plants is the foxglove. Its numerous large, pendulous, crimson flowers, or elegantly-mottled bells, and hairy within, appear in dry hilly pastures, on the steep banks of rivers, and in rocky and other places, in June and July. The leaves, when carefully dried and powdered, or made into an infusion or a tincture, is used in medicine. dangerous when used ignorantly, but in small and repeated doses it is very useful, lowering the pulse in an extraordinary manner. Many an artist has selected this showy plant as a special ornament to his picture.

It is

The toad-flax, like many other plants, partakes of great variety. Six kinds of it are well known to botanists. The flowers of the ivy-leaved toad-flax, of a pale purple with a small portion of yellow, appear from May to November, growing on old walls. The stems of the plant are round, smooth, and leafy; the leaves alternate, stalked, and shining. It is often hung up in a flowerpot from the ceiling of a cottage, while the long stems hang down ali around it. In hedges and on the borders of cornfields, a stem may be frequently observed in August and September, with large sulphur-coloured blossoms; it is the yellow toad-flax. Its be leads country people to call it "butter and eggs:" while the foliage of the plant has on it that seagreen bloom which is known as the glaucous tint.

BIOGRAPHY.-No. VI.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: THE PRINTER, EDITOR,

PHILOSOPHER, AND STATESMAN.

sure to find him apparelled in an excellent suit of clothes, with a good silver watch, and about five pounds sterling in his pockets. His father was not a little surprised on being informed of the object of his visit, and even more astonished at the contents of governor Keith's epistle. After long deliberation, he came to the resolution of refusing his assistance to the scheme, judging his son as at present too young for the management of such a business; adding, moreover, that he thought the governor had evinced anything but discretion in proposing it. Franklin therefore returned back to Philadelphia, and on waiting on the governor to communicate the result of his journey, Sir William observed that his father was too prudent;" and added, "since he will not do it, I will do it myself." It was then ultimately arranged that Franklin should proceed personally to London to purchase everything necessary for the proposed establishment, the governor undertaking to provide him with a letter of credit to the amount of £100, for the expenses, and to furnish him with recommendations to "various people of

HAVING passed his first night in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin,
on the following morning, waited on Mr. Bradford, the printer to
whom he had been directed, who having no work for him, sent him
to a brother in trade called Keimer. This printer, also, having no
work to give him, set him to put an old press in order; and being
satisfied with his work, a few days afterwards gave him regular
employment. Franklin now established himself in respectable
lodgings, in the house of Mr. Read, on whose doorsteps he had
noticed the interesting young woman on the day when he entered
Philadelphia. Here he had the happiness, as the saying is, to fall
in love, the damsel proving amiable, and not disinclined to wed.
It were interesting to know how a man so wonderfully prudent
demeaned himself under the influence of this passion. But as we
have no means of knowing this, our curiosity must remain un-influence."
satisfied. If a love-letter written by Franklin were discovered it
would certainly be a most extraordinary rarity.

He

Franklin was to go to England in the ordinary packet-ship; and as the time of sailing drew near, he naturally became importunate When Franklin had been at Philadelphia for several months, he re- for the governor's letters of credit and recommendation. His exceived a letter from a brother-in-law, who was the captain or master cellency, however, always put him off under some plausible preof a vessel, pressing him urgently to return home again to his family. tence. At last, when the vessel was on the point of starting, he Franklin declined to comply with the request, it being, as he said, was sent on board, with the assurance that Colonel French would his particular desire at the time to forget Boston as much as possible. bring the letters to him immediately. That gentleman, subsequently The letter containing this reply, happened to reach his brother-in-came on board with a packet of despatches, which were put into the law when in company with Sir William Keith, governor of the captain's bag, Franklin being informed that those intended for himprovince. Its composition and penmanship appearing to his self were tied up with the rest, and would be delivered to him before relative much superior to those of the ordinary style of letter- landing in England. The voyage was successfully performed, and on writing, he showed it to his "excellency." The governor ex- arriving in the Thames, Franklin was allowed to search the bag for pressed himself extremely pleased with it, and manifested a good his expected letters, but could find none either directed to himself, deal of surprise on being told the age and circumstances of the or in any shape addressed as being intrusted to his care. writer. He also condescendingly observed, that the young man however selected six or seven, which, from the addresses, he conwas evidently a person of very promising talents, and added: ceived must have been intended for his service. One of these was "If he is disposed to set up in business on his own account, at to the king's printer; Franklin accordingly waited upon that gentlePhiladelphia, I will undertake to procure him the printing of all the man to present it, hoping that something useful might turn up; public papers, and do him every other service in my power." but no sooner had the latter opened it than he exclaimed, "Oh, Franklin received no immediate information of this gentleman's this is from Riddlesden!--(the said Riddlesden being a rascally praiseworthy intentions, his brother-in-law having, for reasons of attorney at Philadelphia); I have lately discovered him to be an his own, neglected to communicate with him on the subject. One arrant knave, and wish to have nothing more to do with him, or day, however, while he and his master were at work in the printing- with his letters." So saying, he turned upon his heel, and resumed office, they observed through the window, two smartly attired gen- his occupation. In short, it turned out that none of the letters tlemen, one of whom was recognised to be governor Keith, and were from the governor; so that Franklin found himself in a most the other (as it afterwards appeared) was Colonel French, of New- awkward situation. This he took occasion to explain to a gentlecastle, in the province of Delaware. They were crossing the street man named Denham, who had been a fellow-passenger in the packet, in the direction of the office, and presently knocked, with dignity and he was then informed that the governor was a complete cheat, and official consequence, at the door. Keimer ran down in high deceiving people, from vanity and a love of self-importance, with expectation of some government patronage; but his excellency in- promises which he neither intended nor was able to fulfil. So far quired for Mr. Benjamin Franklin, entered, went up stairs, and, from being competent to give a letter of credit for a hundred as Franklin says, "with a politeness to which I had never been ac- pounds, it seems the man had not a sixpence worth of credit for customed, paid me many compliments, desired to be acquainted himself. with me, obligingly reproached me for not having made myself known to him on my arrival in the town, and wished me to accompany him to a tavern, where he and Colonel French were going to taste some excellent Madeira wine!" Franklin was very much surprised, and Keimer was positively thunderstruck. He went, however, with the governor and the colonel to a tavern; for the first time in his life, tasted of Madeira, and while engaged in drinking it, was favoured by proposals from Sir William for the establishment of a printing-house. The probabilities of success were flatteringly represented; and when Franklin expressed a doubt whether his father would assist him, the governor volunteered to write a letter, exhibiting the advantages of the scheme in such a light as would undoubtedly persuade the old gentleman to concur in the speculation. It was accordingly concluded that Franklin should return to Boston by the first vessel sailing thither, carrying with him the governor's letter of recommendation to his father. His excellency several times subsequently invited him to dinner, an honour which Franklin esteemed very highly, the more especially as the governor always conversed with him in a most affable, friendly, and familiar manner.

In pursuance of the above arrangement, Franklin returned home at the close of April, 1724. He had been seven months absent, and during the whole time, had never heard from, or communicated with, his parents. He was not the less heartily welcomed back, all his family, with the exception of his brother James, being greatly delighted on seeing him again. It was an additional plea

Franklin was therefore once more a citizen of the world, with the capital city of "foggy Babylon" to roam about in, seeking provender. Luckily for him, daily bread was more readily obtainable in his days than it is now. He was not long ere he got employment in the office of the "celebrated Mr. Palmer." Here, as usual, he distinguished himself by his diligence and ability. Among the books which he was set to work upon, was an edition of Wollaston's "Religion of Nature;" some of the positions assumed in which appearing to him feeble and erroneous, he prepared and published a small metaphysical treatise designed as a refutation. This pamphlet acquired him credit with his employer, as a man of talent, though that gentleman strongly reprobated the doctrines which it maintained. It inculcated the customary material notions which distinguished the fashionable "freethinking" gentry of the eighteenth century, and was therefore in nowise profitable for doctrine, and was utterly adverse to sound philosophy. We are informed that the publication "procured him the countenance of various eminent individuals." In this circumstance, however, we perceive nothing remarkable, there being scarcely any philosophical absurdity or gay frivolity proposed by man which "various eminent individuals" have not been found to countenance at some period or other. Franklin's transactions with Sir Hans Sloane seem, more worthy of our passing notice: it appears that he sold Sir Hans some "American curiosities ;" and amongst others an asbestos purse, for a high price in hard money.

From Mr. Palmer's office he subsequently removed to that of

Mr. Watt, his consideration being higher wages. Here the work-lin, whose situation in consequence was extremely onerous. He men were each accustomed to spend five or six shillings a week in beer, which was brought into the office to them during the day; and as Franklin was a water-drinker, he received the ridiculous soubriquet of the American Aquatic; by which, however, he was nowise shaken in his ordinary habits of temperance and frugality. On the contrary, as force and consistency of character invariably carry weight with them, he says he ultimately prevailed with several of his companions to adopt his own practices, to renounce their “abominable breakfast of bread and cheese and beer," and to procure instead of it a "basin of good gruel," with toasted bread and a slice of butter in it, and flavoured pleasantly with nut-universally accommodating habits, were in this way of great service meg; which, moreover, cost no more than the pint of beer alone, and had the excellent advantage of always preserving the head clear. Franklin's remarkable quickness as a compositor, and his assiduous application, recommended him highly to his employer, and insured him all the most urgent and best-paid work; so that, with his frugal and inexpensive mode of living, his spare cash rapidly accumulated.

had to turn his hand to all sorts of work; he made the ink, engraved ornaments, gave an eye to the shop, and was, as he observes, in all respects the indispensable factotum. "Our press," says he, "was frequently in want of the necessary quantity of letter, and there was no such trade as that of letter-founder in America. I had seen the practice of this art in London, but had at the time paid very little attention to it. I contrived, however, to fabricate a mould; made use of such letters as we had for punches, founded new letters of lead in matrices of clay; and thus supplied, in a tolerable manner, the wants that were most pressing." His inventive mind, and to his master. Nevertheless, as soon as Keimer perceived that his apprentices were so far initiated in their art as to be sufficiently serviceable to him without the superintendence of their instructor, he took the earliest opportunity to quarrel with him, and thus to effect a separation. As soon as this occurred, a young man named Meredith, one of Keimer's apprentices who had recently served his term, proposed to Franklin that they should enter into partnership and start a new concern. Meredith's friends undertook to furnish the required capital, and Franklin was to furnish his judgment and ingenuity to make the enterprise successful. Types, press, and all the requisite apparatus were forthwith purchased by commission, and were speedily on their way from London. Meanwhile, Franklin was induced to return for a time to Keimer, who urgently solicited him to engage for a season, being desirous to secure his skill in the printing of some paper money, which the state of New Jersey wanted for immediate circulation. Stipulating, doubtless, for a suitable consideration, Franklin straightway constructed a copperplate printing-press, the first that was ever seen or used in the the country; engraved various ornaments and vignettes for the bills; and repaired with Keimer to Burlington to execute the transaction, which appears to have given universal satisfaction, and to have been highly profitable to the master printer; while Franklin, on his part, "formed an acquaintance with all the principal personages of the province," who were attracted by his superior intelligence and Among the accidents and circumstances which had transpired in abilities. Isaac Decon, the inspector-general,-"a shrewd and his absence, was the marriage of the lady with whom he had ex-subtle old man," who had risen from the humble condition of a changed pledges of affection before setting out for England. This brickmaker's labourer, to a competent fortune and high consideraevent does not appear to have occasioned the lover any especial tion in the province,-intimated his opinion that Franklin would pains or uneasiness of mind. Indeed, one can scarcely regard him soon supplant Keimer, and "get a fortune in the business at otherwise than a rather shabby suitor; for though, on parting, he Philadelphia." had sworn an everlasting fidelity to Miss Read, he never troubled himself to write to her, save once, during the whole time he was away. So remiss a correspondent could not be a very ardent lover. Any lady of sensibility, ay, or gentleman, too, would declare that the damsel" served him right." She appears, at any rate, to have been convinced that Benjamin, like a shifty broker, designed to shirk the contract. Wherefore, like "Mariana in the South,""She breathed in sleep a lower moan,

After having been about eighteen months in London, much to his advantage in all respects, he agreed to accompany an intelligent fellow-workman on a tour throughout Europe; the two designing to maintain themselves by exercising their calling at intervals amid their wanderings. It happened, however, that Franklin at this time accidentally fell in with Mr. Denham, the gentleman before mentioned as having been his fellow-passenger to England. He was just on the eve of returning to Philadelphia, to open a merchant's store, for the proper management of which he required an intelligent and conscientious clerk; and he offered the situation to Franklin, with a salary of £50 a year. This sum was less than he was earning as a compositor; but an anxious desire to return to his native country induced him to accept it. On the 11th of October, 1726, Franklin was again in Philadelphia. He was now but little more than twenty years of age; but he had already acquired more experience of the world than the generality of people are possessed of at fifty.

And murmuring, as at night and morn,
She thought, My spirit is here alone,
Walks forgotten, and is forlorn."

Returning from Burlington, he had not to wait long for the arrival of the types and printing-press from London. He and Meredith accordingly took a house, and at once commenced business. The necessary purchases had swallowed all their cash, so that on starting they were considerably "hard up." As they were opening the packages, a countryman came in to have a job done; and, considering their appalling emptiness of pocket, Franklin afterwards declared that this countryman's five shillings, being their first fruits, and coming to speedily, gave him more pleasure than any crown he ever earned. Very shortly, one of their friends procured for them the printing of "forty sheets of a history of the Quakers," then preparing for publication at the expense of that body. "Upon these," says Franklin, "we worked exceedingly tutionally frugal in most matters of payment, though scrupulously liberal in their charities. After this, Franklin's unwearied industry and ability soon became known, acquired him great reputation and credit among his townsmen, and, as a consequence, rapidly increased his business.

And so, when another, and apparently warmer, admirer came forward with proposals, she accepted him without compunction, and merged her lonely existence in the blissful state of wedlock. Un-hard, for the price was very low." The "Friends" are constihappily, in the end it proved anything but blissful. Her husband turned out to be a rogue of the first magnitude, shamefully deserted her, and, as was afterwards, ascertained, had a former wife still living. Such are the sad chances to which confiding, simplehearted maidens are sometimes subjected in this world of mortal error and vicissitude. Let them take warning ere it be too late. Another piece of news which Franklin learned on his return, was, that his old acquaintance the governor had been supplanted in his office, and was then held in very general contempt. Franklin came several times in contact with him; but, like a discreet and considerate man, never once alluded to the disgraceful imposition which his quondam excellency had practised on him.

The partners were shortly in a position to establish a newspaper, a project which had all along been a favourite one with Franklin. Their intention having come to the ears of Keimer before the paper was commenced that personage, out of jealousy, immediately took steps to anticipate them, and issued a prospectus of a paper of his own. Franklin had to exercise his ingenuity in order that this treachery might be properly defeated. Accordingly, as there His new employer, Mr. Denham, had only been in business a few was already another journal established in the place, he took upon months, when both he and Franklin were seized at the same time himself to support this, by contributing to it "a series of amuswith a violent disorder, which carried off the master in a few days, ing articles," which the publisher gladly enough inserted, and and left the clerk in a very debilitated condition. On his recovery, thereby secured the public attention to his own paper, and its prehe was of course without employment, but finding his old master, sent neglect of Master Keimer's new proposals. These, moreover, Keimer, in want of an assistant, he immediately engaged himself to were burlesqued and ridiculed, to the grievous detriment of their work for him Keimer was utterly ignorant of his business; and success. Keimer's paper was nevertheless started, and sustained a accordingly the whole charge of the office, together with the duty of trembling existence for the space of nine months. As, however, it instructing four or five blundering apprentices, devolved on Frank-never obtained more than ninety subscribers, the projector very

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