Potomac was held at Albany in June, 1754. One of the leading objects proposed was to conciliate the Iroquois, who had been invited to the council. Many of their chiefs appeared, including the great Mohawk, Hendrick. While they accepted the proffered pledge of peace, the Iroquois braves warned the English of impending dangers, and complained of their tardiness in erecting fortifications. The delegates promised more vigorous action, and the Indians departed, apparently satisfied, but really discouraged by the want of energy and promptness displayed by their allies. The council now had leisure to discuss the proposed union. A plan brought forward by Benjamin Franklin was after some debate adopted. By its provisions, a congress was to assemble annually at Philadelphia, composed of from two to seven delegates from each colony, according to its size. This congress was to originate all laws and appoint civil officers, to issue money, deal with the Indians, regulate trade, govern new settlements, raise soldiers, and levy taxes,-all its acts being subject to the veto of a governor-general appointed by the crown. Each colony was to have its own legislature, and to be independent in its internal affairs. Such was the plan of union to be laid before the individual colonies for their adoption. +236. As the author of this important measure comes prominently before us, it will be well to glance at his previous history. Benjamin Franklin was born at Boston, January 17th, 1706. His father, a manufacturer of soap and candles, wished to give the young Benjamin a liberal education with the view of preparing him for the ministry; but his means failed, and he took his son, at the age of ten, into his own establishment, where he employed him in cutting wicks and filling candle-moulds. An ardent thirst for knowledge led our hero to spend every leisure moment in reading, and even to rob himself of sleep that he might con such volumes of trav June, 1754? What was one of its leading objects? Who made their appearance at the council? Of what did the Iroquois chiefs complain? How were they partially appeased? What next engaged the attention of the council? Who proposed a plan of union? What action was taken on it? Mention its chief provisions. 236. When and 1718] EARLY LIFE OF FRANKLIN. 163 els and history as fell in his way. At twelve, he was apprenticed to an elder brother, to learn the art of printing; but, aggrieved by the harsh treatment of the latter, he resolved to leave his native city without the knowledge of his friends, and try his fortune among strangers. The sale of his little stock of books furnished him with the means of travelling. His first stopping-place was New York. Here there was no encouragement to remain, and he continued his journey to Philadelphia, which he reached with a single dollar in his pocket. Refreshing himself with a penny roll and a draught of water from the Delaware, his first care was to seek employment. Our young adventurer, now seventeen, succeeded in getting a situation in one of the two printing-offices in Philadelphia, and from this time steadily and rapidly advanced. He perfected his knowledge of printing, and learned much of the world, by a residence of eighteen months in London; after which he returned to Philadelphia, gained many new friends, and set up a printing-office of his own. We find him every succeeding year extending his influence and trying to disseminate information among the people. He founded the first circulating library in America, about 1730. In 1732, he commenced his celebrated "Poor Richard's Almanac", which he continued for twenty-five years. In 1736, he originated the American Philosophical Society, and became clerk of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. The fame of Franklin was not confined to America. His discoveries in electricity gained him the highest respect among the scientific men of Europe. He introduced various improvements in the Leyden jar, and was the first to magnetize steel needles and fire gunpowder by electricity. A series of observations led him to believe that thunder and -where was Franklin born? Give an account of his youth. At twelve, to whom was he apprenticed? How was he treated? What did he conclude to do? How did he get the means of travelling? Where did he go? What did he do, on arriving at Philadelphia? How old was he? What employment did he find? Where did he afterwards go? On his return to Philadelphia, what did he do? In 1730 and 1732 what enterprises did he embark in? What did he do in 1736? In what branch of natural science was Franklin distinguished? Enumerate some of his discoveries. What opinion did he hold with respect to thunder and lightning? Give an account of the exper lightning were nothing more than the report and spark of a grand electric discharge from cloud to cloud. Experiment only could determine whether he was right. He had often amused himself in childhood with paper kites; he now made one of silk and resolved to raise it to the clouds. If the fluid passed down the string to his fingers, his theory would be correct; if not, the speculations of years were groundless. With his son, to whom alone he intrusted his secret, he went out into the fields, in June, 1752, to try the experiment. The kite was raised, and as it reached a threatening cloud the philosopher with anxiety awaited the result. There was no sensation. Another cloud came. Franklin presented his knuckle, and to his unspeakable joy received a spark. When the string was wet, the electric fluid gathered in abundance. His theory was thus established beyond doubt or cavil. The news created a great sensation throughout Europe, and the name of Franklin was everywhere spoken with admiration. The lightning-rod was the immediate result of this discovery; and who can calculate the disasters this simple instrument has averted? The poet Barlow did not exaggerate the achievements of Franklin, when he said, "See the descending streams around him burn, Curbs the fierce blaze, and holds the imprisoned fire." + CHAPTER XXXI. BRADDOCK'S CAMPAIGN. 237. THOUGH France and England were nominally at peace, war continued to desolate the disputed frontier in America. The British ministry at last concluded to aid the iment by which he tested his theory. How was the news received in Europe? What was the iinmediate result of this discovery? What does the poet Barlow say of Franklin? 237. Despite the nominal peace that prevailed between France and England, where did war continue to rage? Whom did the British ministry send to the aid of the 1755] THE MARCH TO FORT DU QUESNE. 165 colonies, and early in 1755 sent over General Brad'-dock and a detachment from the army in Ireland, for that purpose. Four expeditions were planned; the most important of which, that against the French in the Ohio valley, the commander-in-chief undertook in person. Fort Du Quesne was the first post to be reduced; thence he would direct his victorious arms against Niagara and Frontenac. Conceited and obstinate as he was brave, Braddock would listen to no warnings of danger from Indian ambuscades. The savages might be formidable, he said, to raw American militia, but could make no impression on the king's regulars. Fort Cumberland, at Will's Creek [see Map, p. 158], was soon reached; and here Washington joined the army as aid-decamp [aid' e kawng] to the general. Horatio Gates also arrived with two companies from New York. The whole force now amounted to over 2,000 men. A detachment was sent forward to open the roads, and early in June, 1755, the commander-in-chief started with the main body. A march of 130 miles was before them, and they advanced but slowly, levelling the hills and bridging the streams that lay in their path. The French commandant at the fort received tidings of Braddock's advance, and would have retreated had it not been for the urgent advice of a single officer. 238. On the 9th of July, the English army was within seven miles of Fort Du Quesne, moving in perfect military order along the bank of the Mo-non-ga-he'-la. Washington declares that he never saw any thing more imposing than the march of the army on that bright summer morning. All were dressed in full uniform; their polished arms glanced in the sun-light; every movement was made with perfect precision; and the full strains of martial music, startling the wild deer from his lair, broke with strange but striking effect colonists? How many expeditions were planned? Which did Braddock himself undertake? What posts did he propose successively reducing? How did he treat the warnings of the Americans? To what frontier post did he advance? [See Map, p. 158. Where is Will's Creek?] Who joined Braddock at this place? How large was his force? When did they start? How did they march? What is said of the French commandant? 238. What progress had the English army made by July 9th! What kind of an appearance did they present on the bank of the Monongahela? De on the solitude of the forest. The road led up a gradual ascent; and near it, on each side, was a ravine ten feet deep, concealed by thick woods and underbrush. The army moved slowly forward through a path about twelve feet wide. In front was a detachment of 350 men under Lieutenant-colonel Gage (afterwards General), and a working body 250 strong, Braddock was behind with the main body. Twice had the French proposed to the Indians to attack the invading army on its march, and twice had they refused. The commandant was in despair, but one of his officers made a final effort. "I shall go," said he to the chiefs, "and will you suffer your father to go alone?" The Red Men were at last persuaded, and early that same morning on which their enemies were deploying in military splendor on the bank of the Monongahela, a body of 230 Frenchmen and 637 Indians. started from the fort, both full of confidence, and the latter declaring that they would shoot down all the English like a single pigeon. 239. The two ravines described above, after running parallel with the road for some distance, converged till they met, and at this point the French encountered the advanced guard of the English. Commencing the attack without delay, they extended their lines down the ravines, and thus commanded both flanks of the enemy. Had Colonel Gage promptly sent aid to the division first attacked, and repelled the foe in front, the issue of the battle might have been different; but, while he hesitated, the critical moment passed. The advanced body and flank guards were simultaneously driven back, and fell in confusion on a regiment that had just come up and was endeavoring to form. The appalling warwhoop was heard on right and left; and the well trained troops of Britain, who had seen much service elsewhere but none like this, beheld with consternation their brave men fall thick and fast by shots from an invisible foe. In vain scribe the road on which they were marching. Who were in front? Where was Braddock? What was taking place all this time at Fort Du Quesne? What did the Indians declare? 239. At what point did the French and English meet? What was immediately done by the French? What fatal error was made by Colonel Gage? What fol |