EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
769
prerented an introduction to sir Isaac Newton. Of his orif^n he made no secret. In a conreisa- tion at Piiris, in company with the compte D'Aranda, and the duke de laRochefoocault, be replied to an Irish gentleman, who bad asked some questions about America, and particularly about the state of the paper manufacture there, "few men can give yon more information on that subject tlian myself, for I was originally in the printing trade."* The principles and qualities of electricity were scarcely known in the last age; the electric fluid was barely mentioned at the end of Newton's optics; it was reserved for Franklin to investigate its properties; and of that branch of science be may be considered as the father. Theory was advanced to practice and utility, by the invention of the conductor. Nor were his observations confined to this science; there were few subjects of common utiliW, upon which he did not comment; none w^icn he did not improve and illustrate; of which, his Advice to Senantt; to Tradetmen; to Settlers in America; on the cure of Smoky (^imnet/s; Ruleifor Clubi and for conversation; Maxim* to convert a Great into a Small Empire, written with the caustic spirit of Swift, abun- dantly prove. To be generally useful, that he might be universally celebrated, seemed to be his ruling principle. The memories of the aged are not supposed to be retentive; the truth, however, seems to be, that the tablet of the memory becomes callous at a certain period; nor is it susceptible of new impressions, and par> ticularly of verbal knowledge; Franklin was an exception to this rule; he acquired French after .seventy; he spoke fluently, and even scientifi- cally in that language. Science is seldom noticed by the votaries of fashion; but Dr. Franklin, in his French embassy, became the ton, the fashionable topic of modish conversation; the ladies wore hats a-la-Franklin,and g^eat crowds of belles and beaux fluttered after him in the garden of the Tuilleries.-t- In society he was sententious, but not fluent, a listener rather than a talker; an informing, rather than a pleasing companion; impatient of interruption, ne often mentioned the custom of the Indians, who always remain some time silent before they give an answer. The testimonies of Franklin's merit were con- ceived in the highest strain of panegyric. In the
- Thomas Bndford, who succeeded to the printtng bn-
tiness of FtanUin, at Philadelphia, lived to the very ad- vanced age. of ninetr-flve years, and died in that city, May 7, 1838, being the oldest master printer in America.
t When the news of the death of Dr. Flranklin urived in Paris, a society of printers met in an apartment of the Cordelia's convent, to celebrate a fhneral festival in honoor of the American philosopher. His bast was elevated npon a cdnmn in the middle of the room. Upon the head was placed a dvlc crown. Below the bust were compositors' cases, a press, and other emblems of the art, which the sage had cnltivated. While one printer was prononncing an etdogiom npon PrankUn, workmen were printing iC and the speech composed and pidled oflT as fast as nttered, was ooploosly distribnted among the spectators brought toeeOier by this entertainment. — Jfodome Campan.
see Life of Framklin, nont't zniTiON, published by William and Robert Chambers, Edlnbnrgh, 8vo. 1838, which contains avery copions life, &c. of this great states- nan and philosopher.
year 1777, lord Chatham adverted, in a remark- able speech, to his dissuasive arguments against the war, and to the sagacious advice of the American Newton. Upon his reception in the French academy, D'Aiembert, the friend and correspondent of Frederick the Great, welcomed him with that well known line which revived the boldness and the sublimity of Lucan :
Eiipoit coslo folmen, aeeptnimqae tynonis.
The congress of America enjoined a general mourning, and public gratitude has celebrated his obsequies; science shall hereafter record the name of Franklin in the truest registers of Fame; that fame, which is ever just to the dead; how- ever uniust it may be to Uie living, from caprice, from the malevolence of party, or from Uie fulsome adulations of baseness and of servility.
1790,.4or«/18. Died, Rene La Butte, who for more than forty years was a teacher of the French language, in the university of Cam- bridge, where he was introduced by Dr. Conyers Middleton; he was a native of Angers, in Anjoa, in France, and was bred a printer, in which he excelled. On leaving France he came to Eng- land, and worked in several respectable printing offices in London, particulariv with Mr. Bowyer, and solely composed that valuable work Gardi- ner's Tables of Logarithms. In 1760 he went to Cambridge with Robert Walker and Thomas James to establish a newspaper, see page 679, ante. In 1746 he published a French Grammar, to which he prefixed an analysis relative to that subject, which is a work of considerable merit. Mons. La Butte married Miss Mary Groves, of Cambridge; and was possessed of a considerable estate near Ely, and of money in the funds, all obtained by his great care and industry. He died at his house, in All Saints' church-yard, at the age of seventy-eight years. He left the greater part of his fortune to his wife; and at the time of his death he had a nephew and niece residing in France.
1790, May 21. IHed, Thomas Wabton, author of the History of English Poetry,* three volumes 4to. and Camden's professor of modern histo^, in the university of Oxford; he was bom in 1728, and was the younger brother of the celebrated Joseph Warton,f author of an ingenious Essay on the Genius and Writings of Pope. In 1785, on the death of Whiteheadf, Thomas Warton was appointed laureat His odes, however, were found in no respect superior to those of at least his immediate predecessor, and an attempt seems to have been made in his
- The nomber printed was 1500, of which 1300 were sold
almost as soon as pablished.
t Joseph Walton was the eldest son of the rev. Thomas Warton, D. D. and vicar of Basingstolte, where he died in 1746 : born at Dunsford, in Sorry, in 1733, and educated at Winchester and Oxford. In 1766, he was appointed head master of Winchester school; and proceed»i to the degree of B. and D. D. In 178S, he obtained a prebend at Winchester; and the rectory of Easton, which in the same year he was permitted to exchange for that of Upliam. He resigned the mastership of Winchester school in July, 1799, and retired to his rectory at Wickbam, where he ter- minated Us usefU and honoarablelife, Feb. », IBOO.
5 D
VjOOQ IC
