by express stipulations in their treaties with each other; and, as a further extension of the same humane policy, demanded by the whole spirit of Christian civilization, he also proposed that, in war as in peace, all people, to whatever country they might belong, belligerent or neutral, while engaged by land or sea in producing or transporting food or anything else needed for the support and comfort of life, or the advancement of peaceful pursuits, should remain unmolested. Both these principles should, he held, be incorporated into the general law of nations, not only as being alike humane and just toward the individuals and families directly affected by them, but as being certain also to lessen the frequency of war by destroying the hope of plunder.

Similar proofs of his philanthropy and abhorrence of rapine and violence in every form, were furnished in the passports which, as minister plenipotentiary, he issued, to protect from American cruisers the vessels annually sent from England, with food and other supplies for the Moravian settlements on the coast of Labrador; and in doing the same thing for the vessels under the celebrated navigator Captain James Cook, who had, before the war, been sent on a voyage of discovery, and was supposed to be now on his way home. No man ever possessed in larger measure than Franklin the desire to encourage every enterprise to advance knowledge, diffuse the spirit of benevolence, and liberalize the policy of governments; and the last-named act of magnanimous humanity drew from the English board of trade a vote of acknowledgment, together with an elegant copy of Cook's Voyages, and the splendid collection of plates belonging to it, accompanied by a courteous letter from Lord Howe, stating that the gift was made with the king's approbation.

A few days after reaching Paris, Franklin took up his residence at Passy, some two or three miles out of the

HIS RESIDENCE AT PASSY.

city, and overlooking the river Seine.

465

There, as he

wrote to an old friend, “in a fine house, in a neat village, on high ground, with a large garden to walk in,” he dwelt during the whole of his mission to France. It was a pleasant situation, and among his neighbors were several families of great respectability and worth, where he soon became a cherished and honored inmate, and where he enjoyed habitual intercourse with a large circle comprising many of the most cultivated, distinguished, and agreeable people of both sexes, that French society could furnish. At Passy he wrote several of his best tracts on political topics, besides several valuable papers on philosophical subjects, particularly one, which was read before the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, on the aurora borealis, stating his reasons for supposing that splendid phenomenon to be a result of electrical action. At Passy, too, he wrote, for the entertainment of the circle of friends just mentioned, some of his most sprightly and instructive humorous pieces, among which were “The Whistle," "The Ephemera," "The Morals of Chess," and others. The hospitality, affectionate respect, and attention, he received from the families referred to, soothed him under his increasing infirmities, and cheered him under the heavy burden of his varied and laborious public duties.

The details of his diplomatic labors are far too voluminous to be recounted here. History has taken charge of them; and it is enough to say, in this place, that, multiplied, burdensome, and important, as they were, he performed them with the ability and fidelity which characterized his long career of public service, and with a skill and success which won for him the spontaneous testimony alike of the firm and clear-headed John Jay, then minister to Spain, and of the enlightened and high-minded count de Vergennes, the French secretary. Congress,

also, declined complying with his request, made in March, 1781, to be recalled, and placed him shortly after on the commission with Adams, Jay, and Laurens, to negotiate peace, overtures for which were first made on the part of the British cabinet in January, 1782; and, after a protracted negotiation, a preliminary treaty, recognising the independence of the United States and fixing their boundaries, was signed in November of the same year; and a further negotiation, for the settlement of other matters, terminated in a definitive treaty, substantially the same as the other, and executed at Paris, September 3, 1783.

The independence and sovereignty of the United States being thus established, Mr. Jay returned home, and Mr. Jefferson was sent out to act with Franklin and Adams in the negotiation of treaties with other nations. But though the cabinets of Europe, through their embassadors at Paris, expressed a disposition to maintain amicable relations with the United States, no treaty was actually made except with Prussia. This treaty gave its sanction to Franklin's doctrine against privateering and the spoliation of private property; and putting his signature to it was his last act as the diplomatic representative of his country.

Franklin left Paris on the 12th of July, 1785. His departure was accompanied by the most expressive testimonials of regret from the court as well as from a numerous train of private friends, including men of the highest rank and most eminent worth; and on the 14th of September he found himself once more in Philadelphia. His return was greeted with every mark of personal regard and public respect. The Assembly of Pennsylvania, then sitting, addressed him as one "whose services not only merited the thanks of the present generation, but would be recorded in history to his immortal honor;" and other public bodies paid him similar tributes.