clamors, both against the right, and against the law made for its protection. Hence there arose associations and combinations to oppose both. At one time, but few men in Georgia dared to come into court and testify to the most simple facts within their knowledge relative to the use of the machine. In one instance I had great difficulty in proving that the machine had been used in Georgia, although, at the same moment, there were three separate sets of this machinery in motion within fifty yards of the building in which the court sat, and all so near that the rattling of the wheels was distinctly heard on the steps of the court-house."

ence.

Fortunately, his worldly prosperity did not now depend upon the uncertain privileges of letters patent and state rights. The new enterprise in which he was embarked proved, as we have hinted, eminently lucrative, and pointed out a clear road to affluHis circumstances now being comparatively easy, he began to yearn for the social comforts of home-for the tranquil joys which nestle around the family hearth-for the solace, consolation, and gentle ministrations of a wife. In January of 1817 he gratified this ardent and amiable desire, and was wedded to Miss Henrietta F. Edwards, the youngest daughter of the Hon. Pierrepont Edwards, of the District Court of the State of Connecticut. His happiness was subsequently rendered complete by the addition of a son and three daughters to his domestic circle. Every thing seemed to promise a brilliant and gorgeous decline to a life too much spent in toil and trouble. But it was not to At the moment when the cup of happiness appeared to be brimming at his lips, it was dashed to the ground by the treacherous approaches of the fell destroyer. Disease in an aggravated and tedious form attacked him. He struggled against it with his accustomed firmness, but King Death's patent rights can not be set aside. After a long and painful illness, he died on the 8th of January, 1825.

be.

His death occasioned a sensation of profound sadness to a large community, who knew and respected him not only for the material good he had done his country, but for the amiable qualities of his heart and mind. The citizens of New Haven paid every respect to the memory of the deceased, and caused a eulogy to be pronounced over his remains by President Day, of Yale College. A neat tomb has been erected over his grave, fashioned after the model of that of Scipio at Rome. It marks a spot that should be honored by every American who is jealous of his country's glory.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

THE life of this extraordinary man presents a solid instance of high eminence and national esteem achieved by the conscientious and timely nurture and exercise of temperate and healthy faculties. In the picture of his life there is nothing that attracts us by its glare and tinseled brilliancy. The coloring, if any thing, is cold and sombre; but there is clearness in the outline, and never-failing boldness and vigor in the filling up. We are astonished at the absence of every thing like mere effort for show. He never seems to say to himself, "This will look well;" but rather, "This is correct, and therefore beautiful." Biographers have experienced difficulty in doing full justice to the life of Franklin for the reason that he presents so many points of excellence, all glowing with quiet splendor. By one he is considered remarkable principally for his philosophical experiments and discoveries; by another, for his ingenuity and devotion as a diplomat; by a third, for his clear-headed organization of philanthropic societies; by a fourth, for his patriotism, and so on. Each separate advocate finds abundant materials for eulogizing the hero, but each and all

of

do the hero an injustice, for it was not the possession of a single faculty that made Franklin remarkable, but the nice adjustment many. Even Franklin himself fails to do justice to his life. His Autobiography is simply the story of a prudent man, who exalts the virtues generally, and adds economy and money-making to the list because he practices them. If our knowledge of Franklin were confined simply to this record, it would be very imperfect and unsatisfactory.

It must not be supposed that Franklin's character is one of such extreme complexity that it can not be understood by ordinary intelligences. On the contrary, its utter simplicity is what is apt to confuse; for a virtuous character presents more admirable phases than any other; and, in dwelling on any individual phase, we are likely to do injustice to the others. Franklin had what is called by phrenologists a well-balanced organization. Every faculty was largely formed and assiduously cultivated. He knew exactly his own strength, and, consequently, never failed of success in what he undertook. He armed himself with rightmight he possessed—and never laid it down until he had gained the victory. His life is remarkable for two things, great ambition and great virtue. He determined to be famous and to be good. He succeeded in both.

Benjamin Franklin was the fifteenth child of a family of seventeen, and was born in Boston on the 17th January, 1706. His father, an English Nonconformist, emigrated to New England about the year 1682, for the sake of enjoying the free exercise of his religion. He was a tallow-chandler and soap-boiler by profession, and a man of considerable force of character. At eight years of age young Benjamin was put to the grammar-school, but continued there for a very brief period. It was his father's wish to devote him to the service of the Church; but, burdened with a numerous family, he was unable to bear the additional expenses of a fitting education for that important sphere, and therefore took him from the grammar-school, and gave him a commercial education in a private establishment kept by Mr. George Brownwell. At ten years of age he was able to help his father in the business of cutting wicks, filling moulds, etc., but, disliking the occupation, conceived the idea, common to all dissatisfied youth, of going to sea. In order to divert his mind from this project, his father took him round to various manufactories and work

ELI WHITNEY.

In a gay little frame house of Westborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton-gin, was born on the 8th of December, 1765. His father was a respectable farmer. At a very early age Eli gave indications of unusual mechanical and constructive genius, and was able to handle the tools in the farm workshop with dexterity. When he was twelve years of age he distinguished himself by making a violin, which, it is said, produced good music, and was, of course, the wonder of the neighborhood. It obtained so wide a fame that he was afterward employed to repair violins, and had many nice jobs, which were always executed to the entire satisfaction of his customers. Whitney, like most ingenious boys, was fascinated by the perfect finish and admirable adaptability of the various parts of a watch. His fingers itched to take it to pieces and learn the secret of its usefulness; but his father, to whom it belonged, had very different wishes on the subject, and was apt to reward curiosity with punishment. For a long time Eli's inquisitive mind had to postpone its yearnings, but at length an opportunity presented itself. "One morning, observing that his father was going to meeting, and would leave at home the wonderful little machine, he immediately feigned illness as an apology for not going to church. As soon as the family were out of sight, he flew to the room where the watch hung, and, taking it down, he was so delighted with its motions that he took it all in pieces before he thought of the consequences of his rash deed; for his father was a stern parent, and punishment would have been the reward of his idle curiosity had the mischief been detected. He, however, put the work all so neatly together, that his father never discovered his audacity until he himself told him, many years afterward." Similar instances of ingenuity were of constant occurrence, and gave abundant indications of the natural bent of his mind.

When Whitney was fifteen or sixteen years of age, he determined to turn his tool-handiness to some account. He asked permission of his father to set up as a maker of nails, for which there

was a great demand. His father consented, procured him a few simple tools, and left him to pursue his labors as best he could. For two winters he labored diligently at this arduous trade. His industry was unflagging. Nothing was permitted to interfere with the day's labor, and, when that was completed, he amused himself with making tools for his own use, and in doing little fancy jobs for the neighbors. In the summer months he did ordinary field-work on his father's farm. When the nail business began to fail, he directed his attention to the making of long pins for the fastening of ladies' bonnets, and also to the manufacture of walking-canes. Both these curious articles were turned out with such peculiar neatness that he had a complete command of the market.

Whitney's industry was from the first directed to the attainment of one coveted object. It was his ambition to win for himself a superior education, and to enjoy the advantages of a collegiate course of study. In 1789 he had so far made himself the master of circumstances as to be able to enter the freshman class at Yale College; three years later he had obtained his first degree, and immediately afterward he went into the world as a private teacher. In the family of General Greene, of Mulberry Grove, near Savannah, he was received with great kindness and consideration, and while in the enjoyment of their hospitality commenced the study of the law. Mrs. Greene, like most fashionable ladies of the time, amused her leisure with the elegant pastime of tambour-work. One day she complained that the frame or tambour was clumsily constructed, and tore the delicate threads of her work. Whitney's inventive faculties and his gallantry were immediately excited. In a few days he produced a new frame, on a totally different plan. It was found to work admirably, and Mrs. Greene never forgot the ingenuity of her young friend. Not long after, a conversation sprang up between some guests of the house on the usual topic of Southern talk, the cotton crop. A good many regrets were expressed that there was no way of cleaning the seed from the green seed-cotton, which prevented much profitable cultivation of the plant on lands unsuitable for rice. According to the then existing system, only one pound of the clean staple could be separated from the seed in a day. Mrs. Greene suggested that the subject should be proposed to Whitney, on the score that he could make any thing, and took an early opportunity to intro