Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography . ecause I expect no better,and because I am not sure that it is not the bHis last public act was the signing of a memorialaddressed to congress by an anti-slavery society ofwhich he was president. This petition, which waspresented on 12 Feb., 1700, asked for the abolitionof the slave-trade, and for the emancipation ofslaves. The southern members of congress werevery indignant, and Mr. Jackson, of Georgia, under-took to prove, with the aid of texts from Scripture,the sacredness of the institution of slavery. On 24March, Franklin wrote an answer, whic
Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography . ecause I expect no better,and because I am not sure that it is not the bHis last public act was the signing of a memorialaddressed to congress by an anti-slavery society ofwhich he was president. This petition, which waspresented on 12 Feb., 1700, asked for the abolitionof the slave-trade, and for the emancipation ofslaves. The southern members of congress werevery indignant, and Mr. Jackson, of Georgia, under-took to prove, with the aid of texts from Scripture,the sacredness of the institution of slavery. On 24March, Franklin wrote an answer, which was pub-lished in the National Gazette. It was an in-genious parody of Jacksons speech, put into themouth of a member of the divan of Algiers, andfortified by texts from the Koran. This character-istic article, one of the most amusing he ever pub-lished, was written within four weeks of his abilities of Franklin were so vast and sovarious, he touched human life at so many points,that it would require an elaborate essay to charac-. terize him properly. He was at once philosopher,statesman, diplomatist, scientific discoverer, in-ventor, philanthropist, moralist, and wit. while asa writer of English he was surpassed by few menof his time. History presents few examples of acareer starting from such humble beginnings andattaining to such great and enduring career of a Napoleon, for example, in com-parison with Franklins, seems vulgar and ceaseless industry of Franklin throughout hislong life was guided to an extraordinary degreeby the clear light of reason, and inspired by awarm and enthusiastic desire for the improvementof mankind. He is in many respects the greatestof Americans, and one of the greatest men whosenames are recorded in history. In accordance withhis wishes, Franklins remains were deposited be-side those of his wife and daughter, in the yard ofChrist church, at the corner of 5th and Archstreets, Philadelphia, under a plain marble
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