force towards points and other prominences, and thus favours its escape through such outlets; while, on the other hand, the more concentrated attraction which the matter of a pointed body, as compared with that of a blunt one, exerts upon the electricity to which it is presented, brings it down into its new channel in a denser stream. In possession, however, of the fact, we find him concluding the paper we have mentioned as follows:-'The electric fluid is attracted by points. We do not know whether this property be in lightning; but since they agree in all the particulars in which we can already compare them, it is not improbable that they agree likewise in this. Let the experiment be made.' yet Full of this idea, it was some time before he found what he conceived a favourable opportunity of trying its truth in the way he meditated. A spire was about to be erected in Philadelphia, which he thought would afford him facilities for the experiment; but his attention having been one day drawn by a kite which a boy was flying, it suddenly occurred to him that here was a method of reaching the clouds preferable to any other. Accordingly, he immediately took a large silk handkerchief, and stretching it over two cross sticks, formed in this manner his simple apparatus for drawing down the lightning from its cloud. Soon after, seeing a thunderstorm approaching, he took a walk into a field in the neighbourhood of the city, in which there was a shed, communicating his intentions, however, to no one but his son, whom he took with him to assist him in raising the kite. This was in June 1752. The kite being raised, he fastened a key to the lower extremity of the hempen string, and then insulating it by attaching it to a post by means of silk, he placed himself under the shed, and waited the result. For some time no signs of electricity appeared. A cloud, apparently charged with lightning, had even passed over them without producing any effect. At length, however, just as Franklin was beginning to despair, he observed some loose threads of the hempen string rise and stand erect exactly as if they had been repelled from each other by being charged with electricity. He immediately presented his knuckle to the key, and, to his inexpressible delight, drew from it the well-known electrical spark. It is said that his emotion was so great at this completion of a discovery which was to make his name immortal, that he heaved a deep sigh, and felt that he could that moment have willingly died. As the rain increased, the cord became a better conductor, and the key gave out its electricity copiously. Had the hemp been thoroughly wet, the bold experimenter might, as he was contented to do, have paid for his discovery with his life. nothing in this way of use to mankind, and the hot weather coming on, when electrical experiments are not so agreeable, it is proposed to put an end to He afterwards brought down the lightning into his house, by means of an insulated iron rod, and performed with it, at his leisure, all the experiments that could be performed with them for this season somewhat electricity. But he did not stop humorously, in a party of pleahere. His active and practical sure on the banks of Skuylkill. mind was not satisfied even with Spirits at the same time are to the splendid discovery, until he be fired by a spark sent from had turned it to a useful end. side to side through the river, It suggested to him, as is well without any other conductor known, the idea of a method of than the water-an experiment preserving buildings from light- which we have some time since ning, which is extremely simple performed to the amazement of and cheap, as well as effectual; many. A turkey is to be killed consisting, as it does, in nothing for dinner by the electrical shock, more than attaching to the and roasted by the electrical jack, building a pointed metallic rod, before a fire kindled by the elecrising higher than any part of it, trified bottle; when the healths and communicating at the lower of all the famous electricians in end with the ground. This rod England, Holland, France, and the lightning is sure to seize Germany are to be drunk in upon in preference to any part electrified bumpers, under the of the building; by which means discharge of guns from the elecit is conducted to the earth, and|trical battery.' prevented from doing any injury. Franklin's electrical disThere was always a strong ten-coveries did not, on their first dency in Franklin's philosophy announcement, attract much atto these practical applications. The lightning-rod was probably the result of some of the amusing experiments with which Franklin was, at the commencement of his electrical investigations, accustomed to employ his own leisure and afford pleasure to his friends. In one of his letters to Mr. Collinson, dated so early as 1748, we find him expressing himself in the following strain, in reference to his electrical experiments :-Chagrined a little that we have hitherto been able to produce tention in England; and, indeed, he had the mortification of learning that his paper on the similarity of lightning to electricity, when read by a friend to the Royal Society, had been only laughed at by that learned body. In France, however, the account that had been published in London of his experiments fortunately fell into the hands of the celebrated naturalist, Buffon, who was so much struck with it, that he had it translated into French, and printed at Paris. This made it imme a very handsome speech of the president, Lord Macclesfield, wherein I was highly honoured.' Some years afterwards, when he was in this country with his son, the University of St. Andrews conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws; and its example was followed by the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford. He was also elected a member of many of the learned societies throughout Europe. diately known to all Europe; and versions of it in various other modern languages soon appeared, as well as one in Latin. The theory propounded in it was at first violently opposed in France by the Abbé Nollet, who had one of his own to support, and, as Franklin tells us, could not at first believe that such a work came from America, but said it must have been fabricated by his enemies at Paris. The Abbé was eventually, how- No philosopher of the age ever, deserted by all his parti- now stood on a prouder emisans, and lived to see himself nence than this extraordinary the last of his sect. In England, man, who had originally been too, the Franklinian experiments one of the most obscure of the gradually began to be more people, and had raised himself spoken of; and at last even to all this distinction almost the Royal Society was induced without the aid of any education to resume the consideration of but such as he had given himthe papers that had formerly self. Who will say, after readbeen read to them. One of ing his story, that anything more their members verified the grand is necessary for the attainment experiment of bringing down of knowledge than the determilightning from the clouds; and nation to attain it?—that there upon his reading to them an is any other obstacle to even account of his success, they the highest degree of intellectual soon,' says Franklin, 'made me advancement which may not be more than amends for the slight overcome, except a man's own with which they had before listlessness or indolence? The treated me. Without my having secret of this man's success in made any application for that the cultivation of his mental honour, they chose me a mem-powers was, that he was ever ber, and voted that I should awake and active in that busibe excused the customary pay-ness; that he suffered no opporments, which would have tunity of forwarding it to escape amounted to twenty-five guineas; him unimproved; that however and ever since have given me poor, he found at least a few their Transactions gratis. They pence, were it even by diminishalso presented me with the golding his scanty meals, to pay for medal of Sir Godfrey Copley for the year 1753, the delivery of which was accompanied with the loan of the books he could not buy; that however hardwrought, he found a few hours eminent statesmen of his time, and arranging along with them the wars and treaties of mighty nations. When the struggle of American independence com in the week, were it by sitting up half the night after toiling all the day, to read and study them. Others may not have his original powers of mind; but his industry, his persever-menced, he was sent as ambasance, his self-command, are for sador from the United States to the imitation of all: and though the Court of France, where he few may look forward to the soon brought about an alliance rare fortune of achieving dis- between the two countries, which coveries like his, all may derive produced an immediate war beboth instruction and encourage- tween the latter and England. ment from his example. They In 1783 he signed, on the part who may never overtake the of the United States, the treaty light, may at least follow its of peace with England, which path, and guide their footsteps recognised their independence. by its illumination. Two years after he returned to his native country, where he was received with acclamation by his grateful and admiring fellow-citizens, and immediately elected President of the Supreme Executive Council. He closed his eventful and honourable life on the 17th of April 1790, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Were we to pursue the remainder of Franklin's history, we should find the fame of the patriot vying with that of the philosopher in casting a splendour over it; and the originally poor and unknown tradesman standing before kings, associating as an equal with the most DEVOTION TO KNOWLEDGE IN EXTREME POVERTY: ERASMUSKEPLER-SCHAEFFER-BULLINGER-MUSCULUS-POSTELLUS CASTALIO-ADRIAN VI. PERRIER-CLAUDE LORRAINESALVATOR ROSA MARMONTEL-HOCHE LAGRANGE-DR. JOHNSON-DR. PARR-SPAGNOLETTO-LE JAY-CASTELL― DAVIES-TYTLER-WILLIAM DAVY. IN EXILE AND IMPRISON BUCHANAN TASSO-SMART PRYNNE MADAME MENT: OVID- BOETHIUS ROLAND RALEIGH-LADY JANE GREY-JAMES 1. (OF SCOT LAND) LOVELACE. after knowledge who have had other difficulties to struggle with than those arising from either the seducing excitements or engrossing cares and toils of active life. IN attempting to illustrate such a subject as the triumphs of the Love of Knowledge, and to set forth the exceeding might of that passion, the delight with which the indulgence of it is fraught, and the obstacles of all Anecdotes illustrating the desorts in the way of its gratifica-votion with which knowledge tion which it has so often over- has been pursued under the come, the materials which pre- pressure of severe penury, or sent themselves are so abundant other forms of worldly misforand so various that the chief tune, are evidences, not of any difficulty in using them is which calamities to which literature to choose. The examples we has a peculiar tendency to have already cited may be con- expose its votaries, but rather sidered sufficient to show how of the power with which it arms perfectly practicable it is to them to conquer and rise supeunite the pursuit of literature rior to calamities. Students with that of any description of and authors and men of genius business or professional occupa- have had their share of advertion. We shall now, therefore, sity with others; but few others proceed to notice some aspirants enjoy their peculiar advantages, N |