Returning from England two weeks after the battle of Lexington and Concord, he immediately took a prominent part in the Revolution. He was one of the five appointed as a committee to write the Declaration of Independence, and during the discussion over that remarkable State paper, it was he that said, "Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." [Illustration: Lafayette Offering His Services to Franklin] After the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, he was sent to France to secure aid for the American cause. The French people gave him a cordial reception. There were feasts and parades in his honor, crowds followed him on the streets, and his pictures were everywhere displayed. The simplicity and directness of this white-haired man of seventy years charmed the French people, and won for him a warm place in their hearts. On one of the great occasions a very beautiful woman was appointed to place a crown of laurel upon his white locks, "and to give the old man two kisses on his cheeks." All this was a sincere expression of admiration and esteem. He did very much to secure from France the aid which that country gave to us. He indeed rendered to his country services[11] whose value may well be compared with those of Washington. [11] Franklin was one of the three commissioners to make a treaty with England at the close of the Revolution. The two other commissioners were John Adams and John Jay. They were all men of remarkable ability, and their united effort secured a treaty of peace highly favorable to their country. But, as in many other brilliant political achievements in which Franklin took part, his delicate tact was a strong force. Franklin left France in 1785, after having ably represented his country for ten years. All France was sorry to have him leave. Since it was hard for him to endure the motion of a carriage, the King sent one of the Queen's litters in which he was carried to the coast. He also bore with him a portrait of the King of France "framed in a double circle of four hundred and eight diamonds." Although in his last years he had to endure much idleness and pain, yet he was uniformly patient and cheerful, loving life to the end. He died in 1790, at the age of eighty-four, one of the greatest of American statesmen and heroes. REVIEW OUTLINE FRANKLIN'S SCHOOL-LIFE. BENJAMIN IN HIS FATHER'S SHOP. HIS FONDNESS FOR THE SEA. BOOKISH HABITS. FRANKLIN BOARDS HIMSELF. HE RUNS AWAY FROM HOME. HIS JOURNEY FROM NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA. IN A PRINTING-OFFICE AGAIN. HIS MANLINESS. IN BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF. ECONOMY AND SIMPLICITY IN LIVING. "POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC." FRANKLIN'S PUBLIC SPIRIT. HIS GREAT DISCOVERY. FRANKLIN THE STATESMAN. HIS "PLAN OF UNION." FRANKLIN IN FRANCE. HIS LAST YEARS. TO THE PUPIL