"Ah!" replied Mr. Watts, considerably surprised that his new employee, just over from a new and uncultivated country, should handle a treatise like that so gingerly; "how is that? Rather a popular work, that of Wollaston's." "Popular enough it may be, but error is often popular. The work is illogical, and not altogether in harmony with facts." Benjamin's criticisms impressed Mr. Watts somewhat, though he thought he was laboring under a mistake. "Perhaps the trouble is in your own mind, and not in Wollaston's," he suggested. "That may be; but I am going to review it for my own satisfaction and benefit," answered Benjamin. "Then I will suspend judgment until I can read your review," said Mr. Watts, at the same time being still more surprised that a youth of his age should be so familiar with such topics. Within a short time Benjamin had his review of "Religion of Nature" prepared and printed, bearing the somewhat dignified title, "A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain," and it was inscribed to his friend, James Ralph. A copy was submitted to Mr. Watts for examination, and his opinion awaited with some anxiety. "I confess that it is a remarkable production for a youth like you to father--remarkable in its plan, thought, and reasoning--but it is no credit to your principles," Mr. Watts said. "How so?" "It is really deistical in its position. You remember that I suggested the trouble might be in yourself, instead of Wollaston; and it is, in my judgment." "Wherein is my reasoning illogical or incorrect?" Benjamin's use of the Socratic method of reasoning still adhered to him. "Any reasoning is illogical and fallacious that takes it for granted that there is no God," answered Mr. Watts. "Without a God, we are nowhere; and that is where your pamphlet is. There is ingenuity in it, I grant; but it is false." "From your standpoint, you mean, Mr. Watts?" "Yes, if you please; but my standpoint is the Bible. Any reasoning that ignores the Bible is fallacious. To pretend to understand the things of this world without a God is abominable. 'The _fool_ hath said in his heart, There is no God.'" "Well, you are getting rather personal," Benjamin answered, roguishly. "I suspect that you are rather puritanical in your notions; but I am not." "No, that is quite evident; nothing puritanical about your Dissertation, but a plenty that is fanatical," retorted Mr. Watts. "Much obliged for your opinion, so frankly expressed," added Benjamin, as Mr. Watts turned to answer a call. A short time after the publication of the foregoing Dissertation, a London surgeon, by the name of Lyons, called at Watts' office. "Is there a man at work in your printing house by the name of Franklin--Benjamin Franklin?" he inquired of Mr. Watts. "There is." "Can I see him?" "Yes, I will call him." Benjamin was called and introduced to the gentleman, who said, holding a pamphlet in his hand: