The following is a brief synopsis of the offices he filled, and the honours he won:-- HE WAS LEGISLATOR FOR PENNSYLVANIA IN 1732, WHEN ONLY TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF AGE. HE FOUNDED THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEPUTY POSTMASTER-GENERAL IN 1752. INVENTOR OF LIGHTNING-RODS. WAS ELECTED A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. ORIGINATOR OF THE VOLUNTEER MILITIA. COLONEL OF MILITIA. MINISTER TO THE COURT OF ENGLAND IN 1764. MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS IN 1775. MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY TO FRANCE IN 1776. CONCLUDED FIRST TREATY FOR AMERICA IN 1778. RECEIVED THE DEGREE OF LL.D. FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY. MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY TO FRANCE IN 1778. ONE OF FIVE TO DRAFT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. HELPED TO FRAME THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. A LEADER IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. CALLED THE "NESTOR OF AMERICA" BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF FRANCE. ADMITTED TO THE HIGHEST LITERARY ASSEMBLIES OF EUROPE. LIKE WASHINGTON, "FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, AND FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN." HONOURED AS A GREAT PHILOSOPHER, SAGACIOUS STATESMAN, AND SINCERE PHILANTHROPIST. In reading the history of the United States, no name is more conspicuous than that of Franklin. His agency is everywhere seen and acknowledged in laying the foundation of her institutions, and achieving her glories. The memory of no patriot and philosopher has been more dear to generations that have come and gone since his day. Abroad, as well as at home, he was honoured. At one time, in France, "prints, medallion portraits, and busts of Franklin were multiplied throughout France; and rings, bracelets, canes, and snuff-boxes, bearing his likeness, were worn or carried quite generally." In England, and other parts of Europe, similar homage was paid to his greatness. Since that period his statue has been erected in the halls of learning and legislation, literary societies have adopted his name to give them pre-eminence, and numerous towns have been called after him. The author's native place was named in honour of Franklin, who afterwards presented the town with a valuable library that is still in existence. On being informed by a friend that this town had adopted his name, he inquired what sort of a present would be acceptable to the inhabitants as an acknowledgment of their respect and homage. The friend suggested that a _bell_ might prove a timely gift, as they were erecting a new house of worship. But Franklin thought otherwise, and decided to present a library. He jocosely remarked, in the letter which accompanied the books, that he "_supposed a town that would adopt his name must be more fond of sense than sound_."