From an old French engraving in the collection of Mr. Clarence
S. Bement, of Philadelphia. Death has seized Franklin and is
dragging him to the lower world. The figure half kneeling is
America, with her bow and arrows and the skin of a wild beast,
imploring Death to spare her deliverer. Fame is flying in the
air, with a crape on her arm and a trumpet, announcing that _le
grand_ Franklin has saved his country and given her liberty in
spite of tyrants. The spirit of Philosophy and a warrior are
weeping at the foot of the monument, on which is a
lightning-rod; while France, a fair, soft woman, seizes Franklin
in her arms to bear him to the sky.
AMERICA SET FREE BY FRANKLIN 309
From an old French engraving in the collection of Mr. Clarence
S. Bement, of Philadelphia. Like the preceding one, from the
same collection, it represents America as a savage, in
accordance with the French ideas of that time.
FRANKLIN TEARS THE LIGHTNING FROM THE SKY AND THE SCEPTRE FROM THE
TYRANTS 312
From an old French engraving in the collection of Mr. Clarence
S. Bement, of Philadelphia. The figure with her arm on
Franklin’s lap is America.
FRANKLIN RELICS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF
PENNSYLVANIA 330
The cups and saucers are Dresden china, given him by Madame
Helvetius. The china punch-barrel was given him by Count
d’Artois; the wine-glass is one of the heavy kind then in use;
the picture-frame contains a printed dinner invitation sent by
him to the members of the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
PORTRAIT OF LOUIS XVI 346
The kings of France at that time usually gave their portrait to
a foreign ambassador on his return to his country. This one, by
Sicardi, which was given to Franklin, was formerly surrounded by
two rows of four hundred and eight diamonds, and was probably
worth from ten to fifteen thousand dollars. It is now in the
possession of Mr. J. May Duane, of Philadelphia, by whose
permission it is reproduced.
FRANKLIN PORTRAIT IN WEST COLLECTION 350
A pencil drawing with Benjamin West’s name on the back, now the
property of Hon. S. W. Pennypacker, of Philadelphia. It is
supposed by some authorities to be merely a copy of the bust by
Ceracchi; others believe it to be a drawing from life by West.
FRANKLIN’S GRAVE IN CHRIST CHURCH GRAVEYARD, PHILADELPHIA 360
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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