university of Oxford in 1762. Benjamin Franklin was a member of the
Continental Congress, 1775-1776; a signer of the Declaration of
Independence, and one of the commissioners to France, 1776-1785. He
signed the offensive and defensive treaty with France, in Paris, (p. 094)
February 6, 1778; and the definitive treaty of peace with England,
September 3, 1783. He was governor of Pennsylvania, 1786-1788; and
died in Philadelphia, April 17, 1790. Congress ordered a mourning of
four months, and the National Assembly of France, on the proposal of
Mirabeau, seconded by Monsieur de la Rochefoucauld and General de la
Fayette, went into mourning for three days. Turgot composed in his
honor the celebrated latin verse: _Eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrum que
tyrannis_.

No. 16. (p. 095)
PLATE XVI.

_1786._

Benj. Franklin natus Boston. XVII Jan. MDCCVI. [Rx]. Eripuit
coelo fulmen sceptrum que tyrannis.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

BENJ. FRANKLIN NATUS BOSTON. XVII JAN. MDCCVI. (_Benjamin Franklin,
natus Boston, 17 Januarii, 1706: Benjamin Franklin, born in Boston,
January 17, 1706._) Bust of Franklin, facing the left. On edge of
bust, DUPRE F. (_fecit_).

Within a crown of oak: ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN SCEPTRUM QUE TYRANNIS.
(_He drew fire from Heaven and wrenched the sceptre from tyrants_).
Exergue: SCULPSIT ET DICAVIT AUG. DUPRE ANNO MDCCLXXXVI. (_Sculpsit et
dicavit Augustinus Dupre, anno 1786: Engraved and dedicated by
Augustin Dupre, in the year 1786_).[58]

[Footnote 58: See INTRODUCTION, pages x and xxiii.]

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._

To the Honourable
Thomas JEFFERSON, Paris, June the 14th, 1790.
Secretary of State.

Sir: On the news of Dr. Franklin's death being received here, the
National Assembly decreed that they would go in mourning for
three days--and that the President should write to Congress to
notify to them the part they take in the melancholy event. A kind
of enthusiasm has spread also through the different parts of the
capital--different societies and bodies have shown their adhesion
to the sentiments of the National Assembly in different ways.

I am, etc.,
Wm. SHORT.

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