ench
politicians. On both these grounds, as well as from his high
scientific attainments, he found himself during his residence of
several years at Paris in no common measure courted, flattered,
and caressed. A fine verse, one of the noblest which modern
Latinity can boast, describes him as having plucked the lightning
from Heaven and the sceptre from tyrants.

Descending from such lofty flights to the regions of sober
reality, we may observe that Franklin in his later years, and
especially in France, adopted to a great extent the Quaker garb.
He laid aside the huge wig which he used to wear in England, and
allowed his long white hair to flow down nearly to his shoulders.
His clothes were of the plainest cut and of the dunnest color. The
Parisians of that period, ever swayed by external impressions,
were greatly struck with, and in their writings frequently refer
to, his venerable aspect, and they compared him by turns to all
the sages of antiquity. It is also probable that his Quaker-like
attire may have tended to invest him in their estimation with the
other attributes which they assigned to the ideal Quaker
character, as simplicity, guilelessness, inviolable truth.

LA FAYETTE.

It so chanced that in the summer of 1776, La Fayette, still in his
teens, and serving as a subaltern with the French army, was
stationed with his regiment at Metz. It happened also that in the
course of a foreign tour their Royal Highnesses of Gloucester
passed a few days in that town. The principal officers entertained
the Duke at dinner, when the conversation turned to the last news
from Philadelphia and the new Declaration of Independence. Being
at that period offended with his Court, from its neglect of the
Duchess, the Duke indulged in Opposition topics, and, in some
degree at least, took the part of the Americans. The details were
new to La Fayette. He listened with eagerness, and prolonged the
conversation by asking questions of the Royal guest. The cause of
the colonies that had risen against England seemed to him just and
noble, even on the showing of one of the English princes; and
before he left the table, the thought came into his head that he
would go to America, and offer the Americans his services. He
determined to return to Paris, and make further in