never been a burthen to his country, which he had served during a long life to the best of his ability; and he would not condescend to accept of a pension, or bargain for a peerage. He concluded, by laying his generalship of the marines, together with his rank in the navy, at the king's feet, entreating him to take both away, if they could forward his service; and at the same time, assured his Majesty, he would never prove himself unworthy the honours he had received, by ending the remnant of a long life as a pensioner, or accepting a peerage obtained by political arrangement. Such are the outlines of the public character of Admiral Forbes; and in private life he continued, to his last breath, an example of the brightest virtues that can adorn the human character. FORDYCE, (The BANKER), had at one time acquired very large sums by his speculations in 'Change-alley, which induced him to proceed to such extravagant lengths (risking not only his own property, but that of his friends who deposited their cash with him), that he at length became bankrupt. But, with the foibles generally attendant upon an aspiring man, Fordyce had generous qualities. A young intelligent merchant, who kept cash at his banking-house, and one day made a small lodgment, happened to say in the shop," that if he could command some thousands at present, there was a certain speculation to be pursued, which, in all probability, would turn out fortunate." This was said loosely, without Fordyce's making any answer, or seeming to attend to it,

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and no more passed at that time. A few months afterwards, when the same merchant was what they call, settling his book with the house, he was very much surprised to see the sum of five hundred pounds placed to his credit side, more than he knew he possessed. Thinking it a mistake, he pointed it out to the clerk, who seeing the entry in Mr. Fordyce's hand-writing, said he must have paid it to him. The merchant, however, knowing he had not, begged to see Mr. Fordyce, who appeared, and told him," It was all right enough, for that as the hint he had a few months before thrown out in the shop, gained him above five thousand pounds, he thought him fairly entitled to the tithe of that sum.

FOX (GEORGE), the founder of the sect of Quakers, was born at Drayton, in Leicestershire, in 1624. After living some time with a shepherd, he was bound apprentice to a shoemaker, and followed that business in Nottingham a considerable time. But, seized with a fit of enthusiam, he fancied himself inspired, and reflecting upon the degeneracy of mankind, he resolved to attempt a reformation; he therefore shut up his shop, and became a public preacher in 1647. His wife Margaret had also a share in his ministerial functions. George not only inveighed against the prevailing vices, but the stated ministers and religious services, affirming that the light of Christ in the heart, is alone the means of salvation, and the true qualification for the gospel ministry. His doctrine and appearance being altogether new,

the populace ran after him in great numbers. Pleased with the encouragement he received, he poured forth his declamations with the utmost vehemence. His disciples affected plainness in their habits, were frugal in their manner of living, and very reserved in their conversation. He suffered imprisonment in many places, and sometimes experienced very cruel treatment, for pursuing instructions he pretended to receive from heaven. In 1669, his former wife being dead, he married the widow of a Welch judge; but still he continued his course of itinerant preaching, and visited most parts of the British island, Holland, Germany, and North-America, and even some of the West-India islands. Notwithstanding the persecutions and discouragement they met with, this sectary seemed to flourish considerably, and many men were drawn over to them, among whom were Barclay and Penn. Fox died in London, in 1690. His Journal was printed at London in 1694, his Epistles in 1698, and his Tracts in 1706. FRANKLIN (BENJAMIN), a celebrated American, born at Boston, in New-England, in 1706. His father was a soap-boiler and tallow-chandler in that town, and intended him for the same business; but conceiving a disgust to it, he was bound apprentice to one of his brothers, who was a printer. Not perfectly agreeing with his brother, he did not serve out his time, but withdrew privately from Boston to NewYork, in 1723. From thence he proceeded to Philadelphia in search of employment. Here

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he was engaged by one Keymer; and in 1724, he sailed for England, at the desire of Sir William Keith, the governor of Pensylvania, who promised to send letters of recommendation, and to furnish him with a sufficient sum of money to buy a press, type, and other materials for printing. In this, however, he was disappointed. He continued in England about two years, working as a pressman and compositor, and then returned to Philadelphia, where for a short time he served a merchant as bookkeeper, and on the death of his employer, he returned to his former business under Mr. Keymer. Soon after, he set up for himself, in partnership with a young man of the name of Meredith; but this partnership was dissolved in 1729, and Franklin thenceforward carried on the business solely by himself with great advantage. He married the year following, and now became a public man: his abilities began to be generally known, in consequence of which he was appointed successively to the offices of printer to the House of Assembly, clerk to the General Assembly of Philadelphia, and post-master; and at length, he was elected a member of the General Assembly of Philadelphia. Higher employments, however, at length called him from his country, which he was destined to serve more effectually as its agent in England, whither he was sent in 1757; and while he remained here, was honourably entertained by the most eminent persons in the philosophical world, on account of the improvements which electri

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city had received from him. He remained in England five years, and returned to America in 1762, where he received public thanks for his faithful services. In 1764, he lost his seat in the Assembly of Philadelphia, and the same year returned to England. In 1766, this printer, called to the bar of the House of Commons, underwent that famous interrogatory, which placed the name of Franklin as high in politics, as it was before in natural philosophy. From that time he defended the cause of America, with a firmness and moderation becoming a great man: pointing out to ministry all the errors they had committed, and the consequences they would induce, till the period when the tax on tea meeting with the same opposition which the stamp-act had before done, England blindly fancied herself capable of subjecting by force, three millions of men, determined to be free, at the distance of two thousand leagues. The troubles were now beginning, and the British government seemed determined to promote, rather than to divert the storm. Franklin remained in Europe till 1775, and then returned to his native land; having first endeavoured, in vain, to dissuade the ministry from their coercive measures. became an active member of the new Legislative Assembly, and America is indebted for the formation of its constitution to this virtuous and enlightened philosopher. portant service he was sent France, to negociate an alliance try, in which he was successful.

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