To Sincerity and Justice the confidence of his country, and the honourable employs it conferred upon him; and to the joint influence of the whole mass of the virtues, even in the imperfect state he was able to acquire them, all that evenness of temper, and that cheerfulness in conversation which makes his company still sought for and agreeable even to his young acquaintances."

At length the subject of this memoir was elected a member of the assembly, and became a leading man in it. He most heartily joined the British government in the war against France, in 1753, and by means of his influence, enabled General Braddock to advance against the enemy. He also assisted in building forts for the protection of the province, and a battery for the defence of the city. So high was his character now become, indeed, that he was appointed deputypostmaster-general; and such was his talents and success, that the revenue of this department in America became greater than what was obtained from all Ireland. The moment he was dismissed it once more sunk into insignificance. Mr. Franklin was also nominated a colonel of militia, during the war, and even offered by the Governor to be made a general, but he declined.

It was in 1746 that he first commenced his philosophical experiments*; and his papers on electricity appear at first to have attracted more notice at Paris than at London: at length, however, he became a member of the Royal Society, and obtained the degree of LL.D. from Oxford.

In 1757, Dr. Franklin repaired once more to England; and with this epoch concludes that portion of the work which was principally drawn up by himself: indeed, the first fiftyseven pages only are composed in regular series by him; and from that specimen it is greatly to be lamented that the whole was not written by his own hand.

As this can only be properly considered as the private life of Dr. Franklin, we shall omit every thing relative to his diplomatic

See Vol.i. p. 586. of Annual Obituary for an account of Dr. Franklin's correspondence; and also for many particulars relative to his philosophical discoveries.

mission, as well as the part he acted during the American contest. It may be necessary, however, to add that as he advanced in years, he became subject to fits of the gout, to which, in 1782, a nephristic colic was superadded. From this time, he was afflicted with the stone, as well as the gout, and for the last twelve months of his life these complaints almost entirely confined him to his bed. In the beginning of the Spring, he was attacked with a fever and complaint of the breast, which terminated his existence; and he accordingly expired on the 17th of April, 1790, about 11 o'clock at night, closing a long life of 84 years and four months, without a groan.

No. III.

MEMOIR OF MOWHEE, A YOUNG NEW-ZEALANDER, WHO DIED AT PADDington. IN A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE REV. JOSIAH PRATT, B.D. SECRETARY OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY; BY THE REV. BASIL WOODD, M.A.2d Edition.

THIS

HIS short biographical memoir has been published by the Church Missionary Society. Without entering into any of the disputes that have lately taken place in the Christian world, on the subject of missions to distant lands, we shall immediately proceed to communicate some particulars relative to this young and interesting convert.

It appears from the statement of the Rev. Basil Woodd, that Mowhee was born in the island of New Zealand, about the year 1796; and, at the request of this gentleman, who appears to have paid him great attention, he presented him with the following narrative in writing, which the hand of death prevented from continuing further than the close of the year 1814, when he returned to his native island.

"From this narrative, and from occasional conversation," observes the Rev. Author, "I have collected the following interesting facts; and, so far as I am able, I shall insert the statement in his own plain and unaffected words. The history discloses an extraordinary series of the interpositions of Divine Providence.

"Mowhee was a relation of Terra, a head chief, and a man of considerable influence, on the south side of the Bay of Islands.

"About the year 1806, one of the natives had gone to Port Jackson in New South Wales, and staid there some time. On his return, he told his countrymen what a fine place the English people had, and the wonderful news of our Saviour

dying for sinners and the world.' He also persuaded many of the natives to wish to send their children thither.

The

"Shortly after, two ships came into the harbour. Captains came on shore; one of them to the spot where Mowhee's family resided. By the character Mowhee gave of him, he appears to have been a man of a very friendly disposition, and of a religious state of mind. He frequently conversed with Mowhee's father; and endeavoured to impress on his conscience the value of his soul, the importance of eternity, and the leading truths of the Christian Religion. This kind attention so much gained the affections and confidence of the father, that, when the ship was preparing to quit New Zealand, he earnestly entreated the Captain to take his son a voyage with him.

"Mowhee was at this period about nine or ten years of age. He had been a good deal with the Captain while on shore, and loved him as a parent. He had also been frequently on board the ship; and, as was perfectly natural, was greatly delighted with the novelty of the scene, and the prospect of the voyage to a new island.

"Accordingly, when the day arrived for the sailing of the ship, the father and mother and several natives accompanied Mowhee on board. Here he found a native with whom he was acquainted, who had been to visit the English Settlements, and was going back again with the captain. He spake highly of the kindness of the captain, and of the English people; and persuaded Mowhee to persevere in his intention.

"At this time the ship was surrounded with canoes, which kept her company till she was outside the heads of the Bay. About sun-set they left the ship; and now a most melancholy farewell was taken of Mowhee by his parents. The mother, in particular, was quite overwhelmed in an agony of grief. For a long time she refused to quit the ship; and was, at length, taken away by compulsion.

"This was the last time that Mowhee and his parents ever saw one another. Some months after, a fatal epidemic sickness was brought from a distant part of the island.. Numbers

caught the infection and died; and, among them, the affectionate parents of our young friend. Mowhee always spoke of his father as a man who had learned of the Captain to worship the true God; and he trusted he should meet him again, to part no more.

"In the evening, the Captain called Mowhee, and the other native, whose name was Hearry, into the cabin. He spake kindly to them, and bade them be assured of his friendship; and told Mowhee, that he should in future call him by the name of Thomas.

"During this evening, the wind began to blow very hard, and the sea was very tempestuous for a few days. Mowhee was exceedingly terrified; but his countryman quieted his fears, by assuring him that the storm would not long continue, and that, in a short time, they would see Norfolk Island. As soon as they arrived off that island, a boat came on board, with a Mr. Drummond, who took Mowhee and the other native on shore, to his own house.

"The first object which engaged his attention and excited his astonishment, in this place, was the building of a brig; a sight to him entirely new.

"Mr. Drummond received him with great kindness: and assured him, that, if he was disposed to reside with him, he should be treated like one of his sons. Mr. Drummond placed him at a day-shool for near a year. Here he began to learn to read and write; and from this period, as a token of regard, he took the name of Thomas Drummond. — Shortly after, the whole family sailed for New South Wales. They landed at Sidney; and, in February 1812, removed to a farm, at a village called Liverpool.

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During this period, it appears that Mr. Drummond, and the Rev. Mr. G――, used to explain to Mowhee the general principles of the Christian Religion, the meaning of going to church, the nature of the worship due to Almighty God, and the Redemption of man by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here, to use his own words, he frequently was taught that the son of God came into the world to save sinners, and that who