. He floated along as the
current of events drifted him.

On the twenty-first of July, 1726, Franklin embarked on board the ship
Berkshire for Philadelphia. He had been absent from America but little
more than a year and a half. During this time he had not increased his
fortune, for he had spent his money as fast as he had earned it. After
a voyage of eighty days, the ship cast anchor before Philadelphia. At
that time ships were often from three to seven months effecting the
passage across the Atlantic.

As usual Franklin kept a diary punctually during his long voyage. Its
pages were replete with pithy remarks of wit and wisdom. He was very
fond of a game of checkers, and in that amusement beguiled many weary
hours. We find the following striking comments upon the diversion in
his journal:

"It is a game I much delight in. But it requires a clear head
and undisturbed. The persons playing, if they would play
well, ought not much to regard the _consequences_ of the
game; for that diverts and withdraws the mind from the game
itself, and makes the player liable to make many false, open
moves. I will venture to lay it down for an infallible rule
that if two persons equal in judgment, play for a
considerable sum, he that loves money most, shall lose. His
anxiety for the success of the game confounds him. Courage is
almost as requisite for the good conduct of this game as in a
real battle; for if the player imagines himself opposed by
one that is much his superior in skill, his mind is so intent
on the defensive part, that an advantage passes unobserved."

The Governor of the Isle of Wight had died, leaving the reputation
of having been one of the most consummate scoundrels who ever
exercised despotic power. Franklin, in his treatise upon "Liberty and
Necessity," written but a few months before, had assumed that there
was no such thing as good and evil; that God ordered and controlled
every event; and that consequently every event was in accordance with
His will, and alike pleasing in His sight. But now we find the
following record in his journal, which most readers will recognize as
inconsistent with the young philosopher's theological opinions. He
writes:

"At the death of this governor, it appeared that he was a
great villain, and a great politician. There was no crime so
damnable, which he would stick at in the execution of his
des