creature, but which it is now agreed among
civilized beings, shall not be topics of conversation. In this respect
Poor Richard was no worse, and not much better than other colonial
periodicals, some of which contain things incredibly obscene,
as much so as the strongest passages of Sterne, Smollet and De
Foe."--_Parton._]

The increasing circulation of the Pennsylvania Gazette, the extensive
sale of Poor Richard, and the success of many of the small books which
Franklin published, soon placed the finances of Franklin in a very
flourishing condition. This enabled him to send for every important
work published in England. As he was never an hour in idleness, and
seldom entered any place of popular amusement, he found time to study
all these solid and useful works. The superior powers with which God
had endowed him, enabled him to glean from their pages, and store up
in his memory, all that was most valuable. By these indefatigable
studies, he was rapidly becoming one of the most learned of men, and
was preparing himself for that brilliant career, in which, as a
statesman and a philosopher, he stood in the first ranks of those who
had been deemed the great men of earth.

His first entrance to public life was as Clerk to the General
Assembly, which was then the Legislature of the Pennsylvania Colony.
This was an office of but little emolument or honor. His first
election was unanimous. The second year, though successful, he was
opposed by an influential member.

Franklin, who wished to have every one his friend, was anxious to
conciliate him. He accomplished his purpose shrewdly--perhaps
cunningly, is not too strong a word to use. Having heard that the
gentleman had a very rare and valuable book in his library, he wrote
him a very polite and flattering letter, soliciting the loan of it. No
man could pen such an epistle more adroitly than Franklin.

After a few days he returned the book with one of his most exquisite
notes of thanks. The gentleman was caught in the trap. Charmed with
the urbanity Franklin displayed in the correspondence, the next time
he met the philosopher, he grasped him cordially by the hand. Though
he had never spoken to him before, he invited him to his house.

Franklin, commenting upon this adventure, writes,

"He ever after manifested a readiness to serve me on all
occasions, so that we became great friends, and our
friendship continued to his death. This is another instance