excellency of the _Christian religion_ above all others,
ancient and modern."

Perhaps this tribute to the excellence of Christianity ought in some
degree to modify the impression left upon the mind, by Franklin's
studious avoidal, in all his writings, of any allusion to the name of
Jesus Christ its founder.

Twenty-five thousand dollars were speedily raised for this
institution. All the religious sects harmoniously united. One
individual from each sect was appointed, to form the corporate body
intrusted with the funds. But almost the entire care and trouble of
rearing the building, and organizing the institution fell upon
Franklin. He was found to be fully adequate to all these
responsibilities.

CHAPTER VII.

_The Tradesman becomes a Philosopher._

Franklin appointed Indian commissioner--Effects of
Rum--Indian logic--Accumulating honors--Benevolent
enterprises--Franklin's counsel to Tennent--Efforts for city
improvement--Anecdotes--Franklin appointed
postmaster--Rumors of War--England enlists the Six Nations
in her cause--Franklin plans a Confederacy of States--Plans
rejected--Electrical experiments--Franklin's increase of
income--Fearful experiments--The kite--New honors--Views of
the French philosopher--Franklin's Religious views--His
counsel to a young pleader--Post-office Reforms.

In the year 1740, Franklin, then forty-four years of age, was
appointed on a commission to form a treaty with the Indians at
Carlisle. Franklin, knowing the frenzy to which the savages were
plunged by intoxication, promised them that, if they would keep
entirely sober until the treaty was concluded, they should then have
an ample supply of rum. The agreement was made and faithfully kept.

"They then," writes Franklin, "claimed and received the rum.
This was in the afternoon. They were near one hundred men,
women and children, and were lodged in temporary cabins,
built in the form of a square, just without the town. In the
evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners
walked to see what was the matter.

"We found that they had made a great bonfire in the middle of
the square; that they were all drunk, men and women
quarreling and fighting. Their dark-colored bodies,
half-naked, seen only by the gloomy light of the bonfire,
running after and beating one another with firebrands,
accompan