extending his hand over the sea, causes it to overflow
Pharaoh. Motto: 'Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.'"

This device was rejected by Congress, which decided upon a more simple
allegory, and the motto _E Pluribus Unum_.

It was a time of rejoicing in Philadelphia now, and of the great events
Jefferson was the voice and Franklin was the soul.

The citizens, as we have shown, tore down all the king's arms and royal
devices from the government houses, courtrooms, shops, and taverns. They
made a huge pile of tar barrels and placed these royal signs upon them.
On a fiery July night they put the torch to the pile, and the flames
curled up, and the black smoke rose in a high column under the moon and
stars, and the last vestige of royalty disappeared in the bonfire.

Franklin heard the Liberty Bell ring out on the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence by Congress. He saw the bonfire rise in the
night of these eventful days, and heard the shouts of the people. He had
set his hand to the Declaration. He desired next to set it to a treaty
of alliance with France. Would this follow?

A very strange thing had happened in the colonies some seven months or
more before--in November, 1775. A paper was presented to Congress,
coming from a mysterious source, that stated that a stranger had arrived
in Philadelphia who brought an important message from a foreign power,
and who wished to meet a committee of Congress in secret and to make a
confidential communication.

Congress was curious, but it at first took no official notice of the
communication. But, like the Cumaean sibyl to Tarquin, the message came
again. It was not received, but it made an unofficial impression. It was
repeated. Who was this mysterious stranger? Whence came he, and what had
he to offer?

The curiosity grew, and Congress appointed a committee consisting of
John Jay, Dr. Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to meet the foreigner and
to receive his proposition.

The committee appointed an hour to meet the secret messenger, and a
place, which was one of the rooms of Carpenters' Hall.

At the time appointed they went to the place and waited the coming of
the unknown ambassador.

There entered the room an elderly man of dignified appearance and
military bearing. He was lame; he may have been at some time wounded. He
spoke with a French accent. It was plainly to be seen that he was a
French military officer.

Why had he come here? Where had he bee