File:The life of Benjamin Franklin (1848) (14577774410).jpg

Identifier: lifeofbenjaminfr00holl (find matches)
Title: The life of Benjamin Franklin
Year: 1848 (1840s)
Authors: Holley, O. L. (Orville Luther), 1791-1861 Anderson, Alexander, 1775-1870 Benjamin Franklin Collection (Library of Congress) DLC
Subjects: Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 Statesmen
Publisher: New York : G.F. Cooledge & Brother
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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n, and by thus multiplying the em-ployments of the community, augment the demand andthe compensation for labor — a doctrine, which the greatApostle to the Gentiles could not have sanctioned, as it isonly another way of saying, Let us do evil, that goodmay come. Mandeville himself is described as being a man ofvery entertaining conversation, of a facetious turn, andthe soul of the club that gathered around him. Forthat very reason, however, he was only the more dan-gerous a companion for those whose principles were notfirmly settled. Lyons also introduced Benjamin to oneDr. Pemberton, who promised him an opportunity tosee the celebrated Sir Isaac Newton, then approachingthe close of his long and illustrious career. But thatopportunity, though eagerly coveted, never came. Thegreat philosopher was then, 1725, in his 84th year, anddied on the 20th of March, 1726, almost as much dis-tinguished beyond the common lot, in years as in fame. Another incident not unworthy of notice, in the ex-
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SIR HANS SLOANE ASBESTOS PURSE. 91 perience of a journeyman printer, a youth of nineteen, and a stranger from a land beyond the ocean, was hisbecoming acquainted with Sir Hans Sloane, with theoccasion of it. Among some rarities which Benjamin had taken with him from Philadelphia, was a pursemade of asbestos, or, as it is sometimes called, amian-thus; a kind of stone, which is not only inconsumableby fire, but so fibrous as to be separable into threadsflexible enough to be compactly and smoothly woven;and the webs made of it, when soiled by use, are cleanedby putting them into the fire, instead of a wash-tub. ^ Benjamin, whose pistoles, with his friend Ralphs as-sistance, had run very low, having learned somethingof the character and tastes of Sir Hans, who was verymuch of a virtuoso, a lover and collector of rare and curi-ous things, addressed him a note, dated June 2d, 1725, inv^rhich he says : Having lately been in the northernparts of America, I have brought thence a purse made oft

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