BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND JOHN SLIDELL AT PARIS.

ARTICLE IN THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, NOVEMBER, 1863.

THIS article appeared originally under the title, "Monograph from an Old Note-Book." Beyond the curiosity of the discussion was the object, at a critical moment, of contrasting the diplomatic representative of our fathers at Paris and that of Rebel Slavery, with a new appeal to France. It was in the same vein with the recent speech on Our Foreign Relations.1

N a famous speech, made in the House of Lords,

Brougham arrests the current of his eloquence by the following illustrative diversion.

"I have often heard it disputed among critics, which of all quotations was the most appropriate, the most closely applicable to the subject-matter illustrated; and the palm is generally awarded to that which applied to Dr. Franklin the line in Claudian,

'Eripuit fulmen cœlo, mox sceptra tyrannis';

yet still there is a difference of opinion, and even that citation, admirably close as it is, has rivals." 2

The British orator errs in attributing this remarkable

1 See, ante, Vol. VII. p. 327.

2 Speeches of Henry Lord Brougham upon Questions relating to Public Rights, Duties, and Interests (Edinburgh, 1838), Vol. II. pp. 233, 234.

VOL. VIII.

1

A

verse to Claudian, misled, perhaps, by reminiscence of like-sounding words by that poet,

"Rapiat fulmen sceptrumque Typhoeus."1

And he errs also in the quotation of the verse itself, which he fails to give with entire accuracy. And this double mistake becomes more noticeable, when it appears in the carefully prepared collection of speeches, revised at leisure, and preserved in permanent volumes.

The beauty of this verse, even in its least accurate form, will not be questioned, especially as applied to Franklin, who, before the American Revolution, in which he performed so illustrious a part, had already awakened the world's admiration by drawing the lightning from the skies. But, beyond its acknowledged beauty, this verse has an historic interest which has never been adequately appreciated. Appearing at the moment it did, it is closely associated with the acknowledgment of American Independence. Plainly interpreted, it calls George the Third "tyrant," and announces that the sceptre has been snatched from his hands. It was a happy ally to Franklin in France, and has ever since been an inspiring voice. Latterly it has been adopted by the city of Boston, and engraved on granite in letters of gold, in honor of its. greatest son and citizen. It may not be entirely superfluous to recount the history of a verse which has justly attracted so much attention, and in the history of Civilization has been of more value than the whole State of South Carolina.

From its first application to Franklin, this verse has excited something more than curiosity. Lord Brougham tells us that it is often discussed in private circles.

1 Gigantomachia, ver. 32.

There is other evidence of the interest it has created.

For instance, in an early number of "Notes and Queries," is the following inquiry:

“Can you inform me who wrote the line on Franklin,

'Eripuit cœlo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis'?

"ST. LUCIA." 1

"HENRY H. BREEN.

A subsequent writer in this same work, after calling the verse "a parody" of a certain line of Antiquity, says: "I am unable, however, to say who adapted these words to Franklin's career. Was it Condorcet ?" 2 Another writer in the same work says: "The inscription was written by Mirabeau." 3

I remember well a social entertainment in Boston, where a distinguished scholar of our country, in reply to an inquiry at the table, said that the verse was founded on a line from the "Astronomicon" of Manilius, which he repeated:

cur.

"Eripuitque Jovi fulmen, viresque tonandi." 5

John Quincy Adams, who was present, seemed to conMr. Sparks, in his notes to the correspondence of Franklin, attributes to it the same origin. But there are other places where its origin is traced with more precision. One of the correspondents of "Notes and Queries says that he has read, but does not remember where, "that this line was immediately taken from one

1 Notes and Queries, Vol. IV. p. 443, Dec. 6, 1851.

2 Ibid., Vol. V. p. 17, Jan. 3, 1852.

8 Ibid.

4 Hon. Edward Everett.

5 Lib. I. 104.

6 Works of Franklin, Vol. VIII. pp. 537, 538, note.

in the Anti-Lucretius' of Cardinal Polignac." "1 Another correspondent shows the intermediate authority.2 My own notes were made without any knowledge of these studies, which, while fixing its literary origin, fail to exhibit its important character, especially as illustrating an historical epoch.

The verse cannot be found in any ancient writer, not Claudian or anybody else. It is clear that it does not come from Antiquity, unless indirectly; nor does it appear that at the time of its first production it was referred to any ancient writer. Manilius was not mentioned. It is of modern invention, and was composed after the arrival of Franklin in Paris on his eventful mission. At first it was anonymous, but was attributed sometimes to D'Alembert and sometimes to Turgot. Beyond question, it was not the production of D'Alembert, while it is found in the Works of Turgot, published after his death, in the following form:

66

'Eripuit cœlo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis." 3

There is no explanation by the editor of the circumstances under which the verse was written; but it is given among poetical miscellanies of the author, immediately after a translation into French of Pope's "Essay on Man," in connection with the following French composition, entitled "Verses beneath the Portrait of Benjamin Franklin":

"Le voilà ce mortel dont l'heureuse industrie

Sut enchaîner la Foudre et lui donner des loix,

1 Notes and Queries, Vol. V. p. 549, June 5, 1852.

2 Ibid., Vol. V. p. 140. See, also, Ibid., Vol. V. p. 571; Vol. VI. p. 88; Dublin Review for March, 1847, p. 212, note; Quarterly Review for June, 1850, Vol. LXXXVII. p. 17.

Dont la sagesse active et l'éloquente voix
D'un pouvoir oppresseur affranchit sa Patrie,
Qui désarma les Dieux, qui réprime les Rois."

The single Latin verse is a marvellous substitute for these diffuse and feeble lines.

If there were any doubt upon its authorship, it would be removed by the positive statement of Condorcet, who, in his Life of Turgot, written shortly after the death of this great man, says: "There is known from Turgot but one Latin verse, designed for the portrait of Franklin"; and he gives the verse in this form :

"Eripuit cœlo fulmen, mox sceptra tyrannis." 1

But Sparks and Mignet,2 and so also both the biographical dictionaries of France, that of Michaud and that of Didot, while ascribing it to Turgot, concur in the form already quoted from Turgot's Works, which was likewise adopted by Ginguené, the scholar who has done so much to illustrate Italian literature, on the titlepage of his "Science du Bon-Homme Richard," with an abridged Life of Franklin, in 1794, and by Cabanis, who lived in such intimacy with Franklin.3 It cannot be doubted that this was the final form the verse assumed, as it is unquestionably the best.

This verse was no common event. It was a new expression of the French alliance, and an assurance of independence. After its appearance and general adoption, there was no retreat for France.

To appreciate its importance in marking and help

1 Œuvres, ed. O'Connor et Arago, (Paris, 1847,) Tom. V. p. 162.

2 Sparks, Works of Franklin, Vol. VIII. p. 537, note; Mignet, Portraits et Notices Historiques et Littéraires (2me édit.), Tom. II. p. 449, note. 8 Cabanis, Œuvres Posthumes, Tom. V. p. 220.