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accompanied with less resistance to the acting power. On this occasion, the natural figure of the waist, or bole of a large spreading oak, occurred to our sagacious engineer.

With these very enlightened views, as to the proper form of the superstructure, Mr. Smeaton began the work on the 2d of April, 1757, and completed it on the 4th of August, 1759. The rock which slopes towards the southwest, is cut into horizontal steps, into which are dovetailed, and united by a strong cement, Portland-stone and granite. The whole to the height of thirty-five feet from the foundation, is a solid body of stones, engafted into each other, and united by every means of additional strength that could be devised. The building has four rooms, one over the other, and at the top a gallery and lantern. The stone floors are flat above, but concave beneath, and are kept from pressing against the sides of the building by a chain let into the walls. It is nearly eighty feet in height, and since its completion has been assaulted by the fury of the elements, without suffering the smallest injury.

To trace the progress of so vast an undertaking, and to show with what skill and judgement this unparalleled engineer overcame the greatest difficulties, would far exceed the limits of this work.

Benjamin Franklin. L. L. D.

Dr. Franklin left in his Will, the following Legacy, to the young Artisans of Boston and Philadelphia. He says: "I have considered, that among Artisans good apprentices are most likely to make good citizens; and having been bred myself to a manual art, printing, in my native town and afterwards assisted to set up my business in Philadelphia by kind loans of money from two friends there, which was the foundation of my fortune, and of all the utility in life, that may be ascribed to me;-I wish to be useful even after my death, if possible, in forming and advancing other young men, that may be serviceable to their country in both these towns.

To this end I devote two thousand pounds sterling, which I give, one thousand thereof to the inhabitants of the town of Boston, in Massachusetts, and

the other thousand to the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, in trust, to and for the uses, intents, and purposes, herein after mentioned and declared.

The said sum of one thousand pounds sterling, if accepted by the inhabitants of the town of Boston, shall be managed under the direction of the select men, united with the ministers of the oldest Episcopal, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches in that town, who are to let out the same upon interest at five per cent, per annum, to such young married artificers, under the age of twenty-five years, as have served an apprenticeship in the said town, and faithfully fulfilled the duties required in their indentures so as to obtain a good moral character from at least two respectable citizens, who are