force and of a fire company. A pamphlet which he published,
"Plain Truth", showing the helplessness of the colony against the
French and Indians, led to the organization of a volunteer
militia, and funds were raised for arms by a lottery. Franklin
himself was elected colonel of the Philadelphia regiment, "but
considering myself unfit, I declined the station and recommended
Mr. Lawrence, a fine person and man of influence, who was
accordingly appointed." In spite of his militarism, Franklin
retained the position which he held as Clerk of the Assembly,
though the majority of the members were Quakers opposed to war on
principle.

The American Philosophical Society owes its origin to Franklin.
It was formally organized on his motion in 1743, but the society
has accepted the organization of the Junto in 1727 as the actual
date of its birth. From the beginning the society has had among
its members many leading men of scientific attainments or tastes,
not only of Philadelphia, but of the world. In 1769 the original
society was consolidated with another of similar aims, and
Franklin, who was the first secretary of the society, was elected
president and served until his death. The first important
undertaking was the successful observation of the transit of
Venus in 1769, and many important scientific discoveries have
since been made by its members and first given to the world at
its meetings.

Franklin's appointment as one of the two Deputy Postmasters
General of the colonies in 1753 enlarged his experience and his
reputation. He visited nearly all the post offices in the
colonies and introduced many improvements into the service. In