3205. FRANKLIN (Benjamin), Greatness of.—
The succession to Doctor Franklin,
at the court of France, was an excellent school
of humility. On being presented to any one
as the minister of America, the commonplace
question used in such cases was “c'est vous,
Monsieur, qui remplace le Docteur Franklin”?
“It is you, sir, who replace Doctor Franklin”?
I generally answered, “no one can replace him,
sir; I am only his successor”.—
To Rev. William Smith. Washington ed. iii, 213.
Ford ed., v, 293.
(Pa.,
17911791)gt;
