Benjamin Franklin

From the original by Jean Baptiste Greuze, in the Boston Public Library. It was painted for Benjamin Franklin as a gift to Richard Oswald, the English commissioner associated with him in the peace negotiations of 1782. Gardner Brewer of Boston bought the painting in 1872 and presented it to the Library.

Autograph from the Declaration of Independence.

The vignette of Independence Hall is after a drawing in the possession of the American Bank Note Co., Philadelphia.

Count Vergennes

From the frontispiece to Doniol, "Histoire de la Participation de la France À l'Establissement des Etats-Unis d'AmÉrique," Paris, 1886, 5 vols., 4to. vol. i.; an engraving by Vangelisti, from the original painting by Antoine Francois Callet.

Autograph from same book.

Lord Hillsborough
(Born Wills Hill; afterwards Marquis of Downshire)

From a painting by J. Rising, owned by Lord Salisbury.

Autograph from MS. collection in the New York
Public Library, Lenox Building.

Paul Jones

From the original portrait by C. W. Peale in Independence
Hall.

Autograph from MS. collection in Library of Boston
AthenÆum.

Sea-fight between the Serapis and Bon Homme Richard

Off Flamborough Head, September 3, 1779. Paul Jones's ship, in compliment to the author of "Poor Richard's Maxims," was named "Bon Homme Richard." Captain Pearson, who commanded the Serapis, was knighted for his heroic resistance. Paul Jones, tradition says, on hearing of the honor conferred on Pearson, good-naturedly observed, "If I ever meet him again, I'll make a lord of him."