On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Journal published an editorial by Benjamin Franklin (written under the pseudonym “An American Guesser”) contending that the rattlesnake should be the symbol for the United Colonies because it may

be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarrelling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defence, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.

Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies. . . . I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, ’till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. …

‘Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.

The Rattle-Snake . . . may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age

Sources: https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/01/the-rattlesnake-tells-the-story/; https://www.greatseal.com/symbols/rattlesnake.html

Also on this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin wrote to Filippo (or actually as he called himself in America — “Philip”) Mazzei:

It was with great Pleasure I learnt from Mr. Jefferson, that you were settled in America; and from the Letter you favour’d me with, that you like the Country . . . .

The Congress have not yet extended their Views much towards foreign Powers, and particularly not to those of Italy, who are so distant. They are nevertheless oblig’d by your kind Offers of your Service, which perhaps in a Year or two more may become very useful to them. I am myself much pleas’d that you have sent a Translation of our Declaration [of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms] to the Grand Duke; because having a high Esteem for the Character of that Prince, and of the whole Imperial Family, from the Accounts given me of them by my Friend Dr. Ingenhauss and yourself, I should be happy to find that we stood well in the Opinion of that Court.

Mazzie had emigrated to America in 1773 where he settled near Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello. Mazzie was a great supporter of American liberty having published a pamphlet with the phrase “All men are by nature equally free and independent” in 1774, and he would later return to Europe to serve as a secret envoy for America in Italy and as outspoken advocate for the United States all across Europe.

Sources: “Benjamin Franklin to Philip Mazzei, 27 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0186. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, pp. 308–310.]; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Mazzei