JMATHEMATI / JLOGICA RHETOR JCA >GRAMMATICA I!;! ! IHE ] .IBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES A HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO A. D. 1770 INCLUDING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE TRUSTEES, FACULTY, THE FIRST ALUMNI AND OTHERS BY THOMAS HARRISON MONTGOMERY MEMBER OF THE Historical Society of Pennsylvania, New York Historical Society, Chester County Historical Society, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Etc. Etc. Etc. I think, moreover, that Talents for the Education of Youth are the Gift of God ; and that He on Whom they are bestowed, whenever a Way is opened for the Use of Them,, is as strongly Called as if He heard a Voice from Heaven ; Nothing more surely Pointing out Duty in a Public Service than Ability and Opportunity of Performing it. Dr. Franklin to Dr. Johnson, 23 August, 1750. PHILADELPHIA GEORGE W. JACOBS & CO 103-105 SOUTH 5TH STREET A. I). 1900 COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY GEORGE W. JACOBS & Co. The edition of this book is limited to 730 copies, of which this is No.-S-L ERRATA. Page 9, line 6 32 37 53 81 118 126 208 393 3 9 33 29 i 2 3 20 34 38 Life of, by, and not Life of. associators " associations studium << studiam Fourth < i Tenth Par ton " Paxton Lawrence " Laurence Rowning " Downing do " Bonning viri " vivi. visitor " writer i July 1690 o. s. " i July i69on. s. Education JUbrvy ' PREFACE. Some years ago the late Provost, Dr. Pepper, sought my interest in writing a History of the University of Pennsylvania from its beginning to the present generation, and asked me to undertake it. The honor of his urgency in the matter was so flattering that I eventually agreed to respond to his call, and soon made preparations for the work, which was to be carried on within my own time and opportunities. The progress of this was a great pleasure to me, and its course proved both entertaining and instructive as the material for its compilation was both rich and ample. My labors had to be carried on in the interval hours of a busy life, but in a year or two its claims seemed to press ; and finally, even after some weeks respite abroad, I found myself unable to proceed beyond the year 1769, when health dictated my arresting the work there. Complete as it is to this point I now submit it to the friends of the University. These early years of its operations here set forth in full illustrate its formative period, which is the most instructive in its life. The detail, it is hoped, truly portrays the Men and Movements of the ante-Revolutionary period in the Province of Pennsylvania : and as the Movements of that colonial period, all in some degree, shed their light on the colony's great- est educational undertaking ; so the Men concerned in it were the representatives of the contemporary thought, and moved with influence in those circles which shaped the destinies of the Province, as well also those of the Nation that was then approach- ing its adult years. If this picture of those times (for the University was neces- sarily a part of them) will serve to enlighten and interest its Alumni, and form any inspiration to its Matriculates, in the 988196 4 PREFACE. personal portrayals of the men who built the foundations upon which the present great superstructure rests, the writer will be gratified. Having been himself at one time a pupil in the old Academy building, his interest has been enhanced in the course of the present work by the memory of his attendance on tuition in the venerable birthplace, now no more, of the great educational institution whose continuing years have left a record of such great interest, and which to-day holds out such enlarging prom- ises, the fruitage of the seed laid there in 1749 by the "vol- untary society of founders," as the Trustees were termed by the first Provost. THOS. H. MONTGOMERY. Ardrossan, 23 February, /poo. SOME OF THE WORKS REFERRED TO IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES. Aberdeen University. Mss. Abstracts and Minutes from Records. Alden, Timothy. A Collection of American Epitaphs. New York, 1814. Allen, Ethan. Historical Notices of St. Anne's Parish, Annapolis Baltimore, 1857. Allibone, S. Austin. A Critical Dictionary of English Literature. Philadelphia, 1858. Allison & Penrose. Philadelphia, a History of Municipal Develop- ment Philadelphia, 1887. "American Magazine or Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies." 1757- . Arnold, Matthew. Address on Foreign Education, read in University Chapel, 1886. Ayres, Anne. Life and Work of William Augustus Muhlenberg, D. D. New York, 1881. Bancroft, George. History of the United States. I3th ed. Boston, 1846. Barton, Thomas. Sermon on Unanimity and Publick Spirit. 1755. Beardsley, E. Edwards. Life and Correspondence of Samuel Johnson, D. D. 1874. Life and Correspondence of Samuel Seabury, D. D. 1881. Bigelow, John. The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin. New York and London, 1887. Bowring, John. Compendious System of Natural Philosophy. Lon- don, 1744. Brown, John. Sermon, on publication of the Brief. 6 March 1763. Brown, David Paul. The Forum. Philadelphia, 1886. Buchanan, Edward Y. Early History of Trinity Church, Oxford. Two Discourses. Philadelphia, 1885. Burnaby, Andrew. Travels through the Middle Settlements in North America, in the Years 1759 and 1760. London, 1798. Burd Papers, the. Extracts from Chief Justice William Allen's Letter Book, by Lewis Burd Walker. 1 897. Burnet, Gilbert. History of my own Times. 1734. Carson, Joseph. History of the Medical Department of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. 1869. Coates, Mary. Family Memorials, Philadelphia, 1885. Collections of the Protestant Episcopal Historical Society. New York, 1851. Delaware County Historical Society, Proceedings. 6 WORKS REFERRED To. Dexter, Franklin B. Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College with Annals of the College History. 1885. Duyckinck, Evart A. & George L. Cyclopaedia of American Litera- ture. New York, 1856. Fisher, J. Francis. Sketch of James Logan. In Sparks' Works of Benjamin Franklin, 1840. Fisher, Sidney G. Church Colleges, their History, Position and Importance. Philadelphia, 1895. Ford, Paul Leicester. Bibliography of Benjamin Franklin. Brook- lyn, 1889. Forster, J. Montgomery. Memoir of Rev. Joseph Montgomery. 1879. Franklin, Benjamin. Proposals relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. 1 749 . Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation of our Public Affairs. 1764. Narrative of the late Massacres in Lancaster County of a Number of Indians, friends of the Province. 1764. Remarks on a late protest against the appointment of Mr. Franklin as Agent for the Province of Pennsylvania. 1764. Observations relative to the intentions of the original founders of the Academy in Philadelphia. 1789. Franklin, William Temple. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin. London, 1818. "Gentlemen's Magazine," the. Gledstone, James P. Life and Travels of George Whitefield. Lon- don, 1871. Gordon, Thomas F. History of Pennsylvania. 1829. Graydon, Alexander. Memoirs of a Life chiefly passed in Pennsyl- vania. 1811. Hildeburn, Charles R. Issues of the Press in Pennsylvania. 1886. Hopkinson, Francis. Errata on the Art of Printing incorrectly . . . Examples taken from a Latin Grammar lately printed, etc. Philadelphia, 1763. The Psalms of David, etc., etc. For the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of New York. New York, 1766. Miscellaneous Essays and Occasional Writings. Philadelphia, 1793- Hosack, David. Inaugural Discourse delivered at the opening of Rutgers Medical School in the City of New York, 1826. Hunt, Isaac. Letters from Transylvania. 1764. Jay, Sir James. Letter to the Governors of the College of New York respecting the Collection for the Colleges of Philadelphia and New York. London, 1771. Jenkins, Howard M. Family of William Penn. 1899. WORKS REFERRED To. 7 Johnson, Samuel. Elementa Philosophica, containing chiefly Noetica or Things Relating to the Mind or Understanding, etc. Philadelphia, 1752. American Annotations on Bishop Berkeley's Treatise on the Principles of Human Knowledge. Keith, Charles P. The Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania. 1883. Kingsley, William L. Yale College ; a Sketch of Its History. 1879. Krauth, Charles V. Treatise, etc., with Prolegomena and Annota- tions. Philadelphia, 1886. Lewis, William. Commercium Philosophico-technicum. London, 1 736-' 66. Logan, Deborah. Penn and Logan Correspondence. 1870. Martin, John Hill. Bench and Bar of Philadelphia. 1883. ' ' Maryland Gazette. ' ' The. McMaster, John B. & Stone, Frederick D. Pennsylvania and the Federal Constitution. Philadelphia, 1888. Mears, Anne deB. Old York Road and Its Early Associations. Philadelphia, 1890. Mifflin, John. History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the American War. London, 1 794. Morgan, John. A Discourse upon the Institution of Medical Schools in America. Delivered at the Public Anniversary Commencement held in the College of Philadelphia, May 30 and 31, 1765. Philadelphia, 1765. Morton, Thomas G. The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751-1895. Philadelphia, 1895. Newman, F. W. The English Universities, from the German of V. A. Huber. London, 1843. Newman, John Henry. Office and Work of Universities. London, 1856. ' New York Gazette, " The. New York Historical Society, Collections of. "New York Mercury," The. Overseers of the Public School of Friends, Mss. and Minutes. Palfrey, John G. A History of New England during the Stuart Dynasty. 1859-1864. Parton, James. Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. New York, 1864. "Pennsylvania Gazette, The." " Pennsylvania Journal, The." " Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography," the Perry, William Stevens. Historical Collections of the American Colonial Church. 1871. History of the American Episcopal Church. 1885. Philipps, Thomas. Way of Teaching Languages. 1723. 8 WORKS REFERRED To. Porter, Noah. American Colleges and the American Public. 1878. Proud, Robert. History of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1797. ' ' Quarterly Theological Magazine, " Philadelphia. 1814. Quincy, Josiah. History of Harvard University. Cambridge, 1849. Reed, William B. Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed. Phila- delphia, 1847. Ridgely, H. W. Old Brick Churches of Maryland. New York, 1894. "Royal Gazette, The." Sargent, John. The Mine and other Poems. 1784. Scharf & Westcott. History of Philadelphia. 1884. Smith, Horace W. Life and Correspondence of the Rev. William Smith, D. D., etc. Philadelphia, 1880. Smith, Rev. William. Some thoughts on Education with Reasons for Erecting a College in this Province, and fixing the same at the City of New York. 1752. A General Idea of the College of Mirania. 1753. A Poem on visiting the Academy of Philadelphia, June, 1753. Personal Affliction and frequent Reflection upon human Life, of great use to lead man to the Remembrance of God. Philadelphia, 1754. Discourses on Several Public occasions during the War in America. London, 1759. 2n< ^ e ^-> 1762. An Historical Account of the Expedition against the Ohio Indians in the year 1764. 1765. Works. 1 803. Sparks, Jared. The Works of Benjamin Franklin. 1840. Sprague, William B. Annals of the American Episcopal Pulpit. New York, 1859. Stewart, Andrew. Short Introduction to Grammar for the use of the College and Academy in Philadelphia, etc. 1762. Stiles, Ezra. In Gratulatione Nobilissimi et Amplissimi viri B. Franklinii, &c., &c. 1818. Mss. Diary. Stille, Charles J. Life and Times of John Dickinson. 1891. A Memoir of the Rev. William Smith, D. D. 1869. Thacher, James. American Medical Biography. 1828. Thorn, Walter. History of Aberdeen. Aberdeen, 1811. Tyerman. Life of Rev. George Whitefield. 1876. University of Pennsylvania. Biographical Catalogue of the Matricu- lates of the College, etc. 1749-1893. Philadelphia, 1894. Mss. Minutes of the Academy and College. Watson, John F. Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. 1870. Westcott, Thompson. Historic Mansions of Philadelphia. Revised ed. Philadelphia, 1895. WORKS REFERRED To. 9 White, Andrew. History of the Warfare of Science and Theology. 1896. White, William. Commentaries suited to occasions of Ordination. New York, 1833. Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal Church. New York, 1836. Memoir of the Life of Dr. Bird Wilson. 1839. Whitehead, William. A Charge to the Poets. 1762. Wickersham, James P. History of Education in Pennsylvania. 1886. William and Mary College, Historical Sketch of. Baltimore, 1870. Williamson, Hugh. History of North Carolina. Philadelphia, 1812. Wister, Charles J., Jr. Memoir of Charles J. Wister, 1866. Wood, George B. History of the University of Pennsylvania. 1827. Also edited in 1896 by Frederick D. Stone. Wordsworth, Christopher. Social Life at the English Universities. London, 1874. I. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN laid the first stone of an institution which was destined to outgrow in usefulness and in influence any other of the creations of his fertile brain, when he announced in a communication to the printers of his Pennsylvania Gazette which appeared on 24 August, 1749, the prospectus of his scheme for the higher education of youth in his adopted city in the following sentences : In the settling of new countries, the first care of the planters must be to provide and secure the necessaries of life; this engrosses their attention, and affords them little time to think of any thing farther. We may therefore excuse our ancestors, that they established no ACADEMY or college in this province, wherein their youth might receive a polite and learned education. Agriculture and mechanic arts, were of the most immediate importance ; the culture of minds by the finer arts and sciences, was necessarily postpon'd to times of more wealth and leisure. Since those times are come, and numbers of our inhabitants are both able and willing to give their sons a good education, if it might be had at home, free from the extraordinary expence and hazard in send- ing them abroad for that purpose ; and since a proportion of men of learning is useful in every country, and those who of late years come to settle among us, are chiefly foreigners, unacquainted with our language, laws and customs; it is thought a proposal for establishing an ACADEMY in this province, will not now be deemed unseasonable. Such a pro- posal the publick may therefore shortly expect. In the meantime, please to give the following letter of the younger Pliny to Cornelius Tacitus,* a place in your paper, as it seems apropos to the design above mentioned . PLINY junior to CORNELIUS TACITUS. I Rejoice that you are safely arrived in Rome ; for tho' I am always desirous to see you, I am more particularly so now. I purpose to continue a few days longer at my house in Jusculum, in order to finish a work which I have upon my hands: For I am afraid, should I put a stop to this design, now that it is so nearly compleated, I shall find it difficult to resume it In the meanwhile, that I may lose no time, I send this letter before me, to request a favour of you, which I hope shortly to ask in person. But before I inform you what my request is, I must let you into the occasion of 1 See Melmoth's Letters of Pliny the Consul, Book IV. Letter 13. Franklin's Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania are repeated in full in Appendix I. 12 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. it. Being lately in Comum, the place of my nativity, a young lad, son to one of my neighbors, made me a visit. I asked him whether he studied oratory and where? He told me he did, and at Medolianum. 2 And why not here ? Because (said his father, who came with him) we have no mas- ters. ' ' No ! said I, surely it nearly concerns you, who are fathers (and very opportunely several of the company were so) that your sons should receive their education here, rather than anywhere else: For where can they be placed more agreeably than in their own country, or instructed with more safety, and less expence, than at home, and under the eye of their parents ? Upon what very easy terms might you, by a general contribu- tion, procure proper masters, if you would only apply towards the raising a salary for them, the extraordinary expence it costs you for your sons' journies, lodgings, and whatsoever else you pay for upon account of their being abroad ; as pay indeed you must in such a case for every thing ? Tho' I have no children myself, yet I shall willingly contribute to a design so beneficial to (what I look upon as a child, or a parent) my country ; and therefore I will advance a third part of any sum you shall think proper to raise for this purpose. I would take upon myself the whole expence, were I not apprehensive that my benefaction might hereafter be abused, and perverted to private ends; as I have observed to be the case in several places where publick foundations of this nature have been established. The single means to prevent this mischief is, to have the choice of the masters entirely in the breast of the parents, who will be so much the more careful to determine properly, as they shall be obliged to share the expence of maintaining them. For tho' they may be careless in disposing of another' s bounty, they will certainly be cautious how they apply their own ; and will see that none but those who deserve it shall receive my money, when they must at the same time receive theirs too. Let my example then encourage you to unite heartily in this useful design, and be assured, the greater the sum my share shall amount to, the more agreeable it will be to me. You can undertake nothing that will be more advantageous to your children, nor more acceptable to your country. They will, by this means, receive their education where they receive their birth, and be accustomed, from their infancy, to inhabit and affect their native soil. May you be able to procure professors of such distinguished abilities, that the neighboring towns shall be glad to draw their learning from hence ; and as you now send your children to foreigners for education, may foreigners in their turn flock hither for their instruction." I thought proper thus to lay open to you the rise of this affair, that you might be the more sensible how agreeable it will be to me, if you undertake the office I request. I entreat you, therefore, with all the earnestness a matter of so much importance deserves, to look out, amongst the great numbers of men of 2 Milan. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 13 letters, which the reputation of your genius brings to you, proper persons to whom we may apply for this purpose ; but without entering into any agreement with them on my part. For I would leave it entirely free to the parents to judge and choose as they shall see proper: All the share I pre- tend to claim is, that of contributing my care and my money. If, there- fore, any one shall be found, who thinks himself qualified for the under- taking, he may repair thither ; but without relying upon anything but his merit Farewell. II. These proposals were the consummation of many years' reflection over the wants of the Province, which he had made his home, in the matter of better and larger educational facilities, for the growing generations. The early settlers of Pennsylvania had brought with them the culture of their home training, but as Franklin expresses it, the demands of the urgent present for- bade them laying preparations for a like training to their children. His own native city had as its immediate neighbor the town of Cambridge, where Harvard College had already existed for one hundred and twelve years. In its training and its influence he had no share ; " his father, burdened with a numerous family, was unable without inconvenience to support the expense of a college education," he records in his autobiography. 1 I was put to the grammar school at eight years of age ; my father intending to devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the church. My early readiness in learning to read [he continues], (which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not read,) and the opinion of all his friends, that I should certainly make a good scholar, encouraged him in this purpose of his. My uncle Benjamin, too, approved of it, and proposed to give me all his short-hand volumes of sermons, I suppose as a stock to set up with, if I would learn his charac- ter. I continued, however, at the grammar school not quite one year, though in that time I had risen gradually from the middle of the class of 1 Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin. John Higelow, iSSy. i 38. 14 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. that year to be the head of it, and farther was removed into the next class above it in order to go with that into the third at the end of the year. But my father, in the meantime, from a view of the expense of a college edu- cation, which having so large a family he could not well afford, and the mean living many so educated were afterwards able to obtain reasons that he gave to his friends in my hearing altered his first intention, took me from the grammar-school, and sent me to a school for writing and arithmetic, kept by a then famous man, Mr. George Brown ell, very suc- cessful in his profession, generally, and that by mild, encouraging methods. Under him. I acquired fair writing pretty soon ; but I failed in the arith- metic, and made no progress in it. At ten years old I was taken home to assist my father in his business, which was that of a tallow chandler and sope-boiler. This is the brief but expressive story of Franklin's own education, and how Harvard came to lose another matriculant and an alumnus whose name would have adorned its long roll However, in 1753, it conferred on him the honor of Magis- ter Artium, as had Yale in the same year, 2 and William and Mary in 1756. To these degrees higher collegiate honors were bestowed on the man who though not a collegian was the creator of a university, as St. Andrews in 1759 made him Juris Utriusque Doctor, and Oxford in 1762 enrolled him as Juris Civilis Doctor. 3 And yet the child of his own creation never enrolled his name as the possessor of one of its Degrees. For two years he continued thus employed in his father's 2 " The College of Cambridge of their own motion, presented me with the degree of Master of Arts. Yale College in Connecticut, had before made me a sim- ilar compliment. Thus without studying in any college, I came to partake of their honours. They were conferred in consideration of my improvements and discoveries in the electric branch of natural philosophy." Bigelow, i, 242. "Whereas Benjamin Franklin Esquire, by his ingenious Experiments and Theory of Electrical Fire has greatly merited of the Learned World : it is therefore considered that the said Benjamin Franklin shall receive the Honour of a Degree of Master of Arts," at Yale College Commencement, 12 September 1753. v. Dex- ter's Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College with Annals of the Col- lege History, p. 304. 3 Oxford at the same time conferred M. A. on his son William. Sparks, i, 250, 267. In the same month that his St. Andrews degree was conferred, the City of Edinburgh presented him with the freedom of the city in the following record : " Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia is hereby admitted a burgess and guild-brother of this city, as a mark of the affectionate respect which the Magistrates and Council have for a gentleman, whose amiable character, greatly distinguished for usefulness to the society which he belongs to, and love to all mankind, had long ago reached them across the Atlantic Ocean." i, 251. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 15 business ; but his " bookish inclination at length determined his father to make him a printer " though he had already one son (James) of that profession. I liked it much better than that of my father, but still had a hanker- ing for the sea. To prevent the apprehended effect of such an inclination, my father was impatient to have me bound to my brother. I stood out some time, but at last was persuaded, and signed the indenture, when I was but twelve years old. His father's little library consisted chiefly of books in polemic divinity, most of which I read. * * * Plutarch's Lives there was, in which I read abundantly, and I still think that time spent to great advantage. I now had access to better books. An acquaintance with the apprentices of booksellers enabled me sometimes to borrow a small one, which I was careful to return soon, and clean. Often I sat up in my room reading the greatest part of the night, when the book was borrowed in the evening and to be returned early in the morning, lest it should be missed or wanting. [He became intimately acquainted with] another book- ish lad in the town, John Collins by name, with whom I was intimately acquainted. * * * About this time I met with an odd volume of the Spectator. It was the third. I had never before seen any of them . I bought it, read it over and over, and was much delighted with it I thought the writing 4 excellent, and wished if possible to imitate it But his apprenticeship to his brother, notwithstanding all these waysides of literary pleasure and self education was made irksome to him ; either his brother's tyranny or jealousy, per- haps both, oppressed his ingenious energy, and he sought means to leave him and he says : I was sensible that if I attempted to go openly, means would be used to prevent me. My friend Collins therefore undertook to manage a little for me. He agreed with the Captain of a New York sloop for my passage * * * So I sold some of my books to raise a little money, was taken on board privately, and as we had a fair wind, in three days I found myself in New York, near 300 miles from home, a boy of but 17, without the least recommendation to or knowledge of, any person in 5 the place, and with very little money in my pocket. Here, [he says,] I offered my service to the printer in that place old Mr. William Bradford, who had been the first printer in Pennsylvania, removed from thence upon the quarrel of George Keith. He could give me no employment, having little to do, and help enough already, but says he : My son at Philadelphia has lately lost his principal hand, Aquila Rose, by death ; if you go thither I believe he may employ you. 6 4 Bigelow, i. 45, 47. Ibid, i. 57. 6 Ibid, i. 58. 1 6 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. And the young Bostonian at once set out on his way to the city where he made his home the remainder of his long and eventful life, and which in its oldest institutions, whether of phil- anthropy, of benevolence, of education, of science, or of busi- ness, testifies to his genius of organization and his fertility of resources. III. The story of Franklin's landing in Philadelphia on that October Sunday morning in 1723, the same day in the week when in 1706 he first drew breath in Boston, is well known but always interesting. His walk up Market Street, with his three penny worth of rolls, " with a roll under each arm and eating the other," and back by Chestnut and Walnut Streets to the place of the landing, "to which I went for a draught of the river water, where being filled with one of my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came down the river with us, and were waiting to go farther." Thus refreshed, I walked ngain up the street which by this time had many clean-dressed people in it, who were all walking the same way. I joined them, and thereby was led into the great meeting of the Quakers near the market I sat down among them, and after looking round awhile and hearing nothing said, being very drowsy thro" labor and want of rest the preceding night, I fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. This was therefore, the first house I was in, or slept in, in Philadelphia. 1 It was a notable day in the annals of our city in which Franklin was introduced to it, and the simple story in his own inimitable phrases seems ever to renew an interest in its perusal. He wrote this narrative nearly half a century afterwards, but the vividness of his memory brought up to his mind the quaint 1 Bigelow, i. 63. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 17 scenes of that day, and the tale is told us as freshly as if written at the time. On Monday morning he reported bright and early at Andrew Bradford's, and he tells us he there " found in the shop the old man, his father, whom I had seen at New York, and who, traveling on horseback, had got to Philadelphia before me. He introduced me to his son, who received me civilly, gave me a breakfast, but told me he did not at present want a hand." William Bradford undertook to introduce him to the " new printer, lately set up, one Keimer " who " not discovering that he was the other printer's father," babbled about his plans and said " he expected soon to get the greatest part of the business into his own hands," whereat Bradford "drew him on by artful questions and starting little doubts " to tell more of his plans, and Franklin "who stood by and heard all, saw im- mediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister, and the other a mere novice." 2 He lodged at Bradford's the while helping Keimer and doing small jobs for the former. But this first interview laid the seeds of the distrust between him and that family which was fostered in subsequent years by his suc- cessful opposition and intensified by later political controversies. By promises from Sir William Keith, whose duplicit character he had yet to find out, he engaged to go to England to purchase printing apparatus wherewith to furnish a great establishment in Philadelphia; and in November 1724 he sailed thither, only to find the Governor's promises utterly worthless ; he remained in London, working as best he might at his trade, and by October 1726 he was again in Philadelphia. For a young man who had not yet attained his majority, this was an education which not alone developed his self reliance but also added knowledge as well as experience to his stock of weapons wherewith to continue his battle with life. In the year following he tells us he " form'd most of my ingenious acquaintances into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the JUNTO." 3 These were Joseph Brientnal, 2 Bigelow, i. 64. 3 Ibid, i. 141. 1 8 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. a scrivener ; Thomas Godfrey, the mathematician ; Nicholas Scull, a surveyor ; William Parsons, afterwards surveyor general ; William Maugridge, 4 "joiner, but a most exquisite mechanic;" Hugh Meredith, 5 "a Welsh Pennsylvanian, thirty years of age, bred to country work," and afterwards his partner for twelve years in the Pennsylvania Gazette ; Stephen Potts, " a young country- man of full age, of uncommon natural parts, and great wit and humor, but a little idle ; " George Webb, "an Oxford scholar ; " Robert Grace, " a young gentleman of some fortune, generous, lively and witty; " and lastly, 1 8. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 167 XXL The young tutors Barton and Duche have been already named. No minute appears recording the appointment of Thomas Barton, though by the Treasurer's accounts he was on duty and received a salary of ^50 per annum as early as November, 1752, and the Trustees voted him 17 November, 1753, an augmentation of .10. Jacob Duche's nomination was due to the order of the Trustees, 13 February, 1753, "the number of Scholars in the Latin School being greatly increased, it is resolved that another Usher be provided with all convenient speed," and on 17 November, 1753, he was granted a salary of ,40 per annum, the Treasurer's accounts showing he had been then six months on duty. This young man, but just fifteen years of age, continued, but without formal appointment, eighteen months in this work, as Mr. Coleman's entries charge him with no payments after August, 1754. It interfered with his duties as a scholar preparing for a degree, which he obtained with honor at the first commencement in 1757. His talents secured his election as Professor of Oratory in December, 1759, and he was further honored by the election as a trustee in February, 1761, in the room of William Masters who had died in the November previous. Some acc6unt of his ecclesiastical, political, and literary life may be found in place when we con- sider him as a Trustee. THOMAS BARTON, born in Ireland in 1730, of English parentage, was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and when about twenty years of age came to this country and opened a school in Norriton township, Montgomery County, Pennsyl- vania, in the neighborhood of the Rittenhouse family. The following year he accepted the tutorship in the Academy, and he here continued until 1754, when at a meeting of the Trustees on the 1 3th August " having by letter directed to them signified his Design of leaving the School and going into Orders; they consented to his Dismission in a Month or two, agreeable to his Request." He was ordained by the Bishop of London, 29 1 68 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. January, 1755, and returning to Philadelphia in the following April, he shortly entered on his duties as Missionary in Hunt- ingdon County, Pennsylvania, from whence he ministered at York, and Carlisle and Shippensburg. His interest in the Indians was warmly aroused, but the defeat of Braddock marred his plans for usefulness among them. He became Chaplain to General Forbes in his expedition of 1758. For nearly twenty years he was Rector of St. James Church, Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania ; his life was full of untiring activities in the frontier settle- ments. In the Revolution he felt that his oath of allegiance as a minister bound him to England, and he parted with all his interests in Pennsylvania, and arrived within the British lines in New York in 1778. He died 25 May, 1780, and was interred in the chancel of St. George's Church, New York. He preached a notable sermon on Braddock's Defeat, which with an intro- ductory letter by Provost Smith received a very extended cir- culation, entitled Unanimity and Publick Spirit. He had sought Mr. Smith's judgment upon it and asked his views on the office and duty of Protestant ministers, and the right of exercising their pulpit liberty in the handling and treating of civil as well as religious affairs, and more especially in times of public danger and calamity. 1 This embodied a reference to the Friends then in power in the Assembly who were opposed to all warfare defensive as well as offensive. And the Provost enclosing a copy of this produc- tion to the Archbishop of Canterbury, informs him upon the general consternation that followed General Braddock's Defeat, I wrote to the Missionaries on the Frontiers as far as I knew them, exhort- ing them to make a noble Stand for liberty, and vindicating the office and Duties of a Protestant Ministry against all the Objections of the Quakers and other Spiritualists who are against all clergy. 2 As we use the latter word to-day, such association would not be sought by the former now. It may well be granted, however, that the Friends were consistent, and that had the whole community been permeated with the just principles of which they claimed to be the exponent, there would have existed 1 Mr. Smith's letter is given at full in his Life and Correspondence, i, llo-llS. 2 Life and Correspondence, i. 119. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 169 no hostility or treachery among the Indians, and the frontiers would have had the defence of righteousness. John Penn, the Proprietary, said of Barton : Nor has he done anything in the military way but what hath increased his character for piety, and that of a sincerely religious man and zealous minister. In short he is a most worthy, active and serviceable Pastor and Missionary. Mr. Barton married in 1753 a sister of David Rittenhouse. The College and Academy conferred on him in 1760 the degree of Master of Arts, and the same was conferred by Kings College in 1770. His son Benjamin Smith Barton was in 1789 elected Professor of Natural History and Botany in the College, and in 1813 from that was made Professor of Materia Medica in the University. And his grandson William P. C. Barton was chosen Professor of Botany, in 1816, succeeding his uncle, whose death occurred in 1815. In his son's Memoirs of David Rittenhouse it is said that his death put a period to the sincere and intimate friendship between that gentleman and Mr Rittenhouse, which had subsisted almost thirty years. This friend- ship, which may be said to have commenced almost in the youth of both parties, continued without interruption until the year 1776; when the declaration of American independence produced, unhappily, some abate- ment of it on each side ; at least, so far as related to that great political measure, respecting which they entertained different opinions. For, although Mr. Barton was, in truth, warmly attached to the principles of the English Whigs ; and had, on various occasions, manifested his zeal for the liberties of the American people and rights of the colonists ; his opinions were conscientiously opposed, and only these, to the expediency of that measure. Yet, it is believed, that the personal friendship of these intimate relatives was far from having ever subsided ; the ties that early united them, were of the strongest kind ; that union was of long continuance ; and they were mutually sensible of each other's worth and talents. 8 The loyal obituary notice of him which appeared in the Royal Gazette, 31 May, 1780, is worthy of record here : On Thursday the 2$th inst. departed this life aged 50 years, the Rev- erend THOMAS BARTON, A. M., the Society's Missionary for Lancaster, in the Province of Pennsylvania. This worthy Clergyman was distinguished 3 Memoirs of Rittenhouse, by William Barton, M.A., p. 287. 170 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. by a generous openness of temper, and liberality of sentiments, which joined to an exemplary conduct, and indefatigable zeal in discharging the duties of his function, gained him the love and esteem of his acquaintance!; especially of his parishioners, who greatly respected him during his resi- dence among them for 21 years. His unshaken loyalty and attachment to the Constitution, drew upon him the resentment of the rebels, and exposed him to many hardships. The violence of the times compelled him at last to leave his numerous family, and take refuge in this city ; where he bore a tedious and most painful sickness with fortitude and resignation ; he died in firm expectation of that immortality and glory which are the exalted privileges of sincere Christians. On Friday last his remains were interred in the Chancel of St. George's Chapel. His wife had died 18 June, 1774 and was buried at Lan- caster. 4 XXII. The vacancy occasioned by Mr. Dove's retirement, which was made necessary by his insistence on continuing his private school, was filled by the appointment of Ebenezer Kinnersley, at the meeting of 10 July, 1753. The story is best told in the Minutes : Mr. Peters inform" d the Trustees, That in Pursuance of their Resolu- tion of providing a new Master for the English School, Mr. Franklin had sometime since wrote to Mr. Ebenezer Kinnersly, then in the West Indies to know if that Place would be agreeable to him, and that Mr. Kinnersly was now come over and had signified his Willingness to accept thereof, if the Trustees approve of him. The Trustees present, having express' d their approbation of Mr. Kinnersly, thought proper to send for Mr. Dove and acquaint him that they had provided a new Master for the said School pursuant to their Intention signified to him some Months ago ; who, thereupon, declared he would attend the School no longer. Mr. Kinnersly * Alden, American Epitaphs, ii, 206. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 171 being then sent for, accepted the charge of the said School for one Year, his salary to be one Hundred and Fifty pounds per annum. On 17 November following Mr. Kinnersley informed the Trustees "that there are no more than Fortyone scholars belonging to the English school," and they thought it unneces- sary to keep two Ushers and Mr. Carroll, and Mr. Franklin was therefore desired to acquaint him that the Trustees have no further occasion for his services, but that they will nevertheless continue him in Pay for Three Months after the expiration of the current Quarter, unless he shall sooner get into some other employment. Mr. Kinnersley so commended himself to the Trustees in his labors, that at a large meeting of the Trustees held on 1 1 July, 1755, with Franklin presiding, he was "unanimously chosen Professor of the English Tongue and of oratory." It was a month before his appointment as Master of the English School, that we find one of those fugitive notes in the local press which testify to the Trustees' recognition of the importance of keeping the attention of the community alive to the subject of education as exemplified by the rule of the Academy. " On Wednesday the 3Oth past, the Reverend Mr. Cradock, from Maryland, preached in the Academy Hall, a most excellent Sermon on the Advantages of Learning." l This may have had a deeper meaning than the mere notice of the sermon would convey. May it not have been that Franklin thought he would find in this trained scholar and successful teacher the man to take the place, which he had hoped at the outset of the Academy would be filled by the learned Samuel Johnson of Stratford, 1 Pennsylvania Gazette, 7 June, 1753. The Rev. Thomas Cradock, incum- bent of St. Thomas' Parish, Baltimore County, the older brother of John Cradock, who in 1772 became Archbishop of Dublin, was a very learned man, and in the Maryland Gazette $ May 1747 had advertised to take young gentlemen in his family and teach them the Latin and Greek languages, which he did for many years, his school being patronized from the near southern counties of that Province. It is related of his son Thomas that under his tuition the lad at the age of twelve was able to repeat entire pages of Homer in the Greek. Rev. Ethan Allen in Sprague's Annals, p. III. In 1753 he published a version of the Psalms, translated from the Hebrew original into uniform heroic verse. Miss H. \V. Ridgely's Old Brick Churches of Maryland, p. 122. It is not mentioned by Allibone. Mr. Cradock died 7 May, 1770, aged 51 years. 1/2 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. Connecticut, who became the head in 1754 of the New King's College, New York? There was no meeting of the Trustees in June 1753 for lack of a quorum; and the conjecture relating to Mr. Cradock in this connection has only the warrant of Franklin's special notice of his Academy Sermon on a Week Day, which he deemed important enough to apprise his readers of. EBENEZER KINNERSLEY'S name is so interwoven with the work of the first score of years of the Academy and College, that we naturally desire to know somewhat of the man who made for him- self this distinction. He was born, the son of William Kinnersley a Baptist Minister, in Gloucester, England, 30 November, 1711. His father immigrated to America in 1714, and settled in Lower Dublin, near Philadelphia, where he officiated as minister to the Pennypack Baptist Church. He died in 1734; and the son after- wards united with the Pennypack Church, and on his marriage in 1739 removed to Philadelphia. His talents as a public speaker were soon manifest, and his desire was to enter the min- istry but his health not being robust he was not ordained until 1743. He had in one of his lay sermons denounced Whitefield's teachings and so incurred the enmity of most of his co-religion- ists who were entranced by that wonderful preacher, that he was for a season under excommunication by his brethren, and for some time he attended Christ Church ; but a reconciliation took place in 1746 when the Philadelphia Baptist Church was organized, of which he became one of the constituent members, and with this he remained in communion the remainder of his life. It was in the year 1746 that in the indulgence of his well formed scientific tastes he became deeply interested in the inves- tigation of electricity and its subtle and wonderful powers, and became closely associated with Franklin in his experiments and with others like minded. His pursuit of it was so engrossing as to overtax his health and he sought convalescence in Bermuda, whither he resorted at subsequent times for a like purpose ; and it was while here that Franklin corresponded with him in the HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 173 Spring of 1753 about taking charge of the English School, which resulted in his connection with the Academy. His powers as a speaker made successful the Lectures on Electricity which he undertook, and which brought his name more prominently before the different communities in which he exhibited his interesting experiments, than other congenial friends who had not the like need to turn their accomplishments to useful pur- poses. Franklin gave him a letter of introduction, 5 Sep- tember, 1751, to James Bowdoin when he is about visiting Boston : 2 As you are curious in electricity, I take the freedom of introducing to you, my friend Mr. Kinnersley, who visits Boston with a complete appa- ratus for experimental lectures on that subject. He has given great satis- faction to all that have heard him here, and I believe you will be pleased with his performance. He is quite a stranger in Boston ; and as you will find him a sensible worthy man, I hope he will be favored with your coun- tenance, and the encouragement which that must procure him among your friends. In writing to Cadwallader Golden on 14 September, 1752, Franklin says 3 : "I am sorry you could not see Mr. Kinnersley 's Lectures ; they would have pleased you." Kinnersley's cor- respondence with Franklin was continued over many years, his last letter to Franklin which we have being written him to Lon- don 13 October, 1770; extracts from it have been given in the sketch of Franklin's life on a previous page, and all display the ardor of a learned enthusiast who in communicating his observations and experiments to an older friend appears to seek his concurrence if not approval in their results, who in turn responds with like eagerness to his friend whether from the quiet of his home or amid his public duties while abroad. In 1757, Mr. Kinnersley received the degree of M.A. from his College, and in 1758 became a member of the American Philosophical Society. We shall see traces of his steps through his College duties, until his three score of years with a feeble constitution induced him to lay down his professorship, and he 2 Sparks, v. 257. Bigelow, ii. 243. s Sparks, vi. 123. 174 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. resigned it 17 October, 1772. The Minutes of the Trustees, 15 October, record that Dr Redman and Dr Peters reported that Mr Kinnersley had desired them to inform the Board that on the iyth inst, he designed to resign his office and Professorship in this Institution, the present state of his health requiring that he should make a Voyage to a warmer climate during the approaching Winter ; and that he hoped the Trustees would give him a proper Certificate of his good Behaviour during the last nineteen years in which he has been employed in their Service, and that they will allow Mrs Kinnersley to occupy the House in which he now lives, till next Spring, which was at once granted. He passed the following winter in Barbadoes, thus again seeking strength under the restfulness of a tropical climate. On his return, he made his home in the country among the scenes of his early youth, and there died 4 July, 1778, and was buried at the Lower Dublin Baptist Church. It was as a graceful tribute to his memory that some of the Alumni and others erected a Win- dow Memorial to Ebenezer Kinnersley 4 in College Hall ; it is on the Eastern stairway, and all who pass and repass under its tinted light must be reminded of the faithful professor who found time to contribute to his fellow men some better knowledge of Electricity, and who thus supplemented the discoveries of the great Founder of the institution to which the latter had called him to be a professor. Graydon in his Memoirs describes his tuition in grammar and recitation under Mr. Kinnersley, and speaks of him as " an Anabaptist clergyman, a large, venerable looking man, of no great general erudition, though a considerable proficient in elec- tricity." Provost Smith's notice of him in the American Magazine for October, 1758, where he noticed Alison and Grew, already referred to, will be quoted later in a more fitting connection than here. An opportunity presented itself shortly after Mr. Kinners- ley's appointment, to securing a teacher for modern languages ; on 1 6 December, the Trustees being inform' d that Mr. Creamer a gent'n from Germany is 4lt ln Memoriam Rev. E. Kinnersley, A.M., Orat. et Litt. Angl. Prof. 1753- 1772 " is the legend on the window. It was erected in 1872. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 175 very capable of teaching the French and German Languages, and that he is now out of employment, Mr. Peters, Mr. Franklin and Dr. Bond are desired to enquire more particularly into his qualifications and to treat with him concerning his teaching those Languages in the Academy. On 8 January, 1754, Dr. Thomas Bond reports that pursuant to the Request of the Trustees at their last Meeting Mr. Franklin and himself had made some Enquiry concerning Mr. Creamer and had been informed he was qualified for Teaching the French, Italian and German Languages, and besides was well skill' d in Musick and some Kinds of Painting. That they had also desired to know of him upon what Terms he would undertake to teach these Things, or such of them as the Trustees should require, in the Academy. That in Answer to this he proposed to give attendance four Hours in a Day for a Salary of Sixty Pounds per annum, provided he might have Liberty of using the School Room to teach in at other Times, in Case any Scholars, not of the Academy, offer' d. The Trustees con- sidering that some Inconveniences might attend this Matter, chose rather to make him an offer of ^100. per annum for his attendance all the School Hours, or Time equivalent, if other Hours should be found to suit them better; Wherewith Dr. Thomas Bond is desired to acquaint him. But this arrangement proved irksome to the Trustees, it seems, for a minute of II July, 1755, implies they desired a severance of these relations. A letter from Mr. Creamer to the Trustees was read, requesting to be continued Teacher of the French Tongue till April next. But the Trustees being of Opinion his being longer employ' d in the Academy was unneces- sary, agreed he should be paid up to this Time, and to give him a quarters salary over. The interests of the Charity School kept pace in the thoughts of the Trustees with that of the Academy. At the meeting of 17 November, 1753, Mr. Franklin and Dr. Shippen are desired to treat with one Mrs. Hoi- well (who for some Time past has kept a school, and is said to be well qualified for that Business) to know upon what Terms she would undertake the charge of thirty Girls to teach them Reading, Sewing and Knitting. At the next meeting, these Trustees reported an engage- ment with Mrs. Holwell, for which she is to be paid Thirty pounds per annum; and that at present she teaches in one of the upper Rooms in the Academy, till a more con- venient place shall be provided. 176 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. On 13 August, 1754, it was ordered, That the Treasurer pay to Frances Holwell, Mistress of the Charity School, the Sum of Three Pounds, to be laid out in Books, Canvas, Cruels, and other Things necessary in the Instruction of the poor Children under her care. What we of to-day term Fancy Work, the Trustees of old thought a necessary tuition to poor children ; and the remem- brance of ancient samplers is revived, the handiwork of the girls of the last century, which was fostered by the Fathers of our University. On 8 April, 1755, Mrs. Holwell was allowed "Fifteen pounds a year for an assistant, she taking charge of Fifty Girls, if the Trustees think fit to send so many." XXIII. The progress of the good work so carefully guided by the Trustees opened up further thoughts of the future uses of the Academy, and at the meeting of 10 April, 1753, when the approval of a Charter for the vigorous Academy was announced, it " was represented to the Trustees that the ground between the Academy Lot and Arch street might probably now be obtained on a reasonable Ground Rent, it was unanimously agreed to request Mr. Alison (who had been treating with the owners concerning it) to secure the same at the Rate of 4.6 pr Foot." The matter was at once closed, and certain two lots were secured, reaching from the Western moiety of their lot to Arch Street 1 giving them a frontage on that street of 126 feet ; and at the same time and by the same conveyance they pur- chased the lot at the corner of Arch and Fourth streets, 36 feet on the latter by 54 feet deep, and upon this latter was eventually erected the Provost's house. There remained three adjoining 1 Title was taken from Dr. Alison 14 July, 1753, who had purchased on 16 April previously from Jonathan Price. See Deed Book H, No. 7, p. 449, &c. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 177 lots between this latter and the remainder, 40 feet on Fourth Street by 1 8 feet on Arch Street which were purchased by Mr Dove about the same time. Probably seeing the desire of the Trustees to possess these to square out their premises, Mr Dove may have secured them on a venture, for if he did not prove himself a Dove in teaching, as we shall see, he may have lacked his titular innocence in a trade. However this may be, negotiations were opened in about twelve years for their sale to the Trustees, and after a dozen years further patience they secured them for 850, which was reported at a special meeting on 22 November, I766. 2 The purchase of 1753 was not too much for their expected wants. Buildings would be erected, and ample play ground reserved for the pupils, and dormitories were wanted for the incoming of the country lad who desired a better edu- cation than he could find near his distant town ; though the Charter, now forthcoming, gave them no higher title than the one they had begun and flourished on : The Academy and Charita- ble School in the Province of Pennsylvania. A Charter had early been in their thoughts, for the firmer management of their affairs and the proper holding of real estate, to say nothing of the political influence accruing to their efforts to have their work thus officially sealed to them by the powers that be. And at the meeting of 9 June, 1752, " Mr. Francis is desired to make a Draught of a charter for incorporating the Trustees of the Academy in order to be sent over to the Pro- prietor for his approbation." Through the influential offices of Dr. Peters, Secretary to the Proprietors, whose active interest in the Academy seemed to be second only to that of Franklin, the application to be chartered was well furthered. But the delays of ocean travel, and the formal solemnities of such a trans- action, took many months to overcome ; and only at the meet- ing of 10 April, 1753, Mr. Peters acquainted the Trustees, that the Proprietors approved the Draft of a Charter which had been laid before them, and had sent over Directions for passing the same under the great seal. That they had like- 1 The two Fourth Street Lots he had taken from the same Price title 18 April, 1753. The Trustees' title from him is Recorded in Deed Book I, No. 6, p. 663, &c. i/8 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. wise sent an Order on their Receiver General for the Payment of Five Hundred Pounds to the Trustees of the Academy as soon as the Charter should be executed ; and the said Order was accordingly deliver' d to the President. And it was then Resolved, That an Address of Thanks be made to the Proprietors for this great Favour and noble Benefaction ; and Mr. Allen, Mr. Francis and Mr. Franklin are desired to prepare a Draft of the same, to be laid before the Trustees at their next meeting. At the meeting of 13 July, seventeen Trustees 3 being pres- ent, though the President was absent from the city on his tour to the Eastward on his post office duties, Mr. Peters informed the Trustees that the Governor was now at his House, ready to pass the Charter, which had been fairly engrossed for that Purpose ; Whereupon the Trustees in a Body waited on the Governor, who accord- ingly signed the same with a Warrant for affixing the Provincial Seal thereto, and delivered it to the Trustees, expressing his good wishes to their Under- taking and that the charter now granted them might contribute to its Success. Mr. Francis then, in Behalf of the Trustees, returned the Gov- ernor their most hearty Thanks, and assured him they would likewise dutifully address the Proprietors in Acknowledgment of so great a Favour, and of their late noble Benefaction to the Academy. Mr. Francis was then desired to get the great seal affixed thereto pursuant to the Governor's War- rant, and cause it to be recorded in the Rolls office in Philadelphia. Thus was chartered THE TRUSTEES OF THE ACADEMY AND CHARITABLE SCHOOL IN THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA. The gratification in receiving a Charter extended beyond the Trustees to the Pupils, and these were afforded an early opportunity to make declamations on the pleasing topic. Orig- inal papers by Francis Hopkinson, Josiah Martin, John Morris, and William Masters (who did not graduate), are preserved among the Penn Papers in the possession of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. These were cared for by the thoughtful Peters and forwarded to the Proprietaries as evidences of the proficiency attained in the Academy, which they had now clothed 3 Messrs. Lawrence, Francis, Turner, Willing, Plumsted, Maddox, White, Cadwalader, Syng, Thos. Bond, Leech, Phineas Bond, Shippen, Strettell, Inglis, Peters, and Coleman. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 179 with a Charter. And in his handwriting we find the endorse- ment on one of them : Some declamations made by the Latin Boys in the Academy on the Proprietaries kind grant of a charter, Not intended for View being only written as Rough Drafts to help their Memories at the time of delivery. Neither masters nor any other person that we know of gave any assistance. Hopkinson in a firm manly hand, though but sixteen years of age, writes : 'Tis Learning which like an able Artist polishes the Diamond and Discovers its Lustre and latent Beauties. 'Tis Learning which makes a Man happy in himself and a blessing to his Country. 'Tis Learning which prepares us for Heaven and Perfection and makes a Mortal almost equal to the Angels themselves. * * * Alas, how unhappy are they who have not had the advantages of a liberal Education, surely Life must be a burden to them and Time hang heavy on their Hands ; but this shall never be said of Philadelphia while such generous, such publick spirited Gentlemen bear any sway in it John Morris, a graduate of 1759, who could not have been over fourteen years of age, with a vigorous and clear pen writes : Our present Honourable Proprietaries, copying after the Example of such a noble Father, will no doubt, advance every good, every useful Design among us. How much are we indebted to them, for their generous Benefaction, how much for granting a Charter, which establishes this Academy upon a sure and lasting Foundation ? A Charter confirmed to us by a Governor, who has thought us worthy of his Notice and Protection amid the cares that attend his exalted Station ; a Governor born among us, our Friend and our Countryman, and a Governor distinguished for his peaceable administration and an inviolable Regard for the Laws and Rights of Mankind. How much is it for our Honour that our President has been so successful in his searches into the most hidden secrets of Nature and is in as much esteem at London and Paris as in Philadelphia. With such examples as these before our Eyes, and under your care, and inspec- tion of such worthy gentlemen, what advantages may we not hope for ? i So HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. XXIV. Franklin's summer in 1753 was a busy one ; Having been for some time employed [he writes] 1 by the postmaster- general of America, as his comptroller in regulating several offices, and bringing the officers to account, I was upon his death, in 1753, appointed jointly with Mr. William Hunter, to succeed him, by a commission from the Postmaster-general in England. The American office never had hitherto paid anything to that of Britain. We were to have six hun- dred pounds a year between us, if we could make that sum out of the profits of the office. * * * The business of the postoffice occasioned my taking a journey this year to New England, where the College of Cam- bridge, of their own motion, presented me with the degree of Master of Arts. Yale College in Connecticut had before made me a similar compli- ment. Thus, without studying in any College, I came to partake of their honours. They were conferred in consideration of my improvements and discoveries in the electric branch of natural philosophy. In writing to Cadwallader Golden on 25 October, 1753, he says : 2 This last summer I have enjoyed very little of the pleasure of reading or writing. I made a long journey to the eastward, which consumed ten weeks ; and two journeys to our western frontiers ; one of them, to meet and hold a treaty with the Ohio Indians, in company with Mr. Peters and Mr. Norris. In writing his friend Mr. Hugh Roberts on 16 July, from Boston, he says : My respects to all our old friends of the JUNTO, Hospital and Insur- ance. 3 These references call here for some notice of two other of the notable enterprises of the time in which Franklin's leader- ship was sought. The Pennsylvania Hospital had begun its first ministrations to the suffering in February, 1752, in the house of Judge Kinsey, on Market Street near Sixth, on the 1 Bigelow, i. 241. * Bigelow, i. 357. 'Sparks, vii. 77. Writing to the same from London 27 February, 1766, he adds, "remember me affectionately to the Junto, and to all inquiring friends." Bigelow, iii. 456. Sparks, vii. 308. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 181 site of which a few years afterwards Mrs. Masters erected her Mansion, elsewhere referred to, which was the precursor of the Washington residence. From its inception, at the close of 1750, Franklin had been its guide. His friend Dr. Thomas Bond originated the movement, and while these two were busy in arranging for the beginning of the Academy to train the mind of youth, they found time to plan an institution to provide means for healing the suffering bodies of the aged and the injured, or as Franklin expressively styles it, " for the relief of the Sick and Miserable;" and on 7 February, 1751, a bill was passed the Provincial Assembly incorporating " The Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital." Franklin had written up the mat- ter in the Gazette, and employed other active means to interest the community in the project. And at the first meeting of the Contributors held at the State House, a board of managers was chosen, of which Benjamin Franklin was made President. Of the managers, twelve in number, Franklin, Bond, and Peters, were trustees of the Academy ; and another Manager was Hon. John Smith, who in a twelvemonth became the originator of an institution for effecting insurances on buildings, in the further- ance of which he secured the like co-operation from Franklin that Thomas Bond had for his Hospital. Funds came in, and pending the selection of a permanent location, Judge Kinsey's house was rented, rules and regulations for its management were adopted, and Lloyd Zachary, Thomas and Phineas Bond, Thomas Cadwalader, Samuel Preston Moore, and John Redman were appointed the first surgeons and physicians, who offered to attend the patients gratuitously for three years. In Decem- ber, 1754, the managers secured a block of ground, distant from the outskirts of the built-up portions of the city, being the entire square south of Spruce Street and west of Eighth Street. * Pro- vision was at once made for a building, and the corner stone of what we know as the East Wing was laid 28 May, 1755, with 4 The Managers purchased for the erection of their Buildings the plot of ground known as Society Square on 15 November, 1754, on Pine Street between Eighth and Ninth Sts., and to this was subsequently added the balance (about one- fourth) of the block extending north to Spruce Street of the same width by gift of Thomas and Richard Penn under patent of 10 November, 1767. Dr. Morton's History of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1895, p. 270. 1 82 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. Franklin's well known inscription on it, which will bear repe- tition here : In the year of Christ MDCCLV GEORGE the Second happily Reigning (for he sought the happiness of his people) Philadelphia Flourishing (for its inhabitants were public spirited) This Building By the Bounty of the Government And of many private persons Was piously founded For the Relief of the Sick and Miserable, May the God of Mercies Bless the undertaking The Hospital and the University have the same parentage, and their kinship is recognised to this day, for the Medical Department of the latter has always found its chief school in the means furnished by the former for the development of medi- cal and surgical science, and most of its professors have earned their eminence on the basis of the tuition they have found in Hospital residence here. It was in April, 1752, that Franklin, with great zeal and interest, lent his aid to establishing the first Insurance Company on the Continent, The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire, of which the Hon. John Smith was the first policy holder and the first Treasurer; an institution whose vigor and security to day make its policies the first on the list of all those granting indemnity for the Hos- pital and the University buildings in case of their loss by fire. With such a citizen as Benjamin Franklin, though he was not native to the soil, can we wonder at the people of Philadel- phia, under such inspiration and leadership, establishing so many institutions of value whose age to day proves the strength of their foundations ; it could not be otherwise that Philadelphia was flourishing, " for its inhabitants were public spirited." Rarely has it fallen to the lot of any citizen known to history to have behind him so many works of value and beneficence as we HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 183 find bearing the impress of Benjamin Franklin's brain and hand. To trace, therefore, the life of any one of them, it seems unavoid- able in our progress to pass on without taking some account of the others, for in thus doing we can more fully estimate his catholicity and his wisdom. He was next present at the Trustees meeting of 9 October, 1753, but there lacking a quorum, "the Trustees visited the English School but did no other business." It was between this date and that of his letter to Cadwallader Golden, of 25 October, above quoted from, that he journeyed to Carlisle as one of the deputies from the Provincial Assembly to meet the Western Indians, where a treaty was concluded. It is on this occasion that the narrative of his diplomacy to prevent the Indians becoming drunk before the Treaty was concluded has place, 5 he strictly forbade the selling any liquor to them : and, when they com- plained of this restriction, he told them, that if they would continue sober during the treaty, he would give them plenty of rum when business was over. The results were twofold, a successful treaty, but a following night of drunken orgies. For this the older Indians in their soberness the next day apologised, but laid it upon the rum, which they said was one of the good things of the Great Spirit, who when he made it, said, " Let this be for the Indians to get drunk with," and added "it must be so." In Franklin's time his observation was that "rum had already annihilated all the tribes who formerly inhabited the sea coast." The entry of October, 1753, above quoted is one of many testifying to the personal attention of the Trustees to the work of their Professors and Tutors, namely, \ 14 January, 1752. The Trustees visited the Schools, but did no other Business. ii August, 1752. The Trustees visited the Latin School, but did no other Business. 8 May, 1753. The Trustees visited the English School but did no other Business. 9 October, 1753. The Trustees visited the English School but did no other Business. 5 Bigelow, i. 229. 184 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 13 November, 1753. The Trustees visited the Latin School but did no other Business. 9 April, 1754. The Trustees visited the Writing Mathematical and Charity Schools, but did no other Business. 14 May, 1754. The Trustees visited the English School but did no other Business. ii June 1754. The Trustees visited the Latin School but did no other Business. 9 July 1754. The Trustees visited the French School but did no other Business. 10 September, 1754. The Trustees visited the Latin School but did no other Business. XXV. To the names of Grew, Alison, Kinnersley, and Creamer, Thomson, Jackson, Duche, and Barton, who at this point of time composed the faculty and tutors of the Academy, and not forget- ting those whose connection with it had ceased by death or resig- nation, Martin and Dove, the two Jones', Peisley and Carroll ; we are led next in order to name, which though first appearing in the Minutes of 25 May, 1754, had been in the thoughts and on the tongues of the Trustees for a twelvemonth, William Smith, who happily formed a connection with it which he made the best and most enduring work of his life, which redounded to the advantage and credit of the Academy and College through his years of work in its behalf, and the remembrance and repute of which must remain to the latest era of its existence. The Trus- tees had now found, they believed, the man of mind and nerve and training to take the headship of the Academy. Though Dr. Johnson had denied them, and had assumed but a few weeks before this the Presidency of King's College, yet it was to his kindly interest as well as to his lasting credit that the sug- gestion of the name of this young Scotch tutor, who was then in the line of his duty on Long Island, may be traced. If the parent HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 185 of the University could not make Johnson its President or Pro- vost, it was a fitting gift on the part of the parent of Columbia College to point the way for the first Provost of the University. WILLIAM SMITH, the son of Thomas Smith, the great grand- son of Sir William Smith, who died in 1631, was born within a few miles of the city of Aberdeen, 7 September, 1727, and was baptised in the "Old Aberdeenshire Kirk," 19 October. His Mother was Elizabeth the daughter of Alexander Duncan, of the Camperdown family, whose wife was a daughter of Sir Peter Murray of Auchtintyre. Young Smith entered the parish school at seven years of age where he remained a year, when he was taken, charge of by the Society for the Education of Paro- chial Schoolmasters from whose care he passed to the Univer- sity of Aberdeen in 1741, where he resided some time but did not remain for graduation as there appears no record of this in the annals of either of the Colleges. 1 His biographer places him next in London, in 1750, as Commissioner for the Established or Parochial Schoolmasters in Scotland, addressing a "Memorial on their behalf to the great men in Parliament ; " and in the same year he published an Essay on Liberty. 2 1 Life of Rev. William Smith, D.D., by his great-grandson, Horace Wemyss Smith, Philada, 1880, i, 20. The biographer states he graduated in 1747, but his degree of 1759 of Sacrosantae Theologise Doctorem et Magistrem from the Univer- sity of Aberdeen makes no reference to this earlier degree, i, 202. The official record of the Doctorate is as follows: "Kings College 7th March, 1759, Con- vened the Principal and Masters. The said day the University unanimously agreed to conferr the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon the Reverend Mr. \Villiam Smith Provost of the College of Philadelphia. Jo'. Chalmers, Prin'"." vide letters of 27 May, 1887, and 3 February, 1888, from P. J. Anderson. LL. B., Librarian of the University of Aberdeen. Had Mr. Smith been an alumnus, the fact would have been here noticed. Mr. Anderson writes in the latter, " The absence of the title ' M. A.' is I think conclusive as to Mr. Smith's not possessing the degree." 2 " The whole of the year 1750 he passed in London and I have every reason to believe that during thnt time he acted as clerk for the Honorable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel." ibid i, 20. We form some idea of the man and his early record from Archbishop Sherlock's letter testimonial of him to Thomas Penn, dated 19 September, 1753: Sir The bearer of this Mr. William Smith is desirous of being known and recommended to you and I make no difficulty of taking the liberty of complying with his request. He came to me from Scotland about two years ago, with very ample Testimonials of his capacity and morals and affection to the King and our Constitution. Had he stayd here, I should have had my Eye upon him, but a good opportunity offering he went off as Tutor, to some young Lad, to New York. How he behaved there, the enclosed Letters will inform you very fully, and at the same 1 86 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. During this period he was tutoring in London, and later entered the family of Josiah Martin, Esquire, the second son of Samuel Martin of Green Castle, as tutor to his two sons. With this family he came to New York in the spring of 1751, landing in New York I May. Mr. Martin's house known as the Her- mitage, at Far Rockaway, Long Island, where Smith passed the next two years is yet standing and in excellent order. 3 Here Mr. Martin died in 1778 ; his eldest daughter married her cousin Josiah Martin, Governor of North Carolina in 1770, whose older brother Samuel was Member of Parliament for Camelford, Joint Secretary to the Treasury, and Treasurer to the Princess Dowager of Wales. While here, Mr. Smith, in his nearness to New York City must have been familiar with the efforts then prevailing to erect a College in that city, and in this connection may have been in communication with Dr. Johnson, but of correspondence between them there is none existing. The disputes in the Province of New York on the subject of a College were at their height when he arrived, and the questions of town or country for its location, and of its con- trol by Episcopacy or Presbytery, were either of them suffi- cient to invite the young tutor of twenty-four years of age to note them and soon to take a part in the fray. Being a member of the Martin household, his intercourse with the leading men of the neighborhood was assured and easy. In 1752 he wrote time give foundation to consider, how proper he may be to support the important character he aims at in the conduct of the infant College at Philadelphia. I have great reason to thick him a good man. He is a scholar and ingenious and what is of the highest consequence of a temper fitted as it seems to me to pursue a plan of Education upon the large and generous footing of aiming at the Publick Good, with no other Bias, or partiality but preserving his Duty to the Constitution of his Mother country, consistently with a warm regard to the service of the Colonies, and the uni- versal benefit of the various People that compose them. I think I am not mistaken in him, and if I am not, his Youth may recommend him and he may become a very faithful and useful servant in a country in whose prosperity you have so strong an interest. You will please to interrogate him and I believe you will be pleased with the good sense and ingenuousness with which he will answer to your questions. I have the honor to be, Sir, You obliged Humble Servant, Tho. Cantuar. This autograph letter is in the Penn Papers in Pennsylvania Historical Society, private, vol. iv. This letter may have reached Philadelphia for Smith's personal presentation of it to Mr. Penn, ere he sailed for England, as it is supposed, on 13 October following. 3 And is the property of James A. Hewlett, Esq., of New York. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 187 Some Thoughts on Education : with Reasons for Erecting a College in this Province, and fixing the same at the City of New York : to which is added a Scheme for employing Masters or Teachers in the mean Time, and also for raising and endowing an Edifice in an easy Manner, and over the name of Philomathes dedi- cated them to Chief Justice De Lancey. " Being advised that, perhaps, it might be of public Use, to print the following Papers, which were intended originally to be laid before the House of Representatives only in Manuscript ; I must beg Leave to put them under your Protection, to which the Subject naturally recommends them"; and they were printed by J. Parker in the autumn of 1752. The whole concluded with A Poem, Being a serious Address to the House of Representatives. In tone it rises above the ordinary controversial pamphlet, though it is full of the author's didactic statements submitted with his customary force ; there is no ambiguity as to his mean- ing. He opens : If we look into the Story of the most renowned States and King- doms, that have subsisted in the different ages of the World, we will find that they were indebted * for their Rise, Grandeur and Happiness, to the early Provision made by their first Founders, for the public Instruction of Youth. The great Sages and Legislators of antiquity, were so sensible of this, that they always made it their prime care to plant Seminaries, and regulate the Method of Education ; and many of them even designed, in Person, to be the immediate Superintendants of the Manners of Youth, whom they justly reckoned the rising Hopes of their country. Towards the conclusion, a paragraph embraces a reference to the efforts in Philadelphia of a like nature : I shall only add that Oxford, Leyden, &c., are too complex and large to be any Model for us : the neighbouring Colleges of New England, Pennsylvania, &c., may be kept chiefly in our Eye ; but tho' the People of these Provinces have the Honor to set us an Example in this truly noble WORK, we have the Advantage of seeing where they have been deficient, and of being sensible that Something might be contrived more commodious than any of their Schemes. 4 In preparing the Thoughts for the edition of his Works published in 1803, Smith qualified this by making it read "they were greatly indebted," &c. The T'toti^uis were designed by him as a part of his Third volume, but the published Works only reached two Volumes ; hence the pamphlet did not reach the second edition. 1 88 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. These Thoughts brought the author into controversial prominence, and Philomathes was made the object of the resent- ment of those whose schemes may have been thwarted by his careful reasonings. Franklin in his letter to Smith of 3 May, T 753> which we shall shortly reach, affords us a clue to this when he expresses regret at Smith's expressions of resentment against his adversaries in his Mirania, where towards the close he says : As for those Writers who delight to give frequent Specimens of their Knack at Wrangling and Chicane ; or, who are determined to think Nothing right in this Affair, but what comes from themselves, my Time is too precious to follow them thro' the Maze of Perplexity. They may, if they please, ascribe every Thing I have done to a Selfish Motive ; I shall leave it to Time and the Issue of the Thing to convince them how much they have injured me. It will then be sufficient Punishment for them to reflect on their Usage of One who never offended them, but by a Zeal for the Happiness of that Province, which they ought to love more, than one, who is a Stranger in it. There was no other way I could manifest that Zeal but on the Subject of Education, as all the Time I have lived in the World has been Spent on my own Education and that of others. * * * Sorry should I be, however, if, after all my Partiality in treating this Matter, I should fall under the Displeasure of any Sect or Party, who may claim an exclusive Right of modeling this Institution to their Mind. 5 A few months after the publication of his Thoughts, he pro- ceeded to draw up in detail, and publish over his signature, his plan of a College, entitled A General Idea of the College of Mirania, * * * Addressed more immediately to the consideration of the Trustees nominated by the Legisla- ture, to receive Proposals, &c. relating to the Establishment of a College in New York ; wherein under the guise of an allegory he sketched out this plan. He says : While I was ruminating on the constitutions of the several colleges which I had either personally visited or read of, without being able to fix on any Thing I durst recommend as a model worthy our Imitation, I chanced to fall into the Company of a valuable young gentleman, named Evander, who is a person of some distinction, of the province of Mirania. After some conversation on learned topics, he was led to give me an account of a seminary established about twelve years ago in that province in which I 5 Mirania, p. 79. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 189 thought I perceived all that seems excellent in the ancient and modern Institutions reduced to the greatest Method and Simplicity. This I have presumed to propose to your consideration ; which as it may be further improved by you, and other learned Men among us, seems extremely well adapted to the circumstances of this Province of New York, as we are now entirely such as the Miranians were when they founded their College, with Regard to Riches, Trade, and the Number of People. 6 * * * Evander tells him about twelve years ago, the Miranians saw themselves a mighty and flourishing people, in possession af an extensive country, capable of producing all the necessaries and many of the superfluities of life. They reflected that the only method of making these natural advantages of last- ing use to themselves and posterity, the only infallible source of tranquillity, happiness and glory, was to contrive and execute a proper scheme for form- ing a succession of sober, virtuous, industrious citizens, and checking the course of growing luxury. They were sensible, that tho" a Combination of lucky circumstances, almost wholly independent on them, had raised them so high, they should be wanting to themselves if they depended longer on blind chance for any Thing which was now in their Power to command. They were convinced that, without a previous good Education, the best Laws are little better than Verba minantia, and considered as such, will be duped and broke thro" with Impunity by illustrious Villains ; that the Magistrate can at best but fight vice into a corner, and that 'tis Education alone can mend and rectify the Heart ; that no Government can subsist long on Violence and brute Force, and that Nature follows easily when treated rationally, but will not bear to be led, or driven . They saw also, that among the foreigners, who were as numerous as the English, many distinctions were forming upon their different customs, languages, and extractions, which, by creating separate interests, might, in the issue, prove fatal to the government. They wisely judged, therefore, that nothing could so much contribute to make such a mixture of people coalesce and unite in one common interest, as the common education of all the youth at the same public schools under the eye of the civil au- thority * * * With these views the Miranians applied themselves to project a plan of education ; every person of genius, learning, and expe- rience, offering his impartial thoughts on this subject, whether they were in a private or public capacity ; as being sensible that an understanding of such lasting consequences demanded the united councils, the heads and hearts, of a whole country * * * With regard to learning, the Mira- nians divide the whole body of people into two grand classes. The first consists of those designed for the learned professions ; by which they understand divinity, law, physic, agriculture, and the chief officers of the State. The second class of those designed for mechanic professions, and 6 Atirania, p. 8. 190 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. all the remaining people of the country. Such a division is absolutely necessary ; for, if the shortest way of forming youth to act in their proper spheres, as good men and good citizens, ought always to be the object of education, these two classes should be educated on a very different plan. * * * These considerations gave rise to what is called the Mechanics' School in this Seminary. It might, however, as well have been called a distinct college ; for it is no way connected with what is called the College (by way of Distinction) than by being under the Inspection of the same Trustees, and the Government of the same Head, whom they call Provost or Principal. Most of the Branches of Science, taught in the College, are taught in this School ; but then they are taught without languages, and in a more compendious manner, as the circumstances and Business of the Mechanic require. This school is so much like the English School in Philadelphia first sketched out by the very ingenious and worthy Mr. Franklin, that a particular Account of it here is needless . 7 This reference to the Philadelphia Academy implies the author's familiarity with that scheme; and some of the phrases of Evander's narrative echo the ideas more tersely expressed by Franklin in his Proposals and other early papers on the Academy. Evander proceeds to describe the schools, and their classes in detail, and speaks of " the principal whose name is Aratus," who instructed the fifth or highest class in the study of agriculture and history. .# * * Forgive me, my friend [proceeded Evander], if in this part of my narrative, I should be tedious, or discover any unbecoming rap- tures. The time spent in these studies was the happiest period of my life, and which I have often wished I could begin again, a period I can never reflect upon, without feeling my bosom burn, and thinking I hear the good Aratus, with hands outstretched, and eyes glowing affection and devotion, pouring important Truths from his fervent Tongue, and leading us unperceptibly from the visible to the unvisible things of God. 8 It was but natural that Mr. Smith should send copies of his piece to some of those interested in a work in Philadel- phia, akin to the efforts now making in New York, and on April 1 1 he wrote to Franklin enclosing a copy of his 7 Afirania, pp. 9, IO, 14, 15. 8 Afirania, p. 45. Dr. Smith prepared a second edition of this very entertain- ing and instructive Essay for his Discourses of 1762, "corrected" by him, but the corrections and abbreviations detract somewhat from the interest and style and the freshness of the edition of 1753. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 191 publication upon the ideal College of Mirania, and made inquiry about placing his pupils, the young Martins, in the Philadelphia Academy, pending a proposed visit home which he appeared to be contemplating for the purpose among others of applying for Orders in the Church of England. We are not told aught of Mr. Smith's change of ecclesiastical views, for that he was brought up in the Presbyterian Kirk a faithful adherent to ,the Westminster Confession we cannot doubt. It may be that a two years residence on Long Island, where Yale's influence predominated, led him to a knowledge of the painful separation Johnson and Cutler and Brown had made from Presbyterianism thirty years before, and with designs of the ministry early in mind, he now acquiesced in the claims of Episcopacy and turned his face to England to seek Orders, though many months elapsed before this consummation. His letter we have not ; but Franklin's letter is preserved, both the original draft and the letter, the latter omitting a paragraph of the former which bore more immediately upon the entertainment and instruction the Martins would find in Philadelphia. Mr. Smith's letter had evidently conveyed the impression that he proposed settling in England on his return. Franklin's letter is inserted here as originally drafted, the paragraph withheld being marked in brackets. Mr. Sparks gives the letter as drafted ; Mr. Smith's Biographer with the original letter in hand calls attention to the omission 9 Philadelphia 19 April 1753 10 Sir. I received your favor of the nth instant, with your new piece on Education which I shall carefully peruse and give you my sentiments of it, as you desire, by next post. [I believe the young gentlemen, your pupils, may be entertained and instructed here, in mathematics and philosophy to satisfaction. Mr. Alison, who was educated at Glasgow, has been long accustomed to teach the latter, and Mr. Grew the former, and I think their pupils make great progress. Mr. Alison has the care of the Latin and Greek School ; but, as he has now three good assistants, he can very well afford some hours every day for the instruction of those, who are engaged in higher studies. The mathematical school is pretty well furnished with instruments. The 9 Smith, i. 23. lo Bigelow, ii. 288. Sparks, vii. 63. 192 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. English Library is a good one, and we have belonging to it a middling appa- ratus for experimental philosophy, and purpose speedily to complete it The Loganian Library, one of the best collections in America, will shortly be opened ; so that neither books nor instruments will be wanting ; and, as we are determined always to give good salaries, we have reason to believe we may have always an opportunity of choosing good masters ; upon which, indeed, the success of the whole depends. We are obliged to you for your kind offer in this respect ; and, when you are settled in England, we may occasionally make use of your friendship and judg- ment.] If it suits your conveniency n to visit Philadelphia before your return to Europe, I shall be extremely glad to see and converse with you here, as well as to correspond with you after your settlement in England. For an acquaintance and communication with men of learning, virtue and public spirit, is one of my greatest enjoyments. I do not know whether you ever happened to see the first proposals I made for erecting this Academy. I send them enclosed. They had, however imperfect, the desired success, being followed by a subscription of. four thousand founds towards carrying them into execution. And, as we are fond of receiving advice, and are daily improving by experience, I am in hopes, we shall, in a few years, see a perfect institution. I am, very respectfully, &c B. Franklin. In a fortnight Franklin took up his pen to write Smith further on his College of Mirania. In this case as the letter is longer than the draft, we quote it entire from Smith's Life and Correspondence, merely noting at foot the verbal changes and the point of addition. I2 Philadelphia 3 May 1753 Sir : Mr. Peters 13 has just now been with me, and we have com- pared notes on your new piece. We find nothing in the scheme of educa- tion, however excellent, but what is in our opinion very practicable. The great difficulty will be, to find the Aratus, and other suitable persons in New York, to carry u it into execution ; but such may be had if proper encouragement be given. We have both received great pleasure in the perusal of it. For my part, I know not when I have read a piece that has more affected me ; so noble and just are the sentiments, so warm and 11 The letter reads : " if it suits you to visit Philadelphia." 12 Smith, i. 23. 13 In a letter of this date Richard Peters writes to Thomas Penn, " I desire your acceptance of a Book on Education sent me by the Author, Mr. William Smith, Tutor to Col. Martin's children on Long Island, an acquaintance of the Archbishop of Canterbury." u In New York not in draft. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 193 animated the language ; yet, as censure from your friends may be of more use, as well as more agreeable to you, than praise, I ought to mention, that I wish you had omitted, not only the quotation from the Review, which you are now justly dissatisfied with, but all those 15 expressions of resent- ment against your adversaries, in pages 65 and 79. In such cases the noblest victory is obtained by neglect, and by shining on. 18 Mr. Allen has been out of town these ten days ; but before he went, he directed me to procure him six of your 17 pieces, though he had not and has not yet seen it. 18 Mr. Peters has taken ten. He proposed 19 to have written to you, but omits it, as he expects so soon to have the pleasure of seeing you here. He desires me to present his affectionate regards to you, and to assure you that you will be very welcome to him. I shall only say to you that you may depend upon my doing all in my power to make your visit to Philadelphia agreeable to you. 20 Yet, me thinks I would not have you omit bringing a line or two from Mr. Allen. If you are more noticed here on account of his recommendation, yet as that recommendation will be founded upon your merit, known best where you have so long resided, their notice may be esteemed to be as much ' on the score of something you" can call your own," as if it were merely on account of the pieces you 15 All not in draft. 16 In a letter from the Bishop of Oxford to Dr. Johnson, 19 March, 1754 when Mr. Smith was in London awaiting his ordination, the Bishop says, " if he had pursued his intention of residing awhile at Oxford, I should -have hoped for more of his company and acquaintance. Nor would he, I think, have failed to see more fully, what I flatter myself he is convinced of without it, that our Universities do not deserve the sentence which is passed upon them by the author whom he cites, and whose words he adopts in page 84 of his ' General Idea of the College of Mirania.' He assures me they are effaced in almost all the copies. I wish they had not been printed, or that the leaf had been cancelled. But the many valuable things which there is in that performance, and in the papers which he published at New York, will atone for this blemish with all candid persons." Beardsley's Johnson, '78. The Bishop's reference is to the following : " They know little what our English Univer- sities are at present : For, to use the words of the authors of the Jfeview, for November, 1750: 'That even both our Universities (not forgetting that in the Metropolis of a neighboring Kingdom) are rendered of little use to the Public, or to the Welfare of Religion, by the idle Doctrines and corrupt Manners which prevail in them, is a Truth equally notorious and melancholy ; and any effectual scheme for a thoro' Reformation or (if this is impossible, thro' the Perverseness of their Members) a total abolition of them would merit the attention of every Lover of his Country, every Wellwisher to true Christianity, and to civil and religious Liberty.' " Afirania, p. 84. On Smith's copy of the Mirania, he adds on the margin opposite these lines " This quotation was raz'd out of most of the copies before they got abroad, the author considering them injuriously applied." But for Franklin's reference to the author's personal allusion on pages 65 and 79 of Mirania, we should not now know that they were "expressions of resentment against his adversaries;" thus early in his American career had his active zeal in devising new things been intensified by his warm temperament and a youthful proneness to disputation. 17 Six copies of your piece in draft. 18 This last phrase not in draft. 19 Purposed in draft. 20 This ends the draft. The letter proceeds. 194 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. have written. I shall take care to forward your letter to Mr. Miller by a vessel that sails next week. I proposed to have sent one of the books to Mr. Cave, but as it may possibly be a disappointment to Mr. Miller if Cave should print it, I shall forbear, and only send two or three to some particular friends. I thank you for your information concerning the author of the dialogues. I had been misinformed ; but saw with concern in the public papers last year, an article of news relating that one Mr. Fordyce, 21 the ingenious author of Dialogues on Education, perished by shipwreck on the coast of Holland, on returning home from his tour to Italy. The sermon on the ' ' Eloquence of the Pulpit ' ' is ascribed in the Review of August, 1752, to Mr. James Fordyce, Minister at Brechin. I am, with great esteem, Sir, your most humble servant B. Franklin. By the first of June, Smith was in Philadelphia with his young pupils whom he placed at the Academy. His satisfac- tion on this occasion in witnessing the fruits of the faithful work of the Trustees and Masters found expression in A POEM on visiting the ACADEMY of Philadelphia, June, 1753, [of two hundred and seventy lines, bearing on the title page Virgil's lines as the legend :] Inventas qui Vitam excoluere per Aries ; Quique fui memores alios fecere merendo ; Omnibus bis nivea cinguntur Tempera Vitia. His letter of Dedication bears date 5 June, and addresses the Trustees : Gentlemen. Having receiv'd the intensest Satisfaction in visiting your Academy, and examining some of its higher Classes, I cou' d not be easy "till I had testify' d that Satisfaction in the most public Manner. The undeserv'd Notice many of you were pleas' d to take of Me during my Short Stay in your City, and the Honor the Academy (when I first went into it) did me in making one of the Youth Speak a Copy of Verses, which I lately wrote to promote the Interest of Science in a neighboring Province, might claim my most grateful Acknowledgments. But what I now offer is a Tribute paid to Merit of a more public Nature. A few private Gentlemen of this City have, in the Space of two or three Years, projected, begun, and carried to surprizing Perfection, a very noble Institution ; and an Institu- tion of that Kind too, which, in other Countries, has scarce made such a 21 David Fordyce lost at sea, 1751, brother of James. As natives of Aber- deen, these brothers may have been personally known to William Smith ; hence the present reference. Both received their education at the University of Aberdeen, and David was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy in Marischall College in 1742, the year subsequently to William Smith's matriculating at Kings College. Allibone. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 195 Figure in the Space of some Centuries, tho' founded by Kings, and sup- ported at the public Expence. Prosecute, Gentlemen, yet a little longer prosecute your generous Plan, with the same Spirit ; and your own Reputation, with that of your Academy, shall be establish' d, in Spite of every Obstacle, on a Bottom immortal, and never to be Shaken. A Succession of good Men and good Citizens shall never be wanting in Pennsylvania to do Honor to your Mem- ories, and diffuse Spirit and Happiness thro' their Country. The Virtues to be chiefly inculcated in your Youth in order to obtain this End, you know better than I. They are however modestly hinted, in the following Poem, from a Mouth that cannot fail to give them new Importance. * * * * That the Success of your Undertaking may still exceed even your own most sanguine Hopes, is my earnest Prayer, as it is my firm Persuasion that such a fair Beginning cannot fail of the most lasting good Conse- quences. * * * The Poem may merit the quotation from it of a few lines : Heavens ! how my Heart beat Rapture, to behold The little Heroes, decent, graceful, bold, The Rostrum mount, with British Ardor warm' d, And, by the sacred Soul of Glory charm' d, With Hands out-stretch 'd, rowl, tingling, from their Tongue, Sage Truths of Justice, Freedom, Right, and Wrong, In numerous Periods, sweeter than my Song. O how the Sires glow'd round, and fed their Eyes Fix' d on their darling Sons in sweet surprize ; O how the Sons were smit with conscious Fires, In the animating Presence of their Sires ! Even GOD Himself exults in such a Sight ; And Angels hang applausive, in Mid-flight. While those bright Souls releas' d from earthly care, To whom th' Affairs of Kindred-men are dear, Look down triumphant on the lovely Scene ; And for a While Suspend their heavenly Strain. In reference to the efforts now also made in the city of New York for a like institution he at the close gives these lines : O were the Joy compleat ! But one sad Thought Depresses half the Raptures of my Note ! For can I celebrate such wisdom here, O much lov'd YORK, nor drop a duteous Tear ? 196 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. Rise, nobly rise ! dispute the Prize with Those ; As Athens, rivaling Lacedaemon, rose ! The illustrious sisters, keen alike to seize The Palm of Empire, and the Reins of Greece, Each rous' d by Each, fed high the glorious Fire ; Flam'd, bustled, shone and had the World admire ! O Strife far nobler, who shall most excel, In Knowledge, Arts of Peace, and Living well! This nobler Strife, ye nobler 22 Sisters feed ! Be yours the Contest in each worthy Deed ; Shine Godlike Rivals for the Muses' Palm ; And strive who first shall sway the Laureat-realm. The author closes with a tender farewell to his pupils, whom in a foot note he describes as the three eldest Sons of the Honorable Josiah Martin, Esq, late of Antigua ; They were plac' d at the Academy of Philadelphia at the ' Time this Piece was written : Yet ere we close, O Muse, one Labor more Indulge where I have labor' d oft before. Dear Pupils, let the Lessons here imprest, Sink intimate and deep into your Breast Now climb the Steep to Science in your Youth, The Votaries of Wisdom, and of Jruth. Your zeal let none within these walls excel ; Strive for Esteem, for Glory, and . . . farewell ! This interesting and now rare quarto of sixteen pages was printed by Franklin and Hall, and is announced in the Pennsyl- vania Gazette of 7 June, "Next week will be Published." The College of Mirania is advertised in the Gazette of the following week "just published in New York, and to be sold by D. Hall." And it was during this brief visit to Philadelphia, and in his conferences with the Trustees, that William Smith's interest in the young institution led him to compile his Prayers for the Use of the PJiiladelphia Academy, a little tract of twenty pages, which was also printed by Franklin and Hall in the same year. This includes "A Morning Prayer, to be used by every Scholar in 22 The Cities of N'eiu York and Philadelphia. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 197 his chamber at rising from Bed," and "An Evening Prayer to be used by every Scholar in his chamber at going to Bed," besides " Publick Prayer," for both Morning and Evening in the chapel, each consisting of Sentences, Exhortations, and Prayers ; and in addition, embracing The Ten Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, and the Duty to God and towards my Neigh- bour, from the Church of England Catechism. An Evening Prayer is the following : Be favourable to all Seminaries of sound Learning and virtuous Education ; vouchsafe to shower down thy peculiar Blessings on all those who are in the Trust, Direction and Management of this Academy, upon the Institution itself, and upon all those who are in any ways concerned in or related to it. Help them to put it upon the best Foundation, and to form from Time to Time such Orders and Regulations in it as will best promote thy Glory, and the Establishment of solid and useful Learning. ' a Thus the first visit of William Smith to Philadelphia created and secured impressions which left no room for other wish than that he might be induced to make the city his home, and the evidence presented him as to the stable foundation of the Academy and its bright promises of future usefulness and repu- tation left no doubt that he would accept a connection with it. Nothing official appears to have passed, neither records nor cor- respondence affording us any information on this. His visit to Philadelphia was brief, as he says in his dedication of the Poem, " The Performance is far inferior to the Subject ; but an Apology will not mend it. As I have no time to improve it during my Stay in America," &c., thus he may have at once sailed for home, and this explains why he left his young pupils in Phila- delphia at this time. He could have made but a brief visit to Scotland, for we find him again in New York by October ; and his biographer tells us he sailed thence again on 13 October, 23 The University recently came into the possession of one of the two only copies of these Prayers known to us of these days. The publication is not referred