12 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



The most important thing for me at Lancaster was 

 the very agreeable acquaintance which I had the pleas- 

 ure of making with the pastor of the Lutheran congre- 

 gation there, (and now Principal of the new college), 

 Mr. Heinrich Muhlenberg. This excellent man, 

 through his own diligence, has gained a very consider- 

 able knowledge of natural history and is unwearied in 

 the study of the animals, plants, and minerals of his 

 region. I have reason to regret that I came to know 

 him so late and only for a brief space : his acquaintance 

 would have been the more valuable to me, and his 

 memory will be all the more cherished by me, since 

 among native-born Americans he was the only amateur 

 of natural science I got to know and could question on 

 that subject. If among his countrymen there were 

 many of his exemplary diligence and zeal after knowl- 

 edge, America would soon know better its own pro- 

 ductions, and natural history would be greatly enriched. 



" caster. This college will bear the name of Dr. Franklin, 

 " who has given to it largely. The German nation is greatly 

 " rejoiced over this institution. The enthusiasm and gen- 

 " erosity with which they go about furthering every object 

 " having reference to their nation and their religion, cause it 

 " to be hoped that this college will within a few years be 

 " inferior to none of the oldest colleges in America, in wealth 

 " and public regard." By a letter from Prof. Muhlenberg, of 

 the corporation, June 6 th , 1787, it appears that this German 

 college has actually been established, with five teachers. Prof. 

 Muhlenberg is the Principal, Pastor Hendel Vice-Principal; 

 Pastor Melzhaimer, Professor of the German, Latin, and 

 Greek languages ; Mr. Reichenbach, Prof, of the Mathematics ; 

 and the English minister, Mr. Hutchins, teaches the English 

 language and Belles Lettres. (Vid., Allgem. Lift. Zeit. 1788, 

 No. 14) The Assembly of Pensylvania has also recently de- 

 termined to establish a public school at Pittsburg. 



