PENSYLVANIA 87 



this collection to be plundered and scattered by soldiers, 

 the case with the library at New York and with that 

 in Rhode Island. In an adjoining room several mathe- 

 matical and physical instruments are kept, as also 

 a collection of American minerals, but with no indica- 

 tion of name or place of discovery. 



Another fine collection, especially rich in medical 

 books and in the Greek and Latin authors was given to 

 the public, in 1752, by Mr. Logan, a Quaker, who had 

 been at great pains and expense in the gathering of it. 

 At this time, I know not why, this library is kept under 

 lock and key, and is used by no one. 



Notwithstanding, of writers of books, as well as of 

 other manufacturers, there are still few in America, but 

 there is no lack of printers at Philadelphia who are at 

 the same time book-dealers. I learned of the following : 

 Messrs. Aitkin, Bradford, + Hall & Seller, Dunlap, 

 Cruikshank, Baylie, Towne, Bell (who is besides an 

 antiquary and frequently holds auctions) Mr. Cist 

 and Mr. Melchior Steiner + print in German. The 

 chief business of these is the printing of newspapers, 

 announcements, political brochures, and Acts of Assem- 

 bly. There appear 8-10 newspapers, weekly sheets in 

 large folio ; of them all the Independent Chronicle is 

 the favorite on account of its freedom in regard to pub- 

 lic affairs. Liberty of the press was one of the funda- 

 mental laws which the states included, expressly and 

 emphatically, in the programmes of their new govern- 

 ments. It arouses the sympathies to see how often the 

 Congress is mishandled in these sheets. The financier, 

 Bob Morris, recently found himself slandered by an 

 article in the Independent Chronicle and vigorously be- 

 gan process at law, but the public at large supported 



