158 



diate movements towards a civil war, it is not likely that the Society 

 expected direct labours in the way of philosophical research. It is a 

 high and valuable testimony of esteem for the man, and implies the 

 ascription of character and influence. 



The corporation of "Overseers of the Public Schools founded by 

 Charter, in the Town and County of Philadelphia," but supported ex- 

 clusively by private munificence, has never appeared to court popular 

 applause, but has been long known to many among us for unobtrusive 

 usefulness. It is not forgotten in the maintenance of a series of schools, 

 distributed through the city, and intended for the instruction of the 

 middle classes, as well as for the education of a number of the poor, 

 whose reception of assistance from charitable funds was kept a pro- 

 found secret even from tljemselves. So careful have been the Over- 

 seers to preserve that self respect of the imfortunate which has been 

 deemed by phil()so[)hers the best safeguard against the increase of 

 pauperism, that, in place of enjoining, as has been the case in some 

 parts of the world, the observance of an absurd, ugly, antiquated and 

 ridiculous uniform, care was taken, on the other hand, that no peculi- 

 arit}' of dress should distinguish them from their more prosperous 

 companions; and if necessary, the parents of these children were aided 

 in procuring for them the materials for a decent and respectable ap- 

 pearance. The institution was also known for the support of a Latin 

 and Greek Seminary, which, till a period not far remote, was acknow- 

 ledged to be the best preparatory school for college in this part of the 

 United States. A learned and eminent writer in an inland town, has 

 lately stated to a sister society that he had not heard much of the 

 eminent men educated at it. There has been, until about the last 

 thirty j-ears, but little of wliat was em.inent in our city that did not 

 owe an impoitant part of its education to the Quaker School, in Fourth 

 Street; and in many cases, it furnished all, with the exception of pro- 

 fessional instruction. It is not universally known that it furnished 

 many courses of lectures on popular science, and carried its care for 

 astronomy and its liberality in the supply of instruments, and the em- 

 ployment of observers so Car as to furnish, for many years, the only 

 observations made in this country, fit to rogulate ships"' chnmometers. 

 For this I (juoto the repoit of a Committee of the Councils of New 

 York. It has not found equally favourable notice in some of the his- 

 tories of astrononiical labours in this city. 



John Pveynell was made a member of this body October 8, 1742. 

 He became Treasurer in 1760; and his services, and those of his 

 predecessor, John Kinsley, furnish a curious instance of tlic customs 



