AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 27 



path of which his clear mind perceived the honorable 

 end. 



This memorable innovation took place in December 

 1766. The next step was to extend the list of the 

 associates. We see the names of thirty members 

 subscribed to the amended Rules, several of whom, 

 but we do not know how many, came in during the 

 following year. In the proceedings of that year we 

 see much talk about enlarging the Society, that is to 

 say extending its views and its objects ; but nothing 

 effectual was done until the year 1768, when things 

 were brought to a conclusion, which was, I believe, 

 very little expected, at least by those who were not in 

 the secret. 



It is to be presumed, however, that the subject was 

 talked of abroad, and that the views of the old Junto 

 engaged the public attention. The formation of a 

 learned Society in the City of Philadelphia could not 

 fail to be a subject of great interest. We shall now 

 see the consequences that it produced. 



Dr. Franklin, as is well known, was much engaged 

 in the year 1743 in various projects, all tending to 

 the honor and advantage of his country. In some 

 of these he failed, because his mind was elevated 

 above the age that he lived in, in others he succeeded ; 

 but all produced good fruits in due time. Thus he 

 tells us in his autobiography, that he failed at that 

 time in procuring a College to be established at Phila- 



