LANCASTER COUNTY. 451 



until it now numbers near 2,000 volumes, besides a valuable 

 collection of maps, globes, philosophical apparatus, &c. &;c. 



The Library soon became the centre of attraction to the^ 

 apprentices, and an improvement morally as well as mentally^ 

 became apparent in their habits and condition. Increasing in 

 strength and character, the society found it necessary to 

 procure a Hall for their accommodation, in which a system of 

 "popular instruction, by familiar lectures," was soon after 

 (A. D. 1836) carried into operation under the management of 

 a committee appointed for that purpose. These lectures, at 

 first confined to Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, 

 fee. soon became popular, and in a short time after, were ex- 

 tended and enlarged so as to embrace almost every science 

 and every subject, except that of Religion. In 1838, a new 

 and capacious Hall was erected in South Queen street, for the 

 better accommodation of the crowds which gather from time 

 to time listen to the words of instruction and of interest, as they 

 fall from the lips of the Lecturers, engaged through the enter- 

 prize and liberality of the Society. Of it, all that we have to 

 say is, that it has done much and great good, and to it, we have 

 only to add our prayer — Esto perpetua! 



We now return to consider the efforts made for the endow- 

 ment and support of schools of a higher order than those here- 

 tofore treated of — classical and mathematical acadamies, where 

 inquiring youth might attain a knowledge of the languages 

 of Homer and Demosthenes, of Cicero and Virgil — where they 

 might be taught to solve the problems of Euclid — to study the 

 works of Galiileo — explore the vast fields of Natural Philoso- 

 phy, Astronomy and Chemistry, with all the various sciences, 

 necessary to the constitution of a finished scholar. 



Immediately after the suspension of the Grammar or High 

 School of the "Franklin College," as already shewn, but one 

 private classical academy existed in Lancaster. This school 

 was at best but feebly supported, and was at length discon- 

 tinued. A taste for classic literature however, having been 

 created, to some extent, among the people, application was 

 made to the Legislature during the session of 1826-'7, for the 

 incorporation of an academy at Lancaster, and on the 14th 

 day of April, A. D. 1827,* an act was passed entitled " An act 



*Pam. laws, page 357. 



