54© Nations lately become Literary, 



blished, as early as 1689, a respectable seminary 

 for the instruction of youth, not only in reading 

 and writing, but also in the learned languages, 

 and in the sciences. This seminary was more par- 

 ticularly in the hands of the Friends, and was, no 

 doubt, useful in forming many good scholars, and 

 in producing a considerable degree of taste for the 

 acquisition of knowledge. The celebrated George 

 Keith' was the first teacher in this academy. He 

 continued in the office, however, but one year; and 

 was succeeded by Thomas Makin, who has been 

 followed by a number of good instructors to the 

 present time. But the circumstance of this institu- 

 tion being, in a great measure, confined to one deno- 

 mination of Christians, rendered it less useful than 

 it might have been on a more extensive and liberal 

 foundation. Among those who were most active 

 in promoting the interests of literature from 1689, 

 until a few years after the- commencement of the 

 eighteenth century, we find the names of Edward 

 Shipfen/ Anthony Morris, Jonathan Dick- 

 inson, Isaac No.rris, Nicholas Waln, and 

 James Logan/ The greater part of these gen- 



r George Keith was a native of Aberdeen, in Scotland. In early life 

 he belonged to the Episcopal church ; but afterwards left that communion 

 and became a celebrated preacher among the Friends. In 1692, having 

 manifested a troublesome and disorderly disposition, he was disowned by 

 them, and in a short time returned to the Episcopal church. He was a 

 man of learning and talents ; but arrogant, vain, and given to litigation. 



s Edward Shippen was early and much distinguished in Pennsylvania. 

 Ke came from England to Massachusetts to avoid persecution; but be» 

 longing to the society of Friends, he met with no better treatment in 

 "New-England than in his own country. He therefore removed to Penn- 

 sylvania soon after Mr. Penn's arrival, and became conspicuous and use- 

 ful in the new colony. He was successively speaker of the HoUse of 

 Assembly, member of the Governor's Council, and the first Mayor of the 

 city of Philadelphia. Plis descendants have continued to be persons of dis- 

 tinction to the present day. 



t James Logan, mentioned in a former chapter as a distinguished 

 botanist, was born at Lurgan, in Ireland, in the year 1674. In 1699 he 

 came to Pennsylvania, in company with William Penn, under whose 

 patronage he was much employed in public affairs. He held, in succession, 

 the several offices of provincial secretary, commissioner of property, chiei : 

 justice, and; for near two years, discharged the duties of governor, aspres; r 



