Nations lately become Literary. 541 



Uemen were among the founders of the academy 

 above-mentioned, and all of them were, for a num- 

 ber of years afterwards, its zealous and diligent 

 supporters. 



About the year 1730 a spring was given to 

 the progress of literature in Pennsylvania, and the 

 adjacent colonies, by the exertions of some Pres- 

 byterian clergymen and others, most of whom had 

 a short time before arrived from Europe, and who 

 embarked with a laudable zeal in the promotion 

 of knowledge. The first of these was the Rev. 

 William Tennent, an emigrant from Ireland, 

 who, about the year last mentioned, established 

 at Neshaminy, in the neighbourhood of Philadel- 

 phia, an Academy, which was more particularly 

 intended for the education of ministers for the 

 Presbyterian church.'" This institution continued 



dent of the council. He died in 1 75 1, at Stenton, his country seat, nearGer- 

 mantown, where he had long enjoyed a dignified retirement, devoted to 

 study, and much employed in corresponding with learned nun in the dif- 

 ferent parts of Europe. He was well versed in both ancient and modern 

 learning; had made considerable proficiency in oriental literature; was a 

 master of the Greek, Latin, French and German languages, and had a very 

 respectable degree of skill in mathematics, natural and moral philosophy, 

 and natural history. His principal works are the following : 1. Exper'nnenta 

 et Meletemata de Plantarum Generatione, &c. printed at Leyden in 1 739, 

 and afterwards in London, by Dr. Fothergill, in 1747. 1. Canonum 

 pro inveniendis Refractionum, turn simpliciam, turn in lentibus duplicium Joels, 

 De?nonstrationes Geometries, &c. also printed at Leyden in 1739; anc *> 3- 

 in his old age he translated Cicero's treatise de Senecttde, with explanatory 

 notes, which was published with a recommendatory preface by Dr. Frank- 

 lin, in 1744. Mr. Logan had, with great care and pains, collected a 

 Library of more than three thousand volumes, which, at that time, was by 

 far the largest in Pennsylvania, and particularly rich in works in the Latin 

 and Greek languages, and in the most curious, excellent and rare scientific 

 publications. This valuable collection of books, usually called the Logamiam 

 Library, was bequeathed by its possessor to the citizens of Philadelphia, 

 and has been since deposited in one of the apartments belonging to the 

 Library company of that city. Puoud's History of Pennsylvania, vol. i. 

 p. 478, &C. 



v Mr. William Tennent had been a clergyman in the established 

 church of Ireland before he came to America. Soon after his arrival he 

 renounced his connection with the Episcopal church, and joined the Pres- 

 bytery of Philadelphia. He was much celebrated for his accurate nnd 

 profound acquaintance with the Latin and Greek classics, and taught them 

 with great success in his academy on the Neshaminy, which was called at 

 *hat time his Log College^ from the edifice in which his instruction was 



