346 Nations lately become Literary. 



charter was obtained, and the college commenced 

 its operation in Elizabeth-Town, New- Jersey, in 

 the year above-mentioned, under the Presidency 

 of the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, who was then 

 pastor of the Presbyterian Church in that town. 

 Mr. Dickinson dying the next year, the College 

 was removed to New-Ark, in the same Province, 

 and the Rev. Mr. Burr elected to the office of 

 President; from which place it was finally removed 

 in 1757, to Princeton, which had been agreed 

 upon as its permanent situation/ The circum- 

 stances attending the establishment of this College; 

 the zeal for the promotion of literature, which was 

 indicated by its erection, and which it served af- 

 terwards greatly to increase; and the many distin- 

 guished characters which it has contributed to 

 form, render it, beyond all doubt, one of the most 

 conspicuous institutions in our country, and one of 

 those whose history and influence are most worthy 

 of being traced. 



While these measures for the advancement of 

 literature were proceeding thus favourably, Ben- 

 jamin Franklin^ appeared in Pennsylvania, and 



kge, and was long distinguished as a judicious, well informed, and public- 

 spirited man. 3. William Peartree ^ith, Esquire, also a native of 

 New-York, a man of considerable talents and reading. It is believed he 

 was an alumnus of the same college with the preceding. At the period of 

 which we are speaking he resided in New-York, but afterwards removed 

 to New-Jersey, where, after sustaining a number of public honours, he 

 died a few years ago. Besides these, some other laymen might be men- 

 tioned who were animated with a literary spirit, and embarked with zeal 

 in the same cause ; but our limits forbid more minute details. 



e It ought not to pass unnoticed, that the middle colonies were mueh 

 indebted for their progress in literature, at this time, to New-England. 

 The first three presidents of New-Jersey college were born and educated 

 in that country, as were also a considerable number of the other active and 

 enlightened promoters of learning then residing in New-York, New- 

 Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 



f Bexjamix Franklin was born in Boston, in the year 1705. He 

 first came to Philadelphia in the autumn of 1723, in the character cf a 

 journeyman printer ; established himself there in this business on his own 

 account in 1729, and soon began to print a newspaper. In 1732 he com- 

 menced the publication of Poor Richard's Almanack ; and from this time 

 till about the year 1752, when he made his grand discoveries in Electricity, 



