Nations lately become Literary. 351 



he procured for the purpose, by donation in Eng- 

 land, he made an additional present of nearly one 

 thousand volumes to the same Library.' 



In 1748 a public Library was established at 

 Newport, in Rhode-Island, by Abraham Red- 

 wood, Esq. an opulent gentleman, who wished 

 to encourage literature. It was founded for the 

 use of all denominations of christians indiscrimi- 

 nately; a company was afterwards incorporated by 

 the legislature, for the purpose of holding and su- 

 perintending it; and large additions were made to 

 it by donations from Europe and elsew T here. This 

 Library afforded to the inhabitants of Rhode-Is- 

 land means of literary improvement which they 

 had never before enjoyed ; and no doubt contri- 

 buted something to the extension of a taste for 

 letters and science in that colony. '" 



The influence of Dr. Fran»lin's literary zeal 

 and industry soon began to display itself in Penn- 

 sylvania. In 1742, an Association, which had 

 been formed at his instance, and by his unwearied 

 exertions some time before, was incorporated, by 

 the name of " The Library Company of Phila- 

 delphia." This institution was greatly encouraged 

 by the friends of literature in America and in 

 Great-Britain. Valuable contributions were made 

 to it, not only by Franklin, and his literary friends 

 and countrymen, but also by his correspondent, 

 Mr. Collinson, by Thomas and Richard Penn, 

 and others. From that period to the present it has 

 been continually growing; and now, in conjunc- 



/ The attention and munificence of the Dean to Yale College, when 

 considered in all its circumstances, reflects much honour on his disinter- 

 estedness and liberality. When it is considered that he was warmly 

 attached to the Episcopal Church, and that he came to America for the 

 express purpose of founding an Episcopal College; his Catholicism, in 

 patronizing an institution, under the exclusive direction of a different de- 

 nomination, will appear worthy of high praise. , 



m This Library, which bore the name of its founder, was, in a great 

 measure, destroyed during the Revolutionary w»r. 



