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Nations lately become Literary, 



tion with the Loganian Library, forms the largest 

 and best collection of books in the United States." 

 In 1749 Dr. Franklin drew up the plan of an 

 Academy, to be erected in the city of Philadelphia, 

 which was adopted and liberally encouraged ; and 

 the seminary was established in the beginning of 

 the following year. In 1753, through the interposi- 

 tion of his learned and philosophic friend, Mr. Col- 

 linson, of London, a Charter was obtained for 

 this Academy, from the proprietors of the Pro- 

 vince, accompanied with a liberal donation to- 

 wards its funds. In 1755 an additional Charter 

 was granted, extending the plan of the institution, 

 and forming it into a College/ The first Provost 

 was the Rev. Dr. William Smith, 7 whose popu- 



n The City Library of Philadelphia contains, at present, between eleven 

 and twelve thousand volurnes — say eleven thousand five hundred. The 

 Loganian Library consists of about three thousand five hundred, making 

 in the whole a collection of fifteen thousand volumes. 



o Peter Collinson, F.R. S. was a native of Westmoreland, in 

 England, and resided the greater part of his life in the city of London. 

 He was much distinguished by his fondness for natural history, and also 

 by his desire and exertions to promote literature and science in the Ame- 

 rican colonies. He long maintained a friendly correspondence with Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor Colden, of New-York, and with Dr. Franklin, aa 

 well as with other American gentlemen. He died in 1768. 



p In the establishment of this seminary on its original plan, and in 

 finally erecting it into a College, Dr. Franklin is said to have been 

 chiefly aided by the counsels and exertions of Chief Justice Allen, who 

 was much distinguished as a friend to literature; by Thomas Hopkin- 

 son, Esq. one of the Governor's Council; by the Rev. Richard Pe- 

 ters, Secretary of the Province; by Tench Francis, Esquire, At- 

 torney-General;' and by Dr. Phineas Bond, an eminent physician; all 

 residing in Philadelphia. 



q The Rev. Dr. William Smith was a native of Scotland, and re- 

 ceived his education at the University of Aberdeen, where he graduated 

 in March, 1747. The three following years he spent in teaching in one 

 of the parochial schools of that country ; and in 1750 was sent up to 

 London, in pursuance of some plan for the better endowment of said 

 schools. In London he was induced to relinquish the employment in 

 which he was engaged, and to embark for America, where he soon after- 

 wards arrived. Here he was employed upwards of two years as a private 

 tutor in the family of Governor Martin, on Long-Island, in the pro- 

 vince of New -York. In this situation he was invited to take charge of 

 the College in Philadelphia, to which he consented; and, after revisiting 

 England, and receiving regular ordination in the Episcopal Church, 

 (which took place in December, 1753), he returned to America; and in 



