Sect. III.] United States of America. 199 



The greater part of these gentlemen were among 

 tlie founders of the academy above mentioned, 

 and all of them were, for a number of years after- 

 ward, its zealous and diligent supporters. 



About the year 1730 a spring was given to tho 

 progress of literature in Pennsylvania, and tlie 

 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 pro- 

 motion of knowledge. The first of these was the 

 rev. William Tennant, an emigrant from Ireland, 

 who, about the year last mentioned, established 

 at Neshaminy, in the neighbourhood of Phila- 

 delphia, an academy, which was more particu- 



well versed in both ancient and modern learning; had made con- 

 siderable 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. Experimenta et Mektcmata de Flantaruni Geneia- 

 t-one, ^'c, printed at Leyden in 1739, and afterwards in London, 

 by Dr. Fothergill, in 1747. 2. Canonum pro inveniendis Refruc- 

 tionum, turn siinplicium, turn in lentibus dupliciionfocis, Detnonstra^ 

 tiones Gcotnetricw, ^f., also printed at Leyden in 17 39; and, 3. 

 in his old age he translated Cicero's treatise De Stnectute, with 

 explanatory notes, which was published with a recommenda- 

 tory preface by Dr. Franklin in 1744-. Mr. Logan had, with 

 great care and pains, collected a. librarj/ of more than three thousand 

 volumes, which, at that time, was by far the largest in Pennsyl- 

 vania, 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 Loi^anian lil)rary, was bequeathed by its possessor to the ci- 

 tizens of Philadelphia, and has been since deposited in one of the 

 apartments belonging to the library company of that city. — 

 Proud's Ilistorj/ of Pavisi/hauia, vol. i/p. 478, ^-c. 



