»$02 Nations lately become Literari/. [Cn. XXVI. 



well as learning *, and was eminently serviceal>lc 

 to that part of the country as a teacher of human 

 knowledge, as well as a minister of the Gospel. 

 From this " school of the prophets," as it was fre- 

 quently called, there issued forth many excellent 

 pupils, who did honour to their instructor both as 

 scholars and Christian ministers f . The next in- 

 stitution of this kind was the academy opened a 

 k\M 3^ears after Mr. Blair's, by the rev. Dr. Samuel 

 Finley J, at AV^est Nottingham, in Chester county, 

 in which a number of young persons were in- 

 structed in the languages and sciences, and some 

 in particular trained up to usefulness and honour 

 in the Christian church §. 



Before the institution of these academies, that 

 is, anterior to the year 1730, there was very little 



* The rev. Samuel Blair was a n;*"ive of Ireland. He came to 

 America very early in life, and was one of Mr. Tennant's pupils, 

 in his academy at Neshaniiny. He was considered not only as 

 ©ne of the most learned and able, but also as one of the most 

 venerable, pious, and excellent men of his day? 



f Among the distinguished characters who received their clas- 

 sical and theological education at this seminary, were the rev, 

 Samtjel Davies, afterwards president of the college of New Jersey ; 

 the rev. Dr. Rogers, of ZSew York ; the rev. Messrs. Alexander 

 Cummings, James Finley, Hugh Henry> and a number of other 

 respectable clergymen. 



;|: The rev. Dr. Finley, afterwards president of the college of 

 New Jersey, was a native of Ireland. He came to America in 

 early life, having first received an excellent education in his 

 native country, and a short time after his arrival was licensed by 

 the presbytery of New Brunswick. The eminence which he 

 subsequently attained is well known. 



§ Some of the facts and names above stated were received by 

 the author from his venerable colleague, the rev Dr. RogerSj and 

 from Dr. Hugh Williamson. 



