212 Nations latelij heco7ne Literary. [Ch. XXVI. 



in England, he made an additional present of 

 nearly one thousand volumes to the same li- 

 brary *, 



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 

 superintending it ; and large additions were made 

 to it by donations from Europe and elsewhere. 

 This library afforded to the inhabitants of Rhode 

 Island 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 f . 



The influence of Dr. Franklin's literary zeal and 

 industry soon began to display itself in Pennsyl- 

 vania. In 1742, an association, which had been 

 formed at his instance, and by his unwearied ex- 

 ertions some time before, was incorporated, by 

 the name of " The Library Company of Phila- 

 lielphia." This institution was greatly encouraged 



* The attention and munificence of the clean to Yale college, 

 ^vhen considered in all its circumstances, reflects much honour 

 on his disinterestedness and liberality. When it is considered 

 that he ^^tls warmly attached to the episcopal church, and that 

 he came to America for the express purpose of founding an epis- 

 rtipal college ; his Catholicism, in patronising an institution 

 under the exclusive direction of a different denomination, will 

 appear worthy of high praise. 



t Thi3 library, which bore the name of its founder, was in a 

 great measure destroyed during the revolutionary war. 



