Sect. III.] United States of America. 215 



his academy, before mentioned, to the office of 

 vLceprovost in this seminary ; and who, perhaps, 

 still more eminently contributed to its reputation 

 for solid learning and useful knowledge. 



The effects of this establishment in awakening 

 the attention of the public to the interests of 

 learning, and in exciting a taste for literature in 

 Pennsylvania, were soon visible. The first com- 

 mencement took place in a short time after the 

 second charter was obtained, when the honours 

 of the institution were conferred on six young 

 gentlemen *, most of whom became afterward 

 both conspicuous ^nd useful literary charac- 

 ters, and were honourable pledges of the be- 

 nign effects which this college w^as destined to 

 produce on the literature and science, not only of 

 Pennsylvania, but also of the neighbouring states. 



It has already been mentioned, that Dr. Frank- 

 Im's exertions were eminently usefuj '\\\ promot- 

 ing the cause of liberal knowledge in Pennsylva- 

 nia. His experiments on electricity \yere pecu- 

 liarly fitted to awaken and stimulate the public 

 mind, and were actually found to produce this 

 effect, in a very remarkable degree, both in Eu- 

 rope and America, He was soon joined by Mr. 

 Thomas Hopkinson, the rev. Ebenezer Kinners- 

 ley, Mr. Philip Syng, and others, who also be- 

 came distinguished by their experiments in the 

 same branch of philosophy. Mr. Kinnersley was ■• 



* These were, Jacob Duche, Samuel Magaw, James Latta, 



Hugh Williamson, Francis Hopkiiison, and Hall. The 



first three became eminent clergymen; and two of the others 

 have been long celebrated in America, for their literary attain- 

 jnents, and their useful services in civil life;. 



