Sect. III.] United States of America. S2I 



viiice, and some of those who w^ere destined after- 

 ward to fdl the most conspicuous stations, began 

 to receive at home that instruction which before 

 could only be received in other colonies, or in 

 European seminaries. 



The interests of literature were at this time 

 going on prosperously in Massachusetts. A ie.\i 

 years before, Mr. Thomas Hollis*, of London, an. 

 active friend to literature, as well as to civil and 

 religious liberty, had made several valuable dona- 

 tions to the university of Cambridge. He was 

 followed in this munificence by his nephew, of the 

 same benevolent disposition. To these generous 

 benefactors that institution owes much. They esta- 

 blished two professorships, one of theology, the 

 other of mathematics and natural philosophy ; 

 they gave many valuable books to the uni- 

 versity library f ; and made other presents of 

 considerable value. One of the college buildings 

 erected in 1762 was called, in memory of these 

 benefactors, Hollis Hall. 



While the Hollis family exercised this genero- 

 sity towards the institution, benefactors were not 

 wanting in America to imitate their laudable mu- 



f The library of Harvard college took its rise soon after 

 that institution was founded. In 17 64- it consisted of about 

 five thousand volumes. In the winter of that year the greater 

 part of this library was destroyed by fire, with one of the col- 

 lege buildings. Since that time it has been gradually growing, 

 and now consists of about thirteen thousand volumes. The 

 chief contributors to this library were the Hollis family, Tho- 

 mas Hancock, esq., governor Bowdoin, Dr. Franklin, and several 

 6t tiers. 



