They were written by him to a gentleman, who had at that time published the idea of a college, suited to the circumstances of a young country (meaning New-York) a copy of which having been sent to Dr. Franklin for his opinion, gave rise to that correspondence which terminated about a year afterwards, in erecting the college upon the foundation of the academy, and establishing that gentleman at the head of both, where he still continues, after a period of thirty-six years, to preside with distin guished reputation. From these letters also, the state of the academy, at that time will be seen. "SIR, "Philad. April 19, 1753. "I received your favour of the 11th instant, with your new piece* on Education, which I shall carefully peruse, and give you my sentiments of it, as you desire, by next post. "I believe the young gentlemen, your pupils, may be entertained and instructed here, in mathematics and philosophy, to satisfaction. Mr. Alisont (who was educated at Glasgow) has been long accustomed to teach the latter, and Mr. Grew‡ the former, and I think their pupils make great progress. Mr. Alison has the care of the Latin and Greek school, but as he has now three good assistants, he can very well afford some hours every day for the instruction of those who are engaged in higher studies. The mathematical school is pretty well furnished with instruments. The English library is a good one; and we have belonging to it a middling apparatus for experimental philosophy, and propose speedily to complete it. The Loganian library, one of the best collections in Ame * A general idea of the college of Mirania. The Rev. and learned Mr. Francis Alison afterwards D. D: and vice-provost of the college. Mr. Theophilus Grew, afterwards professor of mathematics in the college. Those assistants were at that time, Mr. Charles Thomson, late secretary of congress, Mr. Paul Jackso"and Mr. Jacob Duche. rica, will shortly be opened; so that neither books nor instruments will be wanting; and as we are determined always to give good salaries, we have reason to believe we may have always an opportunity of choosing good masters; upon which, indeed, the success of the whole depends. We are obliged to you for your kind offers in this respect, and when you are settled in England, we may occasionally make use of your friendship and judgment. "If it suits your convenience to visit Philadelphia before you return to Europe, I shall be extremely glad to see and converse with you here, as well as to correspond with you after your settlement in England; for an acquaintance and communication with men of learning, virtue, and public spirit, is one of my greatest enjoyments. "I do not know whether you ever happened to see the first proposals I made for erecting this academy. I send them inclosed. They had (however imperfect) the desired success, being followed by a subscription of four thousand pounds, towards carrying them into execution. And as we are fond of receiving advice, and are daily improving by experience, I am in hopes we shall, in a few years, see a perfect institution. "I am, very respectfully, &c. Mr. W. Smith, Long Island." "Philad. May, 3. 1753. "SIR, "Mr. Peters has just now been with me, and we have compared no.es on your new piece. We find nothing in the scheme of education, however excellent, but what is, in our opinion very practicable. The great difficulty will be to find the Aratus,* and other suitable persons, to carry it into execution: The name given to the principal or head of the ideal college, the system of education in which hath nevertheless been nearly realized, or followed as a model, in the college and academy of Philadelphia, aud some other American seminaries for several years past but such may be had if proper encouragement be given. We have both received great pleasure in the perusal of it. For my part, I know not when I have read a piece that has more affected me-so noble and just are the sentimenrs, so warm and animated the language; yet as censure from your friends may be of more use, as well as more agreeable to you than praise, I ought to mention, that I wish you had omitted not only the quotation from the Review,* which you are now justly dissatisfied with, but those expressions of resentment against your adversaries, in pages 65 and 79. In such cases, the noblest victory is obtained by neglect, and by shining on. "Mr. Allen has been out of town these ten days; but before he went he directed me to procure him six copies of your piece. Mr. Peters has taken ten. He proposed to have written to you; but omits it, as he expects so soon to have the pleasure of seeing you here. He desires me to present his affectionate compliments to you, and to assure you, that you will be very welcome to him. I shall only say, that you may depend on my doing all in my power to make your visit to Philadelphia agreeable to you." "I am, &c. "Mr. Smith. "B. FRANKLIN.” " DEAR SIR, "Philad. Nov. 27, 1753. "Having written you fully, via Bristol, I have now little to add. Matters relating to the academy remain in statu quo. The trustees would be glad to see a rector established there, but they dread entering into new engagements till they are got out of debt; and I have not yet got them wholly over to my opinion, that a good professor, or teacher of the higher branches of learning, would draw so many scholars as to pay great part, if not the whole of his salary. *The quotation alluded to (from the London Monthly Review for 1749) was judged to reflect too severely on the discipline and government of the English universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and was expunged from the fellowing editions of this work. Thus, unless the proprietors (of the province) shall think fit to put the finishing hand to our institution, it must, I fear, wait some few years longer before it can arrive at that state of perfection, which to me it seems now capable of; and all the pleasure I promised myself in seeing you settled among us, vanishes into smoke. "But good Mr. Collinson writes me word, that no endeavours of his shall be wanting; and he hopes with the archbishop's assistance, to be able to prevail with our proprietors.* I pray God grant them suc cess. 66 My son presents his affectionate regards, with, "P. S. I have not been favoured with a line from you since your arrival in England." ❝ DEAR SIR, "Philad. April 18, 1754. "I have had but one letter from you since your arrival in England, which was but a short one, via Boston, dated October 18th, acquainting me that you had written largely by Captain Davis.-Davis was lost, and with him your letters, to my great disappointment.-Mesnard and Gibbon have since arrived here, and I hear nothing from you. My comfort is, an imagination that you only omit writing because you are coming, and propose to tell me every thing viva voce. So not knowing whether this letter will reach you, and hoping either to see or hear from you by the Myrtilla, Captain Budden's ship, which is daily expected, I only add, that I am, with great csteem and affection, "Mr. Smith. "Yours, &c. "B. FRANKLIN." Upon the application of Archbishop Herring and P. Collinson, Esgr. at Dr. Franklin's request (aided by the letters of Mr Allen and Mr Peters,) the honourable Thomas Penn, Esqr. subscribed an annual sum, and afterwards gave at least 50001. to the founding or ene grafting the college upon the academy. About a month after the date of this last letter, the gentleman to whom it was addressed arrived in Phijadelphia, and was inmediately placed at the head of the seminary; whereby Dr. Franklin and the other trustees were enabled to prosecute their plan, for perfecting the institution, and opening the college upon the large and liberal foundation on which it now stands; for which purpose they obtained their additional charter, dated May 27th, 1755. Thus far we thought it proper to exhibit in one view Dr. Franklin's services in the foundation and establishment of this seminary. He soon afterwards embarked for England, in the public service of his country; and having been generally employed abroad, in the like service, for the greatest part of the remainder of his life (as will appear in our subsequent account of the same) he had but few opportunities of taking any further active part in the affairs of the seminary, until his final return in the year 1785, when he found its charters violated, and his ancient colleagues, the original founders, deprived of their trust by an act of the legislature; and although his own name had been inserted amongst the new trustees, yet he declined to take his seat among them, or any concern in the management of their affairs, till the institution was restored by law to its original owners. He then assembled his old colleagues at his house, and being chosen their president, all their future meetings, were at his request, held there, till within a few months of his death, when with reluctance, and at their desire, lest he might be too much injured by his attention to their business, he suffered them to meet at the college. Franklin not only gave birth to many useful institutions himself, but he was also instrumental in promoting those which had originated with other men. About the year 1752, an eminent physician of this city, Dr. Bond, considering the deplorable state of the poor, when visited with disease, conceived the idea of establishing an hospital. Notwithstanding very great exertions on his part, he was able to interest few people so far in his benevolent plan, as to obtain subscriptions from them. Unwilling that his scheme |