History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 77

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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"That the Library Company consists of upwards of four hundred members, and that there are also many other persons who constantly take out books. That being attended by so numerous a body of old and young, they hope your honorable House, in taking up the prayer of the Philosophical Society, will be pleased to consider that the members who attend at the so- ciety's hall are few in numbers compared with those

1179

LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

who frequent the library, and their stated meetings are only once a fortnight.

" Your petitioners therefore hope that you will be pleased to grant to the Library Company of Philadel- phia a lot on the east side of the State-Honse Square."

On Feb. 2, 1786, a committee appointed to wait on Dr. Franklin reported that they had had a con- ference with the doctor, who appeared to interest himself much in the prosperity of the library, and wished some steps could be taken to procure a con- venient lot to build on, and intimated that he had a valuable number of books which he intended for the library whenever there should be a safe place to deposit them in.

On July 5, 1787, it was "resolved that the libra- rian furnish the gentlemen composing the convention now sitting with such books as they may desire during their continnance in Philadelphia, taking a receipt for the same."

Feb. 5, 1789, a letter was presented to the company from Dr. Franklin, president of the Philosophical Society, inclosing an extract from the minutes of the said society, by which it appears that a committee were appointed to treat with the directors of the library company with respect to renting to the directors, for the use of the company, part of the building belonging to the society, on the State-House Square, which minute was taken into consideration, and it was resolved that Josiah Hewes and John Kaighn do wait on the president and thank him for his continued friendly attention to the interests of the library company, and that they reqnest the pres- ident to inform the committee of the Philosophical Society that the directors are of opinion the present sitnation of the library would be very desirable were it not for the danger of fire, arising from a joint tenancy in the same building, which has induced them to enter into treaty for a lot on Chestnut Street and Fifth Street, on which they conceive, by proper exertions, they will be able to erect a safe, convenient, and detached building, without any diminution of the present income of the company, and that they desire the president to inform the society the direc- tors entertain a proper sense of the overtures from the society, but that the dangers at present appre- hended from fire would not be obviated by a removal of the books unto the society's hall.

April 30, 1789, the committee on accounts reported the capital stock of the company as follows:

Bonds and mortgagee.

400

Ground-rents

567

Honse in Third Street, Iste the Union Library.

500

Lot on Fifth Street.

250

Lot on Chestnut Street

200

1917

Deduct for ground-rents ...

216

Arrearages of interest, etc ...

284

Cash in hands of treasurer.

345

10 41/2

2345

216

The library was also reported to comprise about seven thousand seven hundred volumes, and sundry apparatus not valued.

At a meeting of the members of the library com- pany, held June 1, 1789, Bishop White was nomi- nated by the directors, and took the chair. The directors were authorized to erect a two-story build- ing, estimated to cost £1999 Ss., as soon as one hun- dred new shares were sold.

On July 30, 1789, the building committee reported a conversation with Dr. Logan, to the effect that a lot of twenty-seven feet ten inches by two hundred and twenty-five feet deep could be procured, at the rate of one hundred dollars per annum. This is the first case on the minutes in which money is reckoned in dollars instead of in Pennsylvania currency of $2.663 to the pound. They also reported that the two corner lots had been sold by the sheriff, and had fallen into the hands of Mary Norris, who was ready to make a title to the company. It was agreed to take the lot from Dr. Logan, and the committee was instructed to pro- cure the deeds for this and the lots of Mary Norris, and to proceed to have the cellar dug out as speedily as possible.

On examination of the plans the board determined in favor of an elevation presented by Dr. Thornton. Sept. 3, 1789, the building committee reported,-

" That the first stone of the edifica was laid on the thirty-first of August last; that upon the suggestion of Doctor Benjamin Franklin a large stone was prepared and laid at the Sonth-west corner of the building with the following Inscription composed by the Doctor, except so far as relates to himself, which the committee have taken the liberty of adding te it :-

"' Be it remembered, In honor of the Philadelphia Youth, Then chiefly Artificers That ie MDCCXXXI, They cheerfully, at the Instance of Benjamin Franklin, one of their Number,

Tustituted the Philadelphia Library ; which, tho' small at first, Is become highly valuable & extensively useful,

And which the Walls of this Edifice

Are now destined to contain and preserve; The first Stone of whose Fondation, was here placed,

The thirty-first day of August, Anno Domini MDCCLXXXIX,

Benjamin Giblı6, Themas Parko,

Josiah Hewes, Joseph Paschall,

than

John Kaigha, Benjamin Ponltnay,

being

Mordecai Lewis,

Richard Wells,

Directors.

Thomas Morris,

Richard Wistar,

Samnel Costs, Treasurer-

William Rawle, Secretary- Zachariah Ponlson, Jour. Librarian.'

" The following medals wers deposited in the Stone :- & Pewter Coin 2 Inches diameter, & Figure erect with a Helmet-Right hand a Spear- left hand a Knot, or Cord, from whence suspends 4 shields, being the Arms of 4 Crowns, viz. Ist England-on the right, 2d three fleur de Lis (France)below on the right 3d a Lion rampant with a Sword in the right Paw, grasping a Bundle of arrows in the other-Fourth-A Shield with s Lion rampant at two opposite Corners of the Shield, the other two are confused. At the bottom is a detached Shield, as if lying on the grouod, unconnected with the other four-The Figure appears to be a large head covering the whole Field .- Around the Inner Edge is Communi consensu -1789 stamped on this sido by Rus.

1701

Cash in hands of librarian

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

"On the other side is a handsome figure in Robes, sprinkled with fleur de Lam. Sitting in an armed chair, resting on a raised Step, apriukled also with Fleur de Lis The left hand pointing to a Pillar, with a Cap of 'Liberty' on it- A female Figure in light Hohes ie baoging up a shield on the Pillar having 15 Stripes- Round the inner Edge the Motto Libertas Americana, 1783-1789 Stamped .-

"A Copper Inch Coio, a Star rudiating with thirteen small Stars between the points of the Rays The Motto Nora Constellatio. On the other Side a circular Wreath with the Letters I S .- The Motto Libertas et Justitia 1785-1789 Statuped.

" A Copper large Inch Coin, a Shield with thirteen stripes. The Motto e pluribus unum. On the reverse, a Plongh with a Nagy head over it- The Motto Nora Casarin, 17>7-1789 Stamped.

" A George the Third half-penny 1773. Stamped 1789.

" Inch Copper Coin On one side a Spread Eagle with Massachusetts on the inner Date 1788-on the reverse an Indian with a Bow in his Right, and an Arrow in his left hand. Motto, Commonwealth-stamped 1789-

" Inch Copper Coin- a Cawar's hand on one side with Vermont : Auc- torilus on the inner Circle-On the reverse a Figure like Britannia date 1785. Motto Inde : et Lilur : Stamped 1789-

"1"4 Inch a Medal Roman head of Genl. Washington-round the inner Edge G. Washington General of the Continental Arroy in America -On the reverse a Trophy-Cannon, Mortar, Trumpet & Rays shooting out all round Washin : reunit par un rare assemblage les taletis du Guer- rier, les Vertus du Sage."

CUMMUNITER

DEUM ' EST.

BONA · PROFUNDERE

SEAL OF THE LIBRARY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Information was given at the same time by John Kaighn to the effect that William Bingham, having heard of the intention of the directors to erect a statue of white marble of Dr. Franklin as the founder of the library in the niehe in the front of the building, was willing to furnish it at his own expense. John Kaighn, Mordecai Lewis, Joseph Paschall, and Dr. Parke were appointed a committee to wait upon and confer with him upon the subject.

On Oct. 1, 1789, the committee on the statue re- porter] "that they have understood Dr. Franklin would approve of a gown for his dress and a Roman head."

A letter was read from William Bingham to the directors of the Library Company, at a meeting held April 5, 1792,1 informing them of the arrival of a

1 Mr. Bingham's letter was as follows

" PitILADELPHIA, April 4, 1792.

" GENTLEMEN,-The Respect I bore to the Memory of that deceased Patriut, Philosopher, and Statesman, Dr. Frankhu, induced me to en- Kage tu carry your Intentions, of erecting a Marble Statue to perpetuate

statue of Dr. Franklin, and requesting their accept- ance thereof, and testifying his friendship to the in- stitution ; whereupon the secretary was directed to return an answer thereto, informing him of their ac- ceptance of his valuable present and expressive of their thanks for the same.

This statne was cut of Carrara marble, by Francisco Lazzarini. It was placed in the niche in front of the building in the early part of April, 1792, and an ode in honor of its erection was published in Bache's paper, April 17th of that year. The features of the head were taken from a bust of Franklin procured from the Pennsylvania Hospital.

William Bingham, who donated the statue, in- herited a large estate through a long line of distin- gnisbed ancestors, who resided in Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather, James, died in 1714, leaving a large estate. His grandfather, James, married a daughter of William Bndd, of Burlington, N. J., and also inherited large landed property. His father, William, besides the Bingham and Budd property that came into his possession, added considerably to it by a marriage, in 1745, with Mary, daughter of Alderman and Mayor John Stamper. William Bingham, who married Anu Willing, the daughter of Thomas Willing, one of the early celebrated families of Philadelphia, was born in this city April 8, 1752. He graduated at the Col- lege of Philadelphia in 1768, and received a diplo- matic appointment under the British government at St. Pierre Myzene, in the West Indies, where he was consul in 1771. He remained there during the Rev- olution as the agent of the Continental Congress, and performed patriotic service in furnishing money and supplies to the struggling colonies.

After his return from the West Indies, Mr. Bingham married, on Oct. 26, 1780, at Christ Church, the beau- tiful and accomplished Ann Willing, then only six- teen years old. This young girl, as will be seen in other portions of this work, was the favorite of very eminent men on account of the social position of her family and her own graces and accomplishments.

In 1784, William Bingham and his beautiful wife visited Europe, where they remained two years, and attracted general attention, having been presented to Louis XVI. In 1786, Mr. Bingham was elected a member of the Congress of the Confederation, and served until 1789. He was captain of a troop of dragoons in the latter year, and with his company

in the Minds of his Fellow-citizens the recollection of his public and private Virtues, into full Effect.

" The Statue is, at length, arrived, and I have the honor of inclosing to you the Bill of Lading. If I miny credit the communicatiune of my Correspondents, it is Inshioned out of a beautiful block of Marble and is executed in a very masterly Stile, and ie in every respect, worthy of the distinguished Personage whom it is intended to represent. An such I request your acceptance of It, and to believe me a Sincere Friend to your Institution.

" Gentlemen, " Your obedient humble Servant,

" WM. BINGRAM.

"Tur. DIRECTORS OF THE LIBRARY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA."

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LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

escorted Mrs. Washington from Chester to the city when on her way to New York to join her husband, who had been elected the first President of the United States. In 1790 he was elected a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, and although it was his first year in that body, he was, owing to his ability and character, chosen Speaker of the House. He was a member of the Assembly for the sessions of 1790 and of 1791, and in 1795 elected United States senator from Pennsylvania, and held the office until 1801. In July, 1780, William Bingham subscribed five thousand pounds to " the Bank of Pennsylvania for the purpose of supplying the army of the United States with provisions for two months."

Mrs. Bingham died in Bermuda, May 11, 1801, at the age of thirty-seven years. Mr. Bingham went to Europe shortly afterward, and died at Bath, in 1804, leaving three children, Ann Louisa, Maria Matilda, and William Bingham.

Samuel Jennings having written from London to his father that he would like to paint a picture for the library, the directors suggested, at a meeting held May 6, 1790, " the figure of Liberty displaying the arts and placing on the top of a pedestal a pile of books lettered with Agriculture, Commerce, Philos- ophy, and a catalogue of the Philadelphia Library, a broken chain under her feet, and in the distant back- ground a group of negroes sitting on the earth, or in some attitude expressive of ease and joy." The pic- ture is now in the Ridgway Branch.

On June 3, 1790, Richard Wells produced the fol- lowing bequest from Dr. Benjamin Franklin : eigh- teen volumes quarto of a French work entitled “ De- scriptions des Arts et Métiers," for which Mr. Wells was requested to inform the executors "that they en- tertain a very just sense of the compliment made to the library by the doctor."

July 1, 1790, the board having been desirous of dis- posing of the lot on Chestnut Street given by the late proprietaries of Pennsylvania, intimation, by the de- sire of the board, was made to their descendants, John Penn and John Penn, Jr., by one of the direc- tors, which produced a letter to their agent, Anthony Butler, of which the following is a copy, and the original is permitted to be kept for such purposes as may hereafter become necessary :

" LONDON, April 7, 1790

"SIR,-Understanding that the Library Company of Philadelphia in- tend to fix upon a different place for the Building of a Library, as a more convenient Situation than the lot near ninth street, we beg to intimate to you our compliance with their requisition, made through Doctor Parke, for power to sell that Lot. You may therefore consider any mode which you together agree on the expediency of for confirming their Title as having the Sanction of our joint Consent. We are, Sir, with regard,

" Your obedient huml Servts. " JOHN PENN " JOHN PENN, JUNE.

" ANTHONY BUTLER, ESQUIRE."

The committee appointed to remove the books and property of the Library Company reported, Oct. 7, 1790, that they had performed that service.

On Dec. 30, 1790, the books in the new apartments being ready for delivery, the directors took into con- sideration the propriety of opening the library every day, and in consequence agreed with Zachariah Poul- son, Jr., to perform that service at the rate of one hundred pounds per annum, to commence on the 1st of January next, and directed an advertisement to be published agreeably thereto, acquainting the mem- bers that the library will be opened in future every day, Sundays excepted, from one o'clock P.M. until sunset.

The library was opened for the first time for the delivery of books the 1st of January, agreeably to the order of the board on December 30th.

At a meeting held Jan. 18. 1791, the directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia, desirons of showing a respectful mark of attention to the Presi- dent and Congress of the United States, resolved "that the President and members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives of the United States shall have the free use of the books in the library in as full and ample manner as if they were members of the company."

On Feb. 3, 1791, the secretary reported that, agree- ably to the wishes of the board at the special meeting of the 18th ult., he communicated the resolution then agreed upon to the President and to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States; that he received the following letter in consequence thereof :

" THURSDAY, Jan. 20, 1791. " Sia,-In obedience to the command of the President of the United States, I have the honor to communicate to you, to be presented to the directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia, his best thanks for the very polite manner in which they have offered him the use of the books in the library, and he begs they will be assured thal thia mark of atten- tion has made a proper impression on him.

"I bave the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, " Your most obedient aervant, " TOBIAS LEAR,

" Secretary to the President of the United States.

" WILLIAM RAWLE, ESQ.,

" Secretary to the Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia."

Early in 1792 the heirs of James Logan made a proposition to transfer to the Library Company the Loganian Library, with certain properties, arrearages, and rents for the support of the institution, and a committee was appointed Feb. 18, 1792, to confer with them. A week later, on February 25th, the committee reported the following terms as advisable to be agreed to, and proposed to the heirs of James Logan, respecting the same :

"That application should be made to the Legislature for a Law to unite the Loganian Library to the Library belonging to the Li- brary Company of Philadelphia, so as to retain, as much as may be, the principles originally intended hy James Logan; that the books shall be received into one of the apartments of the Philadelphia Li- brary, or a commodions Room prepared contiguous thereto, on ren- sonable terma; the said books, and others hereafter to be acquired by the Loganian Library, to be and ramain distinct and apart from the books of the Library of Philadelphia; that the Directors of the said Library of Philadelphia, from time to time choseo, together with James Logan, the surviving Son of James Logan, the Donor, and two Associates whom he may choose, shall form a Board of Trustees for

1182

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

the conducting and managing the affairs of the said Logubian Li- brary, and that his successor and successors, in the order and manner prescribed by the Deeds of Trust, shall, in all future time, form one of the said Trustees, with power to nominate two Associate Trustees, or in case of death or resignation to supply, from time to time, the place or places of such Associate Trustee so dying or resigning."

The transfer was made valid by act of Assembly passed March 31, 1792. The preamble to the act re- cited that William Logan, one of the trustees and first librarian, was dead ; that the avocations of the other trustees, with the condition of public affairs, authorized them to carry it into execution.

had suspended the operations of the library, although the books were found to be in good order, and were increased in number by a bequest by William Logan of nearly one hundred volumes, the whole number of books being about three thousand five hundred vol- umes. James Logan, the remaining trustee, it was declared, had entered into an arrangement with the Library Company of Philadelphia to render the said institution beneficial to the public, consistent with the designs of the founder. In this transfer were in- cluded the Loganian Library building and lot at the northwest corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets, two rent-charges (issuing out of ground in Bucks County), books, and other properties.

The character of the works in the Loganian Library, which passed into the hands of the Library Company of Philadelphia, can be best understood from the words of the founder himself, that cultured scholar, of whom Blackwood's Magazine for January, 1825, says, " We look upon him as altogether an extraor- dinary man." His library, which became as a public institution the Logauian Library, comprised, as he tells us, "over one hundred volumes of authors all in Greek, with mostly their versions ; all the Roman classics without exception ; all the Greek mathema- ticians. . . . Besides there are many of the most valu- able Latin authors, and a great number of modern mathematicians."

. The directors of the Library Company of Philadel- phia having been appointed, by the act of Assembly of March 31, 1792, trustees of " the Loganian Library," in conjunction with James Logan, a son of the testa- tor, and two associates by him to be appointed, the board agreed, on May 10, 1792, to permit the meet- ings to be held in the directors' room until further order should be taken therein.

On June 12, 1792, Benjamin Franklin Bache pre- sented to the company the machine which Dr. Frank- lin first used to make experiments in electricity. This interesting machine is now in the south gallery at the Ridgway Branch.

On June 25, 1792, Richard Wells and Thomas Parke were appointed a committee to make a pur- chase of, or take on ground-rent, five feet of ground extending eastward from the eastern line of the library lot and north and south the whole length of the library, for the purpose of erecting thereon a suit- able building for the present reception and accommo- dation of the books belonging to the Loganian Library.

On July 16th the committee produced two deeds from Samuel M. Fox, the one for the additional lot they were directed to purchase, and the other granting a privilege of turning water from the eastern side of such building as may be erected thereon until pre- vented by the erection of an adjoining building or buildings. They also report the plan of an additional building to be erected on the east side of the present library, which plan was approved by the board, who

On Aug. 20, 1792, Richard Wells, Thomas Parke, William Rawle, and John Kaighn, the building com- mittee, reported that the trustees of the Loganian Library had agreed to lend the Library Company of Philadelphia the sum of seven hundred pounds to defray the expense of a building for the accommoda- tion of the Loganian Library.

At a meeting held Nov. 25, 1793, the secretary re- ported that, agreeably to public notice given for that purpose, a general meeting of the members had taken place on the 30th of August last, and the propositions recommended to the directors on the 1st of August had been taken into consideration and a law passed raising the price of shares to forty dollars.

At a meeting of the members of the company held March 16, 1795, a by-law was passed entitled “An Act to repeal so much of any law or laws of the com- pany as authorizes the directors to dispose of the real estate belonging to the company."

On Nov. 2, 1797, the secretary was directed to pre- sent to the President of the United States a handsome bound catalogue of the books belonging to the Phil- adelphia Library, and to offer him the use of them during his official residence in this city.

The contagious fever which prevented a meeting of the directors on the 6th of September, 1798, con- tinuing in the city, and the city being abandoned by many of the citizens on account thereof, the direc- tors had no meeting until the 7th of November, 1799.

On Nov. 3, 1803, Mr. Norris, as executor of John Bleakely, deceased, informed the board that he was ready to pay the legacy of one thousand pounds bequeathed to this institution by Mr. Bleakley.

The corresponding committee reported, Aug. 9, 1804, that they had received a letter from Joseph Woods and Robert Barclay, dated June 2, 1804, with a catalogue of the books bequeathed to the Library Company by the late Dr. Preston. On Aug. 25, 1804, the secretary was directed to write a letter of thanks to Mrs. West for the picture of Dr. Preston.

Rev. Dr. Samuel Preston was an intimate friend of Benjamin West, whose house, when in London, he frequently made his home. Having no descendants, it was occasionally a topic of discussion at the dinner- table what would be the best disposition of his valu- able books. West pressed upon his notice the library at Philadelphia, and finally obtained his promise to will his collection to the institution, which promise he faithfully kept. There are in the collection many

LIBRARIAN S HUUM

RIDGWAY BRANCH OF THE PHILADELPHIA LIBRARY.

DITTH ATT DIST מח זותהחוחזזו

Ridgway Branch of the Phia. Library

S.F.GOIST DEL.

SHEVERTS PHILA

MEMORIAL ROOM.

LIBRARIAN'S ROOM

RIDGWAY BRANCH OF THE PHILADELPHIA LIBRARY.

LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

1183

rare books of plates of the most costly description. On hearing of his promise, Mrs. West requested the doctor to sit to her husband for his portrait, which was forwarded soon after the books; bearing on the canvas, " A present from Mrs. West to the Library Company of Philadelphia."

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 77

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992