USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The Philadelphia Directory, 1794 > Part 19
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And thus was, in the end, erected the feminary, now called, The University of Pennfylvania ; ftill confifting of the fame fchools of which the old college confifted .*
The prefent Truffees of this Seminary, are
THOMAS MIFFLIN, Governor of the ftate, Prefident ex of- ficio.
William Bingham, Robert Blackwell D. D. John Bleakley, Edward Burd, Jofeph Ball, George Clymer, David H. Conyngham, Alexander I. Dallas, Thomas Fitzimmons, Robert Hare, Jared Ingerfol, General James Irvine, David Jackfon, M. D. Frederic Kuhl, William Lewis, Thomas M'Kean, L. L. D. Jofeph B. M.Kean, Charles Pettit, David Rittenhoufe, Edward Shippen, Jonathan B. Smith, Edward Tilghman, and Bifhop White.
The faculty are.
John Ewing, D. D. Provoft, and Profeffor of Natural Philofophy.
John Andrews, D. D. Vice Provoft, and Profeffor of Moral Philofophy.
James Davidfon, A. M. Profeffor of the Latin and Greek languages.
Robert Patterfon, A. M. Profeffor of Mathematics.
William Rogers, D. D. Profeffor of English and Belles Lettres.
* With the addition of three Medical Profefforthips.
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Henry Helmuth, D. D. Profeffor of the German lane guage.
William Shippen, M. D. Profeff'or of Anatomy, Sur. gery, and Midwifery.
Adam Kuhn, M. D. Profeffor of the practice of Phyfic.
Benjamin Rufh, M. D. Profeffor of the Inftitures, and of Clinical medicine.
Profeffor of Chemiftry .*
Cafper Wiftar, M. D. Adjunct Profeffor of Anatomy, &c. Samuel Powel Griffitts, M. D. Profeffer of the Materia Medica.
Benjamin S. Barton, M. D. Profeffor of Botanic and Natural Hiftory.
James Wilfon, L. L. D. Profeffor of Law.
The Profeffor of the Latin and Greek languages affifted by three tutors ;
Samuel Jones, A. B. Adam Boyd, A. B. and George Lochman, A. M.
The Profeffor of the Mathematics by two ;
David Shote, A. M. and Mr. Samuel G Clendenin. The Profeffor of Englifh, by three ;
Mr. Daniel Jodon, Chriftian F. L. Endrefs, A. B. and John Patterfon, A. B.
The teachers of the charitable fchools are,
John Ramley, mafter of the School for the boys,
Mary Robinfon, miftrefs of the fchool for the girls.
The number of fcholars in the Philofophical, in Latin, and Greek 250
in English and Mathematical 93
in the Charitable and Medical fchools · 130
In all 470
EPISCOPAL ACADEMY.
The academy of the proteftant Epifcopal church was inftituted on the first day of January 1785 ; a fubfcription having been opened for the purpofe in the end of the pre- ceding year. The fundamental laws of the inftitution were enacted on the faid day, at a general meeting of the fubfcribers, and are ftill its conftitution, being recognif- ed and confirmed in the act of incorporation granted by the legiflature, about two years after the cftablifhment of the feminary.
" The truftees at a late meeting, elceted the celebrated Dr. PRIESTLY to fill the chemical chair. From the well known abilities of that gen- tleinan, it is to be wifhed that he will accept of rhe appointment,
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PHILADELPHIA.
This Inftitution, befides the free fchools, bad three o. thers ; one, for the Latin and Greek languages; another, for arithmetic and the practical mathematics; and the third, for the English language. Thefe have been for fome time fufpended ; and the only fchools now open are the free ichools ; confifting of about 80 boys and 40 girls : but the truftees have lately, by advertifement, ignified their intention of re-opening the other fchools, as foon as a fatisfactory mafter can be procured.
OF THE AFRICAN SCHOOLS.
WHILE the fociety of Friends, and the abolition focie- ty have been exerting themfelves, with fuccefs, to ame- Iiorate the fituation of the unfortunate Africans, they have alfo extended their benevolence to their children, for whofe education they have made ample provifion. About the year 1770, a fchool was inftituted by private fubfcrip- tion of the Friends, with a view to prepare that degrad- ed race for a better fituation in civil life : but by the will of Anthony Benezet, of benevolent memory, a confider- able donation from the fociety of Friends in England, and fome other charitable devices have provided funds nearly adequate to its future fupport ; fo that in a fhert time it will no longer be burthenfome to individuals.
The fchool is kept in Willing's alley. The boys are taught by Daniel Britt, and the girls by his wife. The fchool is vifited once a month by a committee appointed by the three monthly meetings of Philadelphia : and it is pleafing to obferve that the progrefs of the pupils has hitherto anfwered the moft fanguine expectation of its humane infitutors.
There is alfo a fchool for the blacks fupported by the abolition fociety, in Cherry St. kept by Helena Harris, a black woman of confiderable parts, who had been for feveral years employed as a teacher of white children in England.
OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Fifth, between Chefnut and Walnut Streets.
THE foundation of the prefent library was laid in the year 1731, a period when Philadelphia afforded little af- fiftance to the enquiries of the ftudious. A number of gentlemen having raifed the fum of one hundred pounds by fubfcription, a fmall library was formed upon prin- ciples the beft calculated to diffeminate knowledge : the books were not, as in many of the public libraries of Eu- rope, confined to the apartments, but the fubfcribers were
G g
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allowed to carry them home for a reafonable fpace of time.
The plan foon became popular; acceffions to the num- ber of members took place, and the fock of books was annually encreafed by purchafes at the Company's ex- pence, and liberal donations from perfons both at home and abroad.
The then proprietaries of Pennfylvania appear to have taken a patriotic pleafure in the encouragement of the plan. Befides feveral valuable donations, they granted a charter of incorporation in the year 1742.
A fpirit of literary improvement made it's way, among all claffes of people, and the philanthrophy of the great and amiable character * who fuggefted the plan, was gratified by tracing the books as well into the hands of the opnleut, with whom literature is fometimes no more than one of the ornaments of civil lite, as among thofe to whoin it renders a more fubftantial benefit. Letters, while they employ the leifure of the artift, reconcile him to his labour ; by removing groffer relaxations they pro- mote his health, while they enlarge his mind ; and pro- long his life, while they teach him to enjoy it.
The refpectable and intelligent character of the latter clafs of people in Philadelphia and its environs, cannot be referred to a more probable caufe, than the habits of reading promoted by this inftitution.
The great utility and fuccefs of this meafure, occafion- ed the formation of other libraries upon fimilar princi- ples. But as it appeared more conducive to the interefts of literature, to be podleffed of one large, than of feve- ral finaller collections of books, coalitions gradually took place among them, till the Amicable, the Aflucia . tion, and the Union Companies were blended with the Library Company of Philadelphia, the title conferred by the charter.
Since this event, which took place in the year 1769, the members and the property of the company have con tinued to encreafe ; the former being now between five and lix hundred in number. The number of volumes, at prefenr, amounts to nine thoufand, the Selection of which, Lus in general been calculated to promote the more im- portant interefts of fociety. And the ltock of books ii continually encreafed by occafional donations, annual importations, and purchafes of every American produc- rion of merit.
Some valuable machines, an apparatus for the purpol'cs
* Dr. Frank lio.
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PHILADELPHIA.
of natural philofophy, &c. and a variety of curious arti- ficial and natural productions alfo belong to the com- pany, and are depofited in their apartments. In the catalogue heretofore publifhed, particulars have not been inferted, but lifts are in the poffeffion of the librarian, who attends to fhow them ou Saturday mornings, from ten to twelve o'clock. And the directors, on proper oc- cations, permit the inftruments to be made ufe of.
Befides the collection, the perfonal property confifts of fome monies at intereft ; the fales of fhares, which fince Auguft, 1793, have been fixed at fifteen pounds, and the annual payment of ten fhillings from each member.
A houfe and lot of ground, which belonged to the U. nion Company ; two lots of ground (one the generous donation of the late Thomas Penn,) and feveral ground rents conflitute the real eftate.
The members hold the property as tenants in common, and difpofe of their flares by will or deed : but the affent of the directors, as well in fuch cafes as in cafe of an original purchafe, is previouffy neceffary-a reftriction early adopted, in order, as much as poffible. to prevent improper perfons from having accefs to a collection of a nature fo liable to irjury.
LOGANIAN LIBRARY.
Was inftitoted by the late James Logan, a gentleman of confummate literature, who in the courfe of a long life had collected a number of the moft rare and curious books in almoft all the ancient languages. He built a houfe for their reception and by deed executed in his life time, velted the houfe and lot, together with the books and fome yearly rents for furporting a librarian, and oc- cafionally encreafing the catalogue, in truftees for the ufe of the public forever, under certain rules and regulations contained in thefe inttruments. Sometime afterwards he cancelled this deed, and prepared another, which he did not live to execute ; this unfinished inftrument varied the regulations in fome refpects, and the funds for the purpofe of the inflitution, but the ufes were the fame as in the firft. After his death, his children and refiduary devifees, executed a deed conformable to that which had been prepared by him, vefting in the fame truffees the whole eftate intended by the founder, and the books were re- moved to a room prepared for them ; arranged in neat or- der, and a catalogue printed.
By the conftitution, William Logan (the founder's el- deft fou) was the firft librarian, and the office was made hereditary in his family, with power to execute it by a
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deputy. The funds appointed for a librarian, &c. were originally fmall, but iffued from a very improving eftate ; they were fo referved as to encreafe at itated periods, fo as to afford a very handfome income. Till one of thefc periods arrived they were not fufficient for the regular fupport of a librarian, wherefore he attended a confider- able time to the duty in perfon. To this inftitution William Logan by his will, devifed a very handfome li- brary, collected partly by himfelf, and partly by his uncle, the late Doctor William Logan of Briftol in England, amounting to about one thoufand vol- umes. After his death, which happened in 1776, the library was fhut for feveral years, owing to the death or abfence of the truftees. In 1791, James Logan, the laft furviving truftee named in the grant, have had feveral previous confultations with Dr. Frank- lin, the lateft decedent of them; and with a num- ber of his fellow citizens, prefented a memorial to the Jegiftature, wherein he ftated the then prefent fituation of the inftitution, aud prayed for their aid to put it in- to a way of anfwering the end of his father, the found- er. Whereupon, an act was paffed, whereby the Libra- ry Company of Philadelphia, their fucceffors, &c. for the time being, together with James Legan, or his heir and two truftees, whom he or his beir thall appoint (a majority of the whole of whom fhall be a quorum ) fhall be truftees of the faid Loganian library. It is, howe- ver, provided, that the faid books and other property belonging to this inftitution, together with fuch other property as may hereafter be acquired, fhall be forever kept feperate from the books belonging to the Library Company of Philadelphia ; and that the faid library fhall be known by the name of the The Loganian Libra. ry, agreeably to the intention of the donor. A large and commodious room has lately been built adjoining the Philadelphia Library, for the purpose of keeping the books of the Loganian Library ; and it was opened for the benefit of the citizens, in May laft.
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.
American Philosophical Society .
The American Philofophical Society, for promoting ufeful knowledge, was formed in the year 1769, by the union of two Societies, which had been inftituted with fimilar views; viz, the advancement of ufeful know- ledge.
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PHILADELPHIA.
One of thefe, ftiled " The American Philofophical Society," was inftituted in the year 1743, and at the time of their union confifted of 127 members : the other, ftyled, " The American Society for promoting and propogating ufeful knowledge, held in Philadelphia;" was inftituted in the year 1766, and at the time of their union confifted of 78 fellows, and 69 correfponding members.
By an act of the legiflature of Pennfylvania, paffed in the month of March, 1780, the fociety was incorpora- ted; and the prefident of the executive council, (now governor of the commonwealth) made patron of the Society.
In the year 1787, M. John Hyacinth de Magellan of London, prefented to the Society, a donation of 200 guineas ; to be by them vefted in a fecure and perma- nent fund, to the end, that the intereft arifing there- from, fhould be annually difpofed of in premiums, to be adjudged by the fociety, to the author of the belt difcovery, or mnoft ufeful invention relating to navigati- on, astronomy, or natural philofophy :- the premium to confift of an oval plate of folid ftandard gold, of the value of ten guineas, with fuitable devices engraved thereon.
Three of thefe premiums, have, fince the eftablifh- ment of this fund, been awarded by the fociety, viz. one in the year 1790, and two in the year 1792.
The fociety have now publiched three volumes of their tranfactions. The firft volume was publifhed in the year 1;7r, the fecond in the year 1786, and the third in the year 1713.
Aided by the liberal donations of a number of friends and patrons of philofophy, both in America and Europe, and efpecially by the legiflature of Pennfylvania, the fociety have been enabled to erect, on part of the ftate- houfe fquare, in Fifth between Chefnut aud Walnut Sts. a commodious, and not inelegant building, where they now hold their ftated meetings.
College of Phy ficians of Philadelphia.
In the year 1787, the pbyficians of this city affociated themfelves under this title, for the purpofe of extending medical knowledge, and of promoting harmony and uni - formity in the practice of phyfic.
In 1737, they obtained a charter of incorporation from the legiflature.
They hold ftated meetings on the firft Tuefday of every month, for the purposes of their inftitution, and have late- ly publithed the firft volume of their tranfactions. A foun-
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dation for a medical library is already begun, which is constantly increafing. The college confifts of fellows (or refident members) and affociates. Fellows.
JOHN REDMAN, prefident.
William Shippen jun. vice-prefident. Adam Kuhn, Thomas Parke, cenfors.
Samuel Powell Griffitts, Secretary.
Benjamin Say, treafurer.
Samuel Duffield, Robert Harris, Benjamin Duffield, John Foulke, Andrew Rols, William Carrie, Charles Moore, Cafper Wiftar, James Cunningham, Nathan Dorfey, Michael Leib, John H. Gibbons, Nicholas B. Waters, Benjamin S. Barton, Thomas Redman, William W'llvaine, Plunket F. Glentworth.
There was alfo a foriety formed in the year 1 785, de - nominated, Tre Philadelphia Society for promoting Agri- culture.
Its meetings, however, have been for fome time paft, fafpended. . But it is faid, that application will be inade to the legiflature at their next feffion, for a charter, and fach aid as may enable them to extend the objects of the inftitution. The profperity of our country fo emi . nentlv depends on agriculture, that as the fubject me. rits, fo it will certainly receive due confideration : and it is hoped the inftitution will foon be eftablithed on a more refpectable footing than ever.
PEALE's MUSEUM.
Of the different inftitutions in this city calculated to promote science, this may certainly be confiered as one ofthe most important. To coll-&t and preferre all the variety of animals and foffils, and exhibit thefe publicly, was the 'Ardt general intention of erecting this mafeum ; which is now arranged with the greateft order and judgment, agreeably to the mode preferibed by Linna-
According to this lyftem, man is placed at the herd of the animal creation ; and as it is by good and faith. El Ekenefes, that different individuals are banded down 1) poilerity with the greatest precifiou,-the proprie- tor has exerted his eminent abilities as a portrait paint- er, to the urmult, to gratify the public in this particular. The likeuelles of the Prefident of the United States, the Presidents of the old Congrefs, and of the ftate of Peau- fylvania, with thofe of many others of the mott eminent characters, are here presented to the great fatisfaction of the hiring fpeditors,
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PHILADELPHIA.
The clafs of brutes come next in order-and the pro- prietor has with much labour and induftry, found out a method of preferving them in fuch a manner, that with very little trouble, they may now be kept in a ftate of the highelt perfection, for ages. Thele, as well as the birds, are placed in their moft natural attitudes, and afford to the obferver, a Spectacle highly inttrefting.
Birds, the moft beautiful clafs of animated nature, come next ; of thefe, there are collected, a vaft variety , many of which are alive, and truly curious.
Of Serpenis and other Amphibious Animals, he has procured a confiderable number, the imaller of which are kept in fpirirs, and the larger ftuffed in the fame manner as the brares.
The moft remarkable of the fifhes, and the inoft beau- tiful and curious of the tribe of infects and worms, forin a very interefting part of this extenfive collection.
With refpect to the foffile kingdom, confiderable pro- grefs has been made in procuring various earths, mine- rals, and other foffile matter ; which include, alfo, pe- trefactions.
Thefe were the fole objects which the muferm was at firft intended to comprehend : but the indoftry ci Mir. Peale, than whom, perhaps, no man was ever more af- fidaous, has extended it to a variety of objects, at frf not contemplated. In the productions of the vegetable kingdom, the muferm is by no means deficient. Ano- ther important addition has likewife been made ; of the arms, dreffes, tools, utenfils, &c. of the aborigines of different countries. He bas alfo procured a variety of thofe articles, called Lafus Nature : but as the fight of fuch objects are unpleafant to fome, they are only ex- hibited to fuch as are defirous of feeing them.
That an acquifition to fcience, fo truly important, and at the fame time fo rapidly encrealing, fhould be made by the efforts of one man, remarkable for his in- genuity and perfeverance, rather than for pecuniary 2- bilities ; and that under the moft difcouraging circum- frances, he fhould have effected all this in the fhort fpace of ten years, is truly aftonifhing.
The time, however, cannot be far remote, when he muft reap the fruit of his almoft inconceivable labours. Indeed, when we confider his meritorious exertions, gratitude requires, that he fhould be rewarded.
He has paved to the American nation, an cafy accef's to the proper fubjects of the natural history of our coun- try ; an object furely of the greatelt iniportance, and
ASHORT ACCOUNT &C.
which, without his exertions, would be almoft inacceff- ible It ought not to be omitted, that in a manner, which reflects the higheft honour upon his patriotifm, he has obliged himfelf not to fell or difpofe of his mu- feum to foreigners, without having firft obtained the confent of a number of gentlemen of fcience, who by bis invitation, are formed into a board of vifitors and infpectors ; hence there is no doubt of this inftitution, continuing a great national magazine of information, for the benefit of the prefent generation and pofterity.
The fmall fum of 25 cents, is paid for adiniffion, to- wards its fupport and increafe.
Who would not chearfully contribute that trifle for the priviledge of examining a collection, fo truly valua- ble and interefting ?'
CIRCUS.
Under the head of Places of amusement, in the Re- gifter for laft year, mention was made of Mr. RICKETTS, the celebrated Equeftrian, whofe public performances far exceeded every thing exhibited in the New World. Two ufefal charity benefits given to the diftreffed emi- grants from the Welt Indies, and for eftablithing a fund to purchafe fuel for the poor, during the inclemency of the weather, were circumftances that reflected honour on this gentleman's judgment, in laying the foundation of a charity fo well worthy of imitation.
With regard to Mr. Rickett's abilities, it may with- out exaggeration be faid, that he is, perhaps, the moft graceful, neat, and expert public performer on horfe- back, that ever appeared in any part of the world ; at leatt, the Amateurs, who have feen the belt equeftrians in Europe, are of this opinion.
To particularize any of the exercifes at the Circus, is beyond the limits of our plan : fuffice to name one or two, amongft many of the extraordinary feats executed by Mr. Ricketts : viz. His leaping over ten horfes- riding with a boy on his fhoulder in the attitude of a Mercury-going through the mannel exercife with a firelock-dancing a hornpipe on the faddle, the horfe being in full fpeed, &c. &c. In fhort, the Circus has been efteemed amongft the firft amufements met with In this truly aftonifhing Metropolis; as a place to dif- pel the gloom of the thoughtful, exercife the lively ac- tivity of the young and gay, or to relax the minds of the fedentary or induftrious trader.
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