A History of the University of Pennsylvania from Its Foundation to A. D. 1770/Chapter 15
We have no knowledge of the number of scholars offering at the opening, but an entry in the Treasurer's books shows those who first paid entrance money, namely, George Lea, William Peters, jun, and Richard Peters, the latter nephews of Rev Richard Peters. From Dr Peters Preface to his Opening Sermon, however, we obtain a gratifying sight of the progress of the work,
It affords no small Delight to every one who has the Success of this Academy at Heart [he is writing in September] that though many Things promised in this Discourse remain to be done, yet there is already more effected than in so small a space of Time could have been reasonably expected. The Latin and English Masters give entire Satisfaction; indeed the Progress made by the Boys in both schools is truly surprising; each has now the Assistance of an Usher, made necessary by the Number of Boys, who, notwithstanding the prevalence of the Small Pox in Town, amount to above one Hundred. Masters are provided for teaching Writing and French. The Mathematical School is daily increasing. A Charity School is established. Proper Prayers are composed for the Schools and used every Morning and Evening.
We cannot refrain from quoting his commendation of the Trustees:
I must do you the justice to say that much of this is owing to your Care and the Regularity of your Visitations; and I have no small Satisfaction in being able to be thus particular, since it must needs be agreeable to the Publick to know that the most necessary and useful Parts of the Scheme are in such Forwardness; and that there are in the Academy, two good Grammar Schools, one in the English and one in the Latin Language. No small Benefit this to the Province! as in these are laid the proper Foundations for the higher Attainments in Learning which will likewise be gone into when the Difficulties of the Masters arising from the preparing and classing so many Boys as are daily admitted from different schools, of different proficiencies, and taught by different Methods shall abate.
Of the Rector, David Martin, M. A., we know but little; he did not live to the end of the year; and in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 17 December 1751 we find the simple record "Wednesday last died, greatly respected, Mr. David Martin, Rector of the Academy in this City." The Minutes of 11 December record "upon occasion of the sudden Decease of Mr Martin, the Trustees met to consider of some Person to supply his place in the Latin School." We learn a little more of his death, and the action of the Trustees from Franklin's letter of 24 December, 1751, to Rev Dr Johnson.[1]
I wrote to you in my last that Mr. Martin our Rector died suddenly of a quinsy. His body was carried to the church, respectfully attended by the trustees, all the masters and scholars in their order, and a great number of the citizens. Mr. Peters preached his funeral sermon, and gave him the just and honorable character he deserved. The schools are now broke up for Christmas, and will not meet again till the 7th of January. Mr. Peters took care of the Latin and Greek School after Mr. Martin's death till the breaking up. And Mr. Allison, a dissenting minister, has promised to continue that care for a month after the next meeting.
He was buried in Christ Church Burying Ground 13 December, but no stone marks the place of burial of the first Rector of the Academy.
The Rector's assistants were decided upon at the meeting of 17 December, 1750, in the following Minutes:
Mr. David James Dove having lately come hither from England where the Trustees are informed he had the care of a School for many years, and having offered himself for an English Master, The Trustees being in a great measure strangers to him do order that he be accepted for the English Master in the Academy for one year, to commence on the seventh day of January next, for the Sallary of one hundred and fifty pounds in order to make Tryal of his care and ability.
Mr. Theophilus Grew having offered himself as a Master in the Academy to teach Writing, Arithmetic, Merchants Accounts, Algebra, Astronomy, Navigation, and all other Branches of the Mathematics; it is ordered that he be received as such at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five pounds a year, his service to commence on the Seventh day of January next.
Mr. Charles Thomson having offered himself as a Tutor in the Latin and Greek School, and having been examined and approved of by the Rector, is admitted as a Tutor in the Latin and Greek school at the rate of sixty pounds a year, to commence on the seventh day of January next.
- ↑ Beardsley, 166.