A History of the University of Pennsylvania from Its Foundation to A. D. 1770/Chapter 16, 1
David James Dove, the English Master, is best known to us by the criticism on him by his young pupil Richard Peters who in later years described him as a "sarcastical and ill-tempered doggerelizer, who was but ironically Dove; for his temper was that of a hawk, and his pen the beak of a falcon pouncing on innocent prey." This reference is to the part he took in all the political issues of the day with his caustic rhymes. Graydon tells us[1] he was much celebrated in his day as a teacher, and no less as a dealer in the minor kind of satirical poetry. * * * It was his practice in his school, to substitute disgrace for corporal punishment His birch was rarely used in canonical method, but was generally stuck into the back part of the collar of the unfortunate culprit, who, with this badge of disgrace towering from his nape like a broom at the mast head of a vessel for sale, was compelled to take his stand upon the top of the form, for such a period of time as his offence was thought to deserve.
Graydon was a pupil at his school about 1759 or 1760, from whence he went to the Academy, and these practices of Mr. Dove doubtless were displayed when he was at the Academy. He tells us Dove's school was "at this time, kept in Videll's Alley, which opened into Second, a little below Chestnut Street. It counted a number of scholars of both sexes, though chiefly boys."
Whether the duties of the Academy did not fully employ his talents, or his ambition found but little promise in its routine, he sought occupation to add to these stated duties. We find his advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette 29 August 1751:
As the Scheme formed by the Gentlemen of Philadelphia, for the regular Education of their Sons, has been happily carried into Execution; the Ladies excited by the laudable example, are solicitous that their Daughters too might be instructed in some Parts of Learning, as they are taught in the Academy. Mr Dove proposes to open a school at said Academy for young Ladies, on Monday next, in which will be carefully taught the English Grammar; the true Way of Spelling, and Pronouncing properly; together with fair Writing, Arithmetick, and Accounts: So that the Plan recommended by the Universal Spectator may be exactly pursued. Price Ten Shillings Entrance and Twenty Shillings per Quarter.
No reference is made in the Minutes of the Trustees to this, but their assent must have been had to the scheme. On 10 December 1751, a minute records.
There being above 90 Scholars now in the English School, and Mr. Dove having declared he found it impossible duly to instruct so great a number without another Assistant, the Trustees agreed to accept of one Mr Francis Peisley, who offered himself, and who Mr. Dove represented as a Person well qualified for a Tutor in that School, and to allow him at the Rate of £50. per annum.
His first assistant was John Jones who had been appointed on 25 September. Before an assistant was given him, the Trustees had voted him 9 July, 1751, an allowance, in consideration of his extraordinary Trouble in teaching a greater Number of Scholars for some time past than by the Constitutions he is obliged to do, and for the Board of a Lad whom he entertained for some time as an assistant, in the sum of Ten pounds.
At the meeting of 9 June 1752, reference was made to Mr. Peisley's departure, and there still being "above Ninety Scholars in the English School," and Mr. Jones, the remaining assistant not being sufficient, the President was desired to confer with him about providing another. But at the meeting of 10 October it was represented that
Mr Dove had since Mr. Peisley's Departure caused two of the most capable Boys in his School to assist him in teaching the Younger Scholars, acquainted the Trustees that he was willing to continue that Method if they approve thereof, and agree to make the said Boys a suitable allowance for their trouble. But upon considering the matter, the Trustees are of Opinion, it would be more advantageous to the School that a good Usher should be provided.
At the meeting of 15 November we find recorded the names of these "two of the most capable boys," namely, Edward Biddle and William Scull, who were allowed Twenty Dollars each as a Reward for assisting Mr. Dove.
But the cause for Mr Dove's anxiety for two ushers is found in a preceding minute of the same meeting, which testifies to his continuance of his own school. "The Trustees being informed that Mr Dove makes a Practice of leaving his School at Eleven o'clock in the morning, and at four in the afternoon; and such frequent absences of the Master being thought a Disadvantage to the School, Mr Franklin and Mr Peters are desired to speak to him about it, and request his Attendance during the School Hours." At the following meeting these gentlemen reported that "Mr Dove acknowledged what had been reported of him concerning his leaving the School, and that he seemed desirous of being indulged in that practice, but the Trustees considered it as of bad example and too great a Neglect of the children under his care, and desired him to be informed they would expect he will attend the School at the appointed Hours." Mr Dove, anxious to maintain his school, made a proposition for other hours, but finally on 13 February 1753 the Trustees having fully considered this Request and the ill Consequence such an indulgence would be attended with, adhered to their former opinion; * * * and as he had said, in Case his present Request was not granted he would continue to take care of the School for a Quarter, or till they could provide another Master, so they, on their Part, would give him a Quarter's notice when they had provided.
On 10 July following Mr Kinnersley was provided for the English school, and Mr Dove was relieved. The detail of this transaction illustrates the care and watchfulness of the Trustees over the labors of their Teachers and Ushers. And it is also in some measure a testimony to Mr. Dove's merits and abilities as a teacher that they dealt so patiently with him, not wishing to lose his services on any peremptory notice. Franklin's sentiments regarding him were testified to in his letter of 24 December, 1751, to Dr. Johnson, where he says,
The English master is Mr Dove, a gentleman about your age, who formerly taught grammar sixteen years at Chichester in England. He is an excellent master, and his scholars have made a surprising progress.[2]
In later years, upon the discontinuance of the Videll's Alley School, he opened a private academy in Germantown in the house yet standing immediately west of the Germantown Academy, wherein however he was not very successful. He had taken lodgers in his house; besides the lad he entertained who had assisted him, he at one time lodged Charles Thomson, the young Tutor, but Thomson found his hosts uncongenial and soon sought other quarters. The first English Master mads a history for himself, other than the records of the Academy display, in teaching Graydon and being associated with Thomson, two historic characters whose writings have commemorated him, but not in flattering terms.
Theophilus Grew styled himself "Mathematical Professor at the Academy in Philadelphia" where he "asks communications of observations on Eclipse of the Moon next Tuesday" from the public in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 23 May, 1751, and he thus officially signs the Constitution. Thus if his claim be admitted, we must put him third in the long list of Professors, as Martin and Dove who precede him in nomination must be allowed his peers in rank. But as he was at the meeting of the Trustees on 11 July, 1755, "unanimously elected Mathematical Professor," the confirmation of his title is assured. A later advertisement indicates that pupils to the new Academy were offering from the interior and from other places, as indeed did Mr. Dove's lodgers as well: "Youth for the Academy may be boarded in Arch Street, at the House of Theophilus Grew, Mathematical Professor," we are informed in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 14 November, 1751. He pursued the even tenor of his way, following in his leisure hours scientific studies instead of indulging in political rhymes, and developing no pecularities which a Thomson or a Graydon found worthy of record. In Dove's successor Kinnersley, and with Franklin, the President of the Board of Trustees, the Mathematical Professor found congenial friends, and remained in the service of the institution until his death in 1759. Provost Smith in his account of the Academy in the American Magazine for October, 1758, speaks of him as "having so long been an approved teacher of Mathematics and Astronomy in this city, that I need say nothing to make him better known than he is already." His tomb stone in Christ Church Burying Ground erected over his remains which were laid within a few feet of the Academy Building where he so worthily taught, is but partially decipherable at this day.
Here lies interred
the Body of
Mr Theophilus Grew.
He distinguished himself in Life by
many exemplary Virtues
and many valuable Qualifications.
He was very deeply learned
in Astronomy and the Mathematics
whereby he rendered himself
a most useful Member of Society
He served as Professor of
those noble sciences
in the College of this City.
He discharged the trust with
honor and integrity.
Charles Thomson, born in November 1729 a native of Ireland, became the first Tutor of the Academy when he was twenty-one years of age. He crossed the ocean with his father when but ten years of age, and his father dying at sea, he and an elder brother landed at New Castle orphans among strangers. By his peculiar energies he seized favorable opportunities for schooling, and was at one time under the tuition of the Rev. Francis Alison, also an Irishman, at his school at Thunder Hill, Maryland, and who succeeded Mr. Martin as Rector of the Academy. While here a schoolmate returning from Philadelphia brought with him a volume of the Spectator: he read it with such delight, that learning an entire set could be purchased for the amount of the small sum he had at command, he set off without asking permission on foot to Philadelphia to purchase it.[3] His truancy was excused in consideration of its motive. This recalls to us the fascination Franklin found in this work. May it not be that his visit to Philadelphia brought him acquainted with Franklin at a time the Academy was being formed, and he was led eventually to offer himself to the Trustees as a Tutor in Latin and Greek, when he was accepted after due examination and proof by the Rector. Dr. Ashbel Green, President of Princeton College, in his Autobiography said of him in after years "he was one of the best classical scholars our country has ever produced." Young Thomson continued Tutor until his resignation in the spring of 1755, when we find by the Minutes of 17 March a letter to the Trustees from Mr. Charles Thomson, one of the Tutors in the Latin School, was read, acquainting them with his Intention of leaving the Academy within two or three Months, having a Design to apply himself to other Business; Mr. Peters was therefore desired to assist Mr. Alison in providing another in his Room. The Trustees at the same Time, declared themselves well satisfied that the said Mr. Thomson had discharged the Duties of his Place with Capacity, Faithfulness and Diligence.
But the "other business" did not prevail, as we find him in the September following engaging himself as teacher in the Friends Publick School, then located on Fourth Street below Chestnut. It is not requisite that his life should be further sketched here, but reference must be made to the fact that it was the first tutor in the Academy who became the Secretary to Congress from 1774 to the close of the war, the "Perpetual Secretary" as he was often called. The acquaintance formed with Franklin through his connection with the Academy ripened into mutual esteem and continued through life, and their correspondence whether as friend to friend or as Secretary to Ambassador breathes on Franklin's part a warm appreciation of the younger man's faithfulness and intelligence. In his letter written from Passy, 13 May, 1784, on the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty with England, so full of patriotic advice to his countrymen now acknowledged by the parent to be free, and to be a Nation of like independence with her, he says to Thomson[4] "Thus the great and hazardous enterprise we have been engaged in, is, God be praised, happily compleated; an event I hardly expected, I should live to see." But it was in a different tone that he wrote to his "Dear Old Friend" Thomson on 29 December, 1788, after his return home, upon the subject of his own public services which he deemed and with justice had not met with that recognition which they merited. No one but he at that day could weigh with accuracy the sum of those services as well as he, but later history has realised what was done by him in those weary and anxious years when for his country's sake he was exiled from the comforts of his home.
My good friend, excuse, if you can, the trouble of this Letter; and if the reproach thrown on Republicks, that they are apt to be ungrateful, should ever unfortunately be verified with respect to your services, remember that you have the right to unbosom yourself in communicating your griefs to your affectionate ancient friend and most obed. humble servant, B. Franklin.[5]
Charles Thomson employed his later years in a translation of the entire Bible, an excellent contribution to Biblical literature; this was printed in four volumes in Philadelphia in 1808. His own copy of this admirable version with his latest MS. corrections is in the Philadelphia Library. He lived to the age of 94, dying 16 August, 1824. His is one of the most interesting characters figuring in Revolutionary scenes, and is worthy of study by every young man. At the treaty with the Indians at Easton in 1757, they named him in their language "The Man of Truth," which clung to him always; and upon doubtful tidings and uncertain rumors prevailing, his friends would say of him "Here comes the truth: here is Charles Thomson!" Thomson married secondly in 1774 Hannah Harrison a niece of Isaac Norris, the Speaker, for many years a Trustee of the College and Academy. He was called to the Secretaryship of Congress the day after his wedding; his notes of its proceedings were taken in short hand, and on his return home from Philadelphia in the evening to Harriton it was this faithful wife who wrote out from them the Minutes of Congress.