Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/124

Inglis, Shippen, Thomas Bond, Hopkinson and Coleman; "And a Paper containing an Account of what is already done by the Trustees of the Academy, and what Advantages are expected from that Undertaking being laid before the Board was read." This had been prepared by Franklin and is spread at length upon the minutes; it is given elsewhere. It recites:
The Trustees of the Academy have already laid out near £800. in the Purchase of the Building, and will probably expend near as much more in fitting up Rooms for the Schools, and furnishing them with proper Books and Instruments for the Instruction of Youth. The greatest Part of the Money paid and to be paid is subscribed by the Trustees themselves, and advanced by them; many of whom have no children of their own to educate, but act from a view to the Public Good, without regard to sect or party. * * * The Benefits expected from this Institution are: That the youth of Pennsylvania may have an opportunity of receiving a good Education at home, and be under no necessity of going abroad for it. * * * That a Number of our Natives will hereby be qualified to be our Magistracies, and execute other public offices of Trust, with Reputation to themselves and Country; there being at present great want of Persons so qualified in the several counties of this Province. And this is the more necessary now to be provided for by the English here, as vast numbers of Foreigners are yearly imported among us, totally ignorant of our Laws, Customs and Language. That a Number of the poorer Sort will hereby be qualified to act as Schoolmasters in the Country, to teach Children Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and the Grammar of their Mother Tongue; * * * the Country suffering at present very much for want of good School masters. * * * It is thought that a good Academy erected in Philadelphia, a healthy place where Provisions are plenty, situated in the Center of the Colonies, may draw Numbers of Students from the neighboring Provinces, who must spend considerable Sums yearly among us, in Payment for their Lodging, Diet, Apparel, &c.* * * Numbers of people have already generously subscribed considerable sums to carry on this Undertaking; but others, well disposed, are somewhat discouraged from contributing, by an Apprehension, lest when the first Subscriptions are expended, the Design should drop. The great Expence of such a work is in the Beginning. * * * Some Assistance from the Corporation is immediately wanted and hoped for * * * it will greatly strengthen the Hands of all concerned, and be a means of Establishing this good work and continuing the good Effects of it down to an late Posterity. * * * The Board having weighed the great Usefulness of this Design, after several Propositions heard and debated, agreed that a Sum of Money by this Board and paid down towards compleating the