which, however, he finally agreed to, as Franklin and Hall before the close of the year printed:
A Sermon on Education wherein Some Account is given of the Academy Established in the City of Philadelphia. Preached at the opening thereof on the Seventh Day of January 1750–1 By the Reverend Mr Richard Peters.
Copies of this are now rare. The reasons for this delay he gives in his Preface which bears date 12 September:
When I came to consider that a Detail was made of the Rise of the Academy, and of the several Matters proposed to be taught therein, and that it might be of great service to publish this, in order to remove mistakes, and to enable the Publick to judge of its Usefulness and Seasonableness, I no longer hesitated to gratify you in the Publication, confident that your Adoption and Patronage will procure it a favorable Reception with my fellow citizens.
It is an admirable Discourse on Education and eloquent in its adaptation to the particular circumstances which called it forth; and as it must be an instance of his pulpit powers, we feel a natural disappointment that we have left us so few of his sermons. From this Sermon previous quotations have been already given, when recording his views as to the foundation of the Academy.
