On 13 August, 1754, it was ordered, That the Treasurer pay to Frances Holwell, Mistress of the Charity School, the Sum of Three Pounds, to be laid out in Books, Canvas, Cruels, and other Things necessary in the Instruction of the poor Children under her care.
What we of to-day term Fancy Work, the Trustees of old thought a necessary tuition to poor children; and the remembrance of ancient samplers is revived, the handiwork of the girls of the last century, which was fostered by the Fathers of our University. On 8 April, 1755, Mrs. Holwell was allowed "Fifteen pounds a year for an assistant, she taking charge of Fifty Girls, if the Trustees think fit to send so many."
The progress of the good work so carefully guided by the Trustees opened up further thoughts of the future uses of the Academy, and at the meeting of 10 April, 1753, when the approval of a Charter for the vigorous Academy was announced, it "was represented to the Trustees that the ground between the Academy Lot and Arch street might probably now be obtained on a reasonable Ground Rent, it was unanimously agreed to request Mr. Alison (who had been treating with the owners concerning it) to secure the same at the Rate of 4.6 pr Foot." The matter was at once closed, and certain two lots were secured, reaching from the Western moiety of their lot to Arch Street[1] giving them a frontage on that street of 126 feet; and at the same time and by the same conveyance they purchased the lot at the corner of Arch and Fourth streets, 36 feet on the latter by 54 feet deep, and upon this latter was eventually erected the Provost's house. There remained three adjoining
- ↑ Title was taken from Dr. Alison 14 July, 1753, who had purchased on 16 April previously from Jonathan Price. See Deed Book H, No. 7, p. 449, &c.
