Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-12-28

\ AMERICAN PmiLosopHicAL SOCIETY," -
This venerable institution, Of which DIR.
\ Franklin was The founder aud Ruten-
house among the first fruits, has recently
celebrated - centennial anniversary 4,
having been in existence since the year
i743 Among the proceedings we find
real gem for the lovers Of The early
history Of our conntry, in paper read
before the society by job X. Tyson,
| Esq, and entitled "rhe Social and In
iellsctuaI Stale OF the Colony Of Penn
syvania, prior to the year l743."
Il The facts here rescued from oblivion,
with the accompany ing evidences oi cor
rcctness, by names, dates and documen-
tary proofs, are invaluable, and most
crednable To the inte llect, enterprise and
liberal views of the primitive settlers OF
that colony. As early as 1896 wc find
n printing press established IN Philadrl-
pha, only iou, years after The settlement
by Penn. A government school had
been opened immediately after landing
tor the children Of the col"nisis, aud IN
six years al,erward The Friends public
school was established for gratullous IN
slrurtion IN sound literary and scientific
learning, thus laying The foundation otlhe
settlement, m the education OF the people
\ The origin, history aud value ot the
Log anian department of The Philadelphia
library are next given in detail, from the
wear l699 aud show that classical
learning VAS even then cultivated and
Justly appreciated BY the settlers. The
first newspaper ia Pennsylvania was
issued in lTl9, and was the first daily
paper published upnn this continent, al
though ~eehI had appeared IN Boston
in l704
In 1923 Franklin first appeared in
Philadelphia, hiendless, half taught
boy, aud began his remarkable career.
Aany interesting incsen,s ~ his history
are here recorded, both novel and i'm.
poran,, and a well meritcd eulogy is pro-
nounced upon the religious maxnis and
social schemes of William Penn, the
benevolenl founder of The colony, whose
nflucnce was ever saluiary To the best
interests of the people.
The Junto formed IN 1877 by Frapk!in
and ten other lradesmen, inspired by the
love Of learning, originated, four years
ahes the present Library Company al
Philadelphia, and as early as l14l IA
magazine was established, being the first
literary periodical IN the new world. And
~ early as l713, an academy of science,
which formed the nucleus Of the present
University of Prunsy lvania, vas insliiu-
ted, aud the formation OF the Philosnphi-
cal Society took place the same year,
which with the Junlo, united TO il IN 1869,
resulted IN the present National Society,
aud soon after the first volume OF lis traDs'
actions was published, IN which in,cn-
house began his brilliant career, having
laid lis foundations amid povrriy and OBJ
scurlly, and since been rewarded by the
homage of the. scientific world. The
name Of RI,ieBaouse is associated With
those Of Leibn,z aud Newton, with whom
he disputed the ri ght to the invention Of
iluAions. The rude but accurate appara-
Ius, which his mathematical genius con.
siructed in 1863, prompted the sage of
Monticello to say, when he long after
looked upon il for the first time, "N on
have not indeed made o world but YOU
have appr"ached more nearly to lis Ma
ker, than any man who has lived, from
the creation TO this day"
Alr. Tyson deserves well 0rhis country
for this Contribution to the literary history
of the previous century, and proves that
Tor The first lDipIaniaIion OF the society IN
!8i3, the soil had been prepared in the
love of knowledge which prrvadrd the
early colonists OF Pennsylvania. " Y.
Conn .4dp.