the former was remarkable for his ardour in Whitfield's cause, and the schism he formed in the first Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, which led to the secession and the building of the church on the northwest corner of Third and Arch streets.

In connection with this subject we are to introduce the name of James Logan, Esq., already so favourably known to the public as the patron of learning, in his valuable gift of our public library. As early as 1728 we find him the patron and endower of this "Log College;" for, he then bestows fifty acres of his land there to the above named Rev. William Tennent, his cousin by his mother's side; this to encourage him to prosecute his views and make his residence near us permanent. The early fare of Mr. Tennent accorded with the rude materials of his house and school; for, it appears from the correspondence of James Logan, that he was obliged to procure and send him provisions, at his first settlement, from Philadelphia. Such was the proper alma mater of the chief scholars of that early day.

The next school of pre-eminence was that of the Rev. Francis Allison, another Irishman, who came to this country in 1735, and in 1741 opened his school at New London, in Chester county, where he taught the languages, &c. Several clergymen, of subsequent reputation, were educated there. He was zealous and benevolent; and educated some young ministers gratuitously. At one time he resided at Thunder Hill in Maryland, and there educated such men as Charles Thomson, George Reed, Thomas M'Kean, &c.; men who were remarkable in our revolutionary struggle for their abilities and attachment to the cause of their

country. In later life, Mr. Allison became the provost of the college of Philadelphia, and was, when there, accustomed to assist his pupil Doctor Ewing, the pastor of the first Presbyterian church in High street, in occasionally serving his pulpit. He died in 1777, "full of honours and full of years."

In 1750, about the time that the Philadelphia academy and college began to excite public interest and attention, the city council expressed some sense of the subject on their minutes, to wit: A committee report on the advantages to be gained by the erection of an academy and public school, saying, "the youth would receive a good education at home, and be also under the eye of their friends; it would tend to raise able magistrates, &c. It would raise schoolmasters from among the poorer class, to be qualified to serve as such in the country, under recommendation from the academy, and thus prevent the employment of unknown characters, who often prove to be vicious imported servants, or concealed papists; often corrupting the morals of the children." Upon the reading of this report, the board decided, unanimously, to present the trustees towards such a school £200; also £50 per annum to charity schools, for the next five years; also £50 per annum, for five years, for the right of sending one scholar yearly from the charity school to be taught in all the branches of learning taught in said academy.

The city academy, began in 1750, under the exertions and auspices of Doctor Franklin, was originally built for Whitfield's meeting house in 1741; the academy started with a subscription sum of £2600. In 1753, it was created "a college,” and in 1779, "the univer

sity." For further facts concerning "the academy," see that article.

In 1770, a Mr. Griscom advertises his private academy, "free from the noise of the city," at the north end. It may surprise some to learn that this was a long stone building on Front and Water streets, a little above Vine street, being two stories high on Front street, and three stories on Water street, once beautifully situated, when no population was crowded near it, and having a full and open view to the river; it afterwards stood a desolate neglected looking building, filled with numerous poor tenantry, until a few years ago, bearing with its inmates the name of "the College," although they had long lost the cause of such a name.

This Mr. Griscom may be regarded as the first individual among us who ventured to assume the title of "academy" to any private institution. The simple, unassuming appellation of "school" was the universal name till about the year 1795; after that time "academies," "seminaries," "lyceums," "institutes," &c. were perpetually springing up in every quarter among us. Before those days "ladies' academies and misses' boarding schools" were unknown; boys and girls were accustomed to go to the same schools.

Mr. Horton first started the idea of a separate school for girls, and with it the idea of instructing them in grammar and other learning; and about the year 1795, Poor's academy for young ladies," in Cherry street, became a place of proud distinction to "finished" females; and their annual "commencement day" and exhibition in the great churches was an affair of great interest and street parade.

THE OLD COURT HOUSE.

[ILLUSTRATED BY A PLATE.]

THIS venerable building, long divested of its original honours by being appropriated during the years of the present generation to the humble purposes of offices and lumber rooms for city watchmen and clerks of the markets, &c., had long been regarded by many as a rude and undistinguished edifice.

But this structure, diminutive and ignoble as it may now appear to our modern conceptions, was the chef d'œuvre and largest endeavour of our pilgrim fathers. Assessments, gifts, and fines, were all combined to give it the amplitude of the "Great Town House," or "Guild Hall," as it was occasionally at first called. In the then general surrounding waste, (having a duck pond on its northern aspect,) it was deemed no ill-graced intrusion to place it in the middle of the intended unencumbered and wide street ;-an exception, however, to which it became in early days exposed, by pamphlets, pasquinades, &c. eliciting on one occasion "the second (angry) address of Andrew Marvell," &c.

Before its erection, in 1707, its place was the honoured site of the great town bell, erected upon a mast, whence royal and provincial proclamations, &c. were announced. That bell, now the centenary incumbent of the cupola, could it rehearse its former doings, might, to our ears, 66 a tale unfold," of times and incidents by. gone, which might wonder-strike our citizens.