Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/143

Rh couched in simple yet reverent language by the hands of the Founder, and we can perhaps imagine his hopes and expectations and those of his co-workers when they read their institution in print and found themselves committed to the public for the greatest venture in an educational line yet attempted in the Province. The time had not been misspent or misused since the announcement of his famed Proposals in the Gazette of 24 August, 1749, but a steady progress had been made and the twenty-four Trustees had worked together with unanimity and harmony under a wise leadership, until they now found themselves well equipped to fulfill to the community all their promises. The advertisement appeared in the Pennsylvania Gazette as follows:

Phila. December 11. 1750 is hereby given, That the Trustees of the of Philadelphia, intend (God willing) to open the same on the first Monday of January next; wherein Youth will be taught the Latin, Greek, English, French, and German Languages, together with History, Geography, Chronology, Logic, and Rhetoric; also Writing, Arithmetic, Merchants Accounts, Geometry, Algebra, Surveying, Gauging, Navigation, Astronomy, Drawing in Perspective, and other mathematical Sciences; with natural and mechanical Philosophy, &c, agreeable to the Constitutions heretofore published, at the Rate of Four Pounds per annum, and Twenty Shillings entrance.

On the day following the opening the Gazette contained the following account of it:

Yesterday being the Day appointed for opening the Academy in this City, the Trustees met, and waited on His Honour our Governor, to the publick Hall of the Building, where the Rev Mr Peters made an excellent Sermon on the Occasion, to a crowded audience. The Rooms of the Academy not being yet compleatly fitted for the Reception of the Scholars the several Schools will be opened To-morrow, in a large House of Mr Allen's, on Second Street: Those who incline to enter their children or Youth, may apply to the Rector, or any one of the Trustees.

At a subsequent meeting "the thanks of the Trustees were given by the President to the Rev Mr Peters for his excellent Sermon preached in the Academy Hall on the Seventh Day of January, at the opening of the Academy; which was done accordingly. Mr Peters' consent being desired for the publication of the said Sermon, he desires Time to consider thereof";