Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/166

162

The Trustees lost no time in looking for a supply to the vacancy caused by Mr. Martin's death. Twenty-one of their number were present at the meeting on 11 December, 1751 including the new Trustee Dr. Cadwalader, "to consider of some Person to supply" Mr. Martin's place in the Latin School, and it being said that Mr. Allison, a gentleman of good Learning in Chester County had lately expressed some Inclination to be employed in that School, Mr. Francis was desired to write to him, to know whether he was yet so inclined, and upon what Terms he would undertake the charge thereof.

At a Meeting held on 28 December it was reported by Mr. Allen that Mr. Francis Alison had been in Town, and that himself, and some others of the Trustees have had some Conversation with him, and though he seemed diffident of undertaking the charge of the Latin School, he had promised however to be in Town again by the 7th of January next, and attend School for a month upon Trial.

He entered upon his duties at the time named, and fulfilled the promise of his reputation, and remained; his salary at the March meeting being set at £200 per annum, the same as his predecessor's was. His former pupil, Charles Thomson, must have been the source of the Trustees' information regarding this celebrated teacher; and his name being submitted when Dr. Cadwalader was present, the latter could speak intelligently of the man who had been tutor in the family of his sister Dickinson. Mr. Alison's diffidence, referred to in the Minutes, continued many months, and his final assumption of the Rectorship cannot be determined. In his letter of 2 July, 1752 to Rev. Dr. Johnson, Franklin speaking of the Academy, says:

Our Academy, which you so kindly inquire after, goes on well. Since Mr. Martin's death the Latin and Greek School has been under the care of Mr. Alison, a Dissenting minister, well skilled in those languages and long practiced in teaching. But he refused the Rectorship, or to have anything to do with the government of the other schools. So that remains vacant, and obliges the Trustees to more frequent visits. We have now