Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/181

Rh lots between this latter and the remainder, 40 feet on Fourth Street by 18 feet on Arch Street which were purchased by Mr Dove about the same time. Probably seeing the desire of the Trustees to possess these to square out their premises, Mr Dove may have secured them on a venture, for if he did not prove himself a Dove in teaching, as we shall see, he may have lacked his titular innocence in a trade. However this may be, negotiations were opened in about twelve years for their sale to the Trustees, and after a dozen years further patience they secured them for £850, which was reported at a special meeting on 22 November, 1766. The purchase of 1753 was not too much for their expected wants. Buildings would be erected, and ample play ground reserved for the pupils, and dormitories were wanted for the incoming of the country lad who desired a better education than he could find near his distant town; though the Charter, now forthcoming, gave them no higher title than the one they had begun and flourished on: The Academy and Charitable School in the Province of Pennsylvania.

A Charter had early been in their thoughts, for the firmer management of their affairs and the proper holding of real estate, to say nothing of the political influence accruing to their efforts to have their work thus officially sealed to them by the powers that be. And at the meeting of 9 June, 1752, "Mr. Francis is desired to make a Draught of a charter for incorporating the Trustees of the Academy in order to be sent over to the Proprietor for his approbation." Through the influential offices of Dr. Peters, Secretary to the Proprietors, whose active interest in the Academy seemed to be second only to that of Franklin, the application to be chartered was well furthered. But the delays of ocean travel, and the formal solemnities of such a transaction, took many months to overcome; and only at the meeting of 10 April, 1753, Mr. Peters acquainted the Trustees, that the Proprietors approved the Draft of a Charter which had been laid before them, and had sent over Directions for passing the same under the great seal. That they had