Herein continued the operations of the College and University until the purchase a half century later of the premises on Ninth Street, between Market and Chestnut Streets, whither they moved in 1802, and which is now succeeded by the United States Post Office; and by a happy coincidence there stands on the latter's front pavement the bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin, recently erected there to the memory of the great colonial Postmaster General, appointed in 1753, who was as well the Founder of the University, from which the Government holds its present title.
But in the midst of these material preparations for the accommodation of the future scholars, the mental provision for them was well undertaken. At the meeting of 29 March it was voted "that a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds sterling be paid by the Treasurer to the said Committee [Messrs Franklin, Allen, Coleman, Peters, Hopkinson and Francis] to be disposed of in Latin and Greek Authors, Maps, Drafts and Instruments for the use of the Academy;" which the Journal tells us was forwarded in a bill of Robert and Amos Strettell's for one hundred pounds sterling, which cost the Trustees at the current exchange £173.10, to Mr. Peter Collinson in London for his purchase of the required articles. It was through Mr. Collinson's friendly agency in January following that they bought "a parcel of Latin and Greek books of John Whiston, Bookseller, £30.11; prints bought of Bowles 59/, and Instruments bought of Adams £4.14, and Mathematical instruments bought of John Moyan £33.12/6," which with shipping, insurance, and current rate of exchange cost them £138.3.10. On the margin of this last entry, Franklin has himself made a note describing some of
