Logan from the ancient and essays on matters of practical import testify to his learning and industry. With such training and tastes he would naturally welcome any effort to secure and extend the advantages of learning to the young generations around him, and having confidence in Franklin's executive ability to carry to maturity any scheme he would formulate in furtherance of this, and reliance on his practical judgment, he naturally gave his interest and influence to it; and his name heading the new trust in compliance with Franklin's desire, was in itself an augury of success to the enterprise. Logan writes to Peter Collinson in London 1 July 1749, "Benjamin Franklin has been here to day, to show me some new curiosities in electricity, but the weather was too warm and moist." And on 20 October our most ingenious printer and postmaster, Benjamin Franklin, has the clearest understanding, with as extreme modesty as any man I know here. Thou hast seen several of his pieces on electricity, wherein he almost excels you all.
His practical interest in the new Academy was evidenced in his early offer to the Trustees of "the gift of a lot of ground on Sixth Street to erect an Academy upon, provided it should be built within the Term of Fourteen Years." This lot was opposite the State House Square, probably immediately North of the building for his Library which Logan had before this date erected on the northwest corner of Walnut and Sixth Streets, at that time considered out of town.[1] To this however the President was desired to acquaint Mr. Logan [at the meeting of 26 December] that the Trustees had a most grateful sense of his regard to the
- ↑ In a note to the Proposals of 1749, Franklin refers to this Library, viz: "Besides the English Library begun and carried on by subscription in Philadelphia, we may expect the Benefit of another much more valuable in the Learned Languages, which has been many years collecting with the greatest Care, by a Gentleman distinguish'd for his Universal Knowledge, no less than for his Judgment in Books. It contains many hundred Volumes of the best Authors in the best Editions, among which are, * * * . A handsome Building about 60 feet in front, is now erected in this city, at the private Expense of that Gentleman, for the Reception of this Library, where it is soon to be deposited, and remain for the publick use with a valuable yearly Income duly to enlarge it; and I have his Permission to mention it as an Encouragement to the propos'd Academy; to which this noble Benefaction will doubtless be of the greatest Advantage, as not only the Students, but even the Masters themselves, may very much improve by it." Proposals, p. 8.
