Such was the spirit and effect of Franklin's Proposals, and the zeal and personal influence of its author, that the plan reached consummation within a few weeks time. He tells us, "the subscribers, to carry the project into immediate execution, chose out of their number twenty-four trustees, and appointed Mr. Francis, then Attorney General, and myself, to draw up constitutions for the government of the academy."[1] These constitutions are worthy of entire perusal, as they embody a widely useful plan of education, and an admirable system of government. From their style in parts, we find good reason to think that Franklin's ideas were committed to the Attorney General for a fitting phraseology, but we miss the terseness and lucidity of expression, though recognizing here and there his interlineations, as for instance, where in the first section the "English tongue is to be taught grammatically" we see Franklin adding the words "and as a language," by which he would emphasize his sense of the importance of keeping our Mother tongue foremost in the aims of the institution. Later on it will be seen how tenacious he was of this when other influences appeared to be making what he called the dead languages the principal aim in the curriculum.
Constitutions
of the
Publick Academy
in the
City of Philadelphia.
As nothing can more effectually contribute to the Cultivation and Improvement of a Country, the Wisdom, Riches and Strength, Virtue and Piety, the Welfare and Happiness of a People, than a proper Education of Youth, by forming their Manners, imbuing their tender Minds with Principles of Rectitude and Morality, instructing them in the dead and living Languages, particularly their Mother Tongue, and all useful Branches of liberal Arts and Science. For attaining these great and important Advantages, so far as the present State of our Infant Country will admit,
- ↑ Bigelow, i. 225.
