be 
further 
said, 
that 
Pennsylvania 
is 
the 
first 
country which has not been subdued by the 
sword, for the inhabitants were conquered by 
the force of Christian benevolence. 
When 
the 
great founder of 
the 
State 
marked 
out 
the 
site 
of 
Philadelphia 
in 
the 
wood s, 
he 
allotted a piece of ground for a public library. 
It was his opinion, that although the labour of 
clearing 
the 
country 
would 
long 
emPlOy 
the 
settlers, hours of relaxation would still be requi- 
site; and, with his usual sagacity, hejudged that 
the reading of books was more conducive to 
g00d 
morals 
and 
to 
the 
formation 
of 
just senti- 
ments, 
than 
any 
other 
species 
of 
amusement. 
The 
libra- 
instituted 
d iH'erent counties afterwards 
ries, 
which 
the 
townships 
have 
also 
imitated : 
where the population 
VVHS 
insufHcient to establish 
a large collection of books, the neighbouring 
families formed themselves into societies for pro- 
curing the popular publications. But in these 
powers of the 
made, during 
for improving 
arrangements for cultivating the 
understanding, no provision was 
the reign of George the Second,