(To this end) I propos’d to render the Benefit for Books more common by commencing a Public Subscription Library. I drew a Sketch of the Plan and Rules that would be necessary; by which each Subscriber engag’d to pay a certain sum down for the first Purchase of Books and an annual Contribution for increasing them. So few were the Readers at the time in Philadelphia and the Majority of us so poor, I was not able with great Industry to find more than Fifty Persons, mostly young Tradesmen willing to pay down for this purpose Forty shillings each, & Ten shillings per Annum. On this little fund we began.

The Institution soon manifested its Utility, was imitated by other Towns and in other Provinces, the Libraries were augmented by Donations, Reading became fashionable, and our People became better acquainted with Books, and in a few Years were observed by Strangers to be better instructed & more intelligent than People of the same Rank were in other Countries. When we were about to sign the above-mentioned Articles, which were to be binding on us, our Heirs, &c for fifty Years, Mr. Brockden, the Scrivener (law clerk), said to us: “You are all young men, but it is scarce probable that any of you will live to see the Expiration of the Term fixed in this Instrument”. A Number of us, however, are yet living; But the Instrument was after a few Years rendered null by a charter that incorporated & gave Perpetuity to the Company.