Shortly after my last, the foregoing petition was presented to the Assembly; it was referred to the Committee of ways and means, who made a favorable Report, the day before their adjournment; therefore not time to have procured leave to bring in a Bill, which have good reason to believe, would then have been readily granted. But some persons are now making interest against the prayer, saying it would be injurious to the proposed plan of making shady walks, by avenues of Trees. Pity it is that another year has passed without planting them, to bring them the sooner to maturity.

I conceive the Buildings would not only be very ornamental, but contribute to the encrease of cool agreeable shade; should you be of the same opinion, the writing your sentiments thereon, may have great effect and arrive before the motion is made; as the House has adjourned until the 16th. of August.

I well know this Business is less important than such in which You are generally engaged, nor should I have troubled You with this application, but under a persuasion it will have a tendancy to the advancement of knowledge and Science, as well as contribute to the health and pleasure of the Citizens at large. The family all join in most affectionate regard, with, Dear Sir, Your assured and most obedient humble Servant

To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of Pensylvania in general Assembly met.

The joint Petition of the American Philosophical society held at Philadelphia for the promoting useful knowledge and of the library company of Philadelphia

Humbly sheweth

That under the freindly auspices of the Legislature of Pennsylvania these two Societies have prospered and flourished, and are now making considerable advances in becoming more useful to the Citizens of Pennsylvania, and to Mankind in general by promulgating improvements in useful arts and sciences.

That encouraged by the manifest inclination your Honorable House hath shewn to forward the good purposes of their respective institutions, they look up to the enlargement of their crews, a greater convenience in their accommodations and that respectability which a moderate attention to external appearances will not fail to procure.

That a design hath been conceived and is already in a promising state of forwardness to unite to the City Library that learned and extensive collection of books known by the name of the Loganian Library; but in such a manner that altho it be kept in the same building, it shall ever remain distinct from the Library with which it may be united, and retain its name in honor of the liberal Citizens who collected and intended it for public use. To which end a building will be requisite larger and more commodious than any the said Library company can now command.

That the Philosophical Society also find it absolutely necessary to the orderly and effectual conduct of the business of their institution, that they should be accommodated with a suitable building consisting of a Hall for their meetings and public Orations, a Repository for their collections of natural curiosities and philosophical apparatus, and a library Room for their books.

That your Petitioners having thus a similar purpose in view consulted together how it might be accomplished in such a manner as to be most convenient to themselves and at the same time ornamental to the City: To this end they have turned their attention to the East West line of the State House square as most commodious for the design intended, and therefore humbly pray your honorable House to grant them portions of ground for the purpose aforesaid: That is to say to the said Philosophical Society a lot of ground eight feet front upon sixth street and forty feet deep on the said square, midway between Wallnut and Chesnutt streets and to the said library Company a like space of Ground on fifth street and directly opposite to the former; for the purpose of erecting buildings thereon at the expence of the said Societies respectively.

Your Petitioners beg leave further to represent that their purpose is to make these buildings answerable to such other in a uniform state of Architecture as to external appearances with their principal fronts the State House square so that to whatever purpose that square may after be assigned whether for public walks or otherwise, the said buildings will be a considerable ornament thereto, without any other disadvantage than the loss of that small space of ground which they shall occupy.

That these buildings thus commodiously situated will have a tendency to bring together and unite Gentlemen of Science and thereby more effectually promote the good designs of those institutions they will also be particularly convenient to the Members of your Honorable House during the Sessions of Assembly for reference, such a pleasing retreat during the intervals of business and that such an Instance of the attention of the Legislature to the purposes of learning will not fail to do honor to the State in the Eyes of Foreigners.

Your Petitioners therefore pray for leave to bring in a Bill for vesting the said losts (a plan of which wherewith exhibited) in the Societies aforesaid and for the purposes in the Petition set forth.

Humbly submitting the premises to the consideration of your Honorable House your Petitioners as in duty bound &c &c