Presents respectful compliments to his employers, and others, the citizens of Pittsburgh, who may feel disposed to patronize an institution, peculiarly adapted to communicate a thorough knowledge of those Elementary Branches, which constitute the basis of a good English education.....

      RESPECTFULLY informs them, that having made a commencement for said purpose last October, in a convenient house situated on Irwin's alley, Liberty street, opposite the head of Wood street, he there intends to prosecute with a vigorous assiduity his proposed plan; which, by means of the Assistance of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. & Mrs. Bryant, he hopes to realize with additional advantage, so as to expedite as much as possible the education of the youth committed to his care.

      The various classes will comprise, Spelling, Reading, Writing, English Grammar, Arithmetick, Book-keeping, Geography, Maps, Globes, &c. with the Elements of Mathematical Science. Besides the necessary parts of a Literary Education, the Female Pupils, under the tuition of Mrs. Bryant, may be taught Plain Sewing, Flowering, Sampler, Stool-cover, and Rug-work, Netting, Tambouring, Embroidery, &c. &c.

      Terms through all the classes six dollars per quarter.

      N.B. Under the united attentions of the aforesaid, the Female Class will be taught in a separate apartment, with a door opening into the garden, and of course, will have no immediate connexion, nor interference whatever, with the other part of the School.

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      Although this advertisement for Thomas Campbell's "English Classical School, or Mercantile Academy" in Pittsburgh, Pa., may be considered a marginal item among his writings, it bears importance as presumably the only extant notice for the schools he had established and operated. Scholastic Theology, the book in which this advertisement appears, is held by the Archives and Special Collections, T. W. Phillips Memorial Library, Bethany College. The catalogue description is as follows:

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AC.0276. No. 0606. [No title page. Scholastic Theology imprinted on spine. The first page extant is "Index Locorum S. Scripturae."]. Unpaginated, 20 x 15 cm.

• Untraceable.
• A publication of various disputed points (12), presumably a catholic document. One index appears in the front of the book. Other indexes appear in the back. The volume contains works of various lengths, all separately numbered. The whole text is in Latin. The authors are Gabriel Demonthous, David Girardo, Melchisedeco, Pinaldo, John de Tournes, Benedicto, Calandrino, Jabob Morino.
• Front cover plate [ex libris] A. Campbell, No. 0606, blue. Has been rebound. Leather binding. Bound at the rear of the book is an advertisement for "English Classical School, or Mercantile Academy. Thomas Campbell." This academy was located in Pittsburgh, Pa. The book was rebound at this time. This volume may have been among those that were in the shipwreck of the Hibernia in 1807, although there are no waterstains.

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The book's accession number is AC.0276 in Campbell's personal library; No. 0606 is imprinted on Campbell's bookplate.

      Thanks to R. Jeanne Cobb, Archivist and Coordinator of Special Collections, T. W. Phillips Memorial Library, for providing a copy of the advertisement and the catalogue description.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 22 March 1998.
Updated 8 July 2003.