Page:An Examination of Certain Charges - Alfred Stillé.djvu/19

 students who had officiated as a committee in the transmission of the resolutions to the Board of Trustees, to ask at their hands, as best able to afford it, an explanation of the occurrences of the 15th. To these students was expressed extreme mortification that any thing calculated to injure the fair reputation of the school, should have taken place within its walls; in return the answer was made in substance above stated: the exposition appeared satisfactory, and the committee was discharged. On Tuesday morning, 20th Jan. a meeting was held, at which the following preamble and resolutions were, on motion, adopted: viz.

"Whereas, we recognise obedience to the laws as the essential basis of all good government, and whereas rumours have gone abroad concerning the events of 15th inst, unfounded in fact, and tending to prejudice this Institution in the opinion of the public; therefore,

"Resolved, That considering it the duty of this class to correct such opinions if false, and to vindicate themselves from every imputation of dishonorable or disorganizing conduct, we deem it necessary to declare,

"That in our opinion, the resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees, and also the declarations of the Professor of Materia Medica, himself afforded presumptive evidence, that the lectures of said Professor were to cease after the 13th inst.; which presumption not being realized, a portion of the class were unable to see without an exhibition of involuntary feeling, that the implied and express wishes of the Board, and the obligation of an explicit pledge werealikewere alike [sic] disregarded by him:

"And moreover, distinctly to disclaim every intention of personal violence against the Professor of Materia Medica, of controlling the Trustees, or of interfering with their rights as to the appointment or removal of Professors."

At the same meeting, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted, in consequence of a communication from Dr. Coxe to the committee of the Board informing them that he had ceased to officiate.

"Whereas, This class, alike anxious to maintain its own dignity and the legitimate powers of the Board of Trustees from infringement has abstained from requesting the proper authorities to appoint a Lecturer on Materia Medica and Pharmacy during the continuance of the present incumbent in office; and whereas, the present incumbent has virtually vacated his chair by ceasing to officiate; and whereas, the only obstacle which has prevented hitherto this class from expressing its wishes on this point, is now obviated by the voluntary abdication of that Professor, therefore, be it

"Resolved, That for these and other reasons the Board of Trustees respectfully be requested to make those arrangements for our instruction in Materia Medica, which in their estimation may appear most advisable for the interests of this class and the University of Pennsylvania."

The class owe to the prompt action of the Board, and the spontaneous kindness of the eminent Professor of Theory and Practice, those lectures which from the 26th of January to the termination of the session, so much more than supplied the vacancy occasioned by the absence and subsequent removal of Dr. Coxe. From their commencement disputation was converted into harmonious study, and the elements of agitation seemed to arrange themselves into a cheerful calm.

The stated meeting of the Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday Feb. 3rd, at which, in consonance with the result of previous deliberations, it was decided by a vote of sixteen to three, that Dr. Coxe was