Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/206

202 visit Mr. Smith's School on Thursday next, and inform themselves particularly what Branches of Learning and Science he teaches the Students under his care, and the Proficiency they have made;" the result of which was so satisfactory that they voted his salary at the subsequent meeting. Mr. Smith's Diary could not have been a cotemporary record, and in after times he may have made leading entries which will account for the entry immediately preceding the one just quoted; and which in fact anticipated by ten months the actual appointment, viz: "24th May 1754. I was this day inducted Provost of the College and Academy of Philadelphia, and Professor of Natural Philosophy." 31 But the College had no existence until the new charter of 1755, under which, at the meeting of 7 March, 1755, twenty of the Trustees attending, " in Pursuance of the proposed new Institution, Mr. William Smith was chosen Provost and Mr. Francis Alison Vice Provost and Rector, and their names order'd to be accordingly inserted in the Draught of the new Charter." In a note on the margin of this Minute in the handwriting of Dr. Smith, added some years later, it appears they then were "both unanimously " elected. We soon have an insight into the workings of the Academy as Mr. Smith found them, in his letter of 18 July following written to Dr. Peters then at Albany in attendance on a council with the Six Nations. As Smith was landing in Philadelphia the colonies were alive with fears of war with France, and the importance was felt of counteracting the influence to be wielded by that nation with the Indians. The fears were not groundless, and as many of the Trustees were on duty in public service in this and the following year, the Professors and Tutors had less of their aid and countenance than in the piping times of peace. Smith in a letter to Dr. Samuel Chandler, written 30 May says: " Messrs. Peters and Franklin are to be sent out on Monday next as commissioners from the province to the general treaty, 31 Smith, i. 45; being a day earlier than the meeting of the Trustees abovequoted.