Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/210

206 pleted as well in New York as here. But this is impossible at first. For Dr Johnson only pretends to teach Logic and Moral Philosophy, both which the Martins will have gone thro' before Dr Johnson begins, and should he begin them again, his Logic and Morality are very different from ours. There is no Matter by his scheme. No ground of Moral Obligation. Life is a Dream. All is from the immediate Impressions of the Deity Metaphysical Distinctions which us Men and surely no Boy can understand. I fear much will come in the place of fixing virtue on her true Bottom and forming the Taste of elegant writing. But further, whom have they at New York for Mathematics or Nat. Philosophy, which are not the Dr's province? Whom for teaching the Belles Lettres? Where is their apparatus? Where a sufficient number of Students for public school acts & Disputation? Thus, then, you see if Mr Martin takes his sons from this place he must fix them at New York so far advanced that they cannot carry them one step farther, and thereby I wonder what could induce Dr Johnson, whose worth and Integrity I know, to strive to persuade Mr Martin to remove his sons from a Seminary where they have reaped great Benefit, & where their Education must sopn be finished. To me, who know what they have done, what they can do and what they want to do, it clearly appears such a step would absolutely mar their Education and I doubt not it would appear so to you. I have stated the case to Col Martin, but could say a Thousand things more if I saw him. I beg you to speak to him, if you should go to Long Island on purpose. You love doing good, and you never can have such an opportunity of serving that Gentleman, who, not having a liberal education, may be easily misled on a point the most important of all others, Did I not see it in this light I would scorn to say one word on the subject. "Tis true, I had reason to think what I have already done for his sons would make him glad of finishing their studies under one who knows and loves them; but if their Interest were not at stake, his Design of removing them would only so far affect my pride as to make me resent the usage with Silent Contempt. I would never wish that the Character of an Academy or mine in particular should want any other Basis but what is intrinsic and may be seen by alL My compliments to our dear Franklin. We are in hopes he will return with you. I beg also to be remembered to Mr. Penn, Mr. Morris and all your company, as also to the Gov'r'mt and as many of my New York Friends as are pleased to think of me. The clergy there I do not forget. Excuse my haste & the length of this, which flows from honest zeal for the wellfare of my dear pupils. Yours affectionately William Smith From this letter we gather an insight into the beginnings of Kings College, of which Dr. Johnson had assumed the Presidency