Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/289

Rh demanded. " I will pronounce it," he says " before Heaven and Earth, that from the days of our Alfreds, our Edwards, and Henries downward, the British sword was never unsheathed in a more glorious cause than at present."

The next public occasion in which we find William Smith a participant was upon the arrival in the province of William Denny, the Lieutenant Governor, as successor of Governor Morris, from whom the College obtained its charter. The welcome accorded to Denny was warm on all sides, only equalled in its force by the disappointment soon caused by the failure of his administration, in which came to an issue the contentions between the Proprietaries whom he represented and the Assembly, and which in a few short months produced that mission to England in which Benjamin Franklin and Isaac Norris were delegated to bear the plaints of the Assembly to the King. Governor Denny arrived in Philadelphia 21 August, 1756, and was greeted with sundry addresses from various bodies of citizens, Franklin presenting him with an address as Colonel of the Regiment and Artillery Company of the City of Philadelphia, and with one in behalf of the Hospital. William Smith presented the humble address of the Provost, Vice Provost, and Professors of the College and Academy of Philadelphia. Permit us to recommend the Seminary of Learning under our care to your Honour's Protection, hoping, that you will condescend to grant the same Countenance to it, and to us, which, on all occasions, we have been honoured with from your two worthy Predecessors in the Government; by which means, and the fatherly care of the Trustees, its Founders, this Institution, thro' the Blessing of God, has arrived to a very great Degree of Perfection; altho' it has hitherto been carried on under many Disadvantages and in Times that have been far from auspicious to the Muses or the softer Arts of Peace, To which the Governor happily said in his response: As a proper Education contributes greatly to the Advantage of Mankind, you may, on all occasions, rely on my Countenance and Protection; and be assured that I shall think myself happy, in promoting and encouraging so laudable an institution. 3 3 Pennsylvania Gazette, 26 August, 2 and 9 September, 1756.