Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/332

328 denial of appropriations for military purposes, and in contem- porary politics they bore the brunt of accusations that they were exposing the borders of the Province to Indian and French depredations. This revilement was convenient and easy, yet no attempt was made by their accusers to pursue that even- handed justice with the native Savage which would have gone a long way to avert the calamities of war.

Mr. Smith's occupation in this arraignment and imprison- ment necessarily deprived the College of his continuous atten- tion ; and references to this peculiar condition of affairs are found twice in the Minutes of the Trustees. On 4 February, the first meeting after his imprisonment, when the refusal to him on that day by Chief Justice Allen of a writ of Habeas Corpus rendered his release for the remainder of the Assem- bly's session hopeless, it is recorded : the Assembly ot the Province having taken Mr Smith into Custody the Trustees considered how the Inconveniences from thence arising to the College might be best remedied, and Mr Smith having expressed a Desire to continue his Lectures to the Classes which had formerly attended them, the Students also inclining to proceed in their Studies under his care ; They ordered that the said Classes should attend him for that Purpose at the usual Hours in the Place of his present Confinement : this being in the County Prison at the corner of Walnut and Sixth Streets, and here the young Provost taught his classes within a stone's throw of the lot which James Logan had in 1749 offered the Trustees for the use of their new Academy. And here he remained, unyielding in his position and surrounded by his classes, until his liberation in April upon adjournment of the Assembly. But no steps were taken for the annual commencement, possibly under the apprehension lest