Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/371

Rh of three years. On 18 February, 1766, it was proposed by the Trustees to bestow Mr Sargent's Prize-Medals at the next Commencement, for the two best Performances on the Subjects proposed by him, [and it was] agreed that the Medal for the best classical Performance be confined to the present Set of Candidates for Bachelor's Degrees at the ensuing Commencement, and that the Subject proposed for the other Medal, being of a higher Nature, be left open to all those who have received any Degree or Part of their Education in this Seminary and the Provost was desired to draw up a proper advertisement for this Purpose, and to publish the same, after com- municating it to the Governor, Mr Allen, Mr Shippen and Mr Duche for their Opinion and Approbation. In the Pennsylvania Gazette of 6 March, this public announce- ment appeared, and in the reference to the Medal to be awarded the political Essay, Dr. Smith wrote : As the subject proposed for this Medal, is one of the most important which can at this Time employ the Pen of the Patriot or Scholar ; and as it is thus left open for all those who have had any Connection with this College, either as Students or Graduates, it is hoped for the Honour of the Seminary, as well as for their own, they will nobly exert themselves on a Subject so truly animating, which may be treated in a Manner able inter- esting and pleasing to good Men both here and in the Mother country. The public tension in the Spring of this year was great on the subject of the Stamp Act, for a crisis was approaching in colo- nial attachments to the Mother Country, and it was understood that the British government was about considering whether it would maintain or abandon its position on this parliamentary import. On 8 May the Trustees, Messrs. Penn, Chew, Allen, Cad- walader, Coxe, Willing, Strettell, and Duche with Dr. Smith, Dr. Alison, and Dr. Shippen, junior, Professor of anatomy, in attendance, gave the Forenoon to receiving and examining the Pieces that might be produced for Mr. Sargent's Medals. Dr. Smith laid before them nine Performances, sealed up under Covers as directed, and marked to be written for the Medal proposed for the best English Essay on the Recipro- cal Advantages of a perpetual l/nion between Great Britain and her Ameri-