Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/401

Rh subject betrayed itself, and disgusted the gentleman who had procured me forty guineas to the design. 6 In referring in his diary to his collections at Oxford, he complains " that at St. John's and Baliol Dr Franklin's friends were very averse." 6 But this lack of response doubtless was due to the man rather than to the Provost, as they were those friends of Dr. Franklin who now recalled the efforts made by Dr. Smith to prevent Oxford bestowing on him its Doctorate. 7 "Assuming," as Dr. Smith's Biographer writes, "the emi- nent dissenter to have spoken the truth, and Dr. Smith to have correctly reported him," the charge is a serious one, but needs other support, in light of the surrounding circumstances. At the first business meeting of the Trustees held after Di Franklin's return to Philadelphia in 1762, on 9 November, he attended, and must have been an interested hearer of Dr. Smith's letter describing the steps to and procurement of the Brief, which is above largely drawn upon for our information. At the meeting of 8 February following he attended and "presented the two Gold Medals the Gift of Mr Sargent of London," and submitted Mr. Sargent's letter written him on the subject a few days before he sailed from London, which would have been done before but for the desire of the donor that Dr. Franklin and Mr. Norris should elect the subject for the prizes and designate their recipients, which upon conference together they declined to do. It may be safely assumed, that it was Dr. Franklin's interest in the College that attracted to it these prizes of a Member of Parliament, who personally was a stranger to the institution or 5 Smith i. 336. 6 Ibid i. 335. 7 Provost Stille refers to " an imprudent letter which Dr. Smith had written to the authorities of the University of Oxford protesting against a proposal to confer the Degree of Doctor of Laws on Franklin." Memoir p. 29. His Biographer makes reference to this : " We are not enabled by an exhibition of Dr. Smith's objections, as assigned, to judge whether his action was blameworthy, excusable, or to be justi- fied and commended." Smith, i. 340. On Dr. Smith's arrival in England he may early have learned of the action of the Heads of Houses at Oxford taken on 22 Feb- ruary, a few weeks before " Agreed, nem con., that Mr. Franklin, whenever he shall please to visit the University, shall be offered the compliment of the degree of D. C. L., honoris causa," and may then have pursued steps to prevent this consummation. The decree however was made on 30 April. In this controversy may be found the reason why Dr. Smith avoided communications with Franklin, though under instruc- tions to seek him. Sparks i. 267.