Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/431

Rh declare that they will keep this Plan closely in their View, and use their utmost Endeavours that the same be not narrowed nor the Members of the Church of England or those dissenting from them (in any future Election to the principal offices mentioned in the aforesaid letter) be put on any worse Footing in this Seminary than they were at the Time of obtaining the Royal Brief. They subscribe this with their names and ordain that the same be read and subscribed by every new Trustee that shall hereafter be elected before he takes his Seat at the Board. Of the Twenty-four Trustees now serving, twenty promptly signed the same on the Minute Book, including Franklin, though he and Dr. Shippen and Mr. Chew did not attend this meeting or that of 12 June called to receive the Provost. 3 Of the other four, Mr. Inglis who was yet abroad in June, signed on 1 1 September; Chief Justice Allen was also abroad ; Mr. Elliot had removed to New York, and his place was shortly declared vacant ; and Mr. Syng's name also does not appear. This weighty matter thus duly recorded, letters to their kind friends were read, approved, and ordered to be entered on the minutes. To the Archbishop they say : Whatever comes recommended to us by the names of Personages to whom we are under so many obligations, cannot fail of having its due Weight with us, more especially as it is conformable to that generous plan which we have always pursued in this Seminary ; and therefore we found 3 Dr. Shippen' s attendance at the meetings about this time were infrequent. But the absence of Mr. Chew may not have been without design, if we accept a statement regarding him in Dr. Peter's letter to Dr. . s mith of 28 May, 1763: "It gives your Friends here a great deal of concern that you have had so much trouble in defending yourself against what was said to your prejudice about Mr. Beaty's Collec- tion. The noise as I wrote you, was very strong at first, but it has subsided for some time. From your first Letters we all saw the thing in its true light. * * * I gave Dr. Alison the printed Letter with your Defence certified by Mr. Penn and Dr. Chandler and desired him to shew it to his Brethren. This I did as soon as the first of them arrived. * * * I showed it likewise to Mr. Allen and left it with him at his own request, and I hope at meeting you will be able to remove any unfavorable Impressions that may still remain with him towards you. I could find by his discourse that he had a great sense of the very great services you was doing for us, and make no doubt, but as both he and you are very open on all occasions, everything will be discussed and settled between you to mutual satisfaction. * * * I have had much discourse [with] Mr. Chew and at times with the Governor [Hamilton] and from both I learn that the same unfavorable Impressions conceived of you were not worn off yet your extraordinary merit and success were amply acknowledged and I am sure they will on your arrival make you quite sensible that they are real friends of the Institution, and therefore cannot but give you a mighty hearty welcome and act towards you a just and kind Part. God restore you to us in good health, and then I think you will find things much better than you can imagine, and we shall be able to put all things on a good footing." Pennsylvania Magazine, x 351.