Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/442

438 copy of his speech, "persuaded that the publication thereof would be of great utility and give general satisfaction." But the speech needed the aid of another pen, and Dr. Smith was at once asked to write a preface to it. No man in the colonies was deemed so apt and able to take the other side in any con- troversy in which Franklin was engaged as was the Provost of the College ; even the influential and capable legislator, Dick- inson, now sought his fluent pen, and he was ready to respond. Fresh from successes "at home," and with grateful memories of his treatment by the Penns, he would naturally warm to this work and apply his ready skill to the attack of any attempt which sought to destroy the proprietary interest and rule. It is one of his best political papers, but evidently written in haste. Its publication at once brought to the press Galloway's speech, which was in turn preceded by a Preface, the author being Franklin himself. Dr. Smith's Preface to Dickinson's speech was sufficiently open to his corrections and criticisms, and we have one of the clearest and most pungent of his political articles ; knowing who Dickinson's sponsor was, he sought occasion under cover of Galloway's speech to answer him and meet his statements and insinuations, and to present to the reader a historic account of the more recent controversies between the Governors and the Assembly, 11 in which no Penn- sylvanian was better informed than he. 11 " It has long been observed, that Men are, with that Party, Angels or Demons, just as they happen to concur with or oppose their Measures, and I mention it for the comfort of old Sinners, that in Politics, as well as in Religion, Repentance and Amendment, though late, shall obtain Forgiveness and procure Favor. * * * * Then might all your political offences be done away, and your scarlet Sins become as Snow and Wool ; then might you end your Course with (Proprietary) Honor. P[eters] should preach your Funeral Sermon, and S[mith] the Poisoner of other characters, embalm your Memory." Preface, xxiv. to Galloway's speech printed by W. Dun- lap, 1764.