Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/471

Rh natives of this Province, and well assured of the extraordinary Progress and Improvement which you have made by a Felicity of natural Genius, in Mechanics, Mathematics, Astronomy and other liberal Arts and Sciences; all which you have adorned by singular Modesty and irreproachable Morals, have authorised and required me to admit you to the honorary Degree of Master of Arts in this Seminary. Of this justly distinguished man, whose talent for the investigation of the mysteries of creation was developed with such industry and skill, we shall learn more in the progress of our present journey, as the institution was honored in his various connections with it ; he was made Professor of Astronomy in 1779, and was a Trustee from 1784 to 1796. The mortality among the college men this year was remarkable : Dr. Smith's pupil and young friend, the Rev. Nathaniel Evans, had died on 29 October, having borne the honors of the College but two years ; Paul Jackson, an early Tutor and one of the first Profes- sors, died at Chester on 22 October; and on 30 June, Professor Beveridge, the eccentric but faithful preceptor, had died. The death of Evans must have cast a shadow over this Commence- ment, for his early genius and his winning manners had drawn to him the affection of many and the esteem of all. The learning of Beveridge was undoubted, but in discipline he was very lax ; and it is doubtful whether the pupils of the Latin School made that progress which was expected. How- ever this may be, the regard held for him by the Provost was often shown by his aid in upholding his proper influence with his classes. In January, 1761, he had appealed to the Trustees " that he was under great Difficulties in the Discharge of his Duty, for want of a proper Sett of Rules for the Government of the Latin School, and likewise for want of a proper Grammar," which led the Trustees to an entire review of the Rules of the College. But the cure promised in these did not reach the case ; the Minutes record " it had been observed about that Time that the Discipline and good order which had been kept up in the Latin School, before Dr. Alison leaving it, were somewhat relaxed," and in September the Vice-Provost was asked to