Page:The History of the University of Pennsylvania, Wood.djvu/47

Rh no doubt, at the commencement of the revolution, to increase the enmity of those who were attached to the cause of independence. Among the trustees of the college, also, were many who were known to be unfavourable to the new order of things, some of whom indeed had left the country and openly joined the enemy. When to these considerations we add the fact, that the institution had been fostered by English liberality, had been largely endowed by the proprietors, and had even enjoyed the smiles of the king, while from the legislature of the colony it had experienced only neglect, we can feel no surprise that it should have been suspected of a strong attachment to the royal interest, and therefore regarded by many with feelings of unkindness and distrust

But whatever may have been the inclinations of those in whom the direction of its affairs resided, no public act had been committed which could afford ground for offence. On the contrary, care was taken to cultivate the good will of the new authorities; and at the commencement which succeeded the first assemblage of the continental congress in Philadelphia, the delegates, by the invitation of the trustees, proceeded in a body from the State House to the college, and thus gave it a strong testimony of their approval.

To guard still further against the effects of that political excitement which, there was reason to fear, might be directed fatally against the institution, it had been provided by those interested in its favour, that the sanction of positive law should be brought in aid of its other claims to the respect at least, if not to the support of the citizens. In the summer of 1776, while the convention of Pennsylvania was engaged in framing a constitution for the government of the commonwealth, Dr. Smith, having assembled at his house a few gentlemen connected with corporate bodies, proposed that they should endeavour to procure the insertion in the constitution 6