Page:The History of the University of Pennsylvania, Wood.djvu/76

70 that an act of injustice, if it promote the great political object in view, assumes in their eyes the colour of necessity, if not of virtue. It has been seen, that on the union of the schools, his claims to the provostship were thought to overbalance the high qualifications and long services of Dr. Smith. He continued to preside over the university, and to perform the duties of professor of natural philosophy till 1802, when he died, at the age of seventy-one years. But for a short time before the close of his life, he was disabled by ill health from that steady and vigorous application to the business of his station which had characterized the early period of his employment, and by which alone he could compensate the university for that unfortunate division of his time and attention, which his adherence to the pastoral office rendered necessary. From the accounts which are left of Dr. Ewing, he appears to have been characterized rather by strong judgment and indefatigable application, than by great genius or brilliant imagination. As a mathematician he was thought not to have a superior in the Union. His classical attainments were highly respectable, and by a fondness for biblical researches, he was led to devote much time to the study of the Hebrew language. While the extent of his acquirements commanded the respect of all, the mildness and goodness of his character, and the excellence of his social qualities secured him the kindness and affection of his companions. On a visit which he paid to Great Britain, before his elevation to the provostship, he was received with the highest marks of favour in the literary circles of Edinburgh and London, where he acquired the friendship of several distinguished men, particularly of the celebrated historian Dr. Robertson, by whom he was remembered affectionately to the time of his death. It was on this visit that he received, without solicitation, the title of Doctor of Divinity, conferred upon him by the university of Edinburgh. The lectures on