it appears that the trustees thereof, by a vote or by-law of their board, bearing date the 14th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four, have departed from the plan of the original founders, and narrowed the foundation of the said institution. Be it therefore enacted, &c."
Now from an examination of the minutes of the board of trustees on the day referred to, so far from discovering any vote or resolve which, by the severest construction, would give the least countenance to this charge of "narrowing the foundation" of the college, we find abundant evidence of a determination on the part of the board to "adhere strictly to the faith pledged to all religious denominations."
Dr. Smith, on his return from England, after having completed the great collection in that country, brought with him a letter to the board, signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the proprietors of Pennsylvania, and by Dr. Chandler, the object of which was to represent to the trustees the propriety of adopting "a fundamental rule or declaration," binding themselves to preserve inviolate the original broad and liberal plan of the seminary, and thus preventing those unpleasant jealousies and contentions, which could not but spring from a suspicion of undue partiality to any one religious sect.[1] The sentiments of the letter were approved by
- ↑ The following is the letter alluded to:—
To the trustees of the college, &c. of Philadelphia.
Gentlemen,—We cannot omit the opportunity which Dr. Smith's return to Philadelphia gives us of congratulating you on the great success of the collection which he came to pursue, and of acknowledging your obliging addresses of thanks to us for the share we had in recommending and encouraging this design. Such a mark of your attention to us will, we doubt not, excuse our hinting to you what we think may be further necessary to a due improvement of this collection, and the future prosperity of the institution under your care.
This institution you have professed to have been originally founded and
