the board, and a declaration of the nature desired having been drawn up and inserted in the minute book, was signed not only by all those who at that time filled the office of trustee, but afterwards, in compliance with a clause of the declaration itself, by every new trustee after his election, and before he could be admitted to a seat at the board.[1] In their answer to the archbishop, copied into the minutes of June 14th, 1764, the trustees, after expressing their thanks for
- ↑ This document is interesting, both as it disproves the charge of religious partiality, and as it presents, in the signatures affixed to it, a complete list of the trustees at the time of its insertion in the minutes, and of those who afterwards became trustees, with the date of their election, down to the pe-
hitherto carried on for the general benefit of a mixed body of people. In his majesty's royal brief, it is represented as a seminary that would be of great use "for raising up able instructors and teachers, as well for the service of the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, as for other protestant denominations in the colonies."
At the time of granting this collection, which was solicited by the provost, who is a clergyman of the church of England, it was known that there were united with him a vice-provost who is a Presbyterian, and a principal professor of the Baptist persuasion, with sundry inferior professors and tutors, all carrying on the education of youth with great harmony: and people of various denominations have hereupon contributed liberally and freely.
But jealousies now arising lest this foundation should afterwards be narrowed, and some party endeavour to exclude the rest, or put them on a worse footing than they have been from the beginning, or were at the time of this collection, which might not only be deemed unjust in itself but might likewise be productive of contentions unfriendly to learning and hurtful to religion; we would therefore recommend it to you, to make some fundamental rule or declaration to prevent inconveniences of this kind; in doing of which, the more closely you keep in view the plan on which the seminary was at the time of obtaining the royal brief, and on which it has been carried on from the beginning, so much the less cause we think you will give for any party to be dissatisfied.
Wishing continual prosperity and peace to the institution, we are, with great regard, &c. &c.THOMAS, CANT.
THOMAS and RICHARD PENN.
SAMUEL CHANDLER.
