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Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation of our Public Affairs published early in 1 764, the year when a crisis seemed to be con- summating between the two opposing and heated parties. But Williamson was himself one of " the proprietaries' new allies; the Presbyterian Clergy of Philadelphia," who feared that the substitution of a Royal Government for that of the Proprie- taries which was now sought by the popular party would bring a State church into the province, and openly took the ground that the change would be the ruin of the province, 16 and what was denied to him in public speaking or preaching, he yet could ably set forth his views by his pen. And this rejoinder was followed by the subsequent contribution to the political litera- ture of the times. In the same year Williamson crossed the ocean in order to pursue medical studies at the University of Edinburgh and on the Continent. He remained abroad for two 17 years, and returning to Philadelphia, began the practice of medicine, his health not permitting any stated ministerial duties. His attain- ments in science were great, and he was one of a committee, of whom also were David Rittenhouse, Provost Smith, Dr. Ewing, and Charles Thomson, appointed by the American Philosophical Society to make observations of the transit of Venus on 3 June, 1769, and the same committee was instructed also to view the transit of Mercury on 3 November of the same year. The reports of these observations, in which Williamson as a mathe- mation had a large share, are given in the first volume of 16 Franklin in his Preface to Galloway's Speech, Bigelow, iii. 310. William- son's pamphlet was entitled " The Plain Dealer, Number II, Being a Tickler for the leisure Hours' Amusement of the Author of Cool Thoughts, Wherein the Tone of his several Arguments in Favour of a change of Government is stated in a clear Light and accomodated to the Comprehension of Readers of every Capacity. By X. Y. Z. Gentleman." In Dr. Smith's preface to John Dickinson's speech he gave a very eulogistic Epitaph on William Penn. In Franklin's preface to Galloway's speech, he burlesqued this and applied it to Richard and Thomas Penn. This in turn gave rise to Williamson's later pamphlet: "What is Sauce for the Goose is also Sauce for a Gander, Being A small Touch in the Lapidary Way, or Tit for Tat, in your own Way. An Epitaph on a certain great Man. Written by a Departed Spirit and now most inscrib'd to all his dutiful Sons and Children, who may hereafter chose to distinguish him by the name of A Patriot." Bibliography of Franklin, Ford, 393. 17 With Capt Falconer from London, came passenger Hugh Williamson, M. D. belonging to this Place. Penna Gazette, II Dec., 1766.