Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/318

XLIV.

The commencement of 1757, with all the satisfaction and pleasure it brought to its participants, had one shadow, which however did not show itself at once. The Provost's signature to the diplomas was thought sufficient to give them force, and this appeared to be the intent of the Charter of 1755, where it was Ordained, That the Provost, vice provost, or other person appointed as aforesaid, shall make, and with his name, sign diplomas or certificates of the admission to such degree or degrees, which shall be sealed with the public seal of the said corporation, and delivered to the graduates as hon- ourable and perpetual testimonials thereof. But at the Trustees' meeting of 14 June, the Vice-Provost Alison, and Professors Kinnersley, Grew and Jackson " petitioned they might be allowed to join with the Provost in signing the College Diplomas," as follows : l Gentlemen. The Custom as far as we know or can learn has univer- sally obtained in other Colleges, both in Europe and America, of granting Diplomas or honourable Certificates, signed as well by all the Professors as by the Provost or President. The Initiation of this generally received Mode in the Diplomas to be granted in this College will, we humbly con- ceive, be more satisfactory to the graduates, who will no doubt chuse to carry with them the most express and ample Proofs of the Respect and approbation of every Professor belonging to the Institution ; more reputable to the Vice Provost and Professors to whom it may be of some advantage to be known in a Way that will carry the least appearance of Vanity or ostentation, and more honourable and useful to the Institution itself as the Number of Professors employed in it and their names, if at any Time they should be Men of Merit and Reputation, which it is not unreasonable to suppose, may be of service to engage the Notice of People in Distant Parts and by that means to add to the Number of Students. We therefore the Vice Provost and Professors of this College and Academy humbly petition the Trustees to grant us by a Law the Privilege of joining with the Provost in signing the College Diplomas. 1 Francis Hopkinson's diploma bears the autographs of the Provost, Vice Provost, and the other three professors; if the Provost's was originally given alone, and thus became the occasion of the petitions, this action of the Trussees may have secured the subsequent affixing the signatures of the others. The appearance of this document seems to give color to this suggestion.