Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/364

LVIII.

But we must return to the year 1762 : l The Commence- ment of that year was held on 17 May "in the presence of a learned, polite and very brilliant Assembly. Every part of the public Hall was crowded with Spectators." And what added to the pleasure of the loyal mind was, his Honour the Governor, who is one of the Trustees of this Institution, was pleased to attend the whole day. A great number of the Clergy of differ- ent denominations, together with many other Gentlemen of Learning and the first Distinction, from the neighboring Parts were likewise present. * The morning exercises were opened with a Salutatory Ora- tion in Latin by one of the Candidates. This was followed by a forensic Disputation, in which the Disputants discovered a great deal of Sprightliness, Wit and good Sense ; and closed with a Latin Syllogistic Disputation. In the afternoon two English Orations were pronounced, followed by another Syllogistic Dispu- tation in Latin. The Vice Provost then conferred the Degrees, and he delivered from the Pulpit a solemn charge to the Candidates. The young Orator who spoke the Valedictory with much elegance and Tenderness met with deserved applause. Then came the Loyal Dialogue and Ode on the accession and Nuptials of his Majesty which closed the whole Performance. This latter had been arranged by the Provost before his departure for England four months before, he writing the Dia- logue, and "one of the Sons of this Institution" writing and setting to Music the Ode no less a one than Francis Hopkin- son. The graduates of the occasion were Samuel Campbell, who became a Tutor in August, 1759, and clerk to the Trustees in 1760, John Cooke, William Hamilton, the "Master Billy Hamilton " referred to on former pages, Samuel Jones, a native of Wales, John Porter, a Tutor from October, 1761, and 1 The Pennsylvania Gazette of 7 January, 1762, announces This Day is published and to be sold by A. Stewart, price 4p or 3/ per Doz. A Letter from a Gen- tleman in England to his Friend in Philadelphia ; giving him his opinion of the College of that City. No copy of this is known to any one of this day ; and the only knowledge of the publication is this advertisement. It forms title 1824 in Mr. Hildeburn's Issues of the Press in Pennsylvania ; i. 373. 3 Minutes, p. 169, Pennsylvania Gazette, 27 May, 1762.