Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/374

The presentation of the Sargent Medal to Dr. Morgan at the ensuing commencement was a great feature of the occasion. " His Honour the Governor as President of the Trustees," gave 41 into the Hands of the Provost the Prize Medal, ordering him to deliver the same as it had been previously decreed;" the Provost in a few words introduced Dr. Morgan who " then delivered his Essay, which was received with the highest appro- bation by the Audience ;" after this the Provost added, Sir. As the reward of your great merit in this elegant Performance, I am in the name of the Trustees and Faculty of this College, as well as in behalf of the worthy donor, to beg your acceptance of this Gold Medal. Its intrinsic value may not be an object of much consideration to you, but the truly honorable circumstances by which it now becomes yours, must render it one of the most valuable jewels in your Possession. That the first literary Prize in this Institution should fall to the Share of one of its eldest sons, who to much Genius and Application, has joined much knowl- edge of the World, will not seem strange. Yet still for the honor of this Seminary, and what will not derogate from your Honor, it will appear that you have obtained this pre-eminence over no mean Competitors. Some of our younger Sons (among whom we ought not to omit the Name of the modest and candid Watts, with some others even of inferior standing) have exhibited such vigorous Efforts of Genius and tread so ardently on the Heels of you their Senior, that it will require the utmost Exertion of all your Faculties, the continual straining of every Nerve, if you would long wish to lead the way to them, in the great Career of Time. This address of the Provost to Dr. Morgan, or Eulogium as entered in the Minutes, is in part there recorded. It was a happy circumstance that the news of the repeal of the Stamp Act had reached Philadelphia the day before the Commence- ment, and the publication of Dr. Morgan's Essay was most opportune. And we can picture to ourselves the warmth and earnestness of the following words of the zealous Provost in his address on delivering this Medal : Truly delicate and difficult, we confess, was the Subject prescribed to you^to treat of the reciprocal advantages of a perpetual Union between Great Britain and her Colonies at a Time when a fatal misunderstanding had untwisted all the Cords of that Union, and the minds of many were too much inflamed. This Difficulty was likewise increased to us by other considerations. Great Britain, who by her Liberality, had raised this