Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/377

LXI.

Having thus anticipated some of the narrative of later years, which has been done in order to present unbroken the story of the Sargent Medal, we now return to the year 1763 to note one of the public corporate appearances of the College ; we find in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 17 November, the narra- tive of the " Humble Address of the Vice Provost and Profes- sors of the College and Academy of Philadelphia to the Honor- able John Penn, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor," in which they are " happy in this Opportunity of presenting him with their Compliments of Felicitation on his safe arrival in this Province." To which his reply, was couched in appropriate phrase : Being very sensible that nothing can better advance the Interest and Welfare of this young Colony, than the Encouragement of Literature and useful Knowledge; you may be assured that the well established Seminary under your care shall at all times receive my Countenance and Protection. John Penn, now thirty-four years of age, had arrived in Philadelphia on 30 October, 1763, on his second visit to the Province, and succeeded as Lieutenant Governor William Denny, whose unpopular administration was now almost for- gotten in the coming of the grandson of the founder of the Province. The welcome accorded by the faculty of the College to Denny on his arrival in August, 1756, in common with other public bodies and the civic authorities, had suggested the most exalted promises for a happy administration ; the local disap- pointment had been so extreme that it tended to make the welcome to John Penn seven years later not less loyal but much less extravagant. Governor Penn's interest in the institution was manifested by his acceptance of a Trusteeship ; on the occurrence of the first vacancy after his arrival by the removal of Mr. Andrew Elliot from the Province, he was elected at the meeting of 1 1 September, 1764, to succeed him, and at the meeting of 9 October, the Secretary, Dr. Smith, enters the Minute : The Hon'ble John Penn, Esq r took the oath, and subscribed the Declaration as required by the Charter, and also subscribed the Funda-