Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/389

Another letter was addressed alone to Thomas Penn, mainly on the subject of the disposition of the Perkasie Manor property which the Trustees deemed best to sell and realize a sum of money which they could invest to better advantage; to this, however, as we have already seen, a negative answer was returned by Mr. Penn. These were enough for one meeting. Two days later the same Trustees met, excepting Messrs. Chew, Willing, Duche and Coleman, and agreed upon certain instructions to Dr. Smith, and made provision for his expenses as well as for the supply of his post in the college, which Mr. Ewing had been desired to do "in his ab- sence and he had kindly promised to do it upon a proper Com- pensation for Trouble," and " Mr. Peters and Mr. Stedman were desired to settle the sum that should be allowed him." He had so faithfully and well supplied Dr. Smith's place in his former absence, that Dr. Smith could leave his pupils with confidence under his care, a confidence he found not misplaced on his return to them in 1764. Dr. Smith's instructions were placed in full on the Minutes. In the outset they assure him they have proceeded in this affair very much by his Advice, and in Expectation of the hearty con- currence of our Honorable Proprietaries, and we trust and desire you will lose no time either in embarking for England or when there in setting about and carrying on this good work with your utmost Zeal, Prudence, and Assiduity, first waiting on the Proprietaries that by their Council and Recommendation you may be enabled to make a good beginning. Here the urgent Perkasie matter comes in : Do not neglect to let Mr. Thomas Penn know that as Lands are now at a high Price, owing to our present happy flow of Wealth, if he be inclined to favour our application for their sale, the sooner he sends his Orders the greater Benefit will be likely to accrue to the Academy. And then the Instructions proceed : If Mr. Franklin should be in England on your Arrival, we desire you will wait upon him, lay before him your several Papers, acquaint him with