Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/399

LXV.

That portion of the Instructions to Dr. Smith relating to Dr. Franklin appears in effect to have failed in compliance with on his part, if absence of such reference to it in his letters can be accepted as evidence. The instruction to consult and advise with him could neither have been agreeable to Dr. Smith or welcome to the latter. Political controversies at home had been so embittered as to diminish any cordiality which in their first intercourse may have existed between them ; and Franklin could not have forgotten the injurious reference in the American Magazine of October, 1758, to his reputed claims of certain discoveries in Electricity made by its Editor at a time and in a publication of general circulation when he was too faraway from home to promptly acknowledge its unkindness ; but it must have afforded Franklin a grim satisfaction to learn that the number which was so freighted with injustice was the last issue of a Maga- zine which had been published and edited in interests which were in no wise friendly to him. However, this maybe, we may well suppose their intercourse, for the brief period they were at the same time in London, was strained ; all we know is Dr. Smith's account of his earlier collections made before the issue of the Brief he sent by the hands of Dr. Franklin to the Treasurer, 1 and this implies some recognition of the instructions of the Trustees ; but as Dr. Smith for personal and other reasons greatly counted upon the influence of the Penn family, he could not seek that of Franklin with any intent of abiding by it should it run counter to the paths pointed out by the Proprietaries. It has been claimed that Dr. Franklin opposed Dr. Smith's efforts by insinuating to his friends the narrowness of the institution which was sought to be benefited, and in effect thwarted his efforts in certain influential quarters. 2 But the circumstances of the case do not sustain the charge in the absence of any direct evidence to that effect. That Dr. Franklin felt less interest in 1 Letter to Dr. Peters, 24 April, 1763. This appears to be his only reference to an intercourse with Dr. Franklin. Smith i. 317. 2 Smith i. 326. Dr. Stille's Memoir p. 30.