Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/419

on himself; and Dr. Dawson, our proprietor* s Brother in law concurring in this, Dr. Barry a Man of the first note in Dublin, Physician general to the Army and Professor of Physick in the University, was called, who paid me near four score of visits with such care and tenderness as I shall never forget. * * * Happy was it that I was taken ill in a large city, and where I could have such help. * * * It was long hanging about me before I was taken down, and Dr. Barry said it had been brought on by too much anxiety and fatigue. It is not my Temper to boast of services or value myself thereby; I would rather be more humble on that Account, knowing that Posterity will always do justice if the present times were wanting. We have indeed had surprising success ; but there have been so many happy turns in it, when to all appearances difficulties were insuperable, that a kind providence seems to have been with us, and I can claim no more than doing my duty and attentively striving to make the most of every Incident as it happened. * * * Except by my sickness, I can in truth say, I have never lost a day to our Business nor thought of anything else ; but so much traveling on Horseback, different diet and cookery, different Beds, different drink, and being obliged to eat and drink often especially at night, when I had no want of either, contributed to bring that most invet- erate and obstinate disorder on me; and yet it was not in my power, in justice to our cause, to refuse the invitations given me and the Hospitality of our Benefactors. * * * But God has been pleased to preserve me not only thro' that danger, but also the danger of a most tempestuous pas- sage, being in the beginning of the same storm that has done so much damage in the channel and frightened the Nation on account of the Prince and Princess of Brunswick, who are at last got safe to Holland. I waited near ten days at Dublin on account of the weather at Dublin and embarked on a most flattering evening with a fair Gale, but the scene was soon changed. However, next day about ten in the morning and with much difficulty, we got in. One of the last letters to the Trustees written by him prior to his illness, already quoted from, again enlarged upon the necessity of capitalising the collections made under the Brief, for a minute is made at their meeting of 8 November, namely : Several letters received from Dr. Smith were read the substance of all which was contained in one of 12 September, and as it appeared by these Letters that the Commissioners under the Royal Brief required some Assurances from the Trustees of the Academy that the Money collected should be laid out on Land security and presented as a perpetual Fund for the College, the President was desired to write the necessary Letters and to consult with Mr Chew and Mr Shippen thereupon. [Dr Smith had said,] when you draw, it is expected that you will enable me to satisfy the