Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/452

To get some light on the mode of life in the New Buildings and the needful Regulations governing the students, we have to await the proceedings of the Trustees for more than four years, and it is not until the meeting of 17 October, 1767, that we find any reference to the "Collegiate way of living" of the under- graduates. The minute recites "the ceconomy and manage- ment of the New Buildings to be taken into Consideration at next meeting, complaint having been made that sufficient care was not taken to keep the younger part of the Lodgers clean ;" and " Dr. Shippen and Mr. Inglis are appointed to inquire into the Complaints," but these gentlemen's " report thereon " was not ready before the meeting of 15 December, 1767, when it was submitted as follows, presenting a curious picture of the personal habits of the lads : They have visited the Lodgers and Apartments in the new Buildings, and had read the original Regulations made for their Management and Government, from which it appears, that the care of the Boys with respect to their Linnen, Combing their Heads and other matters, in which the younger part of them could not be trusted to themselves, had always been considered as part of the Steward' s Duty, for the Allowance made to Him. And that Mr Kinnersley had assured them that he had always taken care to see that their Chambers were kept clean, and that Mrs Kinnersley sends for the smaller Boys twice every Week to have their Heads combed, and that every Monday they are ordered to bring their dirty Linnen to her, with a List of them, to be given out to be washed, and that she receives them back according to the list They report further that on visiting the Rooms, they found them clean, and the Provisions good that were intended for that Day's Dinner. And as Mr Kinnersley engages to continue his utmost care in these matters, they think there can be no just ground for Complaint. The readiness of Mr. Kinnersley, and his willingness, to serve the College in all practical matters as well as professional, led the Trustees often to make use of his abilities in this way. And for the " attendance and service of a Negro " of his in the afifairs of the Buildings, he had been compensated to the extent of ,12 per annum, which arrangement had begun as early as April, 1767 ; he was thus probably the only slave-holding mem- ber of the Faculty; certainly the only one whose chattel was for a consideration in the employ of the College.