The Commencement of 1767 had been attended by Col. Wilkins, a schoolmate of the Provost's at Aberdeen, whose Regiment, the 18th or Royal Irish Regiment was then quartered in Philadelphia, and its Band had given accompaniment to the music on the occasion, and supported Hopkinson's performance on the organ. Dr. Smith was made Chaplain pro tempore of the regiment; and in the following spring he preached a series'of sermons before the Regiment on The Christian Soldier's Duty " in the Great Hall of the College of Philadelphia." 1 In the following June he preached twice again to them, " being the last or farewell to the said Regiment, then under marching orders."
These offer good specimens of his effective style in presenting a subject, made more impressive by his remarkable oratorical powers which tradition assures us were unequaled by any of the preachers or speakers of the time in the province, and the fame of which opened to him the pulpits of all the churches in the other provinces. It was in the autumn of this year that we find him acting as Rector of Christ Church in the absence of Dr. Peters at Fort Stanwix, New York, where a treaty was being concluded with the Indians. Dr. Peters had been desired by the Governor and Council, he told his Vestry, to attend the treaty,
from a belief that his long experience in Indian affairs would enable him to be of great service there; * * * he had consented to go, and Dr Smith was so good as to promise to do his duty in his absence. 2
Dr. Peters, on this visit, did some Missionary work among the Indians, and baptised many, whose names on his return home he entered on the records of his Church. His zeal must have communicated itself to some of his friends in Philadelphia. Dr. Smith writes to Sir William Johnson, 17 December, 1768:
I should be glad to know whether any lands be reserved for the church and Indian Missions upon the plan formerly mentioned. * * *
1 These are Nos. ix., x., xi., and xiii in his Works of 1803.
2 Minutes Vestry of Christ Church, 5 September, 1768.
