try about the commencement of the year 1754, and, soon after his arrival, was employed in the Academy to teach those higher branches, which were at that time introduced into its course of studies. In the performance of this duty, he acquitted himself so well, and, in other respects, gave so much satisfaction to the trustees, that, when the institution assumed the form of a college, he was unanimously chosen to fill the office of provost. Thus placed at the head of the seminary, he not only employed in its support the talents for teaching with which he was eminently endowed, but also exerted himself, with much zeal and success, in enlarging its pecuniary resources. Though, for a time, rendered unpopular with the predominant party, by interfering in those contentions between the legislature and the governors which formed the principal feature in the local politics of the Province, he was yet enabled by his talents to command the respect of the public; and in Great Britain, such was the esteem in which he was held that, on a visit he was induced to make to

that country, in the year 1759, to escape the resentment of the Pennsylvania Legislature, he was received into the highest society, and, at the recommendation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and several of the principal bishops, was honoured, by the University of Oxford, with the degree of Doctor of Divinity.* The circumstance which exposed him to the ill-will of a numerous party at home, secured him the favour of the proprietors and their friends; and by the influence which he possessed in England, he was enabled, at a subsequent period, very materially to promote the interests of the College. His exertions in its favour were indeed such as frequently called forth the decided approbation of the trustees; and, though absent on several occasions, and at one time put under arrest by the legislature, his talents and influence were thought so essential to the prosperity of the school,

* At a subsequent period the same honour was conferred on him by the Universities of Aberdeen and Dublin.

that he was always maintained in his station, and teachers, when necessary, were temporarily employed to supply his place. On the occasion of his arrest, the classes under his care were directed to attend him at his place of confinement. As the events

of Dr. Smith's life are intimately connected with the history of the institution over which he presided, we shall have more than one opportunity of again alluding to them, in the details which follow.

The office of vice-provost and rector of the Academy was occupied by the Rev. Dr. Francis Allison. This gentleman had been long engaged in the business of instruction, and was among the first who established regular schools in the Province. That he must have acquired considerable eminence as a teacher, is evinced by the fact, that, at a time when honorary degrees were in much higher esteem than at present, that of Doctor of Divinity was spontaneously conferred upon him by the University of Glasgow. Before his election to the vice-provostship, he had for several years been attached to the Academy as

rector, and master of the Latin school.* As in the case of Dr. Smith, his election was unanimous; and the names of both these gentlemen, with their respective titles, were, by direction of the trustees, inserted in the charter of the College. Their duties, as professors, were to preside over the philosophical studies of the different classes, and Dr. Allison assisted also in teaching the languages. For more than twenty years they were the main supports of the institution, with which they remained connected up to the period of that change in its affairs which was brought about during the troubles of the revolution.

Of the other members of the faculty, the Rev. Ebenezer Kinnersley, professor of English and oratory, was perhaps the most conspicuous. Having been associated with Franklin in the prosecution of his investigations into the subject of electricity, he

*The first rector of the Academy was a Mr. Martin, who died very suddenly, soon after his appointment, and was succeeded by Dr. Allison, who then resided in Chester County, and was invited by the trustees to fill the vacant place.

acquired a taste for that science, which induced him to procure a set of apparatus, calculated to exhibit an exemplification of its newly discovered principles, by varied and pleasing experiments. Thus provided, and at the time engaged in no other employment, he was prevailed on by Franklin to exhibit these experiments publicly, and to accompany them with explanatory lectures; the first, probably, which were delivered on a scientific subject in Philadelphia. The plan succeeded so much to his satisfaction, that he made a journey through the most of the colonies, delivering his lectures in the capital towns, and even visited the West Indies on the same errand. an article of the American Magazine for October, 1758, written, there is every reason to believe, by Dr. Smith, it is stated, that Mr. Kinnersley was "the chief inventor of the electrical apparatus, as well as author of a considerable part of those discoveries in electricity published by Mr. Franklin, to whom he communicated them. Indeed," the author of the paper goes on to say, "Mr. Franklin himself mentions his

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