64 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/^2 



Not long after this event, on the 30th of May, 1782, died Dr. 

 Smith's own relative — his father-in-law — William Moore, Esq., of 

 Moore Hall, Chester county, Pennsylvania. I have spoken of 

 hipi, and described some incidents in liis life, in my former vol- 

 ume.* He belonged to a class of men in Pennsylvania who con- 

 stituted the most thorough gentry that the Province or State ever 

 had; but whose fame, and indeed whose very names, have almost 

 wholly disappeared from its popular history. Their biographies, 

 however, have been v/ritten — written only, however, in that kind 

 of ink called "invisible." It is an ink not more legible than water 

 when first put to paper. It lasts, however; and when that sort of 

 fluid, which gave at once its full black force to the eye, has grown 

 dim and finally faded quite away, // will, I think, grow moie and 

 more bright and strong, and present a history full of interest. I 

 venture to offer, in an Appendix,! the embryo of a chapter to 

 v/homsoever shall be the future collector of these annals of our 

 ancient gentility. 



In April, 1782, a third Convention of the Church in Maryland 

 was held. This one was held in Baltimore. We do not learn — 

 there not having been a journal — who were present. We know 

 only that the Rev. Dr. West, of St. Paul's, and the Rev. Mr. John 

 Andrews, of St. Thomas and St. John's, Baltimore county, a cler- 

 gyman well known of former days in Pennsylvania, were added to 

 the number before present. The presence of Mr. Andrews, how- 

 ever, shows that it must have been after his return to Maryland, 

 in April of 1/82, from Pennsylvania. From his general activity 

 in affairs of the Church, and especially from his capacity in its 

 councils, we can hardly doubt that Dr. Smith was present. If so, 

 he probably presided. 



Such had been the success of Dr. Smith in the charge of the 

 Kent County School, at Chestertown, that there were now one 

 hundred and forty students, with prospects of increase. The vis- 

 itors, therefore, asked the Legislature that the School might be 

 incorporated a College. This was granted, and the name given 

 it of W^ashington College, at the April session, in honorable and 

 perpetual memory of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of 

 the Army. 



* See pages 168-174, 194, 574, 11. -j- See AppenJix, No. II. 



