1789] KEV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 305 



churches in these United States. It was our original and sincere inten- 

 tion to have obtained three bishops, at least, immediately consecrated by 

 the Bishops of England, for the seven States comprehended within our 

 present union. But that intention being frustrated through unforeseen 

 circumstances, we could not wish to deny any present assistance, which 

 may be found in our power to give to any of our sister churches, in that 

 way which may be most acceptable to them, and in itself legal and 

 expedient. 



We ardently pray for the continuance of your favor and blessing, and 

 that, as soon as the urgency of other weighty concerns of the Church 

 will allow, we may be favored with that fatherly advice and direction, 

 which to you may appear most for the glory of God and the prosperity 

 of our Churches, upon the consideration of the foregoing documents and 

 papers. 



Done in Convention this eighth day of August, 17S9, and directed to 

 be signed by all the members as the act of their body, and by the Presi- 

 dent officially. 



CHAPTER LIII. 



Restoration by the State of Pennsylvania of the Charter of the Col- 

 lege OF Philadelphia, Unjustly taken away in 1779 — An Anecdote 

 Illustrative of Dr. .Smith's ready humor — He takes leave of the 

 Convention in Maryland — Bishop White's Tribute to his Services 

 TO the Church and Otherwise in that State — Dr. Wroth's Account 

 OF Washington College — Dr. Smith's return to Philadelphia, July 

 1ST, 1789 — Proposed Inscription upon his College — Proceedings in the 



different branches OF THE RECONSTRUCTION — FiRST COMMENCEMENTS, 



Medical, and in the Departments of Arts, since the Restoration — 

 Union of the College of Philadelphia with the University of the 

 . State of Pennsylvania under the name of the University of Penn- 

 sylvania — The Rev. John Ewing elected Provost — The new institu- 

 tion languished and continued to languish for MANY YEARS, AND UNTIL 



THE Provostship OF Dr. Stille— Dr. Smith preaches before the Cin- 

 cinnati, July 4Th, 1790— Engagement AND Marriage of his son Charles 

 with Miss Yeates — Death of his daughter, Mrs. Goldsborough — 

 Beautiful Inscription on her Tomb— Letters in connection with her 

 Death. 



The last chapter ends Dr. Smith's ecclesiastical history for the 

 year 1789. But for the year he had in addition one which was 

 collegiate and personal. He had labored so perseveringly and 

 with so much ability to have the old College of Philadelphia re- 

 stored to its rights that in the end he succeeded ; and on the 6th 

 of March, 1789, the Assembly of Pennsylvania, declaring the Act 

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