1803] REV. WILLIAM SMITH D. D. 453 



same operation upon it. Dr. Smith's conduct, in short, was very 

 like that of a man; not quite so much hke that of a clergyman. 



He had been, in fact, from his first advent into Pennsylvania, in 

 all the political controversies which agitated the Province. His 

 wit was terribly keen, and left deep wounds even when upon the 

 surface there seemed to be smoothness. Such a man might have 

 attained a high degree of grace, but there was still too large a 

 share of nature left behind in him. This militant spirit became 

 more and more subject to the law of the Gospel, with his advancing 

 life; and in the end the spirit of Christ, we would humbly hope — 

 indeed, we feel well assured— quite constrained him. But in the 

 decline of life his physical strength rendered him incapable of any 

 active work. 



We ought to add, in this connection, that there was never any 

 root of bitterness in Dr. Smith's temper. His anger was not a 

 sinful anger. The sun went not down upon it. This was illus- 

 trated in regard to the very Quakers of whom we have been 

 speaking. They had acted toward him in 1757 with a dicta- 

 torial, unjust and persecuting spirit, and had greatly injured the 

 interests of the Province, and especially of his college and schools. 

 He put an end to their power to do mischief in this way, and put 

 an end to it energetically and with effect. Yet in 1777, when, 

 amidst popular insult, the Quakers were arrested and sent off to 

 Virginia in exile, because they would not promise to abstain from 

 communications with General Howe, Dr. Smith entertained them 

 on their way and ministered to their comfort with every mark of 

 kindness. 



4. It was a notorious fact then, as now, that Dr. Smith had been 

 a great speculator in real estate. He bought large quantities of 

 land in many parts of Pennsylvania, looking forward to peopling 

 and improving them, and to a rise in coming time in their value. 

 In this there was nothing immoral. Indeed, the great Earl of 

 Verulam, Francis Bacon, who tells us that "the ways to enrich are 

 many, and most of them foul," reckons "plantations" — witliin 

 which term Dr. Smith's purchases and purposes came — as among 

 "ancient, primitive and heroical works; " and says also that "the 

 improvement of the ground is the most natural obtaining of riches, 

 for it is our great mother's blessing: the earth's; " though he tells 

 us that is " slow." As we have said, there was nothing immoral 



