1880.] ^^^ [Hartshorne. 



ship and by all the good which I have intended for you 

 and your children, I require of you by the obligation 

 of an accepted trust, I conjure you by the terrors of a 

 wounded conscience and a retributive judgment, to 

 guard faithfully the sacred pledge which I have depos- 

 ited with you. Should any one attempt to violate its 

 sanctity, and abuse it for some unholy purpose, let him 

 feel the weight of your indignant reproof Should a 

 public servant dare to propose a dishonorable applica- 

 tion of it to your own wants or necessities, frown him 

 into that contempt which every pander merits. If in- 

 jury has accrued from former neglect, do all that you 

 can to remedy the past and to guard the future." 



In presenting this appeal to the public, after nine 

 years had elapsed without any application of Stephen 

 Girard's legacy to the education of orphans, it was un- 

 derstood that its author represented, although inform- 

 ally, the wishes of the Trustees of the College. 



Shortly afterwards, Dr. Wood, as chairman of a 

 committee of the same Board of Trustees, prepared 

 a formal communication to the Select and Common 

 Councils of Philadelphia, urging immediate action to 

 carry out the provisions of Girard's will, by legal en- 

 actments and appropriations. The result of this con- 

 flict, however, between the Councils and the Board, 

 was the dissolution of the latter, of which Nicholas 

 Biddle was then President; and, also, the termination 

 of the official connection with the College of its first 

 President, Alexander Dallas Bache. 



