178 Carson: Fil^nklin 



under the name of "The Trustees of the Academy and 

 Charitable School in the Province of Pennsylvania." 

 A confirmatory Charter w^as granted in June, 1755 — 

 contributions were obtained in Great Britain, and grants 

 of land from the proprietaries through the exertions of 

 the First Provost, Dr. William Smith, augmented by 

 gifts of the Assembly. Then followed a long and bitter 

 struggle which grew out of and formed an important 

 part of the political conflicts of the day. It was inevit- 

 able that Franklin and Dr. Smith should clash so long 

 as Proprietary rule prevailed. The academy felt the 

 weight of Revolutionary displeasure, and neither the 

 patronage of the Penns nor the favors of the crown 

 could aid it. While Franklin was in France, an act of 

 confiscation was passed, and in 1779 a new institution 

 arose which became known as "The University." After 

 Franklin's return, the act of spoliation was redressed, 

 and in 1789 so much of the former act as took away the 

 estates and franchises of the college was repealed upon 

 the ground that it was " repugnant to justice, a violation 

 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and dan- 

 gerous in its precedent to all incorporated bodies." It 

 was found impracticable to sustain two institutions with 

 like purposes — a meeting was held at Franklin's home 

 but a few months before his death — all differences were 

 adjusted, and in September, 1791, the college and the 

 university were united on a lasting basis under the name 



