For the reasons just mentioned, he delayed for some time to take the oath of abjuration until he found there was a determined resolution and an ability to maintain the independence which had been declared; and even afterwards he warmly disapproved of the severity with which the loyalists were treated, and of many of the public measures. His residence in Maryland being rendered unpleasant by the heat of party spirit, he returned to Yorktown, and opened a Greek and Latin school there. His known talents and acquirements soon attracted a sufficient number of scholars, most of whom were the children and wards of his former parishioners and neighbours in Queen Anne's. Such were their affection and respect for the man, notwithstanding the political differences which had induced him to withdraw from them. His school flourished, and many of his scholars rose afterward to distinction; some of them to eminence in life: all of them have ever spoken of him with the greatest reverence and affection. He was little disposed to conceal, still less to disguise his opi nions in relation to the manner of conducting the pending controversy, and they were consequently generally known. Yet such were the ingenuousness and integrity of his character, and so great the respect in which he was held, that he was never molested by popular violence and persecution at a season when others experienced them in all their bitterness. He was at this time a member of a literary club, in which he associated with many gentlemen who took an active and conspicuous part in the war against Great Britain; but his intercourse with them was intimate and harmonious. During his residence at York, the unfortunate major Andre having been captured, was ordered thither on his parole, and remained a prisoner of war until he was exchanged. Dr. Andrews soon became acquainted with his amiableness and accomplishments, and delighted to dwell on Among others, may be mentioned Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton, the professor of Natural History and of Botany, and of Materia Medica, in the University of Pennsylvania. The Dr. speaking of Dr. Andrews, on a late occasion, said, “ As for myself, I shall ever look with unaffected pleasure upon that period of my age, when I first imbibed a love and knowledge of the Roman and Greek authors, under the direction of a teacher, than whom no one, perhaps, in America, had studied their merits and their beauties with a more critical attention." them, while he was lamenting the unfortunate and unworthy enterprise which proved fatal to his life. Andre shared liberally at York in the hospitality of Dr. A's house-and often met there some of the warmest whigs of the day. Their intercourse was so managed by their benevolent host, as to assuage the feelings of enmity, and smooth the asperity of political animosity. After some years residence at Yorktown, he again removed to Maryland, and took charge of the parish of St. Thomas, at Garrison Forest, where he remained until his final removal to this city. In the year 1785, the academy of the protestant episcopal church in this city was established. The peculiar circumstan ces which gave occasion to the establishment of this academy, rendered it indispensable that a gentleman should be found to preside over it, who would combine great weight and respecta bility of character, with distinguished talents and learning, and skill and experience in giving instruction. Dr. Andrews was soon selected as the person qualified in all respects for the situ ation; and having accepted the unanimous invitation of the trus tees, he came to this city in May, 1785, and immediately entered on the duties of his appointment. The most sanguine expectations had been entertained of the success and usefulness of this academy under his direction: they were not disappointed. The schools were filled with scholars, and no elementary institution in the United States has ever deserved or acquired a higher reputation.* At length, in the year 1789, the legislature having restored to the former trustees of the college, academy, and charitable schools of Philadelphia their corporate character, and the estate of which they had been deprived in 1779, the continuance of the *During the absence of the Reverend Dr. White, for the purpose of receiving episcopal consecration, from November 1786 to the succeeding April, Dr. Andrews officiated for him in the united churches of Christ church and St. Peter's, in this city, very greatly to the satisfaction of the members of these churches. He was also, for several years rector of St. James's at Bristol, and regularly officiated there.-The nervous disease, by which he was afflicted, rendered him altogether unable to officiate for many years before bis death. Protestant Episcopal Academy was considered as of secondary importance, and Dr. Andrews was persuaded to exchange his situation in the latter for the professorship of humanity in the former seminary. To his reputation, in a very great degree, may be attributed the success of the college and academy, in the struggle which ensued with its rival institution, the University of the state of Pennsylvania. In September 1791, on the petition of the trustees of both institutions, they were united under the corporate title of "The University of Pennsylvania," and Dr. A. was, soon afterwards, elected vice provost thereof, with the duties of the professorship of moral philosophy and instruction in the higher classics. Having continued in this situation more than twenty years, and performed the duties of it with unwearied assiduity, and acknowledged ability, in December 1810 he was elected, unanimously, to the office of provost, which had become vacant by the resignation of Dr. M'Dowell. But his constitution, otherwise robust, had already begun to yield to the nervous disease, which, inherited from his father, had afflicted him more and more from his childhood. No doubt, too, the sedentary habits which his official duties had imposed upon him, produced injurious effects. He was the first to perceive and to speak of the decline of his health; yet such were his fortitude and equanimity, that his cheerfulness remained unimpaired. He often remarked to his friends that the natural ruddiness of his complexion, and the liveliness of his disposition, would probably accompany him to the verge of the grave, and that he should almost arrive there before they apprehended him to be in danger. His prediction was verified. In the early part of the summer of 1812, he was attacked with a vertigo, and symptoms of disease which his physicians thought indications of water on the chest. His general debility and great difficulty of breathing, scarcely admitted of his presiding at the commencement of graduates in the arts in July of that year, *He often spoke of his death as an event which must soon happen, and of which he felt no terror.—It was particularly the subject of his conversation at the house of Dr. Chandler, a connexion by marriage, on the Saturday preceding his death. He mentioned it with great composure and becoming seriousness. and prevented him from performing some of the duties of his office on that occasion. He had already intimated to some of the trustees of the university, his desire of resigning the provostship as soon as a successor could be found, convinced that he could not reasonably hope for such a restoration of his health as would enable him to continue long in their service. Finding that his strength was rapidly failing, and being advised that exercise, leisure, and country air would afford him the only chance of rendering the residue of his life tolerably comfortable, and unwil ling to continue in a situation the duties of which he could not fully discharge, on the second day of February last, he communicated his resignation to the board of trustees. The great respect which that body entertained for him, and the deep sense they had of his services, will be best manifested by the resolutions which were immediately adopted. These, together with his reply, are subjoined, as a testimony not less honourable * Letter from Dr. Andrews to the Board of Trustees. GENTLEMEN, Philadelphia, February 2, 1813. Worn out, not so much with age as with the disorder which afflicts and agitates my nerves, I no longer hesitate to present you, as I now do, with my resignation. It is true, that from a service of twenty-three years and upwards, I have derived nothing more than a mere subsistence, and have not been able to lay up any thing for a future day. But if, either in equity, or according to the usage of similar institutions on similar occasions, I may be said to have any claim upon your honourable board, it will not, I know, be disregarded. Of this, however, I acknowledge that you are the sole judges, and am prepared to submit to your determination. It is scarce necessary to add, that I mean to continue in the institution, until you have time and opportunity to provide a suitable person to sueered me. With particular respect, Your Obedient Servant, Resolutions of the Board of the 2d of February, 1813. A letter of this date from Dr. Andrews, resigning his office of Provost, and his professorship of Moral Philosophy, on account of his ill state of health, was received and read. to the trustees, than to Dr. Andrews. Surely nothing can more powerfully evince the generosity of his temper, than the grateful acknowledgments he expresses for the provision they had made in his behalf: for, on principles of common justice, having Jaboriously devoted more than one third of his life to an institu Whereupon, Resolved unanimously, That this board has received with sensibility and regret the communication by Dr. Andrews of his resignation of the office of Provost in this University, in consequence of the want of sufficient health to enable him to continue in the performance of the duties attached to it; and that the board, in justice, no less to their individual feelings, than their sense of what is due from the Institution on this occasion, assure Doctor Andrews, that they are duly impressed by a recollection of the unremitting industry and great ability with which, during so many years, he has successively filled the offices of Vice-Provost and Provost; and that their best wishes for the restoration of his health and the enjoyment of happiness will accompany him in his retirement. Resolved unanimously, That in consideration of the long and faithful services of the Reverend Doctor Andrews in the University of Pennsylvania, his salary of $933 1-3 and the use of the house he now occupies, be continued. to him during life. Letter from Dr. Andrews to the Board of Trustees. GENTLEMEN, Philadelphia, March 2, 1813, I received, as soon as could reasonably be expected, a copy of your Resolutions of the 2d of February, but not until after your meeting was held on the day following. Permit me to offer you, in return, my most grateful acknowledgments. By your kind expressions of sensibility and regret, when alluding to the cause of my retirement, and by the ample testimony which you bear to my industry and ability in the discharge of my duties, you have made the day of my resignation more honourable to me, than even that on which you placed me at the head of your Institution. I cannot expect to live long; but as long as I do live, be assured that I can never reflect on the favours I have received from your honourable Board, without the most lively sentiments of respect and attachment. With high regard, I am, Gentlemen, Your obliged and very humble servant. VOL. I. 3 L. JOHN ANDREWS. 1 |