Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/48

an infrequent attendant at their meetings, indeed he had not been at any for nine years. His meeting with the Academy Trustees could not be overlooked, and on 21 February, 1751, the Overseers recorded a Minute, namely, "inasmuch as James Logan hath been for some time past by several Fitts of the Palsy rendered quite incapable of any further service as an overseer, without any prospect of his recovery and as he some time before his being so indispos'd express'd his declining the Trust, as he could not give his attendance, it is therefore concluded to choose another in his place." On James Logan's death only a few months following, the vacancy in the Academy Board was supplied by electing his son-in-law, Isaac Norris, on 12 November, 1751. He likewise was an Overseer, succeeding his Father in the Board, but his attendance there was as rare as Logan's: and the Overseers at a meeting on 30 March, 1752 gave it as their sense that
Isaac Norris having for several years past neglected attending the meetings of this Board and having lately accepted of the Trusteeship of the Academy it is the opinion of this Board that it is necessary to enquire whether he still inclines to continue a member of this Corporation and if he does to acquaint him, that it is expected and desired by us that he should demonstrate his concern for promoting the Institution by attending of our meetings, and Joshua Comly and Samuel Preston Moore having at a former meeting undertaken to converse with him on this subject, the latter of them is now reminded of it and desired to take an opportunity of doing it before our next meeting.
The only time Isaac Norris attended a meeting of the Academy Trustees was on 11 August following, when "the Trustees visited the Latin School and did no other Business." He resigned this Trusteeship on 17 March, 1755, owing to his residence out of town and to his ailments; in the meanwhile the Friends dealt tenderly with him for his neglect of his Overseership. And it is not until 6 March, 1756, that we find this disposing Minute:
Isaac Norris by the committee appointed to wait on him informed the Board of the satisfaction this account of the present state of the schools affords him, and of his inclinations to promote the service of it which he is willing to manifest by any assistance he can give the master and occasion-