On this subject we can avail ourselves of the testimony of the late Mr. Duane.  During his own lifetime he would not permit the following narrative to be published, though he allowed it to be used as a source of information.  We can now give it in his own words:—­

“In relation to the Girard College, the whole community of Philadelphia, and all political parties in it, are culpable.  At the time of Mr. Girard’s death there was a mixture of Democrats and Federalists in our Councils:  the former preponderating in number.  It is said that of all steps the first is the most important, and that the first proceeding has either a good or a bad influence in all that follow.  Now, what was the first step of the Democratic Councils, after Mr. Girard’s death, in relation to the College?  Were they satisfied with the plan of it as described in his will?  Did they scout the project of building a palace for poor orphans?  Were there no views to offices and profits under the trust?  As I was in the Select Council at the time myself, I can partly answer these questions.  Instead of considering the plan of a College given in the will a good one, the Democratic Councils offered rewards to architects for other plans.  And as to offices, some members of Councils looked forward to them, to say nothing of aspirants out of doors.

“I have ever been a Democrat in principle myself, but not so much of a modern one in practice as to pretend that the Democratic party are free from blame as to the College.  If they had been content with Mr. Girard’s plain plan, would they have called in architects for others?

“If they had been opposed to pillars and ornaments, why did they invite scientific men to prepare pictures and plans almost inevitably ornamental?  If they had been so careful of the trust funds, why did they stimulate the community, by presenting to them architectural drawings, to prefer some one of them to the simple plan of Girard himself?  Besides, after they had been removed from power, and saw preparations made for a temple surrounded with costly columns, why did they not invoke the Democratic Legislature to arrest that proceeding?  If they at any time whatever did make such an appeal, I have no recollection of it.  For party effect, much may have been said and done on an election day, but I am not aware that otherwise any resistance was made.  No doubt there were many good men in the Democratic party in 1831-2, and there always have been many good men in it; but I doubt whether those who made the most noise about the College on election days were either the best Democrats or the best men.  The leaders, as they are called, were just as factious as the leaders of their opponents. The struggle of both for the Girard Fund was mainly with a view to party influence. How much at variance with Mr. Girard’s wishes this course was, may readily be shown.

“Immediately after his death