Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/311

Rh it shall be thought necessary to go into it, and thereupon to open Professor- ships, that he may be taken into your service. When you have heard him, and duly considered what he has to lay before you, you will be best able to judge in what Manner you can serve the Public, the Institution, and the particular Design now recommended to you. I am Gentlemen London Feb 15, 1765 Your very affectionate Friend Thomas Penn To the Trustees of the College &c of Philada Dr. Morgan also presented a letter to the same effect " by two worthy Trustees of this College now in England, viz.: The Hon'ble James Hamilton, Esqr. and the Revd Mr. Richard Peters." And The above Letters and Proposals being duly weighed, and the Trustees entertaining a high sense of Dr Morgan' s Abilities, and the Honors paid to him by different Learned Bodies and Societies in Europe, they unanimously appointed Him Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physick in this College. Thus was created the Medical Department of the College, which has literally fulfilled Thomas Penn's words in giving " Reputation and Strength to the Institution." The history of this important department is elsewhere given, and while to it probably belongs the official life of Dr. Morgan which adorned it, we must pass on to a recital of other events in his life in which he served the community and his friends ; first noting that at the commencement of that year, viz. on 30 May, at the " Forenoon's Exercises " came "the first Part of Dr. Morgan's inaugural oration," and " the weather being very warm, the remainder was adjourned to Friday Forenoon, 31 May," and " Dr. Morgan then printed the remainder of his learned and elaborate oration." This was entitled " A Discourse upon the Institution of Medical Schools in America," and was published by William Bradford ; it was a significant and bold venture for a young man of but twenty-nine years to enter upon in the new country, but his faith and courage fitted him to the duty, " and