Page:Life of Isaiah V Williamson.djvu/90

72 his lifetime in this country for benevolent purposes."

This was the result of a gradual mental process rather than of any sudden outside influence. However, General Joshua L. Chamberlain, in his historical sketch of "The Founding of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital," suggests that Isaiah V. Williamson's benevolent start was caused by an appeal made to him, in 1872, for that hospital scheme by two members of the committee having in charge the raising of funds from individual donors. The State Legislature in April, 1872, granted to the new hospital in West Philadelphia, $100,000, "on condition that $250,000 in addition should be collected from other sources, and that at least two hundred free beds for injured persons should be maintained forever"; and later made other appropriations. The City Councils granted five and a half acres adjoining the university site, on condition that the new hospital should furnish fifty free beds for the indigent sick. Subscriptions were also asked of the public generally, in sums of $3000 or multiples, giving each donor "the right to nominate one