The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-04 00:00:00

laceunder their present state of the law, and that none ojelies which were apprehended from the change Ova follow. The Attorney-General had stated ,"let cler gymen o f t h e E sta bli s h e d Ch urc h could he : 3 i:opened to administer the offices of the Church by it "e law. Ho thought that the clause in the B ill en thatlio subject was a piece of homage and respect to t he rgY which th e y ought to be content with. It gave vitneyrfelergyrnan who had conscientious scruples against its "ranig such marriages the option of refusing; but t here was a great difference among the clerey men t the mselves the marriage would not thereby be pre vented. ` ii only necessary for parties so situated t o g o to a Ah' - ' 2 Yrnan who had no such scruples, in order to have marriege solemnized„ :lie had no desire to compel 7, 20 ministers of the Church to perform acts from which a - t " lleoescienti ous ly di ss ented, and he thought this was 1 . 01 1 .1 11 Y provided for. Regarding this Bill as a remedy a great practical evil, and believing that no injury uulri arise from it to any class, he hoped it would be esee e , r .sidered cons i s t en t w ith his duty, as a member of the a urela of England, to give it his cordial support. M r , SEYMER said' that tkose who, like himself, were Convinced that th e Bill was opposed to the law of God, hero hound to act upon that conviction, and oppose it. (Rear, hear.) But with reference to the evidence 'ehich it was based, he must say that, after having ' F ully vend the report of the Commission, and every question , and and answer in the blue book, he had come c u tie t e ue conclu s i on ; that it was a one.sided one.—(Loud by P.) The greater part of the evidence was given bi ro ! r lte.rested parties, by persons, in fact, who had (v e the law they wished to have repealed. — the eear, bear.) It was as if an agitation was got up for abrogation of the law against sheep-stealing on the "idorece of convicted sheep-stealers.—(A laugh.) That 4:ta precisely th e case with this Bill. Instead of relaxing, a law, he would tighten it by passing a short law declar ant; that the marriages were illegal between Englishmen " l id English women, who went abroad to be married ander the impression that their marriage was thereby 'be obeyed. If that were done, he believed the law would . e obeyed. The Hon. Member proceeded to examine 'ne evidence, which he said showed, by the testimony of ktr, Brotherton, that marriage within the prohibited ',leg sees of consanguinity was exceedingly preval e nt in t he tkic,cese of Manchester. Another case was stated of a re- I 'lleictable and wealthy man, who kept his carriage, and he 'arias sorry to say, as the House would perceive by the 7. l. i.clence, kept his mistress also.—(Hear, and a laugh.) 4 1, was stated that he cohabited with his deceased wife's ster, and was only prevented from marrying her by th e unsettled state of the law; then he protested against t 'bat man's respectability.—(Cheers.) It was of a similar et iaracter to the definition of that word, some years 14 g% when a respectable man was explained to be one who kept a horse and gig. —(A laugh.) rhetes could be no respectability in living iu opposition to the law. But Mr. Foster in his pamphlet continually Izstel the term s that "p ar ti e s were compelled to do this 1 the defective state of the law." He could not under ett .nd why such terms were used. What compelled this 'at an to cohabit with his wife's sister? He knew of no !Prnpulsion which should cause him to over ride the law. Ile could not take the opinion of the class who lived in towns as a guide for his conduct on the present ques tion. He had endeavoured to explain the sentiments he *entertained regarding the proposed alteration of the law, 'mad his opposition to it was on the ground that it was t"eainst the principle of their church, and the principle 'of their law—(Hear, hear)—from which he would not 'depart, The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY said he would refer to what had been said about dispensations being granted by the Pope, in what had been called the *lark ages, for the purpose of enabling an uncle to marry his niece. Now he would tell the Honourable Member, that the Pope could not grant any dispen sation for any purpose that would he contrary to the law of God. As far as the discipline of the Catholic Church was concerned, that was another thing; but no dispensation could interfere with that which was the law of God. Whenever, therefore, dia. Pensations were granted by the Pope, they had a right to hold that the purpose of the dispensation was iu con formity with the law of God. He was in favour of the proposed measure, as he believed there was a large body ( A persons in this country who advocated its necessity, and who were entitled to the relief which its provisions +could afford them. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL was of opinion that the re lief proposed to be given in the Bill was one called for by the pride and selfishness of man, and was not for the advantage of women.—(Hear, hear.) He could refer to the evidence given by Dr. Wiseman on the subject as proving that in Ireland the measure was not needed. Re could also say that he had recently had ocsasion to consult Dr. Brown, the Catholic Bishop of Elphin, and although that Right Reverend Pre late wished to guard himself against being thought to do more than simply to express his own opinion, yet he (Mr. John O'Connell) could say that Dr. Brown .had had great experience, first in Galway, and next in Ilphin, and his statement was that no ease had occurred of such a marriage taking place in these districts, of 'which he had any knowledge. He (Mr. J. O'Connell) did not intend to enter into any discussion, and had risen merely with a view to mention these facts with refer ence to Ireland. Mr. COCKBURN apprehended that they were en titled to expect at the hands of the House a careful con. sideration of the measure before them, because the Bill which the present measure was intended to remedy had been carried under circumstances of a very peculiar clia• ratter. In fact, that Bill was passed to protect a parti cular case, by making a number of other Dailies suf ferers. It was suggested by Sir W. Follett, who had charge of the Bill, that if the particular clause bearing on the present subject was omitted, the omission might be fatal to the Bill. Under these circumstances, therefore, the measure now before them was under consideration. lle would first say that if the position taken up by the Member for Cambridgeshire was a tenable one, then there was an end of the matter. But if the measure now proposed be opposed to Divine law, he called upon Hon. Menbers, who so argued, to cite the law, as they were as well able to judge of such a matter as Churchmen exere.—(Hear, hear.) The only passage in scripture he could find bearing upon the subject was the following, namely, " Thou shalt not take a wile to a sister to vex bee in her lifetime." Now this passage merely showed that a man should not marry two sisters while both were living. It was intended to prevent the divorcing of one sister from the purpose of marrying another, or of mar rying one sister during the lifetime of another. This, then, he would contend, amounted to a permission to marry a deceased wife's sister under any circumstances, for the prohibition only applied to the lifetime of the wife. The Hon. Member then quoted the opinions of several eminent Divines—those of Jeremy Taylor especi ally, with reference to the Levitiod law, aed said that all these opinions showed that many things held under the Mosaic law had been altogether departed from in Christian countries. Whatever, however, might be the opinion of Churchmen, he would maintain that such a question should be considered upon social, moral, and religious grounds. The fathers of the early Church, Whatever might be their virtues and abilities, carried their ascetism to a most mischievous extent. Persons who contracted second marriages were condemned for doing so, and those who contracted third marriages were considered as being no better than beasts.—(Hear, and laughter.) The Hon. Member then referred to the canons of the Church at an early period, to show the very extreme nature of the opinions entertained by the Church on the subject of marriage. The Noble Lord who last addressed the House said, and said truly, that the Roman Catholic Church only exercised a dispensa tion, allowing of those marriages as a matter of church discipline, but not at all as a power derived under the Divine law.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to the means resorted to by Henry the Eighth to effect the object which he had in view, they were all historically acquainted with them. Foiled in his applications to the Pope, he directed his application to the Legislature, and a pandering Parliament passed the 25th of Henry the Eighth, which renders those marriages illegal, and it was from such a source as that—from, he would say. such an unholy and polluted source—that the English divines took their authority. He (Mr. Cockburn) ad mitted, and admitted readily, that the law as it stands should be obeyed ; but, at the same time, ho said it was the duty of Parliament, as a Legislative body, not to so make the law as to interfere with the course of human affections—not to make it arbitrarily and capri ciously, but to make it in a manner calculated to pro mote social happiness and virtuous inclieations.—(Hear, hear.) If the considerations to which ho had referred should not operate to keep a man within the bounds of decency, if they should not operate to, prevent a man from laying his hands upon his wife's sister, and from having incestuous intercourse with her, then, no laws which they could make would operate upon such a man, for, by his guilt—guilt from which every moral and sensitive mind would recoil in horror—he proved himself insensible to shame. What I were their English women so fallen in sense of decency and morality 4 , 3 to allow their siste r's husband to lay incestuous ' , Lands upon them? No, he utterly disbelieved it.— (Rear, hear.) It had been said that iu other countries Pb such marriages prevailed. Now that was not the va s,?• In all Catholic countries t he y were known to pre vail, and in Protestant countries on the Continent, they were also known to prevail. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then cited the opinions of Professor Story in lariats a such marriages, as those of one of the greatest to re Who had written on the subject, and showing that t o . ' r e was nothing in the Divine law which forbade a man 'trry with his wife's sister. It was a cu stom which pre l,siled in the United States of America , where, allow 1g this to Fia y, th e s t an d ar d o f mora lity was quite as high as 44 t his country. Surely, a law which rested upon an hypu thesi, alter ought to be done away with. The law could not human nature, and it they would attempt:to do that, they were legi s l a ti ng in the dark.—(Hear, hear.) Look ing at the other side of the question, he would ask them, were there no evils resulting from their laws? W hy, to a very great extent their law was most inju rious. 'Within a few years of the passing of Lord . l 'Yodhurst's Act, it those marriages took place. said that no less than 1,500 of On the other hand, they had eighty-eight cases ' i t a ce w . hich the law had not been obeyed at all, and out of these eighty-eight case they had no less than thirty-three hi in which the parties were living in a state of coneu those were cases where it was owing to the law. Now, cerain that the parties were desirous to marry, wouldana as hear. marry had not the law forbidden them.—(Hear, legitimacy,oce n t cl dren were to be deprived in this way of I t f he in ir n he said the Legislature was but involving confusion, and that they ought not to trifle lightly families within the happiness of families and innocent chilr (fear, hear.) It was said, "Oh yes, but persons are bound to obey the law." Yes, but the Parliament, in its legislative capacity, ought not to throw temp tationen, in their way to break the law.—(Hear, h ear .) T he Hon. and Learned Member then alluded to the 0 ,-„- uroas of Jeremy Taylor, a favourite authority •s. and showed t h a t th e y were i n f avour o f per; fins iu the r elationship under consideration, inure ing. Ile thought they should not shut the doors of Parliament against marriages of this kind, and that children of a first mar- ri d ge were far more likely to find a better and a more natural protection in their mother's sister than they would in step : mothers. towards whom they too fre qaently entertained embittered feelings. Take the case of a dying mo t her; and did the y not believe the pangs of that woman wouhl be assuaged—that she would die heppee, if once censinc , d her children would be left in charge of her own sister. He begged pardon of the House for having occupied so much of their attention; and as it was a question of great and paramount import [tree, he trusted they would consent to the second read ing of the Bill. The Hem. and Learned Gentleman then resumed hie seat amid general cheers. Mr. R. PALMER said he felt a great advantage in having to follow the lion. and Learned Gentleman who just addressed the House, because of the clearness with which he put forward his arguments, and a disadvantage in having to follow a speech characterised by so much eloquence and power. He believed that the practice at present prevailing was founded on the law of God; and it was for that reason he should give the measure every opposition in his power. Those who took the view that the law of the land in this respect was founded on the law of Gel heel also a right to maintain the great social advantages which follow it. The Honourable and Leerned Gentleman threw out a challenge to show that no authority was to be found in Scripture against such a measure as proposed by the Bill, and, much as he (Mr. R. Palmer) was averse to such a discus-ion in that House, yet he should not shrink from it on that occasion. The Hon. Gentleman then read that portion of Leviticus which set cut the different prohibitions of marriasse. He bps' ught the House to pause before they reversed the legislation of Christendom down to the present day, on this subject. The Book of Leviticus expressly laid down the prohibited degrees, and stated positively the Jews should not follow the example of the heathen nations who surrounded them. The pro hibition in plain and express terms was given that no man should marry his brother's wife, and surely the converse of that showed as clear as words could ex press it, that neither was he to marry a wife's sister. He should not go farther into that part of the subject, painful as it must be to the House, and would proceed next to the judgment and authority of the Christian Church. lle believed they were warned in the New Testament not to depend upon the traditions of the Jews, and he boldly asserted that there was no one instance in the Church of such a marriage taking place. It was held in Scotland to be contrary to the Westminster con fession of faith, and prohibited altogether in Switzer land, the country of Calvin. All the reformers of Ger many and this country so interpreted the Levitical law as to include this marriage in the prohibition. At the time of Lord Lyndhurst's Act, it a man married his own sister she was his wife until the Ecclesiastical Court interfered and pronounced it void. That was a state of law which there was very great reason should not continue. He had carefully read the evidence taken by the Commis., sion. The report did not present any sufficient reasons by which the House ought to be actuated to change the present state of the law. With respect to the moral effect, they could not compel morality by the law. There would be incestuous connexions, make what laws they might; but still it was their duty to prevent, as far es possible, and to discourage such immorality by the laws. At the same time it was clear from the re port itself, that the number of these marriages ascer tained by those who had been engaged in seeking evi dence amounted to 1,500 only. lie thought also that the inquiries by their agents had been limited to the degrees of affinity referred to in this Bill, so that there was no general evidence as to the actual moral condition of the people, and the operation of the marriage laws, presented in the report, and they were asked to alter the law upon most limited and partial grounds. Next there was the argument drawn from the state of marriages in foreign countries. They were told that those marriages were permitted in France, Prussia, Holland, and the United States. But when they were referred to the law of these countries in this respect, they ought to ask whether they were prepared to assimilate all their other laws to the laws of these countries.—(Hear, hear.) If they agreed to it they could not stop there. Divorce would undoubtedly follow. One of the greatest men of this country, John Milton, had written two treatises on the " Doctrine and Discipline of Di vorce," in which he had advocated divorce founded on the practice of the German Church, and at a later pe riod a work was written by Mr. Mather, carrying the doctrine still further, and approving of bigamy and po lygamy in certain cases. All the arguments adduced by him in support of these views, were as applicable and as true as those which were urged by the supporters of this Bill. He trusted that the House would not forget that 11,000 of the women of England had addressed the Queen, praying that she would not give her assent to this Bill, and thus preserve inviolate the purity of the family ties of Great Britain. (The Hon. and Learned Member was loudly cheered on resuming his seat.) Mr. BUNBURY, who rose amidst loud cries of " Divide, divide," said at that late hour it would be im possible for him to follow the lengthened and able speech of tho Hon. and Learned Member; and he should, there fore, propose that the debate be now adjourned.—(No, no; proceed, proceed.) Mr. STUART WORTLEY said he was quite willing, if it was agreeable to the House, to take the division that night.—(Proceed, proceed.) Mr. GLADSTONE said it would be impossible to divide that night. It was a most important subject. The Members for the Universities and others were anxious to express their views upon it, and he should support the adjournment. After some further conversation, strangers were or dered to withdraw; but the motion was agreed to with out a division, and the debate was (we understood) ad journed to this day. SELECT COMMITTEE ON SAVINGS' BANIC6. Mr. REYNOLDS then moved the remaining members of this Committee—Mr. John Abel Smith, Mr. Grogan, Mr. G. Craig, Mr. George Alexander Hamilton, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Henley, Mr. Henry Wil loughby, Mr. Richard Fox, and Mr. Bourke. He per ceived that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had moved a wholesale amendment—(A laugh)—which was, he be lieved, entirely at variance with the practice of the House. At the last debate the Chancellor of the Ex chequer opposed the lion. Member for Dublin University (Mr. Napier), because he was not on the Committee last year. But he had now changed his ground, and pro posed three new Members who were not on that Com mittee. Now he protested against having a Committee forced upon him by the Right lion. Baronet. It would not be one of his selection, and he now announced that he would divide on every name. He asked what was the meaning of the attempt to pack this Committee?— (Hear.) It he said " pack," he would be disorderly, and therefore he would merely ask what was the reason he was refused the usual practice of the House, and why the Right Hon. Baronet refused him the selection of his own Committee? Why, it could only be because it was felt that he had proved his case, and it was determined to prevent him from getting a fair jury.—(Hear.) It was a disagreeable thing to object to the names of Members, but he had no alternative. The Hon. Member for the University of Dublin (Mr. Napier) had been rejected as not fit to sit on that Committee.—(No, no.) Well, then, he was rejected because he was not on the Committee of last year—(Hear, hear)—but was the Marquis of Kildare or Sir G. Clerk on that Committee ?—(Hear, hear.) He did not object to them, but he preferred others. lie had on the last debate taken credit for hav ing placed the name of the Right Hon. Member for the University of Cambridge (Mr. Goulburn) on the Com mittee. lie was one of the four who had passed muster —(Laughter)—and he did not mean to disturb him.— (A. laugh.) But if he had to nominate the Committee afresh, he would place his name on the list, because he was Chancellor of the Exchequer when these frauds were committed. Mr. GOULBURN—They were not commenced in my Mr. REYNOLDS—WeII, if they did not commence in his time, at all events they were fostered and cloaked during several years of his official life.—(Hear, hear.) He was prepared to prove, by several credible witnesses, that while the Right Honourable Gentleman was in office he was informed of these frauds, and yet be never did his duty by closing the account of the Cuffee street Bank, as he was bound to do, and making known its defalcations to the public.—(Hear, hear.) If he was prevented from getting a fair Committee he would throw up the affair altogether , o and despair of justice being done to the large b (A laugh)—tor whom ho appeared. y of w Hehad used the word paupers advisedly. They erep aupers— end made so through the default of the Government, anpera which ought to have protected their small savings. He ot would feel it to be his duty to take the sense of the Ise upon every vote, and it would be for the Right Hon. Gentleman to take such a course as would prevent such an unpleasant necessity. The II Member thanked those Memb e r s o f th e House who a. had given him their support in this matterhe also thanked the y public press for tho a n xi e ty t and t had evinced, without ex ception, that justice sh ou ld be done to the unfortunate depositors. He concluded by proposing his motion. On the question being puton the name of Mr. John Abel Smith, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and said that in selecting the Committee he the Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite to assure ir. Napier) that the reason why he objected to his name his was the first of the names that had been was, that proposedl that had been on the list of the Committee of last year. He could assure him that in what he had done, he had no personal feeling in the matter. The Right Hon. Gentleman in further explaining the reasons which had influenced him in the selection he had made, said that when the Hon. and Learned Member for Dub lin complained. of so large a number cf English Mem bers being placed on the Committee, he would remind the Hon. and Learned Member that he had himself ad mitted that the question was not simply an Irish, but that it was an Imperiel question, and he thought that, under these circumstances, he acted with the utmost fairness in placing four Irish Members on t would look . list.at He e felt confident tha t any gentleman who list of last year, would admit that the selection he had now made was made in the spirit of perfect impartiality and fairnev, and that he had no personal feeling what ever in the matter. Mr. A. STAFFORD said he did not think the Right Hon. Gentleman the Ch ance llor of the Exchequer had at all made any reply to the able and dispassionate statement of the Hon. and. Learned Member for Dublin, and he could assure the Right Hon. Gentleman that no attempt of the Government could put down the feeling that existed upon this important subject out of doors. — (Hear, hear.) He had yet to learn why the er, ordinary course had been departed from of allowing the mov in the present case the Learned Member fur Dublin to select his Committee.—(Hear, hear.) Although the Government might succeed in packing a Committee , they could not hope by such means to satisfy the public on a question of such vital importance to a large cases of pour people WiAO heti suffered by (lave Irish savings' banks, and one Se,eelf one. Mr. GOULBURN said, with reference to what bad been attributed to the Hon. Member for Evesham, that THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1849. the Bill alluded to was passed in 1844, and the applica tion was made to him in 1845. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY explained that it was in evi dence that the Commissioners for reducing the National Debt were cognisant of the fact for years of the inset vency of the particular savings',banks referred to in Dub lin, and under these circumstances he did think it monstrous that any one having the confidence of the Government at the time, should have brought in a Bill to relieve the trustees from liability.—(Hear.) Mr. LABOUCHERE thought they were losing sight of the question before the House, which was whether the list proposed by the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin or the list proposed by his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer should be adopted by the House. Mr. HERBERT said he was not at all surprised at the course which had been pursued, as her Majesty's Government had shown every desire to quash the pro posed inquiry altogether.—(Hear, hear.) Unless some objection could be shown to the list proposed by the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin, he hoped the House would accept of it, instead of the one proposed by the Right. Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex chequer. Lord BARRINGTON suggested that the Government should appoint the present Committee i❑ the same way as Select Committees were appointed. Colonel RAWDON proposed, in the hope that some arrangement might be come to, that the debate should be adjourned.--(Oh, oh.) Mr. HORSMAN approved of the proposal for an ad journment of the debate. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought that the House had better come to a decision at once ; but if the House wished particularly to adjourn the ques tion, ho had no objection that it should be adjourned sine die. Mr. MONSELL thought that it would be extremely undesirable to adjourn the question. Mr. REYNOLDS believed that the wisest course would be to adjourn.—(Loud cries of " Divide, divide.") He begged to say that Mr. Grogan was the representa tive of these who most suffered in this business, and to put him, an Irish Member, off the Committee, and force Sir George Clerk, an English Member, on that Com mittee in his stead, was, he considered, to say the least of it, most unfair. The House then divided on the question whether Mr. Grogan's name stand part of the question. The amendment was that that of Sir George Clerk be substituted. The House then divided, when there appeared — For Mr. Grogan ... ••• 81 For Sir George Clerk ... 123 Majority in favour of Sir G. Clerk's name —42 The question was then put that Mr. G. A. Hamilton's name be retained on the Committee. The amendment of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was, that that of Mr. Herries be substituted. The House divided, when there appeared — For Mr. Hamilton ... 61 For Mr. Herries 120 Majority in favour of Mr.Herries' name —59 Mr. HERBERT said he would not press the division further. Mr. REYNOLDS said, in the early part of the dis cussion he promised the House "sixteen divisions" on the names proposed, and the House had but two ; so he was " fourteen" in arrear.— (Laughter.) In conformity, however, to Mr. Herbert's suggestion, he would not press the divisions further. He, however, hoped the House would keep a strong pressure on the Committee, for it was the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Committee, and not his. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured the House that he would not throw any obstacles in the way of a full and fair inquiry into the whole subject. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at twenty minutes past One o'clock. COURT CIRCULAR. • The Queen and Prince Albert honoured the Royal Academy in Trafalgar square with a visit yesterday. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness arrived at three o'clock, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, and attended by the Marchioness of Douro, Lady Caroline Somers Cocks, Hon. Matilda Paget, the Earl of Fortescue, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquis of Abercorn, the Earl of Morley, Captain the Hon. J. Denman, Captain Francis Seymour, General Wemyss, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon. The officers of the Royal Academy received the Queen and Prince Albert, and conducted her Majesty and his Royal Highness through the different schools. The Queen and the Prince remained until a quarter before five o'clock i❑ the Exhibition, and then returned to Buckingham Palace. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred, the Princess Helena, and the Princess Louisa took airings yesterday in the garden of the Palace. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the Marchioness of Douro. Hon. Flora Macdonald, the Earl of Morley, General Wemyss, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon, honoured her Majesty's Theatre with their presence yesterday evening. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Augusta Bruce, also honoured the performance with her presence. The Hon. Miss Murray and the Hon. Mies Macdonald have succeeded Lady Caroline Somers Cocks and the lion. Matilda Paget as the Maids of Honour in waiting on the Queen. All the Cabinet Ministers dined with the Marquis of Lansdowne on Wednesday evening, at Lansdowne Howe, Berkeley- square. A deputation, consisting of the Marquis of Westmin ster, Sir Philip de Grey Egerton, Mr. T. Tatton Egerton, Mr. Tollemache, and Mr. Cornwall Legh, had a❑ inter view with Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home office, to present a memorial from the magistrates of the county of Chester, on the subject of common lodging houses. _ _ _ _ _ Mr. 11. G. Ward had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday, at his official residence in Downing street, and took leave of his Lordship, on his departure for the lonian Islands. Mr. Ward had an interview with Earl Grey, at the Colonial-office, on Wednesday. A deputation on the subject of arterial drainage (Ire land) bad au interview with the Chancellor of the Ex chequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing street. The deputation consisted of the Marquis of Kil• dare, Sir Percy Nugent, Mr, Burke, Kildare, Mr. Palmer, and Mr. J. O'Farrell. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor of Manchester, Sir ElAnah Armitage, and the Town Clerk of Man chester, with the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, M.P., Mr. Bright, M.P,, and Mr. E. Cardwell, M.P. (at the request of the authorities of Liverpool), had an interview with Sir G. Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. The School of Design had a meeting on Wednesday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Lord Belhaven had an interview yesterday with Sir G. Grey. CASE OF ALLEGED POISONING AT BATIL—The greatest excitement prevailed in Bath curing the last week, in consequence of a rumour that a man named Merchant had been poisoned by his wife, who, imme diately after his death, had married a person named Harris. The inquest was held on the body of Merchant last week, which was adjourned until yesterday, in order to afford an opportunity to Mr. Herapath, the celebrated analytical chemist, to test the contents of the stomach of the deceased. The wife of the deceased and her present husband were arrested, and also a man named Shalor and his wife. The wife of Shalor accompanied the wife of the deceased man, Merchant, to Mr. Bright's shop, near the Old-bridge, where she purchased some arsenic a short time previous to her husband being fatally at tacked.; Mrs. Harris, or, as she was then, Mrs. Merchant, first of all went to Mr. Bright's shop for the arsenic by herself ; he refused to supply her with it ; she subse quently returned with the femele prisoner Shalor, and unfortunately succeeded in getting it. Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Shalor have been very intimate for a long time. It is said that a quantity of arsenic has been found in the house of the man Harris, which has been placed in the custody of the chief officer of police. The inquest was resumed on Monday, when Mr. Herapath deposed that he had chemically examined the viscera of the deceased, and found white arsenic in the contents of the stomach, in the solid matter of the stomach, in the contents of the intestines, the intestines themselves, and in the liver. Several jars of powder have been found in the houses of Harris and Shalor. Mr. Herapath undertook to analyse their contents, and the inquiry was adjourned. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETT.—On Wed nesday the anniversary of this institution was held at Exeter-hall, the Marquis of Cholmondeley presiding. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, congratulated the meeting on the fact that recent events had removed many barriers to the circulation of the Scriptures on the continent, and observed that the: exemption of this country from the troubles which afflicted other nations appeared to have been ordained of God with a view to the ultimate evangelisation of the world. The Rev. A. Brandram read the report, from which it appeared that the entire receipts of the year ending March 31, 1849, amounted to 95,9331. Id. The amount applicable to the general purposes of the society was 52,5741. 14s. 3d., including 7,6361. 16s. 31 special contributions in aid of the extended circulation of the Scriptures on the Con tinent, and 31,9931. 15s. sd. free contributions from auxiliary societies showed an increase in that item of 6951. 1 ls. ld. The receipts for Bibles and Testaments amounted to 43,3581. I ls. The issues of the society for the year amounted to 1,107,518, viz., from the depot at home, 802,133; from the depots abroad, 305,385. The total issues of the society now amounted to 21,973,355. The expenditure during the past year had been 88,8311. Is. 2d., and the society was under engagements to the extent of 67,6941. Os. 11d. The Bishop of Norwich moved the adoption of the report, and expressed his continued confidence in the management of the society, one of whose chief holds upon his affection was its thorough catholicity.—Mr. Plumptre, M.P., seconded the resolution, which was carried nern. dis.—The second resolution, expressing satisfaction at the proceedings of the past year, was moved by the Rev. H. Stowell, and seconded by the Rev. R. Kennedy.—Other resolutions in accordance with the object were proposed and carried without opposition. A HorELEss CASE. -An old woman, troubled with dyspepsia, or somo of the other " thousand ills that flesh is heir to," was advised by a physician to adopt a strict regimen as to diet, &... Having called one day and found his patient rather worse than usual, in conse quence, as he supposed, of his advice not being strictly . yo ‘ u ` r F e o s l l u o r w e lb i y n g i otkhi he g r , e acted on, Medicos told her that her chance of safety n 0 00 do o ea f v o e r m m w t h a e oe s n nt t 1 0 . 0 : 1 :n. Doctori°l vN Followns g : G n ta a he t he e i m Sm e i er regiment p (onecs brat r e l its ita l 'day, past my time o Doctor ; • that cure naigh,t yo e u v n , g u. t,ll chalice t.,,r au tiuld wife 0 my mind' to the Greyfriare pinEg‘ll‘.Yte: the l o k g i e r r k s . , y l ar n d e , au D n oc e t 'e o n r.,, mek' up me but tram HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES OF THE CHEST. ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL AT THE ALBION TAVERN. The seventh anniversary of the institution of that noble and magnificent charity, the Hospital for Con sumption and Diseases of the Chest, located at Brompton— and which is certainly destined ere long to take the lead of all the great benevolent: and charitable institutions with which this vast metropolis of England, to its eternal honour, abounds, magnificently supported and en dowed as these institutions are—was commemorated by a brilliant festival, which was holden at the Albion Tavern, in Aldersgate-street, on Wednesday evening; an occasion which, we are sure, for the spirit -stirring elo quence which it evoked from that distinguished man, Benjamin Disraeli, Esq., M.P., who presided over the I banquet, and from that distinguished historian, Monsieur Guizot, will long live in the memory of the 300 persons whose high privilege it was to be numbered among the guests. The dinner hour was fixed for six o'clock, and shortly after that hour Mr. Disraeli entered the room, and took his seat at the head of the principal table,, amid the enthusiastic plaudits of the assembly. Immediately on his right hand sat Lard Faversham, and on his left Monsieur Guizot. Amongst the guests who occupied seats in the immediate vicinity of the chair we noticed Sir John Pakington, M.P., R. A, Christopher, Esq., M.P., the lion. Mr. Melville, the Hon. Mr. Monson, Sir Shuckburgh, Sir John Hare, the Rev. Robert Monte gomery, Rose, Esq. (the honorary secretary), Dr. Forbes, Dr. Cursham, Dr. Bowie, Dr. Theephilus Thompson, Dr. Williams, William Lambert, Esq., R. Baxter, Esq., R. Clarke, Esq., Rev. Charles Clarke, Henry Cremer, Esq., Murdo Young, Esq., Edward Speer, Esq., Marmaduke Horrudge Esq., Sze. &c. A large temporary gallery had been erected by the spirited proprietors of the tavern for the accommodation of ladies, across the foot of the room, immediately fronting the chair ; and many were the lovely eyes that rained a witching influence on the admiring multitude below. _ _ Dinner being over, on the removal of the cloth, Non Nobis Domine was beautifully sung by Mr. Grattan Cooke, assisted by Mr. Sporle, Mr. Young, and Mr. Leffler. The CHAIRMAN then rose and said—Gentle men, I am about to propose a toast which, in an assembly of Englishmen, it is usually un necessary to accompany with any comment ; but on the present occasion I cannot but remem ber that her Gracious Majesty was among the earliest and most munificent supporters of the iustitu tion, whose fortunes wo are met here to-day to aid. I therefore take the liberty to remind you of that cir cumstance, however unnecessary on my part to do so, when I propose to you " the health of our Sovereign Lady the Queen."—(Cheers.) The toast was drunk with the accustomed honours ; and the National Anthem was sung by the wholo com pany standing. The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, it is one of the characteristics of this institution that we are in terested in even the routine toasts, which, though some times passed over with great celerity, cannot on this occasion be left to you unnoticed, for when I propose to you the health of the various members of the Royal Family, it is my duty to remind you, if that were necessary, that the Queen Dowager was one of our ear liest, and one of our most liberal supporters—(Cheers) that it was the hand of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort that laid the first stone of that building which is your pride—(Cheers)—and that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is now one of our recallprincipal t o your o o n e t r r i r b e u e t o o l l r e s. — oti o C e L t o h u a d t c t h.) Duke And I e o ed Cambridge,not whose true liberality of feeling and native generosity of heart have endeared him to all Englishmen—(Cheers) —once occupied the chair which I now unworthily fill. Therefore lam sure it will be with no ordinary feeling that you drink " the health of the Queen Dow ager, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family."—(Cheers.) Drunk with honours. Glee—" Sleep gentle lady, the flowers are closing." The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, I am about to propose that we should drink to the Church. You are all lam sure well aware that the hospital affords peculiar occa sions for the efficacious ministration of the offices of the Church.—(Bear, hear.) Perhaps there are few scenes in life in which spiritual efficacy could produce effects of such earliest period been favoure d with the sympathies of the institutionimportance, n a n w d h i I o h a m w e t h are r r e e f e a r l e l i n n o t t e r surprised e d s hae that fro heit its i s I have observed with ( G A r P a P a c i c e theahuesd Archbishop of Canter bury has very recently pre e. a sermon infavour of the ) Churchgreat interest t o e f r E r s n t g t l i a j entd his _ have an oppor tunitya • • n of referring to the labours of en on this occasion objects which this institutiondwtihshtesl to prosecute.— (Applause.) But lam gr atified individual not so elevated in station as his Grace,. but the greatly distinguished , an d who has peculiar :1 al u m s on best feelings of all tho se who are present looking which the pulpit had been filled with great power upon o overf this more institution,cursorily I s than s s i t r c u o e u k l d h h y a vwishedthee r the iousc records ceasio e s by a gentleman who is present to-day, and known not only to you but to fame—the Rev. Robert Montgomery —(Applause)—was so struck by the indefatigable fre quency of his appeals, and the great results which have accrued from them that I could not help, somewhat ra pidly, but I believe very accurately, forming an estimate of the labours of an individual. lam myself a believer in the power of the individual; I think we trust too much to the spirit of societies, and too little to the energy of the solitary being.—(Great cheering.) But when I tell you that in counting the occasions which appear on the authentic records, I find that one man in the brief space which has occurred since the origin of this institution to the present time, has on five and twenty occasions— ( Hear, hear)—addressed his fellow-countrymen in sacred places, and by the sole energy of his owe abilities and the inspiration of a great cause—(Hear, hear)— among strangers in distant districts, raised himself a sum little short of 1,000/.—(Cheers)—so I feel it not only my duty but my high gratification to have this opportunity of mentioning these circumstances, and though the gen til this be moment refer, I am happy to the toast gen tleman in question has o th er c l a i ms on your s ympathies, responded whicht o b l y a now memberpl your to uewhichrk hand s , e that t proposingl notit w a I swill that of the Church, not only s o di s ti ngu i shed f or eve ry quality, but so peculiarly entitled t o your good fee li ng s. The Rev. ROBERT M ONTGOMERY, i n respon ding to the ace in toast, said, in the absence of others more calculated by their position in the Church and by their talents than he was to answer to the spirit of the toast which had been given by their distinguished chairman, he would endea vour to offer a suitable response to it. He need not tell them that he felt almost oppressed by the unmerited eulogy that their distinguished chairman had passed upon him; ha had rather described what he (Mr. Montgomery) ought to be, than what he was. He was sure that there was not one amongst his reverend brethren who did not par ticipate in the feelings of attachment which he bore to the Hospital for Consumption. There was a pride which aped humility, and a humility which aped pride. On that occasion they would believe in his sincerity when he said that he felt it no merit whatever on public occa sions to have made exertions on behalf of suffering humanity. He felt it one of the highest privileges of the Church, as the mediatrix between heaven and earth —(Hear)—not only to advocate provision for the spiri tual necessities of the people, but also for their temporal wants; and should the day ever come when the Catholic Church lent a reluctant ear to the calls of suffering humanity, he was sure she would forfeit her high privi leges, and her days would be numbered.—(App l a use.) lie had simply to state, in connexion with the toast, that many of his reverend brethren were quite willing e to follow the humble example that he had set them; b was quite sure that on no one occasion would theythfore wanting in"their zeal, or deficient in their spa) y growth, and he stood round its cradle, ho had watched its grow the great interests of this charity. He stand predicted that the Hospital for Consumption would harities.—(Cheer s.) foremost in the history of English c " Si monumentum requiris, circumspict:l —(Applause.) number . of his himself had When he saw so large a congratulated them on their presence, and he hoped fellow-countrymen on every side on that occasion, ho their gathering together that day was not simply for the excitement of the present hour, but would .result in a more enduring sympathy with the charity.---(Hear.) The connexion of the toasts of the Queen and the Church, and of the Army and Navy, on occasion like that, pre sented to a thoughtful mind emotions which were worthy a passing remark. Perhaps no country in the world presented the principles of unity and diversity like England; there was diversity in politics, diversity in literature,systems, diversity and diversityi matters in of taste, diversity in educational soci al philosophy ; but they had a unity of which every Englishmen might be proud. They were Christians—(Applause)— and therefore the altar and the throne, and the army and navy, were all great standing sentiments, ;which came out prominently on that occasion, drawing them off from their diversities, and making them meet round one com mon centre of unity.—(Cheers.) He rejoiced that a most distinguished foreigner should witness that gather ing.—(Applause.) H e w as proud, and rejoiced in the presence of that distinguished individual. Amidst the many aspects of English life that must have presented themselves to him, he (Mr. Montgomery) trusted that the aspect of national philanthropy, for which we were re markable as a nation, might not be the least eloquent or persuasive to_him.—(Applause.) In conclusion, for he held a long speech after dinner to he a nuisance —(A. iaugh)—he had simply to add that he doubted not that one feature in the Hospital for Consumption would ad vance in their sympathies, and feel the progress of their liberality. He could, as a minister of religion, bear his testimony to the great amount of temporal relief and sympathy and consolation which this charity had be stowed on the recipients of its benefits. He wished that assembly could see the grateful hearts, beaming through the moistened eyes of those poor creatures, who from time to time left its portals cured of the fearful malady under which they had suffered. It was often said that consumption was incurable. They would allow him to reply to that that the Hospital for Consumption had given no formal utterance on that question at all ; the office of the ,hospital was to arrest the malady, and relieve the patient ; what else m'ght be done depended on God — (Hear, hear)—on the progress of science, and on the nature of the disease. The real character of the charity was to relieve sufThring humanity, so far as science and Christian watchfulness could do; the rest they left to the Lord. It was to him (Mr. Montgomery) an occasion for unmitigated delight to have to the presence of their dis tinguished chairman among them that night.—(Cheers.) He trusted he would not think him offensive in his adulation il, as a literary man of twenty years, however humbly connected with the literature of this country, he begged to tender to him public homage to those distinguished talents with [which he had en riched the literature of his cotintry.—(Cheers.) What- ever might be their political feelings, he was quite sure there was not an individual present that night who would! not agree with him in giving to that distinguished man the foremost pla:..e among the orators of his country. — (Great cheering.) Long might he be spared to advo cate what in his conscience he (Mr. Montgomery) be lieved tended to maintain the honour, the greatness, and the glory of this country ; and often might they have the opportunity and the privilege of seeing him among them on occasions like that on which they were as sembled.—(Great cheering.) Glee—" hark ! the curfew's solemn sound." The CHAlRMAN —Gentlemen, I was thinking this morning how much society was indebted in this country, in all charitable institutions, to the efforts of individuals; but the toast I am now going to propose, which is the health of the two services—tho army and navy—re minds me in this respect, that the state has not been de ficient. It is the boast of this country, that the defenders of England and the vindicators of its glory, when they are exhausted in the service of the land, find a refuge in what may literally be described as the palaces of our Soy eleig,ns.—(Cheers.) With this feeling I will propose the toast of the " Army and Navy."—(Chars.) Drunk with honours. Duet—" Give me the tented field." PiaLLip ROSE, Eq., the Honorary Secretary to the hospital, then read the annual report, which was as fellows:— " In reviewing the period which has elapsed since the last annual report, your committee feel that the events of the year have been such as to call forth feelings of deep gratitude and satisfaction. " They have been able during the year to open two additional wards, containing 12 beds. The total number of in-patients now admitted in the present building be ing thus increased to 81. " Since the opening of the new building in November, 1846- 676 Patients have been admitted, Of whom were relieved ... ••• Died ... ..• Remaining in the house ... _ "The admissions during the past year have been 282; of whom 52 have died. From the Ist of January last, the number admitted has been 95; of whom 11, or rather more than one-9th have died. " The number of out-patients treated during the year, has been 2,805; and since the opening of the new build ing in 1846, 11,137; but inasmuch as a large proportion of the out-patients attend for a considerable period, often extending over several months, your committee consider that the number prescribed for daily, will convey to the friends of the charity and the public generally, the most correct idea of the amount of benefit conferred by this department. That number varies from 80 to 150; and averages about 115 daily, being at the rate of 36,000 in the year. " Your committee have also the satisfaction of report ing, that the mortality in the new building has been much diminished, when compared with that which took place in the old establishment. In the old hospital at Chelsea, out of 297 in-patients, 72 died, being nearly one death in every four patients; while the deaths in the new hospital have been only 127, in 686 cases, or nearly one death in every five patients. " With regard to the financial position of the hospital, it was hardly to be expected that during a year so fraught with anxiety and alarm, and marked by so much commercial depression, this charity should have been entirely unaffected. Your committee have accord ingly to report a trifling decrease in the amount of smaller donations during the past year, when compared with the amount so received in former years. " It is, however, gratifying to be able to state, that the annual subscriptions (upon which the permanent prosperity of the hospital must depend), have continued steadily to increase; and the committee feel sanguine that the diminution in their income from donations will be only temporary, and that returning prosperity will more than reinstate the charity in its former condition. " But whatever deficiency may have been experienced in the receipt of small donations, it has been more than counterbalanced by several large and most acceptable contributions. Among these the committee have first to notice the proceeds of the concert given by Miss Lind, on the 31st of July last, in aid of the extension of the building. The sum realised by this means, after paying all expenses, amounted to 1,6061. 16s.—(Cheers)—the whole of which has been set apart for the express pur pose of the extension fund; and it is invested in Govern ment Securities in the names of the trustees, awaiting the period (which it is confidently believed is not far distant) when your committee will feel justified in en tering into a contract for completing the unfinished por tion of the building. " Your committee have also to report the following specific legacies during the past year: 100/. from Mrs. Mary Tucker, of Bemptord Speke, Devon; 2001. from Mr. Thomas Keane; 250/. from Charles Felice, Esq., of Park-crescent; and by the will of the late Mr. W. Sawyer, of York, in addition to a pecuniary legacy of 2001 which was made immediately payable to the hospital, the whole residue of his property was bequeathed to the charity, after the death of his brother, Mr. John Sawyer. It unfortunately happened that part of Mr. Sawyer's pro perty consisted of leaseholds at Peatonville, and turnpike bonds, which being in the nature of real estate, the hos pital, under the provisions of the statutes of mort main, is at present incapable of holding. The bequest to that extent was therefore void; but the residue of the per sonal estate, amounting to the sum of 2,2871. 7d. Con sols, has been invested in the names of trustees, one of them being Mr. John Labouchere, the treasurer of the hospital, upou trust, to allow Mr. John Sawyer to enjoy the dividends during his life, and at his death to transfer the capital to the hospital. " Your committee have also to report a most generous offer made by a military officer, to convey to the charity his reversionary interest in certain freehold and lease hold property, which offer, however, for the reasons be fore stated, is at present incapable of being carried into effect. " In consequence of the loss sustained by the charity, in the case of Mr. Sawyer's estate, and the inability to avail themselves of the last mentioned offer, your com mittee determined no longer to delay carrying out the instructions of a former court, for obtaining powers of incorporation, and authorising the charity to hold lands and take them by devise. A Bill for this and other ob jects has accordingly been introduced into Parliament, where it is now pending, and your committee trust that no impediment will arise to its receiving the Royal As sent during the present session. " Your committee have the satisfaction of stating that no expense will be incurred by the charity in obtaining this Act beyond the outlay for disbursements actually incurred. " But your committee have to record a still further evidence of the estimation in which the charity is held, and of the deep interest awakened in its favour. The R,e , erend Sir Henry Foulis, Bart , seeing in the last an nual report an allusion to the urgent want of a chapel in connexion with the hospital, in which the patients and inmates might assemble for Divine worship, and by which the ward at present used as a chapel, might be rendered available for patients, has proposed to the com mittee to take upon himself this greatly needed work, and to erect at his own cost, a proper ecclesiastical edi fice. Two conditions only were attached to the proposal —the one that the chapel should be consecrated, and the other that the plans of the building should receive his approval. Your committee are happy to state, that a satisfactory communication has taken place with the Bishop of London, upon the subject of the consecration, and plans and estimates of the chapel are now in prepa ration by Mr. E. 13. Lamb, of Charlotte-street, Portland place. who has been appointed the architect to carry out the design. The building will be carried on under the direction of the committee, Sir Henry Foulis having kindly undertaken to supply the funds as they are re quired. The cost of erection is limited to 1,500/. In making this interesting announcement, your committee are assured that their own feelings of gratitude at this liberal and unexpected provision for the spiritual wants of the patients, will find a cordial response in the breast of every Governor, and that they will feel anxious to testify their respectful appreciation of this act of bene volence, by electing Sir Henry Foulis a Vice-President of the charity. "The committee also recommend, that in pursuance of the wishes of Sir Henry Foulis, the following friends of that gentleman, viz.:— "P. D. Pauncefort Duncombe, Esq., of Greatßrickhill Manor, Fenny Stratford; " Miss Pauncefort Duncombe, of the same place; " Col. George Whichcote, of Meriden, Coventry, and Miss Laura Jewry; be elected honorary life governors of the charity, with the privileges attached to that title. "Your committee will now briefly allude to the works which yet remain to be accomplished, and which call fur the continued exertions of every supporter of the charity. "The consecration of the chapel involves the purchase of the freehold of the site upon which it will stand. A negotiation has been opened with the ground landlords, I and they are willing, in order to meet the convenience of the committee, separately to convey the small portion of ground that will be required for this object. The funds for the purchase have still to be raised. " The purchase of the remainder of the land upon which the hospital has been built has also to be effected. Every friend of the charity will sympathise with the committee in their anxiety that the site should be of freehold tenure. " The funds for purchasing the land adjoining the hospital on the west—the refusal of which is offered to the committee by the present owner—have also to be provided. Your committee view the attainment of this additional land as an object of the deepest importance to the well-being of the charity, whether it be consi dered merely as adding to the present recreation ground for patients, or for the more important purpose of pre venting the close proximity of other buildings; or for the still mere lasting objects, allowing of a future exten sion of the building in that direction. " Lastly, there is the completion of the building to allow of the admission of 120 more patients—a measure of immediate and pressing necessity—imperatively called for by the number of applicants who are now de nied admission for want of room. " At the present moment no loss than 184 patients, who have been reported by the medical officers as fit cases for admission, are waiting to come in; their dis orders aggravated by the disappoinment and vexation arising from hope deferred. " Your committee, while the y earnestly ap . pe t al twootuh,de public on behalf of each a nd all of these otbijmech com especially urge the neces sit y of losing no pleting the building; they ven t u re to hope that the example of Miss Linda, nadstrager and . fe l reigner o , t will rs not be lost upon the wealthy and supp r e o charity in our land.—(Cheers After what has been stated of the number of applicants now necessarily re stated from the:want of accommodation, it is to be hoped that the means will not long be wanting for the completion of the buil din g . It is surely not too much toexpect tint the noble example of Sir Henry Foulis may soon find an imitator, willing to dedicate s me por tion of his wealth to the service of suffering humanity, and to found a lasting monument of his generous syci.. ... 466 129 pathy, by taking upon himself to build the whole or part of the remaining wing.—(Laughter.) " Your committee believe that, availing themselves of the experience gained in the present building, and adopting an improved mode of proceeding, in carrying out the works, the new wing may be erected with the addition of 6,0001. to the amount already subscribed for this purpose. " The Rose Charity Fund' continues to prove a most valuable auxiliary to the general funds of the hospital, by affording opportunities of relief in deserving and destitute cases. "Your committee have been making great efforts to effeet a reduction in the expenditure of the hospital, and to bring about every economy, consistent with the com forts of the patients. They have been able to make some reductions in the permanent establishment, and have put into operation a new and improved table of diets. "Your committee have (as on former occasions) to ac knowledge the support which the institution continues to receive from the powerful advocacy of the clergy. Among those who have given their services to the charity during the past year, the committee would particularly mention his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, who preached in aid of the funds, at St. George's, Ilanover-square, on Sunday, the 9th of July, 1848. " They cannot, as an act of justice, omit to notice the unceasing exertions of the Rev. Robert Montgomery, ono of the most steady supporters of the charity from its earliest ecmmencement, and who, during the past year, both in the pulpit and by his pen, has largely contributed toits prosperity. "Your committee have been engaged in preparing and collating the new rules and bye lews e which five years' experience of the working of the hospital have shown to be necessary; and these rules and bye-laws, as settled by your com m itt ee , w ill b e l a id before a special Court of Governors for approval, as soon as the nixes eery notices can be given; and under the provisions of the existing rules, they will be open to the inspection of the Governors three weeks previously. " A report of the facts connected with the medical treatment in the hospital, from its opening to the pr e sent time, is in course of preparation by the eminent physi cians who form the hospital staff. An abstract of this report will be read to the Court, and full particulars will be presented to every Governor as soon as the committee receive it. " From the accompanying statement of receipts and expenditure, it will be seen the outstanding liabilities of the hospital have been much reduced; but the committee have still to regret that the charity is not free from debt; the discharge of its still existing liabilities is an object second to none of those which have been alluded CI in this report. " The number of important points requiring to be noticed, has extended this report to a greater length than your committee could have wished. They would once more renew their appeal to the governors and the public for continued support; and they can assure them in return, that no effort shall be wanting on their part to promote the well being and efficiency of this noble in stitution. They can only express their earnest hope that the blessing of Almighty God, which has hitherto so signally marked the progress of the charity, will still continue to prosper their labours, and that the record of increasing usefulness. anniversary may testify of increased and usefulness. " By order of the committee. " PHILIP RosE, Hon. Sec. " Hospital, Brompton, April 26, 1849." The receipts of the general fund were, for the year ending March last, 4,7481. 155.; the expenditure amounted to 4,4561. 9s. 4d., leaving a balance at the bankers of 2921. ss. Bd. APPENDIX TO ANNUAL REPORT. " The physicians of the Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest, in presenting, at the request of the committee, an abstract of the medical and statistical report which they have prepared, and which is shortly to appear, necessarily confine themselves to a few points of interest, and pass in silence many particulars regarding liability as respects sex and age, hereditary predisposi tion, duration of the disease, and other questions to which that report has particular reference. " The number of patients affected with pulmonary , consumption treated at this institution, since its esta blishment to the close of last year, is 4,358 ; a number, as respects this disease, perhaps never before analysed for statistical purposes. This number, however, by no means represents the amount of service rendered to the community; the applicants for relief having been more than double that number—namely, 10,051 out-patients, and 888 in-patients. " Many were suffering from bronchitis in various de grees of aggravation, and other diseases of the organs of the chest . ; not a few from cough, symptomatic of disorders of distant organs; or from painful affections of the chest, not connected with pulmonary disease. " The prevalence of influenza, at one period, very much swelled the list of applicants. "A great number have applied, suffering from varieties of indigestion, which in consequence of incidental debi lity, and other symptoms, induced the apprehension of phthisis, and it has been a source of great satisfaction to the medical officers, to bo able, after careful examination, to discharge a considerable number of such individuals, with the assurance, most consolatory to themselves and their families, that there were no evidences whatever of the disease they dreaded. " The tendency of particular" employments to induce a liability to certain diseases is a subject of great interest, and with a view to illustration, a comparison has been instituted between the list of phthisical patients, attend ing your institution, and non-phthisical patients of a general hospital. By way of illustration, it may be men tioned that the liability of tailors to consumption, as contrasted with their liability to all other diseases, ap pears from this comparison to be in the proportion of ... ... 19 to 15 Of bakers ... as 45 to 23 Of in-doer servants ... as 24 to 12 Of printers and compositors as 100 to 27 Of clerks and shopmen ... as 314 to 78 Among 1,294 female patients attending a general hos pital, 169 were milliners and dressmakers; but the number of females so occupied out of 1,679 consumptive patients attending the Hospital for Consumption was 312; the proportion of excess being as 312 to 220. " The medical officers, in applying themselves to the treatment of established phthisis, felt that they had to contend with a disease, the ravages of which too often prove uncontrollable by any effort of medical art, but the results which they are able to present, offer a degree of encouragement surpassing their expectations. Very many patients who have been relieved have not reported the results, but of those whose history has been recorded, as far as the analysis is yet completed, in more than 8 per cent. the disease has been arrested, and, but for the knowledge of its liability to recur, might be considered as cured; whilst in about 23 per cent. material improve ment has been effected. " The physicians have availed themselves of various suggestions offered by modern science, for the more exact investigation of pulmonary disease ; and have not ne glected the less satisfactory, though scarcely less impe rative duty, of testing remedies, alleged with some confidence to have curative powers, in some cases it is to be feared on insufficent foundation. " It is not intended in this place to expatiate on the various measures which have been employed. The ar rangements of the institution give great facilities for the trial of the most appropriate means, general, medical, and dietetical; but if any one medicine should be specified as peculiarly adapted to the treatment of tubercular disease of the lungs, even when considerably advanced, it is that popularly known as cod liver oil. The virtues of this remedy were tried in this' institution at a very early period, and the evidences there obtained of its efficacy may be fairly assumed to have contributed ma terially to its extensive and successful introduction into medical practice throughout the country, in the treat ment:of phthisis. The degree of amelioration and amend ment often following the appropriate use of this remedy is highly encouraging, but sufficient time has not yet passed to determine the degree of liability to relapse, or to estimate the relative probabilities of permanent im provement. In the investigation of this and other im portant questions, the medical officers hope to prove assiduous, vigilant, and cautious, whilst (encouraged by the impulse to improvement given by the enlightened confidence of the governors), they cherish the inspirit ing ambition to extend the limit of medical resources, and to render those resources a still greater boon to the objects of this noble charity. " Signed by the Physicians, " HAMILTON ROE, M.D. " THEOPHILUS THOMPSON, M.D. " GEORGE CURSHAM, M.D. RICHARD PAYNE COTTON, M.D. " RICHARD QUAIN, M.D. " JOHN J. BOWIE, M.D. " April 30th, 1849. " Hospital for Consumption " And Diseases of the Chest, Brompton." Mr. DISRAELI then rose to propose the toast o the everting, which was the the signal for an en thusiastie burst of cheering. Silence having been restored, the Honourable Gentleman spoke as followsi —Gentlemen, before I venture to propose the toast which I am going to do, I shall presume to make a few observations on the various and varying circumstances that have achieved that result which has just been communicated to you by the secretary in read ing his most able and satisfactory report. It is impos sible to make a triter remark than to say that England (Hear, has always h hear ) — justly cliekleebraaltled veryfor its tr publicter remarks, a rckhea,r iss conse quence of that happy habit of governmentselfin,time,h and gene also extremely just. I apprehend that it e is a t _nt in this country has been enjoyed for a r o rally speaking to habit has im is in any . other country. T of which under a grea_shat degree than it t have devolved upon other circumstances, migh but in England they have necessarily posed on us duties, the fulfilment , other powers ; tion.—(Cheers). I took the occasion just now casually, fallen upon pop ular combination and voluntary subscrip with refe rence to another toast, to refer to two great pub lic charities which have been founded in this country by the State. The State, therefore, has not altogether been neglectful of those great purposes that appeal to the sympathies of universal man. Greenwich and Chelsea are monuments which need never fear competition with the institutions of any country in the world.—(Cheers.) But, generally speaking, the hospitals, t island,h a t abound ahrae ve thein this alluded. results o The metropolis,thheithe infirmaries, s g re a at n d . popular in thparte asylums of to thi whichs for instance, in thi • in the s city, at this moment dining, need not, for medical skill, shrink from any rivalry • h with any institutions that now flourish or at any time have existed in this or any other country; and it is very remarkable, but it is a fact which none can dispute, that independently of those great en dowments, magnificent in their schemes and municifent in their foundations, there are, besides, crowds of minor institutions which are devoted, in detail, to the cure and observation and study of disease, which hospitals,e combi nationv every those greater institutions are prepared to deal with F. 1: in a more comprehensive spirit. Indierk-youanaY sap. that from the eye:to the heel there is aearcelytadistorder that can visa our flesh which has not had—and fora con siderable period—in this country, some institution de voted to its; study, its cure, or its alleviation: --(Cheers.) It is a very remarkable circumstance that until recently: —I may say most recently—there was only one disease — red (C to he c e u r r s e o , a l nd h w e e h d i c n h e n t o re o m ne hi c d am ye e u fo t r h sc a - a t r i l t in this country which n o one a tt em p te d t o s t u dy, w hich nt a o lleviate.—(Cheers.) was a disease most prevalent in this country, if not pe culiar to it, and most general, of all other coun tries, in its influence—(Cries of " Hear, hear ") —one, too, not only general in its influence. but most heartrending in its results—(Hear,. hear.), —one which I may say of all diseases most resembles death, for it knows no distinction of class or condition, but knocks at and earturertrsetoef the poor.—(Cheer s .) B u t it.d palaces of kings eq ua lly w ith the is a curious question which, if one had time, one might enter into, how it happened that in a country so alive to the calamities of its creatures, where every levar in every form and every type has been mado not only the sub ject of stutiv but the foundation of institutions for irs cure,—one might be induced to stop to inquire how it aas that a malady which, from the returns of our mor tality, unfortunately figures as the greatest contributor to that dark record, should in a land so distinguished for its sympathy pith suffering, for its tciernificacquisitions, for the facility—the generous facility—with which wealth is devoted to the cure cf the salami les of life, should, as it were in despair, be considered as the only visitation of Providence with v. hich we were not calleti upon to contend, and to whose inevitable influence ww were to bow without a snuggle.—(Cheers.) One would have naturally supposed that as private txperiecc© taught us that it was possible occasionally to a:res.t the course of consumption, frequently to shorten, fre quently to alleviate the sufferings which it oc casioned, and that under any circumstances it was wise, by some machinery, to aggregate its pheno mena, fr ,m which alone men of science can deduce rune dial results—that that spirit of association which has always pervaded English society, as well as that chari table impulse which has always been its characteristic, would have long ago brought about some result similar to that happy effect which we are now met to-night to and to aid.—(Cheers.) One would have ima gined, when we remember that there is no class of so ciety that is not perpetually reminded of the existence and influence of this dire complaint, which rocks, as it were, at the same time the cradle of the intall,t and precipitates even age to the tomb, Which touches all classes of society, which every one present in the course of his life has had to deplore us a fatal agency that has dusked the bloom of his existence, and darkened the retrospect of his life—(Cheers)—one would have supposed the active impulses of Englishmen would long ago have induced them to see whether tkey could not grapple with this cause of great calamity.—(Cheers.) But that is not the case. Although this country is dis tinguished for its public charities, although, as I have said, the hospital, the infirmary, and the refuge eftsster in every part of this island, it was scarcely known but a few years back—it is not known now to the majority of our fellow-subjects, that the consump tive patient, the member of a class that suffers; most, that suffers longest, and suffers in the greatest numbers, was exactly that patient to which the doors of every charity were shut.—(Cheers.) It is not for me—it is not the wish of any one here—to question the properiety of the regulations. They were made by men influenced by feelings as high and as good as any of those present. —(Hear, hear.) It was necessity that urged these regu lations and dictated these rules—(Cheers)—but as far as public charity is concerned they were strict and inflexible, they were the laws of the litdes and the Persians to those whose hectic cheek and faltering energies were refused admittance into their munificent endowments.—(Cheers.) Because this disease was always lingering, because it was usually fatal—these were the reasons that for years were al leged why the victim of consumption should be received only with closed doors.—(Hear, hear.) Now, appealing to your sympathies—after all the freshest and most pe. rennial source of those actions which remedy the evils of life—these are circumstances which must from the first have arrested the feejings cf man; but viewing it not merely in the light of sympathy—viewing it in the severer but not less loftier aspect of science, such a re sult ought to be greatly deprecated. It has been consi sidered that consumption is an incurable disease. It is not for me, it would be the height of arrogance in me, and in most of us present, to express au opinion upon such a subject; but there is an opinion to me, as there is au opinion to all of you—the philosophy of human na ture—which is our common portion. All of you must reel that the secrets of nature cannot be atoned; and in an age distinguished as the present for the application of science to social life—living as we do amid marvels so vast, daily produced by an agency so recent, he is in deed a bold man who can say that he is to fold his arms in despair and sit down, and when he is to encounter a calamity, can believe that the beneficent Providence which surrounds us has not supplied man with some re medial resource.—(Loud cheers.) Not only, then, because the natural sympathies of our kind would make us advance to arrest the disease that was always lingering, and often fatal, hut because we muit have felt that in the establishment of an inetitu tution that would necessarily aggregate the phenomena from which scientific results must accrue, it was the duty and interest of us r.ll to establish some institution of that kind which would produce such results, I am surprisel that earlier than it occurred, so felicitous a conc,r,ion should not have been afforded by society as that which established the hospital for consumption and pulmonary complaints.—(Cheers) And yet it is easy for me at this moment, in our hour of success and prosperity, to ex press this feeling; but remember a period of time less than eight years ago and such a principle was not recognised, such an idea had not foumd favour with society, and such en institution did not exist.—(Cheers.) Is is only eight years ago—less than eight years ago—that a public meeting, not very nume rously attended, was held at the Hanover-square Rooms, and that those opinions which I have feebly expressed were first develope?l to public notice. It is less than eight years ago; but what an encouragement is it to a man, animated by the consciousness of being the advo cate of a principle, what an inducement is it to public exertion to those who are inspired by the consciousness. that they are performing a public duty, and working for the advancement of universal man, when we contrast that then almost unnoticed meeting with the consequences that have accrued from it, and even with this assemblage this day.—(Cheers.) Then the sufferer could not find a refuge ; then it was held as an axiom that the sufferer could nut even be relieved ; but what, proudly speaking, dot inseehis brief period of time—a time hardly exceeding the :erm of the shortest lease of a house that ahy man in this room would grant to-morrow—what have been the cons( quer.ces of a grand idea launshed into public life and intrusted to public spirit?—(Cheers) Among those, who came forward on that occasion, and to a certain degree were favoured by the public sympathy of those gathered around them on that occasion, I think my Noble Friend on my right has the proud satisfaction of reflecting that he was present at that meeting.— (Cheers.) They were then emboldened to hire a tem porary apartment in a suburb, for the prudential prose cution of their plan ; twenty sufferers were admitted at great cost and at a considerable venture ; but though eight years have now elapsed, I can tell you that the old lodgings in the suburb have been superseded by a splendid and magnificent structure.—(Cheers.) That dulling that term nearly 1,000 patients have received within those walls every remedy which skill and solici tude combined could desire, that more than two-thirds of them have left those walls greatly, and in many instances completely, relieved.—(Cheers.) That though 200 have indeed quitted us for ever, they have quitted us under circumstances the most alleviating to them, to us the most encouraging, with the consciousness that they have received every aid that the finest - Ain could devise, with the reflection that they have received every consolation which spiritual ministrations could afford—(Hear, hear)—with the con viction that their families, instead of sacrificing their aQ to obtain for them some casual and comparative luxury, have not been ruined by what must ever be to them a great calamity—the loss of those they love—(Cheers)-- and with this great social consideration, that, in the study of their cases they may have left a great scientific - , legacy that may spare to their posterity the evils from which they have suffered.—(Great and prolonged cheering.) But I could not but listen with great interest to the conclusion of the report which we have just beard read, namely, an ab stract of the medical report, where I find, in a document signed by a number of gentlemen of the highest character in their professions, that from what they observe to a degree amounting, to eight per cent. we have a right to believe there have been positive cures through the agency of this institution—(Cheers) —and though they have not been able to trace the result of all these in stances to the end, from.having lost sight of the patients after after they quitted the hospital, yet, ev en a llo t wi a n t g at least gp per cent. of the patients have a c the possibility of a relapse, we may h r a e n l 6e y t h t 'by this 'thout being cu s or _ term of their lives wr Of fulfil i tl • But it is not re ceived within your walls, have been in a great degree most . mysterious,.all tha b t a a n etfhtiol,u thousand s o u ni ff n e i r p e o r t s e n h t a v e de b s e t e ro n yer. relieved from their sufferings, and restored to society; it is not all, that under any circumstances their disease, instead of being the mere suffering of the individual, has in the worst circumstances been recorded in;the annals of science for the advantage of those who follow us ; this is not all, but upwards of 11,000 patients have been minis tered to by your energies, and by the devotion of your means upwards of 11,000 persons have been relieved within the walls of your institution.—(Cheers.) It ap pears by the report of the medical attendants, that they do not consider that they have themselves examined or scientifically anul7z. d under those circumstances much more than 4,000 wl 0 suffered under pulmonary consumption. Many who came to them were received simply because they thought they were Affected with this disease. Bronchitis, morbid digestion, severe influenza, diseases as remarkable for their depressing effects upon the mind as from their physic 4 qpalities, drove them for a remedy to this society; ba when to more than 5,000 of our fellow-creatures we could teach that they were not the victims of that fatal disease, be fore which they thought they were about to fall, can you for an instant deny that you were at that moniefft accomplishing as great a benefit to human nitture almost as if you had cured them of the disorder of which they thought they were the victims? They wen t home from Brompton, where, under the auspices od your in stitution, their wants and necessit ies had been adminis tered to,—they went home that day with herfrts relieved and spirits elevated ; and when science whispered to d t o u n a not you them that they were not — tha t the y could not be-Tad mitted intobyyoura : almost because uniformly fatal, c) they were ia you suppose that you made many hearths happy tlt day—(Cheers)—don't you suppose you renovated the energies of many subjects of the queen, and that that agency alone—which is apparently but a seconds consideration on the subject before us—you were ad-