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

lateunder their present state of the law, and that none the injuries which were apprehend: d from the change ' culd follow. The Attorney-General had stated that clergymen of the Established Church could be compelled to administer the offices of the Church by Common law. He thought that the clause in the Bill on that subject was a piece of homage and respect to the clergy which they ought to he content with. It gave any clergyman who had con , eientious scruples against performing such marriages the option of refusing; but as there was a great difference among - the clergymen themselves the marriage would not thereby be prevented. It was only necessary for parties so situated to go to a Cle''gYman who had no such scruples, in order to have the marriage solemnized. le had no desire to compel t!ae ministers of the Church to perform acts from which -faconscientiously dissented, and he thought this was 4. " 4 P1y provided for. Regarding this Bill as a rtmtely for a great practical evil, and believing that no injury Would arise from it to any class, he hoped it would be considered consistent with his duty, as a member of the Church of England, to give it his cordial support. Mr. SEYMER said that those who, like himself, were convinced that the Bill was opposed to the law of God, were bound to act upon that conviction, and oppose it. (Hear, hear.) But with reference to the evidence upon which it was based, he must say that, after having carefully read the report of the Commission, and every question and and answer in the blue book, he had come to the conclusion that it was a one• sided one. — (Loud cheers.) The greater part of the evidence was given by interested partie, by persons, in fact, who had broken the law they wished to have repealed. — (Hear, hear.) It was as if an agitation was got up for the abrogation of the law against sheep-stealing on the evidence of convicted sheep-stealers.—(A laugh.) That Was precisely the case with this Bill. Instead of relaxing Pie law, he would tighten it by passing a short law declar ing that the marriages were illegal between Englishmen and English women, who went abroad to be married under the impression that their marriage was thereby legalised. If that were done, he believed the law would be obeyed. The Hon. Member proceeded to examine the evidence, which he said showed, by the testimony of Mr. Brotherton, that marriage within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity was exceedingly prevalent in the diocese of Manchester. Another case was stated of a re spectable and wealthy man, who kept his carriage, and he was sorry to say, as the House would perceive by the evidence, kept his mistress also.--(Hear, and a laugh.) It was stated that he cohabited with his deceased wife's sister, and was only prevented from marrying her by the unsettled state of the law; then he protested against that man's respectability.—(Cheers.) It was of a similar character , to the definition of that word, some years ago, when a respectable man was explained to be one who kept a horse and gig.—(A laugh.) - where could be no respectability in living in opposition to the law. But Mr. Foster in his pamphlet continually used the terms that " parties were compelled to do this by the defective state of the law." He could not under stand why such terms were used. What compelled this man to cohabit with his wife's sister? He knew of no compulsion which should cause him to over ride the law. He 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, and his opposition to it was on the ground that it was against 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 dark 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 a n y dispen sation for any purpose that would be co ntrar y to toe 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, dis pensations were granted by the Pope, they had a right to hold that the purpose of the dispensation was in con formity with the law of God. He was in favour of the proposed measure, as he believed there was a large body of 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. lie 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 Elphin, and his statement was that no case 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 , sideratiosi of the measure before them, because the Bil which the present measure was intended to remedy had been carried under circumstances of a very peculiar cha racter. In fact, that Bill was passed to protect a parti cular case, by making a number of other parties 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. He 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 were.—(Hear, hear.) The only passage in scripture he could find bearing upon the subject was the following, namely, " Thou shalt not take a wife to a sister to vex her 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 Levitical law, and 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 langliter.) 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 reapect 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, he said it was the duty of Parliament, a's 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 inclinations.—(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 1 were their English women so fallen in sense of decency and morality as to allow their sister's husband to lay incestuous hands upon them? No, he utterly disbelieved it.— (Hear, hear.) It had been said that iu other countries no such marriages prevailed. Now that was not the case. In all Catholic countries they 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 favour of such marriages, as those of one of the greatest jurists who h a d wr itten on the subject , a nd showing that there was nothing in the Divine law which forbade a man to marry with his wif e 's sister. It was a cu stom which prevailed in the United States of America, where, allow him to say, the standard of morality was quite as high a s is this country. Su re ly, a l aw w hi c h rested upon an hypo thesis ought to be done away with. The law could not alter human nature, and if they would attempt.to do that, they were legislating in the dark.—(Hear, 'near.) Look ing at the other side of the question, he would ask them, were there n o evil s resulting from their laws? y, to a very great extent their law was most inju rious. Within a iew years of tho passing of Lord Lyndhurst's A c t, it was said that no less than 1,500 of those marriages took place. On the other hand, they had eighty-eight cases in which the law bad not been obeyed at all, and o had no less than thirty-three of these eighty-eight case they living in a state of :1Y -three in which the parties were those were cases °llcubinage owing to the law. Now, were desirous to marry,where it was certain that the parties isind would marry had not the . law- forbidden thene. ( hear.) If Innocent chil dren were to be deprived in ea t r i;* of their legitimacy, he said the Legislature w as is bu w t ay involvi ng families in confusion, and that they ought not to trifle lightly with ( innocent children.— (Hear,the happiness of families Yes,)ta ybenst, the Parliament, persons are hear.) It was said, oParliament, bound to obey the law." in its legislative capacity, ought not to (t i L ro a w temp tation in their way to break the law.— r, hear.) The Hon. and Learned Member then alluded ; nions of Jeremy Taylor, a favourite authority o wiTh e h " i P m i , and showed that they were iu favour of persons in th e relationship under consideration, marry Mg. He thought . they should nut shut the doors of Parliament against marriages of this kind, and that children of a first niar- THE SUN, LONI)ON, FRIDAY EVE NI NG , MAY 4, 1849. rage were far more likely to find a better and a more natural protection in their mother's sister than they . 1 would is step-mothers, towards whom they too fre quently entertained embittered feelings. Take the case of a dying mather; and did they not believe the pings of that woman woul.l be asoiaged—that she would die happy, if once convinc, 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 great and paramount import• ante, te trusted they would consent to the second read ing of the Bill. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then resumed his seat amid general cheers. Mr. R. PALMER said he felt a great advantage in having to follow the Hon. 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 touch 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 Gad had also a right to maintain the great social advantages which follow it. The Honourable and Learned 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 discussion in that House, yet he should not shrink from it on that occasion. The Hon. Gentleman then read that portion of Leviticus which set out the different prohibitions of marriage. He besought 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. He 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, if 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 as possible,nnd 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. He 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 atihat late hour it would be im possible for him to follow the lengthened and able speech of the 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 impoisible 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' BANKS. 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 Hon. 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 Hon. 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. He had on the last debate taken credit for hav ing placed the name of the Right Hon. Member for the University of Cambridge (Mr. Goulburu) on the Com mittee. He 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 frands were committed. Mr. GOULtURN—They were not commenced in my me. 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 he never did his duty by closing the account of the Cuffec. 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 , and despair of justice being done to the large body of paupers — (A laugh)—for whom he appeared. He had used the word paupers advisedly. They were paupers and made so through the default of the Government, which ought to have protected their small savings. He would feel it to be his Ttuty to take the sense of the House upon every vote, and it would be for the Right lion. Geutleman to take such a course as would prevent such an unpleasant necessity. The Hon. Member thanked those Memb e r s of the House who bad given him their support in this matter, and he also thanked the public press for the anxi e ty it had evinced, without ex ception, that ju s ti ce s h ou ld be done to the unfortunate depositors. He concluded by on the pro name of singhism m ot r ir motion. On the questi on b e i ng put Abel Smith, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and said that in selecting the Committee he begged to assure the Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite (Mr. Napier) that the reason why he objected to o a his name was, that his was the first of the names that had been proposed, that had been on the list of the Committee of last year. He could assure him in the what he had done, he had no personal feeling matter. The Right Hon. Gentleman in further explaining ° ie th b e reasons which had influenced him in the selection e fo d r el lo i n de, said that when the Hon. and Learned Member lin complained of so large a number of English Mem bersl3- 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 Imperial question, and he thought that, under these circumstances, he acted with the utmost fairness in placing four Irish Members on the list.at the He felt confident that any gentleman who would l o ok list of last year, would admit that the selection he had now made was made in the spirit of perfect impartiality and fairness, and that he had no personal feeling what ever in the matter. Mr. A. STAFFORD said.he did not think the Right Hon. Geatleinan the Chancellor of the Exchequer hate ad at all made any reply to the able and dispassion 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.) lie had yet to learn why the ordinary course had been departed from of allowing the mover, in the present case the Learned M e mber for Dublin to select his Committee.—(Hear, hear.) Although the Government might succeed in packing a Committee, they could t not hope by such means to satisfy the public on a question of such vital importance to a large class of poor people who had suffered by three Irish savings' banks, mid one Scotch one. Mr. GOULBURN said, with reference to what had been attributed to the Hon. Member for Evesham, that 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 fur reducing the National Debt were cognisant of the fact for years of the insol vency of the particular savingb' 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 in 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, he 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 those 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 Majority in favour of Sir G. Clerk's name -42 The question was tben 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. Berries be substituted. The House divided, when there appeared — For Mr. Hamilton ... b.. ••• 61 For Mr. Heiries 120 Majority in favour of Mr.Herries' name —59 Mr. HERBERT said he would not press the division HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION -AND-DISEASES--OF THE CHEST. - - ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL AT THE AL3ION 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 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 Lord 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 Hon. Mr. Melville, the Hon. Mr. Monson, Sir F. Shuckburgh, Sir John Hare, the Rev. Robert Mont. ;;ornery, Philip Rose, Esq. (the honorary secretary), Dr. Forbes, Dr. Cursham, D r . B ow i e , Dr. Theophilue Thompson, Baxter, Esq., R. Cl ar k e , E sq ., R ev . Charles Clarke , Henry cren Dr. eri , Williams, MuWrdiolliaYm Lambert, E be s r qt.,, Esq., R. Edward Speer, Esq., Marmaduke H orru d ge Esq., &C. 84C • A large tempor a ry ga ll er y h a d b een erected by the spirited proprieto rs o f th e tavern f or t h e 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. Leiner. 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 instate tion, whose fortunes we 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 whole 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 principal contributors.—(Loud cheers.) And I need not recall to your recollection that the Duke of Cambridge, 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 " thehealth of the -- Queen Dow ager, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Drunk with honours. Glee—" Sleep gentle lady, the : fl W o wearsleas,reanedlotshinegr.r of the Royal Family. '—(Cheers.) The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, I am about to propose that we should: drink to the Church. You are all lam sure welt aware that the hospital affords peculiar occa sions for the efficacious ministration of the offices of the Church .—(Hear, hear.) Perhaps there are few scenes in life in which spiritual efficacy could produce effects of such from its importance, and I am ther efore not sur p rised that this institution in which we are all interested has, fro earliest period been. favoured with the sympathies of the Church of England.—(Applause.) I have observed with great interest that his .Grace the Archbishop of Canter bury has very recently preached a ;sermon in favour of the objects which this institution wishes to prosecute.— (Applause.) But lam gratified that I have an oppor tunity ' occasion of referring to th e labours of an individual not so elevated in station as his Grace, but on this occ greatly distinguished, and who has peculiar claims on the best feelings of all those who are present. In looking over more, cursorily than I could have wished the records of this institution, I was struok by the various occasions upon which the pulpit had been filled with great power by a gentleman who is p resent to-da y , and known not only to you but to fame — the R ev. . Robert Mont g omer y —(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 ori g i n o f t his institution to ( th ff e ea p r r , e h s e e a n r t )— tim ad e d , rhesassedonhisfivfee and llow -coan places, and by the sole energy of h i s oval abilities and twentyfellow—ed the inspiration of a great cause—(Hear, hear)— among strangers in distant districts, raised himself a sum little short of l, oool . —(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 tleman in question has other claims on your sympathies, to which I will not at this moment refer, I am happy to think that in proposing the toast which I now place in your hands, that it will be responded to by a member of the Church, not only so distinguished for every quality, but so peculiarly entitled to your good feelings. The Rev. ROBERT MONTGOMERY, in responding to the 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 t h e u nmerited eulogy that their distinguished c h a i rman had passed upon him; he had ratheidescribed 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. —(Applause.) He had simply to state, in connexion with the toast, that many of his reverend brethren were quite willing to follow the humble example that he had set them; he was quite sure that on no one occasion would theyfbe wanting in.their zeal, or deficient in their e hi sympa self l h o a r d the great interests of this charity. H stood round its cradle, he had watche d its gr would stand wTh and he predicted that the Hospital for Consumption s u o foremost in the history of English Charm(' . (Cheers.) "Si monumentum sequiris, circ u number " o f his —(Applause,) When be saw so large a fellow-countrymen on every s ide on that occasion, he congratulated them on their presence, and he hoped 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, diversity in matters of taste, diversity in educational systems, and diversity in social philosophy; but they bad 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.) He was 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 be 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 s)mpathy 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 might 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 suffering humanity, so far as science and Christian watchfulness could do; the rest they left to the Lord. It was to him (Mr. Mongomery) an occasion for unmitigated delight to have to eke presence of their dis tinguielied chairman among them that night.—(Cheers.) He trusted he would not think him offensive in his adulation if, 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 Iwhich he had en riched the literature of his country.—(Cheers.) Whet- 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 wav 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 in 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. Miss Macdonald have succeeded Lady Caroline Somers Cocks and the Hon. 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 House, 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 an 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. H. 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) had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ex chequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing street. The deputation consisted of the Marquis of Kit. dare, Sir Percy Nugent, Mr. Burke, Kildare, Mr. Palmer, and Mr. J. O'Farrell. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor of Manchester, Sir Elkanah 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 Bowe-office. The School of Design bad 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 BATH. —The greatest excitement prevailed in Bath during the last week, in consequence of a rumour that a man named Marchant 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 Marchant 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, Marchant, 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. Marchant, 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 female 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. BRITISII 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 erdained 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. Gs. Id. The amount applicable to the general purposes of the society was 52,5741. 14s. 3d., including 7,6361. 16s. 3d. 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. I Is. Id. The receipts for Bibles and Testaments amounted to 43,3581. I Is. 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. 67, under engagements Bishop e fNorwich to the The expenditure during the past y ear h a d b een 88,831/. extent of and th G e e s 4L ocieotsy was . moved the adoption of the report, and expressed his h wh c o a s t e ho c li h c i i e t3 f ,.— ho m ld r s . u p p i o u n rap h tr is e, a m ffe . c r ti . o , n se w co a n s d i e t d s continued confidence in the mana gemen t o f th e soc i e ty, t o h n e e ro o u f g the resolution, which was carried nem. 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 HOPELESS CASE. —An old woman, troubled with dyspepsia, or some of the other " thousand ills that flesh is heir to," was advised by a physician to adopt a strict regimen as to diet, &c. Having called one day and found his patient rather worse than usual, in conse quence, as he supposed, of his advice not being strictly acted on, Medicus told her that her chance of safety was in following the regimen. "Following the regi ment, Doctor ! Gae wa, Sir, youre surely joking' wi' me now. Follow the regiment (one was about to leave the town) ! Na, na, it's past i my time o: day, Doctor ; t h a t cure might suit young gt pies, but it 'ill no do for yen. If there's nae chance fo p r after se a n auld wife o' si he boger s, I maun ' k' een ma y ap Inc but tramping f t . ' kira•yard, Doctor." I my mind' to the Grey riars 1.:.. ever might be their political feelings, he was quite sure there _was not, an individual present. shat night who would not agree with him in giving to that distinguished man the foremost plal: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 t 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—the 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 Sov ereigns.—(Cheers.) With this feeling I will propose the toast of the " Army and Navy."—(Cheers.) Drunk with honours. Duet—" Give me the tented field." PEILLIP ROSE, Esq., the Honorary Secretary to the hospital, then read the annual report, which was as follows: " 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 ... ... ... 466 Died ... ... ... ... .. 129 Remaining in the house ... ... 81 "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 ot 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 reMatate 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. 168.—(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 Bamptord Speke, Devon; 200/. from Mr. Thomas Keane; 2501. from Charles Felice, Esq., of Park-crescent; and by the will of the late Mr. W. Sawyek, 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 cha r ity , I after the death of his brother, Mr. John Sawyer. It unfortunately happened that part of Mr. Sawyer's pro perty consisted of leaseholds at Peutonville, and turnpike bonds, which being in the nature of real estate, the hos pital, under the provisions of the statutes of mortmain, is at present incapable ot holding. The bequest to that extent was therefore void; but the residue of the per -1 sonal estate, amounting to the sum of 2 , 2871 . ii s. 7 d. Con , se's, has been invested in the names of trustees, one of them being Mr. John Labouchere, the treasurer of the hospital, upon 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 sethorising 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 reeord a still further evidence of the estimation in which the charity is held, and ot the deep interest awakened in its favour. The Reverend 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 prepae ration by Mr. E. B. 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 1,5001. 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, via.:— "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 for 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, 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. 1 1 Every friend of the charity will sympathise with the 1 committee in their anxiety that the site should be of I 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 more 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 less 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 arisiYon from hope deferred. " g co ur mmittee, while they earnestly appeal to the , public on behalf of each and all of these objects, wol d . especially urge the necessity of losing noo hope pleting the building;t hat the will not and they ventin-n example of Miss Lind, a stranger and fore i gne r, thP be lost upon the wealthy and liberal supporters of After what has been charity in our l a nd.—(Cheers:) stated of the number of applicants now necessarily re fused,relief from the , want of accommodation, it is to be hoped that the means ssell not long be wanting for the com pletion of the building. It is surely not too much to expect that the noble example of Sir Henry Foulis m ay soon find a n imitator, willing to dedicate some por tion of his wealth to the service of suffering humanity, and to found a lasting monument of his generous spa.. " 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 4,456 L 9s. 4d.; leaving a balance at the backers 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 be able, after careful examination, to discharge a considerable number of such individuals, with the assurance, moat 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 28 Of in-door 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 whoie 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 mentof 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 evening, which was the the signal for an en thusiastic burst of cheering. Silence having been restored, the Honourable Gentleman spoke as follows:- -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 has always been justly celeorated for its public charities a —(Hear, hear)—but, like all very atetrit Femarks, also qu en extremely t o r e f mtehlayt happy just. I app habit e o h f e a n e d i fl• government h o vetri ma i t rz i e s n at that h c o a n t s thisien ray a g r f e o a r t e a hr o t n d g heagbriete a t utt h l wn t i a o s oo g ywg et countryhe altogether been by thanahads im posedi is in any other country. T have devolved upon other circumstances, on us duties, üblauanrtlocittonho t rao h e irbe,mitntoihfaauethsil tot fi oc,t m cona e hnrns n daei o t a efsednynrio o oi tun f tous which, under England . g th d ey lhave voluntary r tion.—(Cheers). tsunpar casually, pby.: fallenet h e r u p p o o w n e powers p ; 4 t r h e b a ee t ree p nfo u rt r .oe p u 'oses that appeal to the t n wl t ii h e :i O g tnch i • S e h—r e t ae a t r( f f t iC a e e t r .: hee sen o e T e f wre l Sh i Oil; thosee S h t a ha ve te 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, g enerally ,hitcshlulicaas s thtn p t adhedhla.ii are s k ,n)hui i vg g tdyet , , n t aei trl z uhe;ids( h isiuee o ld s tnv. p sio i co t ti a :frn l ith s th , eyi the infirmaries, metropolis,s great p re o w n a p n th u d i l c a hh r i o n combi nationa wpe n e v t every part o h t a r e r ttiahnsoisft to ituohnmoei which shrink from any rits;amleryhaeN'iethaii sh or at any for medical skill, existedyn institutions this o r a that. othern ow fluid country; and it is very remarkable, hut 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 %Odell are devoted, in detail, to the cure and observation and study of disease, which thorn greater institutions are prepared to deal with ._~N - - pathy, by taking upon himself to build the whole or part in a more comprehensive spirit. Indeed, you. may say of the remaieing_wilag•—e(Latighlnr_a_____ that fromahe eye:to the heel there is scarcely a disorder " Your committee believe that, availing themselves" of that can visl our flesh which has not had—and fora con the experience gained in the present building, and siderable period—in this country, some institution de adopting an improved mode of proceeding, in carrying voted to its: study, its cure, or its alleviation. —(Cheers.) out the works, the new wing may be erected with the It is a very remarkable circumstance that until recently addition of 6,0001. to the amount already subscribed for —I may say most recently—there was only one disease this purpose. in this country which no one attempted to study, which The Rose Charity Fund' continues to prove a most no one aspired to cure, and which no one came forward valuable auxiliary to the general funds of the hospital, to alleviate.—(Cheers.) I need not remind you that it by affording opportunities of relief in deserving and was a disease most prevalent in this country, if not pe destitute cases. culiar to it, and most general, of all other coun • " Your committee have been making great efforts to tries, in its influence—(Cries of "Hear, hear ") effect a reduction in the expenditure ot the hospital, and —one, too, not only general in its influence to bring about every economy, consistent with the com- but most heartrending in its results—(Hear, hear.) forts of the patients. They have been able to make some —one which I may say of all diseases most resembles reductions in the permanent establishment, and have put death, for it knows no distinction of class or condition, into operation a new and improved table of diets. but knocks at the turreted palaces of kings equally with "Your committee have (as on former occasions) to ac- the cellars and garrets of the poor.—(Cheers.) But it knowledge the support which the institution continues to is a curious question which, if one had time, one might receive from the powerful advocacy of the clergy. Among enter into, how it happened that in a country so alive to those who have given their services to the charity during the calamities of its creatures, where every lever in every the past year, the committee would particularly mention form and every type has been made not only the sub his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, who preached ject of study but the foundation of institutions for its in aid of the funds, at St. George's, Hanover-square, on cure,—one might be induced to stop to inquire how it Sunday, the 9th of July, 1848. was that a malady which, from the returns of our mor " They cannot, as an act of justice, omit to notice the tality, unfortunately figures as the greatest contributor unceasing exertions of the Rev. Robert Montgomery, to that dark record, should in a land so distinguished for one of the most steady supporters of the charity from its its sympathy with suffering, for its scientific acquipitions, earliest commencement, and who, during the past year, for the fac i lity —the g enerous facilit y —with which both in the pulpit and by his pen, largely contributed wealth is devoted to the cure of the calamities ot life, to its prosperity. should, as it were in despair, be considered as the only "Your committee have been engaged in preparing visitation of Providence with which we were not called and collating the new rules and bye-laws, which five upon to contend, and to whose inevitable influence we years' experien ce of the working of the hospital have were to bow without a struggle.—(Cheers.) One would shown to be necessary ; and these rules and bye-laws, as have naturally supposed that as private experience settled by your committ ee , will be laid before a special taught us that it was possible occasionally to arrest the Court of Governors for approval, as soon as the neces- course of consumption, frequently to shorten, fre sary notices can be given; and under the provisions of quently to alleviate the sufferings which it oc the existing rules, they will be open to the inspection o f casioned, and that under any circumstances it the Governors three w ee k s previously, was wise, by some machinery, to aggregate its pheno " A report of the facts connected with the medical mena, from which alone men of science can deduce reme treatment in the hospital, from its opening to the present dial results—that that spirit of association which has time, is in course of preparation by the eminent physi- always pervaded English society, as well as that chari cians who form the hospital staff. An abstract of this table impulse which has always been its characteristic, report will be read to the Court, and full particulars will would have long ago brought about some result similar be presented to every Governor as soon as the committee to that happy effect which we are now met to-night to receive it. celebrate and to aid.—(Cheers.) One would have ima " From the accompanying statement of receipts and gined, when we remember that there is no class of so expenditure, it will be seen the outstanding liabilities of cietv that is not perpetually reminded of the existence the hospital have been much reduced; but the committee and influence of this dire complaint, which rocks, as it have still to regret that the charity is not free from debt, were, at the same time the cradle of the infant the discharge of its still existing liabilities is an object and precipitates even age to the tomb, which touches second to none of those which have been alluded to in all classes of society, which every one present in the this report. course ot his life has had to deplore as a fatal agency " The number of important points requiring to be that has dusked the bloom of his existence, and darkened noticed, has extended this report to a greater length the retrospect of his life—(Cheers) —one would have than your committee could have wished. They would supposed the active impulses of Englishmen would long once more renew their appeal to the governors and the ago have induced them to see whether they could not public for continued support; and they can assure them grapple with this cause of great calamity.—(Cheers.) in return, that no effort shall be wanting on their part But that is not the case. Although this country is dis to promote , the well being and efficiency of this noble in- tinguished for its public charities, although, as I have stitution. They can only express their earnest hope said, the hospital, the infirmary, and the retuge cluster that the blessing of Almighty God, which has hitherto in every part of this island, it was scarcely known but so signally marked the progress of the charity, will still a few years back—it is not known now to continue to prosper their labours, and that the record of the majority of our fellow-subjects, that the consump each anniversary may testify of increased and increasing tive patient, the member of a class that suffers most, usefulness. 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 Medes and the Persians to those whose hectic cheek and faltering energies were refused achisittance 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 feelings of man; but viewing it 1 not merely in the light of sympatby—viewing it in the severer but not less loftier aspect of science, such a re ' suit 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 an opinion upon such a subject; but there is an opinion to me, as there is an opinion to all of you—the philosophy of human na ture—which is our common portion. All of you must feel 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, but because we must have felt that in the establishment of an institu tution that would necessarily aggregate the phenomena from which scientific results must accrue, it was the duty and interest of us all to establish some institution of that kind which would produce such results, I am surprised that earlier than it occurred, so felicitous a conception 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 an institution did not exist.—(Cheers.) It is only eight years ago—less tan 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 developed 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 not even be relieved ; but what, proudly speaking, during this brief period of time—a time hardly exceeding the term of the shortest lease of a house that any man in this room would grant to-morrow—what have been the consequences of a grand idea launched 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.—((:heers.) That during 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 skill 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 all 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, 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 heard 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 atter they quitted the hospital, yet, allowing even for 2s the possibility of a relapse , we ma y rely tha f t u a lli t i lfa , s per cent. of the patients have a chance f most mysterious, baneful, an d omnipotent destroyer. ff have been But it it is not all that a thousand su ffere rs term of their lives wit hout being cut short Lbygthia e eived within your walls, have been in a great degree i t is ns n te o a t d a of being the mer e sufferin g of the individual, has relieved il f , r from their e u i D r d s e u r ffe a r n i sufferings, s c , i racnudmrsetsatnocreesd theirto ec disease,i ty ; i ' 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 analyztd under those circumstances much more than 4,000 who 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 physical qualities, drove them for a remedy to this society ; but 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 moment accomplishing as great a benefit to human nature almost as if you had cured them of the disorder of which they thought they were the victims? They went home from Brompton, where, under the auspices of your in stitution, their wants and necessities had been adminis tered to,—they went home that day with hearts relieved and spirits elevated ; and when science whispered to them that they were not—that they could not be—ad mittednthatthn into your institution , b ecau se they were not qua lified first by a, disease alm ost uniforml y fatal, do not you suppose that you made many hearthsyou renovated e day—(Cheers)—don't yousuppose energies of many subje cts of the Q ueen, and tha t b y happy nvated that agency alone—which is apparently but a secondary consideration on the subject before us—you were ad-