The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-09-26 00:00:00

THE HERBERT CONVALESCENT HOME AT
BOURNEMOUTH.

I were

The foundation stone of the noble Inetitution to be
erected here was lied on Saturday by the Earl of
Pembroke, in the presence of • large concourse of
spectators. The company being assembled, a procession
was formed, who commenced the proemfilings by singing
the 103rd Psalm. On entering the enclosure the choristers
formed a circle around the stone to keep open the
space.
The Right Hon. Sorttintog ESTOGURT, then said:
Ladies and gentlemen: It is my duty as chairman of the
oommittee to whom the subscribers to this memorial
have commuted the distribution of their money, to
remind some of you and to inform others, who are here
present, what is the purport of our meeting together
this day. When four years ago it pleased God to take
to himself the late Lord Herbert, there was one spon-
taneous expression of public opinion among the whole
of his neighbour', and throughout the whole of the
county of Wilts, that some public memorial should be
established to remind them, and future ages, of the
virtues of that excellent min. There was, however,
souse diversity of opinion among the subscribers as to
the form such memorial should take. Whilst some of
as were in favour of seeing, as nearly as possible, a cor-
rect representation of the living man—his features and
his figure—others were rather desirous that the memo-
rial should be oae more in amordarce with his own
hesefloent character and be a living memorial, so to
ipeak, of the many virtues for which he was so
itly distinguished. After some consideration,
ft VMS determined to have both the one and the
other, and, accordingly, there now stands fo
the Market-place of Salisbury, the county town I
of Wilts, a work of the highest order, which nose I
can pass by without being forcibly reminded of its
striking representation of Sydney Herbert himself, I
his form, and features while living. That figure '
had been erected on the spot where, on numerous
occasions, he bad addressed the people for the
public good, to remind all who behold it of
that high standard of excellence which we should all
endeavour to attain. The other memorial we desire to
inaugurate to-day. It is not a sanitorinin ; it is not a
rival to the excellent hospital you already possess. at
Bournemouth; it is not a hospital for those labouring
under affections of the chest or co gumption ' • hut it is a
home that we desire to erect on this spot for those who,
having been afflicted, are sufficiently convalescent to
leave the hospital, but still too enfeebled by the disease
which has left them to attend to their usual avocations
of life. It is for such we desire to erect this building,
that they may receive that nourishing diet and rest
which they require and without which their restoration
to health can hardly be said to be a blessing, before they
return to their ordinary dwellings. Many and many
were the visits our committee paid to cliff rentlocalities,
in order to find a suitable site for the purpose; and it
*as after much consideration that this spot appeared to
us to carry tom day above all the others. And I must
say to the visitors to Bournemouth, and the inhabitants
of that town, that the way in which they have responded
to the invitation, which I had the honour of sending
them, shows how filly they sympathise with us in this
movement, and is, I trust, • guarantee that their good
feelings towards us will not be of an evanescent kind.
Let me remind them that they can help us to give it a
better finished character than the committee have con-
templated, and that it may he in their power greatly to
conduce to the success of our undertaking. One word
with regard to the laying of this foundation stone.
When the spot was fixed on for the erection of
the Herbert Convalescent Home, the question arose,
to whom should be entrusted the laying of the first
stone, and you will not be surprised when I tell you of
our happiness when, with the greatest pleasure and the
greatest kindness, my noble friend, the representative of
the name and fortune, and, I trust hereafter to be the
possessor of the virtues of his father, consented to come
here and perforin this work. I shall not say one word
of Lord Pembroke himself. He has a hard task to per-
form, bee in doing it he will, I am sure, gain the good-
will and attachment of those who are here present.
Nor shall I say one word of Lady Herbert beyond this,
that her fondest wish is for the success of our under-
taking. That good lady is present on the spot to-day to
see for herself with what kind affection the memory of
her late husband is regarded by his countrymen. And
now permit me to ask you, with hearts full of the
memory of the past, and with strong hopes for the
future, to join in asking for the Divine ble•aing to rest
upon this work. I shall presently call upon my noble
friend, Lord Pembroke, to lay this stone, said while he
is doing so I am Imre there is not a single person here
but will pray that the rest of his life may be like that of
the beginning. But before we do this, I beg to call upon
the Rev. the incumbent of Bournemouth to offer up
prayer for God's blessing on this work.
The Rev. A. M. Bennett having offered up imitable
prayers,
The youthful EARL of PEMBROKI proceeded to lay
the foundation stone. When this WILES done he said: It
is with great pleasure that I have been asked to lay this
day the foundation stone of a building to be erected as
a memorial of any father. A better memorial could not
have been chosen than this, which ilfor the relief of the
sick poor, for all my father's life was apent in relieving
suffering, which is an example, 1 trust, that his
_ __A successors
may ever follow. lam glad this memorial hasbeen ohosen,
in connection with the Salisbury Infirmary, in which he
took the greatest interest, and gave up so many of his
engagements in order to attend the oommittees of the
hospital. I am glad also that the plan has been
approved by Miss Nightingale, whose name has long
been associated with that of my father in promoting the
welfare of the poor. To-day is his birthday, and there-
fore a very fit time to begin such a work. My dear
mother herself was always accustomed to set apart that
day for some special work of charity and love. I wish
to express on behalf of my mother, and brothers, and
sisters, and myself, my thanks of gratitude for your
subscriptions to this fit and proper memorial of my
father'. name. In conclusion, allow me to add, we lay
this stone of the Herbert Convalescent Home in the name
and to the gloty of the ever blessed Tried y, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and ia memory of one
now gone to rest, who, during his life upon Berth, was
faithful in works of mercy, brotherly kindness, and
charity. Amen.
Other suitable prayers were then offered up, the 127th
Psalm sung, and the blessing pronounced by the Rev.
A. M. Bennett.
The ceremony being concluded, the company returned
to Bournemouth to luncheon, under a tent which had
been erected on the archery ground of Mr. Kerley.
The ,weather was all that could be desired, save,
perhaps, that it was & little too hot. The pleasnre
grounds were in excellent condition, said PM scene from
the refreshment tent was *harming. The band of the
Royal Marine Artillery was in attendance and played
at intervals during the efternnon. The repast was got
map with great taste end jetigraent and the vines wen'
plentiful and excellent. The chair was taken by thig
Right Hon. Sot lieren-Estcourt, supported on the right
by Lady Herbert, and on the left by the Earl of Perna
broke. There were also present the Bishop of Oxford,
the Bishop of Salisbury, Lord Nelson, Lord Earnest
Bruce, Lord 0. G. Lennox, M.P., C. W. Paoke, Esq.,
M.P., R. D. Seymour Esq., M.P., a large number of
the clergy end nearly 300 of the flute of the counties of
Hants, Dorset, and Wilts.
Lenobeon being over, the CHAIRMAN proposed the
toast of Englishmen—" The health of Queen Victoria."
Mr. PACKS, M.P., next gave 'The health of the
Prince of Wales the Princess
members of the Royal Family,

'O7lO-E,

ineess

'ales- ,

• .•••••"•"r
to the health of Lord Penitireini and /wily lfferrt. fl
did not admit it because it was not an abstract esoll.
meat upon what people migat eddy iedulo but the
toast was the health mid hap; loess of two ;imams who
were in their iminpany that day, and therefore it was
impossible in their presence to steak out as they mai
wish all that warn in their minds Those wi o we,.
present at the laying of the stone that day 1501101
estimate for themselves the promise which, if God
willed, was given of the future life of Lord Pembroke.
He thought he never hard a more moving address Ittnala
Lord Pembroke'e, because there was in it • pedeld
simplicity, • perfect absence of thought for Inumada
which it WM his hereditary right to pcadieastaShis father',
representative. blight God grant that that life might
be prolonged to be beloved and honoured as was bila
father. blight God grant that in the whole estate
realm of England, and in the ohnreli, the sum of Lied
Pembroke might, when the day came, be had in homer
esteem, reverence and love as was now the name of ki:s
father, the late Lord Herbert. And in his preemies
they would not expect him to my much of her who had
strained every feeling to be amongst these dm*
day, to do honour to that beloved moomery.
lint let him my, and every one present, he thou
would have caught that remarkable statement ofCI
Pembroke, that it was the custom of his parcels whale
their birthday or wedding-day came mad to ePeod.
not in selfish merriment, but to mho it dm oommom
doing some good to some 'offerer, or some oat of Ado
nem to some one needing it. In the very spirit et 1114
tradition Lady Herbert had come amongst them or be?
husband's birthday to help them to lay the stone otAbsd
tebtiumnial. He could himself testify that day SOAP
day and month after month, she had been carrying NM
on the large estates that had come to ber son, the pad
poses that were in his father's heart, in doing good to
all that were on them, restoring and repairing churches,
founding schools, gladdening widows' hearts, and
training up the young to fear God and honour the
Queen. He was sure that all syinpathised with bias
when he said that on that day they could not, so te
speak, but rejoice with her in the midst of bee sorrow,
because it had been the wish of the country, and an
who knew Lord Herbert, to erect a memorial whereby
shouli be administered comfort to the suffering and tbe
sick, conceiving that the sweet and precious wreaths of
that ever fruitful memory could be beat preserved, not
by a painted image, bat by hanging the ever fruitful
branches which should make glad the heart of maa
around that pillar which recorded his memory. la
conclusion, he asked them in remembrance of the pad
and in hopes of the future, to drink the health of Lady
Herbert and Lord Pembroke.

The CHATILWAS responded to the toed, end, in non.
elusion, proposed "Success to the Herbert Convalescent
Home."

Mr. DAIIBY SMIOUR, M P., next give " 8000elli be
the Salisbury Infirmary," of which the late Lord Herbert
was so munificent a benefactor; and
Lord EIINZEIT Beaus, in a humorous !pencil, gave
" Our future neighbours, the inhabitants of Bourne-
mouth."

The BISHOP of SALISHITRT, in an admirable
gave "The Health' of the Chairman, the Vice-Chair-
man, and the Hon. Secretary of the Herbert Ceara's*.
oent Home," to which the Chairman responded; after
which the company separated to their several homes._

. .
During the afternoon, the public were admitted to the
grounds on the purchase a tickets, the proem& oi
which are to be devoted to the Convalescent Rome.

I