The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-08 00:00:00

Original yttttrs from ltt Crimta.

THE following description of the hospitals, &c., at
Scutari is from the pen of a former correspon-
dent:

Constantinople, Aug. 20, 1855.

MY DEM: -, • • • • And now, perhaps,
you would not mind reading a little as to how in-
valids and sick are now treated on arrival at Scu-
tari. They are landed by steamers (tug) from the
sick-ship, with the exception of such cases as are in
a very delicate state: these are landed in a fiat-
bottomed boat made for the purpose. On landing at
the wharf a large fatigue-party is there in readiness,
to receive and convey the knapsacks and kit of the
sick to hospital. At the gates of the latter place a
sergeant stops every man, and ascertains his name,
number, and regiment, and whether his kit is pre-
sent. He is then passed on to the bath-room, where
the whole are stopped—each man is made to have a
bath, those only excepted who are named by sur-
geon—on coming ouc., the whole of his clothing and
linen is taken from him, and packed up with his
knapsack and clothing, and stored; and he is then
supplied by a sergeant of the Lath-room with flannel
drawers, woollen socks, linen or woollen shirt (as the
patient may choose), a light jacket, waistcoat, and
jacket, and a nightcap. The whole of his kit is thus
taken from him, and hospital clothing substituted.
After which he is conducted to his ward and allotted
a bed, which he finds to be made upon a bedstead
with sacking, with flock or hair bed, two blankets
and a pair of sheets, and a rug—all clean. His bed
separated from his neighbour's by about three feet.
His knife and fork, cup, &c., required by him in his
ward is placed upon a shelf over his head, where his
!tame, number, and disease, also appear very con-
spicuous. He is also allowed a comb and hair-
brush, supplied gratuitously ; in the ward is also
hung a good-sized mirror, which serves all of the
patients. When he gets so far recovered as to be
made convalescent he then has the opportunity of
strolling where he likes in the square of the hospital,
and he then becomes an inmate of the " sheds "—a
name given on account of their having been built by
the British in the centre of the square of the bar-
rack hospital, a light building of wood, expressly for
that purpose. In this situation he has the privilege
of a library, which is in the centre of the square,
where he is allowed to read and write, books in
plentitude, and also the latest papers, both daily and
weekly. The diets of the troops are most excellent.
No one who would visit the hospital now could have
the least idea of the wants experienced in the latter
part of 1854. The name of Miss Nightingale is re-
vered by every individual of this hospital. Amongst
the many I have spoken to, none gives her a name
but that of the kindest of women ; every one seems
to look upon her as a saviour sent in the midst of
their sufferings.

DETAIIID ACCOUNTS of the receipt and expenditure
for navy, army, commissariat, and ordnance services
for the year to the 31st of March, 1854, are given in
a return just printed. It shows that the expendi-
ture for the navy amounted to 7,197,804/., being
77,0991. in excess of the estimates ; for the army,
6,503,7561., being 218,2901. under the estimates ; for
the commissariat services, 617,027/. ; and for the
ordnance services, 3,053,5671., being 61,5821. less than
the sum granted.

MR. ABBOTT LAWRENCE, late diplomatic represen-
tative of the United States at the British Court, died
at Burton, on the 18th ult. Mr. Lawrence was born
in December, 1792, and realised an ample fortune by
his mercantile enterprise, by which he obtained in
America a high and influential position, having been
twice elected for Boston to Congress. He contested,
in 1818, the Vice-presidency with Mr. Fillmore, and
lost that office by a comparatively small number of
vctes, only ten. Mr. Lawrence's great influence with
the old Whig party, and his wealth, prompted the
then existing Administration to appoint him Minister
Plenipotentiary to the British Court, in succession to
Mr. Bancroft, the able historian. He discharged the
duties of his diplomatic post with much credit; and
the American Legation during his sway was the
scene of princely hospitality, a series of brilliant re-
ceptions and dinner-parties being given in that season
of unexampled excitement, at which not only were
those engaged in the American department enter-
tained, but the best American society had the oppor-
tunity of mixing with the elite of the British literary
and scientific community in the saloons of the Ame-
rican Minister. Shortly afterwards impaired health
obliged Mr. Lawrence to seek retirement; and when
he was relieved of his duties, he sought that quietude
in his native country which, after a too short period,
has terminated, much to the regret of an affectionate
family and large circle of friends, in his death. As
far as English society is concerned, the memory of
Mr. Lawrence will be regarded with the warmest
esteem.