The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

HOSPITAL F 4 )1t C ,NSUMI'TION AT
BIWA' PTON.

Tan noble charity has just acquired a considerable
addition to its funds wider circumstances so singular

as to justify particular notice of them.
When the foundation-stone of the building in the
Fulham-road wax laid by Prince Albert, on the 11th
of June, Isll, a handsome gilt trowel, specially
manufactured by Messrs. Elkiugton from au original
and elegant design, was wade use of by the Prince.
At the bazaar in aid of the institution, held in the
grounds of the Chelsea Hospital on that Ma the
following day, this trowel was exhibited at the stall
of Mrs. Philip Rose, wife of the honorary secretary,
and excited general admiration. A gentleman who
saw it, John M'Cullom, Esq., of Bedford-place, be-
came very desirous of possessing it, and ultimately
purchased it of Mrs. Rose for thirty guineas. A few
days afterwards it became first known to the com-
mittee that it was usual in such cases to request the
layer of the stone to accept the trowel which had
been used on the °cession, and all parties concerned
were at once desirous of repairing the error into
wbitili they had undesignetlly fallen, and of regaining
possession of the handsome implement,that it night
he offered for the Prince's acceptance. Accordingly,
a representation of the circumstances was made to
Mr. M'Cullom by Mr. Rose, and,tl gh he was very
reluetant to part with an object which he had shown
MO much desire to possess, and which appeared to
possess peculiar value in Isis eyes, he at length eon-
'tented to surrender it, that the wishes of the cone
mittee might be complied with. lint he positively
refused to receive back the thirty guineas he had
paid for it, tl Kit urgently pressed to do so. The
trowel, being sent to Prince Albert, was graciously
accepted ; and the only return that could be made to
Mr. M'Cullom for Isis Liberality was to present him
with the handsomely-carved walnut-woad mallet
which had also been used by his Royal Highness
during the ceremony. On this mallet was a plate,
with an inseription, commennuoratiie of the use to
which it had been applied ; and it was aecompanied
with a note to Mr. Wt.:idiom expressive of the great
regret felt at his disappointment.
These circumstanees, trifling in themselves, seem
to have made a lasting impression en Mr. M.Cul-
lones mind. So far from feeling aggrieved sit the
loss of the trowel, the transaction appears to here
strengthened his interest in the charity which he
thus for the first time becaine aequainted with. On
his death, a short time since, he left the whole of his
property absolutely to his sister, his only surviving
relative ; but a private memorandum was found in
his desk, conveying his desire that, at her death, she
would bequeath the property to the Hospital for Con-
sumption. This wish the lady held sacred ; and by
her will, just proved, she leaves her property, with
the exception of a few trifling legacies, to this benefi-
cent institution. Her estate is now being realised,
anti, we are glad to hear, will leave a net surplus
available to the charity (after all deductions) not far
short of lri,ts KV.
This fact is the more gratifying as no one is in-
jured by the reversion of so considerable a property
to the support of the charity. Mr. M'Cullom''
sister has left no relatives whatever ; and the peer
victims of that fatal malady whose sail condition the
hospital is feuntleti to ameliorate thus become, with
out reproach, the natural heirs of that property
which, for the last nine years, seems to have been
conscientiously preserved for them.
So curious a story musty bear a title of reflection.
The benefit of royal patronage to works of benefi-
cence can seldom lie measured by its apparent and
immediate results. But for the interest excited by
the Prince having used the trowel and the mallet,
Mr. M'Cullones attention would probably never have
been strongly fixed on the mentorions diameter of
the institution, tic the suffering it was designed to
relieve. Trifles sometimes lead to important cow
sequences ; and we fancy that this little narrative
will find permanent Olive in the record of illy eccen-
tric motives, anti dispositions of property, by which
those charitable institutions which are the just pride
of our country have often been founded, helped, or
perpetuated.

AT THE CITY oFPoN REOISTRATION, the claims
and objections which will come before the revising
banister are as follows :—Claims freeman anti
liveryman, 1; inhabitant householders, 173. Oh.
jeetions : freemen and liverymen, 308; inhabitant
householders, 1,012 ; total claims and objections.
1,494. Last year they stood thus : free-
men anti liverymen, 2 ; inhabitant householders,
Oltjections : freemen and liverymen, ;):tit ;
inhu-
Sant householders, IU ; total elaiuN and objections,
1 475
71 •