The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-16 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.

Yesterday evening the annual dinner in aid of the
funds of this excellent charity took place at the London
Tavern, under the preridenc)• of Thomas Ilankcy,
Jun., the Governor of the Dank of Englund. Amongst
those present were:—Baron Gold,tnid, Mr. Robinson, Mr.
Bishop, Mr. E. Itumilly, Mr. Summer+, Mr. Previid, Pro-
fessor Quail', Prokssor Walshe, Professor Murphy, Pro-
fessor Erichsen, Rev. Dr. Stebbing. Mr. N. Monteliorc,
Mr. F. Guldsmid, Mr. Waley, Dr. Grant, Professor Mal-
den, and Mr. Cope.
The CHAIRMAN, in pmposing " The Queen," observed
that there was no brighter diadem in her 314.-ty's crown
than her support of the various charities of the country.
That support had been extended to this society, of which
she was the patroness. (Cheers.)

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " Prosperity to Univer-
sity College Hospital," said he felt quite incompetent to the
task of duly advocating the claims of this charity. Every
one must feel bound to contribute to the relief of his fellow-
creatures in some shape, but the claims of this institution to
support were very strong, in common with other hospitals
and institutions fur the relief of the outliving pour.
The charity hail fulfilled the of for which it was ori-
ginally instituted. It was intended as an adjunct to ouc of
our great national universities—the London University,
which had been founded with great difficulty, and in the
face of the strongest prejudices. Those 4:Acuities and pre-
judices it had overcome, by the aid of men who were supe-
rior to all prejudice. (Cheers.) It had been found essen-
tial, in connexion with that institution, to establish the
hospital, whom interests they were met to promote. Had
the London University been endowed in a similar manner
to the older universities, the hospital would nut now have
had to appeal for public support. In the course ut
lust year alone, upwards of 18,000 persons had been re-
lieved, of whom 1,194 were in-patients. Rut its benefits
were not confined to the members relieved; us a great
medical school, it was invaluable, and it: benefits would be
diffused from London, not only throughout the country,
but all over the globe: Mr it was only in the medical
sellouts of Loudon that medical knowledge and skill could
be extended to the colonies. (Hear, hear.)
Several other toasts were proposed and responded to.
In the course of the proceedings, subscriptions were
announced, amounting to 1,0101.
From a recent statement issued by the committee it ap-
pears that, " At an annual expense of from 5,000/. to 0,0001.,
the most skilful treatment and assiduous nursing are pro-
vided fur the sick ptor of the adjacent densely-populated
districts, and, in cases of difficulty, fur patients from all
parts of the kingdom ; and were the funds adequate, the
Lust complaint that hospital relief is not proportionate in
Laudon to that of other capitals would be removed from this
quarter at least of the metropolis, whereas at present the
operations of this charity are so restricted by the state of its
funds that, while the building is capable of containing 200
beds, not more than 120 can be supported. The number of
the recipients of the benefits of the charity was last year
18,635, of whom 1,101 were in-patients; 7.49 women
in childbirth attended at their own habitations, and
510 ophthalmic patients; the remaining number received
relief as outpatients or as casual applicants. A clergyman
of the church of England officiates as chaplain, but every
patient is allowed to have the advice of a minister of that
term of religion which he himself professes. All destitute
persons are admissible: although subscribers arc entitled
to certain privileges of recommendation, the hospital is
practically a free hospital. Clergymen and ministers of
the surrounding ',wshes are invited to send patients.
Since the establishment of the University College school of
Medicine, of which the hospital forms an important branch,
great improvements have been made in medical education
throughout England, and these improvements are justly
ascribed to the example set by the University College.
The ground on which the edifice stands was given for
the purpose of building a hospital thereon, by University
College."

LONDON, SUBURBAN, AND lIOME COUNTIES PER-
MANENT BENEFIT BUILDING SoLIETY.—This liGuitty held
a public meeting on Wednesday, at the Lieorge and Vol.
tore, George-yeerd, Lombard-street. Mr. N. Aldridge took
the chair. Mr. Harvey, the secretary, said the society was
established to remedy the defects and incouveniences expe-
rienced in other societies of this nature. The promoter. of
the society had a full conviction that its plans were such as
to give satisfaction to all parties. No redemption fee, or
any charge of that kind-, was required. Mr. Nelson, who
held the first position amongst actuaries, certified that the
table in the prospectus might be fairly and safely adopted
fur the purposes of the society, upon the terms and coudi-
tions set forth in that prospectus. After the transaction of
WOW formal business, the meeting separated.
FATAL FIRE IN RATCLIFF-LllGUWAY.—Yesterday
morning at an early hour the neighbourhood of Itatcliff-
highway was alarmed by evidences of fire issuing from the
windows of the house 6, Vine-place, Broad-street. As
soon as entrance could be obtained by forcing the doors,
a fearful scene was presented, for the bedstead, bed, and
bedding was wrapped in a general blaze, and the groan-
ing which proceeded from some part of the room gave un-
mistakeable evidence that some one was in the midst of
the tire. Several buckets of water having been procured,
the same was discharged over the fire, which prevented it
from extending; and as soon as it was somewhat got
under, the room was catered, when it was found that Mr,
Lawson was burned in a most frightful manner over the '
whole of his body. A medical gentleman was sent for,
but before he arrived the sufferer expired. Owing to the
exertions of the inhabitants the tire was confined to that
part of the premises in which it began, but the furniture ;
therein was destroyed, and the lower part of the house
severely damaged by water. The deceased was a very
sober man, but invariably smoked a pipe of tobacco of a
night in bed to relieve him of the asthma. A pipe was
bond near his bed.