The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-30 00:00:00

THE DEAN OF ROCHESTER AND ST. BAR-
THOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL.

PUBLIC MEETING.
Obr readers will recollect that, so far back u
April last, whilst criticising the conduct of the Dean and
Chapter of Rochester with respect to the various charitable
Lands placed ander their control, the Erpress alluded,
among other matters, te the estates of lit. Bartholomew's
Hospice!, originally intended for the relief of the poor and
dimmed, but which, somehow or other,. had bees gradually
absorbed in transit, except a very small fraction, which the
Dean of Rochester, who is patron to' the charity, distributed
to four poor brethren, all that remained of the ancient stu
n ficeut institution. A short oaths* of the history of the charity
will be necessary tamable our readers to understand what took
place yesterday in Rochester, a report of which we subjoin.
The foundation dates so far hack so a.n. 1078, befog the
work of Bishop Gundulph, and was intended for the reap
lion of " Lepers, Lasers, sad other poor persons," natives
of the county, and was endowed by the founder with lands
to the than value of 131. a year. On the dissolution
of the monasteries the control of this hospital (which had
before been vested in the monks of St. Andrew's Priory) was
handed over to the Dean of Rochester, and has continued to
be under the patronage of successive deans ever since. In
course of time, however, the property gradually roe in value
(it is now estimated at 3,6001. annual rental), bat the advan-
tages derived by the poor busk in a proportionate ratio. The
hospital, which under the monks of St. Andrew's wee a be-
nefit to the whole district, became at last a receptacle for only
tour " poor brethren," one of whom earned his aunty pit-
tanos by performing divine service in the ancient chapel of
the hospital. The gradually advancing ?slue of the property
was meanwhile disposed of in enormous renewal fines sr
caved by the deans as leases fell in. The matter was at lad
bromeht before the Master of the Rolls by the Attorney-
General, and a decree was obtained prohibiting the dean
from further interference with the charity, and vesting its
estates in the ecclesiastical commission.
In pursuance of this deems Mr. Faroe, solicitor, attended
yesterday on behalf of the Attorney General to hear from
the various local bodies suggestion as to the future disposal
of the fonds, and to obtain fnformition generally as to the
wants of the towns and districts interested.
The meeting took place at the Guildhall, and
The MAYOR (Mr. Liddens) having Mesa the chair,
Mr. FE ARON opened the proceedings by saying that before
enuring into the general business of the meeting he wished
to state two or three facts which might perhaps very mush I
clear the subject. He was the more anxious to do this u I
from what had appeared in the public papers he feared that
there was considerable misapprehension abroad. The most
important topic of all was the funds with which they had to
deal, which had been broadly estimated at somewhere about
3,6001. per annum. But it should be remembered
that the property was subject to leases (upwards
of 601.), and that whatever might at a future period
be done with 'too leases—a point on which he would say
nothing—they influenced the present value, which really
was not more than one-half what had been stated in the
papers. Neither was it very probable that any very large
sum would be at present available. It was necessary to
bear these facts in mind in shaping their suggestions, which
might be so framed as, while moderate at present, might
be capable of expansion, as the funds int:reseal. There was
another tact, which he must state in public to a public
body. It had been stated in the papers that the estates of
St. Bartholomew's Hospital were in the possession of the
dean and chapter of Rochester, the fact being that that body
never had anything to do with them. The property bad been
for years under the control of the dean as patron of the hos-
pital, and he (Mr. Fearou)oould only say, in justice to the dean,
that from the moment the report of the commissioners
same out, he (the dean had not granted any lessis or other-
wise interfered with the property. (Hear, hear.) It was
the wish of the Attorney General that this fact should be
stated, and also his opinion that nothing could be more
honourable or upright than the conduct of the dean in this
matter. (Hoer, hear.) lie was now ready to receive sug-
gestions from the various local bodies.
The various local institutions and interests were !Tro-
unced by deputations, each of which gave in a written list
of suggestions, which were severally read aloud by Mr.
Faros, and of which the following is the substance :
The firct was from the Rev. Dr. Irving, rector of Chat-
ham who held that the designs of the founder would not be
euried out, if the funds WITS diverted front the spiritual ne-
cessities of the district. His plan would be to restore and
enlarge the chapel of the hospital, appoint a clergyman to it,
and endow him with an adequate stipend.
The corporation suggested that the funds should be em-
ployed in the foundation of a hospital for out door as well
.e in door patients, as institution absolutely necessary in a
district which had a population of 60,000. At the same time,
she corporation de: fired that the chapel should be preserved
la an efficient state.
The Earl of ROMNEY, as head of a deputation from the
Ophthalmic Hospital, Maidstone, suggested that a portion of
the forthcoming fends should be allocated to that charity,
observing that altheugh leprosy was now happily unknown
in England, there were some affections of the eye which
medical men pronounced to be nearly akin to that disease.
The noble earl read some tables, which showed that is tour
years the hospital at !Isidro)** had received 206 patient.
from R cheater and the neighbouring districts.
Another deputation suggested that all the funds should
be given to the dispensary, which might speedily be con
meted into an hospital.' '
The Rev. DREDGE, one of the clerical brethren of the
hospital on the present foundation, was of opinion that a
hospital end infirmary should be established, but hoped that
tee chapel world be preserved, as It was at a great distance
from the petit!' church, and was a great comfort to many
aged MOW.
The next suggestion was from the medical men of the
vicinity. who demanded a hospital capable of relieving 100
in-door and 200 out-door patient., the total expense of which
they estimated at 2,1801. per annum.
Mr. TJBBARD pat in a claim for the guardians of the
Medway Union.
The Rev. W. CONWAY 'requested permission to make a
few observations in support of the prooos .al for establishing a
hospital. He congratulated himself on the fast that from so
many different bodies, acting without any concert, sugges-
tions had come in favour of a hospital. (Hear, hear.)
He untended that the funds belonged exclueively to the
three towns, seeing that the hospital was originally founded
by a t ishop of Rochester, and that the dean was patron.
Tn. y bad a large and poor population who were, it was
believed, subject to many influences prejudicial to health.
The rev. speeker then read tables of the comparative ex-
pose at Canterbury, Brighton, and other hospitals, from
whisk he inferred that an efficient hospital might be tee
bibbed in Rochester at an expense of 1,7001. or 1,8001. an-
&sally. In the estimate he contemplated spiritual instruc-
tion at the hospital.
Mr. HAYWARD asked what was to be done for the
spiritual necessities of the tenants, if the chapel, funds were
alienated.
I Kr. CONWAY intimated that the tenants paid rent for
Itheir seats.
Mr. NICHOLSON said that the chapel question was an
epee question. The great point about which the citizens
were anxious was the hospital.
Mr. LEWIS, coroner, suggested the establishment of an
seam for female orphans.
MS Rev. Mr. BARKER hoped that the outlying districts
he the &stases of five miles would have the advantage of the
erhospital.
ladies, Miss HULKS and HORSENAIL, proposed
that a portion of the fiends should be given to an infant
school.
Mr. FEARON baying read all the suggeetions, said that
all should be submitted to the Attorney-General, who would
give them every attention and would be happy to receive
further suggestions up to the latest moment.
The MAYOR asked when would the suggestions be sent
in by the Attorney-General ?
Mr. FEARON said that the first thing to consider wan
the amount of funds. It would be absurd to make any ar-
rangement until that was ascertained. At present the in-
come was only 1301. a year. It would, however, be gradually
increasing.
Thanks were then voted to Mr. Patron for his attendance,
and to the Mayor for presiding, and the meeting broke up
The following curious extract from the Lansdowne MS.,
being a letter from the then Bishop to Lord Burleigh, shows
that the revenues of the charity were in peril so far hack SS
the 16th century, and that then the hospital was an exten-
sive charitable institution.
" My humble dude to your honorable lordthip:remembred
being advertise' from some of my church. at Rochester that
there Is a ante in the Exchequer attempted against the poore
hospital! off Cheating within my diocese*, to the utter epoyle
an widoyinge off certain. poore Lasaree, and other aged
and impotent poisons there reeient at this present, and net
anal* off them, but off a greater sombre off other such like
as mai. stand in node off the like rebate in the same place
is Lyme to come. I could not but in moat humble wise by
this few Ines crave your honour's good favour toward*.
the Nib pen people and hospital!, wherein. that extremitie
whist' h sweet toward.. them mate be avoided, and the good
wham temerds the poem miserable people which be now
I there, sad which male be hosteller, as it was at the begyning
well neat, continued. I have herd that the saffie poor*
beepitall hath beau heretofore attunes assailed, but notwith-
I standing, hetherto by the bisehope of this sea, and the deane
gad chapter (who, as your honour steal be pries, have scot
egilleamt to thew for the 'aids hospitsll), it bath bone pee-
sw edj and our assureo trust is that your good lordship,
eassailig to year accustomed poises toward.. all such.
eresisse red feasdatious will ,mad, geed lord, so for forth
mikado will permit to the maid pore people and us, so shall
thei and we bob think. mediae bound. to pray ante God
condiments for the eandesases Of your lodshipgood
ertate.—Bromelie, this 12111 of Or Oh., 1679. Your honour's
meet humble to sesemseby hews Roman.—To the Right
Unswayable my Wye geed With. Lord Treason: off Eng-
leads"

DIPIIMAISISTAIIIT ADJUTATT 0111131 AL.—Capt. Packs,l
of sheath Foot, isle messed the late Major limas as Deputy-
/Molar AtQatast-Osserel of the limes Guards.
AlOtssoiss to thoessimemlingedisissefeavalry regiments
Is the surdss bee buss blast by the Ilsoratary-st- War,
latheistiag that her 311siesty has bees pleased to order that
hest the ht OeMber, 1849. regimental guartormastres shall
be enabled a mass maim seethes is other ranks, as
monkshood or uroieridokood sista, towards their
I chime Ate iserease&H quarter-mom The followirg
is as abelmet of bee Majesty wettest on the statism, which
moompasisd the . " Pay of guarter-masters per
diem: Oa first ammibmmast (cavalry), 81. 6d ; on first ap-
pointment (infaift), la. Id. After 10 yams' service as
gums-muter, oe stile U yeses service as a essimissioned
or soa.oossisheiimed aims, et which at least four years
shall have bees is iisselesameter (cavah7), 10s. ed.; ditto
(Wesley), Os. 6d. Alter 15 years' service' as gasetar-master,
or after 20 years' MON all a snamissiosed or now commb.
shoed oflimr, of which at lout 10 ysan shall have been at
quetarlasitir (quaky), I.lt. ; ditto (baulky), 10e.