The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-24 00:00:00

THE EARL OF DERBY AT LIVERPOOL.

At noon, yesterday, the Earl of Derby laid the
foundation stone of • new Liverpool hospital intended to
supersede the institution at present known as the
" Southern Hospital," but which has been of late found
far too small for the number of patients requiring ad-
mission. The site of the new building is in Hill-street, at
the south end (1 the town, and considering the densely
crowded character of the locality, • most advan-
tageous choice has been made, as the hospital will have •
good open street on every aide. The total estimated cost
of the new hospital is 35,0001., 24,10.51. of this sum being
absorbed by the purchase of the land. The donations
promised already retch 24,1*-4., the greater part of this
amount having been paid In, leaving 11,0001. still to be
raised.

The principal front of the hospital will be to Kill-street,
presenting a frontage of 300 feet, and extending in depth
180 feet. There will be a centre and two end blocks. The
former will contain the administrative department, with
the operating theatre, chapel, board room, and writing
and examination room. The end blocks, separated front
the centre by spacious corridors east and west, will contain
one large and one small ward each, with nurses' rooms,
baths, patients' lifts to each floor, and every arrangement
for the convenience and comfort of the patients. The pro-
posed accommodation will embrace 200 beds. it isexpected,
from the great attention which will be paid to the con-
struction of the building and its sanitary arrangements,
that the hospital will be one of the most complete and
useful in the country. The building will be erected from
the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Cul-
shaw and Mr. Summers, of Liverpool.
The ceremony yesterday attracted a very large number
of spectators, the ladies appearing to take a very warm
interest in the undertaking. A guard of honour was
formed by the lit Lancashire Rifle Volunteers (of which
Lord Derby is the colonel), and there were two volunteer
bands in attendance. Lord Derby arrived shortly after
twelve o'clock, accompanied by the Countess of Derby,
Captain the lion. Frederick Stanley, Lady Constance
Stanley, Colonel Wilbraham, and Miss Wilbraham. Upon
the platform also were Messrs. T. B. Horsfall, M.P.,
J. Laird, M.P., S. R.Graves, M.P., the Bishop of Chester,
the Bishop of Texas, Charles Turner, M.P., Yen. Arch-
deacon Jones, the Dean of Chester, Le. A letter of
apology for absence had been received from Lord Stanley.
Lord Derby on taking the chair was loudly and heartily
cheered.

Mr. G. H. HORRVALL, in the absence of Mr. E. Lawrence
(chairman of the hospital committee), presented the trowel
to his lordship, and, in the committee's name, requested
him to lay the first stone.
The Earl of DERBY having laid the atone with the usual
formalities, said : Ladies and gentlemen, I have been re-
quested to say a few word, to you on the interesting occa-
aloe on which we are met thismoniing, and gmust request
your indulgence, for really I am not capable of much physi-
cal exertion. But, indeed, the object for which we are met
requites no argument or recommendation on my part.
Charities of other descriptions may be objected to—as I
know some have been—that, however benevolently in-
tended and admirable their objeect, they may have the
effect of encouraging or fostering the very habits and vices
which they are intended to relieve and obviate. Such objec-
tions have been made, for example, to foundling hospitals,
to refuges, and even to soup-kitchens ; but with reptrd to
this hospital there can be no such objection made.
It is a charity at once large and comprehensive,
embracing every sect, every denomination, every
rank ; meeting the exigencies which are common
to our human nature ; and impossible, if properly
managed, to lead to the slightest abuse or objection. It
may be, certainly, that in this hospital there may be
treated cases of disease, delirium tremens, for example,
brought on by intemperate habits ; but no man, I think,
will imagine for a single moment that a person becomes •
drunkard under the hope of being treated for delirium
tremens in a Liverpool hospital; still less would any person
volunteer to break a leg or an arm, or fracture his skull,
for the purpose of going under the admirable treatment
which, I have no doubt, he would receive here.
(" Hear, hear," and laughter.) No, gentlemen, the
object of this hospital is, as you have been told, for
the relief of bodily ailments of whatever description they
may be ; it is for the relief of human suffering ; and that
is an object which all persons must have an equal interest
in who have the slightest feelings of humanity. We are
not at this time to inaugurate a new institution or an un-
tried experiment. It is true we are laying the first stone
of a new and more extended building, but we are only en.
larging the benefits and advantages for many years derived
from a hospital which has formerly existed, but on a more
contracted scale, As the growth of this great town in-
creases, as population multiplies, it is natural t.) suppose—
it is inevitable—that accidents and diseases must spread
and increase in a corresponding proportion. I trust the
time will never arise when, with the spread of population
and with the increase of suffering, there will not be found
abundant charity to meet the exigencies as they arise
from time to time. (Hear, hear.) Now, ladies and gen.
tlemen, how great is the necessity for enlarging the ex-
isting institution may be collected from one or two,
and I will only trouble you with one or two, statements of
particulars. In the year 1842, I think it was-25 years
ago—that the Southern Hospital was in the first instance
founded, and at that time it was thought to be sufficient
to provide accommodation for 50 beds. Since that time,
in twenty-five years, all of you, ladies and gentlemen,
know what has been the growth of Liverpool, and, above
all, what has been the vast increase of population in the
immediate neighbourhood in which we now stand. But in
the course of a very few years it was found necessary to
increase the number of beds from 50 to 70, and subse-
quently they have been still further increased until, upon
an emergency—l only say upon an emergency—the pre-
sent building can contain 106 patient'. But how has
this been obtained? The enlargement was in the first in-
stance obtained by diminishing the necessary accommoda-
tion for servants and attendants—attendants who were
absolutely indispensable for the benefit of the patients,
and in the next place (and in a still more objectionable
manner) by curtailing the amount of space, and, conse-
quently, the amount of air available for each
patient, to the great injury of the hospital, and
to the great prolongation of the diseases of the
patients themselves. It has happened that upon
some occasions the number of cubic feet of air to
each inmate of the hospital has been considerably less than
one-half of what those acquainted with sanitary matters
consider to be indispensable to the health of the patients.
Now, when you are obliged so to crowd a hospital that
will accommodate • comparatively small number of persons,
you are obliged to restrict each patient to less than
half the amount of fresh air which is consi-
dered absolutely indispensable. I think I need
say no more to show the urgent and pressing
necessity there is for increased accommodation, and an
enlargement of the building. It is intended that the
building about to be erected shall contain accommodation
for 200 patients; and I doubt not you will find the
claims upon your charity, within a very short time, will
come fully up to the prevision made for them. One cir-
cumstance I may mention, and I think it is most a:stelae-
factory: the vast proportion of persons who have not only
derived benefit from the institution in its present form,
but have gone away positively cured, and the very small
proportion—the infinitesimally small proportion of persons
who have died in the hospital. I take from memory the
account of the last year of which I have seen any return,
and in that year there were admitted of surgical cases
only 4,300, and of those more than 4,000 were sent
out of the hospital positively and absolutely cured ;
and the total number of deaths out of the 4,300
admitted was only, I think, 17 or 67 ; and of the
whole number introduced, while in that year the total
number of deaths was 124, more than two-thirds of these
124 were persons who died within 24 hoursoftheiradmiasion
into the hospital, whose cases were consequently from the
first all but hopeless, and whom I think ought not to have
been included in the list, while no less than 24 were eases
which had been brought dead into the hospital, and
which could hardly be expected to recover under the most
' skilful treatment. (Laughter.) I think what I have said
will be sufficient to enlist your sympathy, and aid if neces-
sary, in the establishment of this new institution. I

know that the present moment is not a very favourable
one for pressing the claims of • charity of any descrip-
tion upon the town of Liverpool, but I have seen in the
prospectus of this building and the list of subscribers
some munificent donations from those whose names
are always foremost in the track of charity, and ,
who are generally almost always to be found prominent in
putting themselves forward in every good work in this
town. Ladies and gentlemen, you are probably aware that
my interest in the town of Liverpool lies precisely at the
opposite end, and not immediately in connection or com-
munication with this end of the town. Moreover, you will
be quite aware that, although I may have a tolerably well
filled puree, the demands upon it are neither few nor unim-
portant. I cannot pretend to rival the donations which
have been given by some of the eminent merchants of
Liverpool, many of whom take the deepest interest in this
institution ; but if the committee will do me the honour of
aocepting a donation of 1007. towards the funds of the hos-
pital, it will give me great pleasure to contribute that sum.
(Cheers.) Itnow only remains for me to express the earnest
hope that, by the blessing of God upon this building, it
may long tend to the advantage of Liverpool, to the relief
of human suffering, and may reflect credit upon those who
have been engaged in its foundation. (Loud cheering.)
Mr. C. TURNER, M.P., who was received with applause,
said the duty now devolved upon him of returning a vote
of thanks to Lord Derby for giving his powerful support
to such an institution as this, designed for the relief of
those who are suffering from being stricken down by
sickness or by any of those casualties which continually
occur to those who labour in our docks. In doing this
his lordship still further endeared himself to this commu-
nity. After the fatigues and anxieties of an anxious ses-
sion of parliament, during which a large mea-
sure of much importance was carried to a suc-
cessful issue, after the painful illness from which
he (the speaker) feared his lordship was still in
some degree suffering, amidst the cares and anxieties
which still devolve upon him as the head
of the government, be thought Lord Derby might
will plead exemption for further claims. But the same
noble and generous spirit which impelled him at the time
of the cotton famine to devote his wealth and his time to
the welfare of the distressed had induced him to come
there that day to lend his aid to the trustees of the South-
ern Hospital in their efforts to provide a new building for
the sick and afflicted. He was sure aim agree
with him as to the deep debt of pat-muds they all owed to
the noble lord for his kindness on this and on every occa-
sion, and that they would now pass the resolution belied
the honour to propose. wmcn was—"rrhat the thanks of
the trustees of the Southern nospitol, and'of the public
generally, be given to Lord Derby for his kindness in
coming here to-day, and for the great kindness with
which he devotes mimeo to tnu community on all ooca-
sions." (Applause.)
Mr. .T. B. HORMULL, M.P., who was also much
cheered, said he had very great pleasure in seconding the
resolution which had been submitted by Mr. Chas.
Turner, because he thought they would all agree with
him that their noble mason had very efficiently discharged
his duty there that day—(laughter)—and he almost ven-
tured to hope, remembering some remarks made recently
at Manchester, that his lordship was a member of the
masons' trade union—(laughter)—because that would be •
guarantee to him that the union, at least, was founded
upon safe and sound principles. He trusted that the vote
would be received with enthusiasm, and that the noble
lord would long be spared to be a blessing and a benefit to
his country. (Cheers.)
Lord DERBY, in reply, said—Allow me now, in one
word, to express my deep sense of the thanks which are
due to my honourable friends who have done me the
honour of proposing and seconding this vote of thanks. I
think it would be out of place if I were to enter upon any
subject but that upon which I am present to-day. lam
not here as a minister of the crown, but as one of your
neighbours taking • deep interest in all that concerns your
welfare, and as such I have hadgreat pleasure in attending
here. (Cheers.)
Mr. R. A. BIACFIE here called for three cheers for
Madame Jenny Lind Goldsmidt, to whom, he said,
they were indebted for the Nightingale wing of the
present building, and the call was at once re-
sponded to.
Lord Derby and his party then drove to the hospital,
where they inspected the arrangements, and his lordship
inscribed his signature in the visitors' book. The whole
party then drove off to the Town-ball.
When the ceremony was concluded, the mayor was the
first to leave the ground, hastening to the Town-hall in
order to be there to receive his guests when they arrived.
His worship received his visitors in the west drawing
room, whence they were conducted to the large ball room.
In this magnificent apartment, which had been artistically
decorated for the occasion, a luncheon was served.

POLITD 'S AT SALISBURY.—SeveraI members of
parliament were present, and made speeches at the mayor's
dinner at Salisbury on Monday evening. Earl Nelson,
who avowed himself a radical conservative, thought "the
head men at the top of every profession" should have
seats in the House of Lords.—Mr. T. Baring, M.P., was
hopeful as to the results of the Reform Act ; however, " it
was a matter of speculation, it could not be called • cer-
tainty until the experiment bad been tested."—Mr. H. D.
Seymour, M.P., spoke of the Abyarinian expedition. He con-
sidered it necessary, and was sanguine as lo ita succesa.Abys-
rinia,he said, was not an unknown country, it was inhabited
by a most interesting people—its records had been fully
studied, and were nearly as well known as those of the
county of Wilts.—Mr. Fraser Grove, ALP., on the Reform
Act, said, though it was brought and carried by a conser-
vative government, nobody wax more gratified that it had
pasted than himself.—Mr. Marsh, ALP., hoped that" the
leap in the dark" which had been taken would prove a
great success. If not a failure, it tr.ust be a success, be-
cause it must add, to a certain extent, to the garrison of
the constitution, by bringing within its pale classes who
were not within it before.—Mr. Hamilton (Mr. Marsh's
colleague) spoke chiefly on local topics. The Bishop of
Salisbury spoke several times, but not upon matters of
public interest.
THE IRISH EDUCATION QUESTION.—The Irish
government are understood to be proceeding with the
formation of the Commission of Inquiry on Education in
Ireland. The commission will be so constructed as to
include representatives of all sections of Irish
educationists ranging from the church scriptural
education party to persons of the extreme catho-
lic hierarchal school. It is probable that 'the
views and interests of the former will be entrusted by
the government to the care of the Bishop of Onion, (Dr.
O'Brien), and that among those placed upon the inquiry
in order to gain for it the confidence of the catholic party
will be one of the most active of the professors of the
catholic university. The preabyterians will in all likeli-
hood have for their representative Mr. James Gibson,
chairman of one of the Irish county courts and now one of
the commissioners of national education. The vacancies
existing upon the board of education by the death of the
late Bishop of Derry and the removal of the Rev. Dr.
Hall, • presbyterian divine, to • spiritual charge in New
York. are not being filled up pending the approaching
investigation.
Tho Poor-law Board having sanctioned the pur-
chase by the St. Pancras guardians of four and a half
acres of land at Highgate on which to build an infirmary
for the sick poor in the workhouse, • number of the
guardians purpose visiting the infirmaries at Manchester
and other places in the provinces in order to obtain in-
formation as to the plans, working, and other matters con-
nected with such institutions. It is proposed that 20,0001.
or 25,000/. should be spent upon the building, and a
limited number of architects are to be invited to send in
plans for competition, but as the tenders of builders for
such works often far exceed the estimate of the architects,
it is proposed that it shall be a condition with the archi-
tect that he shall make no claim upon the guardians if
be cannot find a respectable builder to carry out the works
at the sum he estimates them to cost. _

- - --
THE FORTHCOMING MICHAELMAS TERM. —Tee-
terday, the lists of arrears for the common law courts for
the ensuing term were prepared, and to-day (Thursday),
at the termination of the long vacation, they will be exhi-
bited. The number in the Queen's Bench is large-
-I:H—of which there are 91 in the special paper for argu-
ment. In the Common Pleas there are 68, and in the
Exchequer only 20, making in the three court& 222.
The new trials amount to 49 in the three oourts ;
27 in the Queen's Bench, 15 in the Common Pleas,
and seven in the Exchequer. Besides the number
already mentioned in the Queen's Bench, there are 16
enlarged rules ; in the Common Pleas there are 15 en-
larged rules, eight matters for judgment, and 30 de-
murrers ; whilst In the Exchequer, besides the new trials,
there is one error and appeal for judgment, two rules in
the peremptory paper, and 10 rules in the special paper.

LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY (LIMITED).
—Traffic receipts week ending Oct. 20,10,898!. Os. 2d.