The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-13 00:00:00

LYING
nig •
*
FOU L 6 ATION •

'NI:NG, MAY

' ST. THOMAS'S
HOSPITAL

BY HER MAJESTY
THE QUEEN.

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of
St. Thomas's Hospital was performed this day by
her Majesty before a brilliant gathering of the digni-
taries of church and state. At half-past 10 the
temporary building was nearly full of eager spec-
tators, among whom might be noticed many of the
chief notabilities of the day. Mr. Gathorne
Hardy in diplomatic uniform was one of the
earliest members of the Cabinet present ; and, in
his capacity as Home Secretary, kept near the dais
to be in immediate waiting upon the Queen. Mr.
Ward Hunt, Sir John l'akington, and Sir
Stafford Northoote occupied prominent places
in the ministers' box, as did Lord Cairns,
who looked painfully pale and wan,
and, unlike his colleagues, appeared in
plain- morning dress. The huge tent held some
three thousand persons in all, and these were sub-
divided into sections containing the cabinet, the
peers, the House of Commons, the Court of
Aldermen, and other representatives of the
various little worlds of London. Science and
the medical profession were largely represented.
as were fashion, and the arts. From the floor of
the enormous building to its roof stretched
mass after mass of gaily-dressed figures, all
patiently expectant of the ceremony to come. The
Premier and Mrs. Disraeli arrived soon after
eleven, and at first took up their place among the
members of the House of Commons, Mr.
Disraeli smilingly declining to cross the
floor to the ministerial box. Yielding to
the persuasion of the officials, he, however, gave
way, and finally surveyed the proceedings, eye-
glass to eye, from the front of the ministerial
bench. The Premier was the only visitor
besides her Majesty who had what theatrical
people call " a reception," and sonorous
cheers and much hand-clapping and handkerchief
waving, greeted the right honourable gentleman
directly his arrival was known. Far more
animated than is his wont on public occasions,
Mr. Disraeli laughed and nodded, and laughed
again, with his neighbour, Sir Stafford North-
cote, as if pageants and stone-laying cere-
monies were the gravest business of the
hour. The Archbishop of Canterbury came next,
and waited in an arm-chair in the centre of the
building, under the shadow of a bench, on which
were seated Dean Stanley in earnest conver-
sation with his neighbours, the Bishops of
London and Oxford. After a false alarm, and a
few premature strains of "God Save the Queen"
from the outside, the royal party arrived at a
quarter to 12, preceded by hospital officials.
A procession having been formed, her Majesty
was conducted to her chair of state on the raised
dais in the following manner :
The Contractors for the New Hospital Works,
Mr. Webster. Mr. Perry.
The Architect,
Mr. Henry Currey.
The Resident Medical Officer.
Mr. Whitfield.
The Senior Surgeon, The Senior Physician,
Mr. Solly. F.R.S. Dr. Bennett.
The Honorary Consulting Physician,
Dr. Barker.
The Clerk to the Hospital,
Mr. R. A. Wainewright.
The Deputation of Governors,
viz. :
Robert Pott, Esq. Edward Tyrrell, Esq.
George Ware, Elm. James Du Buisson, Esq.
George Vaughan, Req. John Edward Johnson, Esq.
Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Mr. Alderman Gibbons.
Stone. Mr. Alderman Finals.
Alderman Sir B. S. Phillips. The Earl of Leven and
William Tite, Esq., M.P. Melville.
Robert Carter, Esq.,
High Sheriff of Surrey.
The Treasurer of the Hospital,
Francis Hicks, Esq.
The President of the Hospital,
Alderman Sir John Musgrove, Bart.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN,
Asoompanied by their Royal Highnesses
THE PRINCE AND Parncres Or WALK...,
And other Members of the Royal Family.

Her Majesty was attended by the Lords and
Ladies in Waiting, &c., and the other members of
royal family by the ladies and gentlemen of their
respective suites. Upon her Majesty's arrival in
the pavilion the National Anthem was sung.
Her Majesty, who was evidently in excellent
health and spirits, curtsied three times to the
vast assembly, and immediately took up her posi-
tion on the dais. The Princess Helena in
green and drab silk with bonnet and mantle to
match ; the Prince of Wales in full uniform ;
the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Christian,
both in uniform, were on her Majesty's left ; while
the Princess of Wales, looking delicately lovely,
in pale lavender and pink, the Princess Louise in
a dress of light fawn colour, the Princess
Beatrice in green, and young Prince Leopold
in Highland dress, stood on the right of the royal
chair. The President of the hospital, Sir John
Musgrove, then read the following address :

TO TEI Quzzi's MOST ExcruJorr MAJESTY,

May it please your Majesty,—We your Majestyh loyal
and dutiful subjects the President, Treasurer, and
Governors of St. Thomas's Hospital, desire humbly to
express our grateful acknowledgments to your Majesty for
your condescending kindness in graciously consenting to lay
the first stone of the new hospital. We bail with pride
and satisfaction the gracious presence of your Majesty on
this auspicious occasion. We feel this mark of
your Majesty's royal favour to be the most
vetitying encouragement we could receive in the
prosecution of the work we have undertaken • and
we believe that it will materially ski the beneficent design
of the royal founder, and will add another to the many
instances of deep and ready sympathy evinced by your
Majesty in all objects having in view the relief of human
'offering. We have prepared, and if graciously permitted,
will hand to your Majesty a statement of the circumstances
which led to the removal of the hospital from the ancient
site in Southwark, where it was founded by your Ma-
josses royal predecessor, King Edward the Sixth, and
of the particulars of the design of the new hos-
pital We hold in grateful remembrance the interest
which his royal highness your Majesty's beloved Comport
was plmsed to evince in the welfare of the hospital, by
becoming one of its governors, and presiding at the deli-
very of prises to the students who bad attained distinct
tics in its medhal school, and in the lively concern lIMUSi•
tested by his royal highness when a portion et • the
old site was required for a public undsrtsking.
we avail ourselves of this opportunity to give utterance to
the feelings of sorrow and indignation with which we, in
common with sll classes of your Majesty's loyal subjects.

. upon the person of your
the Duke of Edinburgh,
colony of Australia. We
blessing of Almighty God
. we earnestly hope that his
England in renewed health,
all your loyal subject, from
unparalleled outrage.
express our moat earnest

. Majesty's continued health
and prosperity, and that your Majesty may long be pre-
served to reign over your faithful and devoted people.
Bigaed on behalf of the governors by order of a gene.
ral court hold on the llth day of May, 1868.

J. MUsGROVE, President.
Fit A-9. RICKS, Treuurer.

The Queen made the following gracious reply :
" It is with sincere pleasure that I lay the first
stone of the noble buildings which you are about
to dedicate to the use of the suffering poor.
St. Thomas's Hospital, founded by my royal
predecessor, Edward VI., from the services which it
rendered to humanity naturally attracted the atten-
tion of my esteemed husband, whose heart and mind
were ever interested in institutions of so bene-
ficial a character. It is a solace to me to
follow his example in promoting the objects
which you have in view. I think that your
hospital upon its new site, by the variodk
improvements which experience and sanitary skill
suggest, will secure the greatest benefit to
its suffering inmates, and provide an admi-
rable school for nurses, and for the promo•
tion of medical schools of science. I thank you for
the loyal and sympathising expression of your
feelingat the late attempt to take away the life of my
dear son the Duke of Edinburgh, and join in your
prayers that the same good Providence which pre-
Eyed him from the assassin, will soon restore him
IE health and safety to his family and country."

Her Majesty then advanced to the spot where
the stone was laid. The President then handed
thel Queen copies of the charters of King
Edward VI., founding and endowing the
hospital, of the acts of parliament providing for
the management of the hospital and authorising
' the purchase of a new site, and a list of the go-
vernors of the hospital. The Treasurer next handed
the Queen the coins, and her Majesty placed them,
with the documents in a glass vessel with a
blue ribbon round its neck, like a decorated
elictrical retort, which, with the assistance of
the architect, her Majesty afterwards deposited
beneath the stone. The architect next handed the
trowel to the Queen, who proceeded to lay the
stone, with the assistance of the builder, Mr.
Perry.
The following prayers were offered by the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury
Prevent us, 0 Lord, in all oar doings with Thy most
gracious favour, and farther us with Thy continual help.
that in all our works—begun, continued, and ended in
Thee—we may glorify Thy holy name, and finally, by
Thy mercy obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and most merciful Father, who healest all our
infirmities, and savest our life from destruction, look down,
we pray Thee, with favour on this our undertaking, which
we now humbly commend to Thy care and protection.
Prosper Thou the work of our hands upon us, 0 prosper
Thou our handiwork, and so bless our endeavours that
this hospital may prove a blessing to its inmates, as well
in body as in soul, through all generations to
come. Support and strengthen them in their
hours of weakness and weariness, and bless the remedies
used for their recovery. Sanctify to them their sufferings,
and give them a spirit of meekness, patience, and sub-
mission under Thy chastening hand. And may the daily
spectacles of wasting sickness and decaying strength
which will here be seen move all who witness them to feel
how frail and uncertain our condition her on earth is,
and teach them to apply their hearts to that holy and
heavenly wisdom which can alone lead to life everlasting,
through Jesuss Christ our Lord, Amen.
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy
name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it
is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and for-
give us our trespasses, as we forgiv: them that trespass
against us ; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the
glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The following psalm was then sung in unison by
all present :

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice ;
Him serve with fear, Hu praise forth tell,
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
The choir only sang the following
The Lord, ye know, is Cod indeed.
Without our aid He did us make ;
We are His flock, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.
(Full.)

Praise God from whom in blessings flow ;
Praise Him, all creature; here below ;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host ;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

His Grace having pronounced the Benediction :
" The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
be with us all evermore. Amen,"—
The military bands performed a grand march,
during which her Majesty was conducted by the
authorities of the hospital to her carriage.
The only blemish upon the otherwise admirable
arrangement, was the obstinate disregard of the
requirements of the evening press.

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