The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-03 00:00:00

MR. WI h RFORCE.

traost ♦ CORItEIIIONDIST.I
It will be seen by our Parliamentary Report of yester-
day, that this Gentleman has at length retired from the
fatigues of public life, by accepting the office of Steward
of the Chiltern Hundreds. It is not our intention here
to enter into the merits or demerits—as some of his actions
have been termed—of his various duties: but when we
take into consideration his length of service—the many
important measures he has brought forward—the various
discussions to which they 'have given rise—the support
which he has received, and the testimonies of respect
evinced by all parties—we may fairly hope that in his re-
tirement lie may enjoy the otium cum &culture to which
his talents and his exertions so much entitle him. He has
been indefatigable in business, mild and gentle in his de-
meanour ; and if he did not always convince by his argu-
e ments, every one was satisfied of the zeal which charac-
tensed his efforts, and many were won to his opinions by
the integrity which guided his every action. It has been
admitted, that in whatever subject he submitted to the
House, he could command fifty supporters, solely on the
reliance placed in his integrity, and the wannth with
which be argued on any question where the feelings were
excited: and when his partisans implicitly yielded to his
judgment, his very opponents acknowledged and gave him
credit for purity of intention.

We understand that an Association is about to be formed
for the purpose of producing silk in this country and Ire-
land. The plan is under the auspices of persons of the
highest respectability, who are sanguine of its success. We
are glad to find that a portion of the vast surplus capital of
this country is likely to be so usefully employed.
LA N CA ST ER CA N • L.—From the report of the Committee
made at the late General Meeting of the Company of Pro-
prietors of the Lancaster Canal Navigation, it appears that
very considerable progress has been made in the branch to
Glasson-dock, and that there is every reason to expect that
the communication, uniting the canal with the sea, will be
open and navigable in the next autumn. The traffic on
the Canal also seems to have been much greater than at
any former period, for we perceive that the increase of ton-
nage duties for the last year exceeds that of any former year
by 2,733/. ; and that, after deducting every expenditure,
there remains a balance of 21,8231. 16s. 7d. The amount
of duties received on the Lancaster level and North-end,
in the last year, was 14,057/. 18s. 541. on the South-end and
Rail-road, 1.5,796!. II s. 3d. The profit of the packet-
boats, for the same time, 541/. Is. 1141. A dividend of 30s.
per share was declared.—Liverpool Advertizer of Tuesday.
The health of Dr. Parr is improving, and strong hopes

~'.s's ?:i

THE BRITISH PRESS.

ROYAL UNIVERSAL INFIRMARY for CHILDREN
The celebration of the ninth anniversary of this excellent Institu-
tion took place yesterday, at the City of London Tavern, Bishops-
gate-street.
The Right Honourable Joint Galla2r, Lord Mayor (Presi.
dent), was in the Chair.
Among the company, which consisted of upwards of two hundred
gentlemen, we noticed (besides the Lord 3layor), Lord Bolton,
Chain Barclay. Esq. V.P., Robert Hedger. 1.-19., Dr. Copland,
Dr. Vetch, W. Palmer, Fag., the Rev. Dr. Kenney, he.
The nature of this Institution cannot be too extensively made
known ; it is equally important to the statesman and to the pinion-
thropist, its objects being the alleviation of human misery, and the
increase of a healthy and an effifient population.—This C
was instituted on the 27th of April, 1818. upon the suggestion of
its benevolent founder, the late Dr. J. B. Davis; and under the'
auspices and personal attendance of their Royal Highnesses the
Dukes of Kent and Sussex, and the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of
London, it commenced its operations on the following June, on
St. Andrew's Hill, Doctors' Commons, as the " Universal Dispen-
sary for Children," where it continued to dispense its benefits
and annually to extend its usefulnen in a variety of ways,
particularly by•the establishment of station, in several popular
districts. It being however desirable, if possible, to receive
as in-patients those little objects whose cases might require
surgical operations, it was ascertained to be most advisable to
erect, in a central spot, an edifice that should combine the two-
fold purposes of an infirmary for surgical cases, and a dispensary
as heretofore; accordingly, at a general meeting on 16th July,
1822, it waa resolved to take a lease of a plot of ground of Thomas
Lett, EN. in the Waterloo-bridge-road, and to raises separate
and distinct fund,lry voluntary subscription, to defray the expenses
of the building. -Nearly 2,0001. having been contributed to the
building fund previous to June. 1873, • contract was then entered
into with Mr. Thomas Piper, for building the shell of the intended
Infirmary, and his Royal Highness the Duke of York attended at
the ground on the 19th of July to lay the first stone of the
building.
The amount contributed in aid of the building being still short
of the sum required, it was proposed, at the last anniversary, by
Thomas Lett, Esq. one of the Stewards of the day, that the de-
ficiency should be raised by loans, to be advanced to the charity
for five years without interest; this suggestion being instantly
adopted, nearly 70W were so satneribed, to a very short period.
The lonthly and Building Committees were soon after authorised
to proceed towards the completion of the Infirmary ; and accord-
ingly in June last, they entered into a contract with Mr. Henry
Pew, for completing such parts of the building as was considered
actually necessary, the funds at their disposal not permitting the
whole to be finished. On the 4th of October, business was re-
moved from St. Andrew's-hill, and was commenced at the new
building in the Waterloo-bridge-road ; and the works specified in
the contract are now completed.
The following extracts, from an Address published by the
Directors and Governors of the Institution, will more fully explain
the nature and objects of the Charity :
" Among the charitable Institutions of this great metropolis,
the Royal I.7niverial Infirmary for Children now holds a foremost
rank. It directs efforts to the cure and prevention of diseases
among the children of the poor, in London and its extensive
suburbs, and has reduced upon a very large stale, as the Bills of
Mortality show, in every district of the metropolis and its adjacent
villages, the number of premature deaths under twelve years of
age, which annually occurred previous to its establishment.
" In founding a Charity for this twp.fold purpose, it was deter-
mined to establish it upon the principle of treating with prompti-
tude every kind of disease to which the infant rate are liable
(small-pox only excepted), and of protecting the children of the I
poor, as fur as could be, from disease, by the distribution of rules
among the parents of the patients for their domestic management.'
A painful experience has also shown, that the metropolis abounds
with objects under twelve years of age that require to undergo
surgical operations, and who frequently cannot gain admittance I
into the public hospitals until their cases have become aggravated
by delay. It is therefore proposed to make a provision for this 'I
clue of sufferers, in the Infirmary lately erected on the Waterloo
Bridge-road, for the reception of surgical patients into the house
as soon as the funds will possibly permit. Ilence this Charity now
partakes of the nature of an infirmary, as well as of a dispen.
sary—the former for surgical cases, the latter for the administration
of advice and medicines, in every case (with the exception of small-
pox only) within the Physicians province.
" It is a fact, too well known, and too melancholy to be slightly
passed over, that a very large proportion of the children of the poor
who were born in the metropolis, perished before they attained
their fifth year, from want, in a great measure, of that prompt and
particular medical aid, which till/ Institution has of late years so
extensively afforded.
" To a charity, therefore, of such a nature, !n a antral part of '
the metropolis, with a provision in it for affording advice to the
children of the poor, without recommendation in eases where im-
mediate relief is required, the Directors and Governors were urged
by the consideration of' attempting to rescue from actual disease, as
well as from future suffering, this pitiable class of individuals, of
whom so many, from want of timely medical aid, combined with
the inattention and ignorance of their parents, fall early victims to
a lingering and premature death.
„The most enlightened of the medical profession candidly ad-
mit, that the diseases of children are not only more rapid and se-
vere than in adults, but often so unintelligible and obscure, as
to render, at least, an exclusive and more particular attention by the
Faculty than has hitherto been bestowed very desirable. In the
hope, therefore, that a more successful mode of treating their dis-
orders would be found out, and much future suffering thereby pre.
vented, this important Institution has been established for their
special investigation.
" The public, it is presumed, will readily perceive that it is
not only to the interest and advantage of the parent, but of every
class of society—particularly those classes in whose manufactories
strong and active men, capable of enduring fatigue and labour
are required—to encourage a Charity which, at a trifling expense.
may nut only, by the promtitude with which it succours, afford
ease and relief to, and save the lives of, the afflicted infant off-
spring of their servants, labourers, and dependants, but, by. means
of the rules circulated in it—by its preservative influence—instruct
the ignorant parent in the best mode of obviating disease, and
conducting his child to manhood in strength and vigour. There
can scarcely be an individual, when he fully considers the objects
of this Charity, and the advantages which society must derive
from it, who would not favour a plan for checking the ravages of
those its
which would, in place of a hardy and vigorous
set of men, substitute a puny and debilitated race, incapable of sus-
' taining the laborious employments that constitute the sole means of
their subsistence, of the su.aport of their children, and their aged acd
infirm parents.
" For One Guinea the Donor may annually rescue from twenty to
thirty of the afflicted children of his necessitous neighbours, de-
pendents, workmen, servants, and labourers, from the ravages of
disease and premature mortality : nay, by such well-timed liber-
ality, the progress of disorder would, in many children, be entirely
stopped, and the disorder itself cured; and in others, the seeds of
future suffering and disease would be eradicated by the timely ex-
ertion of professional skill !
" If, therefore it be of inoment to the State to promote the health
land vigour of the subject--the grand sinew of public industry, and
the strength and happiness of a nation—this Charity has likewise'
the strongest claims upon the Legislature, and the guardians of the
people's lives: since it is a public good—a common interest—a
sound policy—to contribute to the abatement of those diseases io
early life, which tend to produce a feeble race of beings, unfit for
the active duties of the great mass of the people, and the service of
their country."
The Committee in their Report make the following statements of
the annual nuniber of patients admitted since June 1916, and of
their results to the present time.
In the first twelve months, from 21th June, 1816. there
were admitted - LIM
ICI the second ditto - • - . 1,826
In the third ditto . - - - 2,171
In the fourth ditto - - 3.282
In the fifth ditto . - - - 7.907
In the sixth ditto - . - 10.726
In the seventh ditto . - - - - 12,370
In the eighth ditto - - - - - 12,613
And in the last six months, to the 31st December, 1824 6,672

59,363

•
Of whom there have been cured and relieved 63.220
Have died - - - - 1,255
Have been vaccinated - - - - 2,281
Are at this time an the books and under cure . 6412

89,368
The Lord Mayor entered the room about half-past five o'clock,
and dinner was immediately served up in the style of excellence
usual to this escablishwen•.

_ ..... _
The do h having been removed, " Benedictus sit Deus," was
then sung by the professional gentlemen present.
The LORD 3I•Yoa t en proposed " the health of the Royal
Patron of the Institution, The King"—Three times three.
Anthem—" Uod save the King."
The following toast were then drank—" The Duke of York, Vice
Patron ; the Duke of Clarence. and the Royal Family."
Olee—" Now the bright morning star."
" Army and Navy."
" Rule Britannia."
The Louts MAYOR then begged leave to propose to the cots.
pang a tosst,which he was sure would meet with their unanimous ap.
proval. The institution, the Anniversary of which they were thee
met to celebrate, needed no eulogium from him. When Its te.
fleeted on the great objects proposed by its benevolent founder, and
when he considered the extensive benefits which had already been
effected by the operations of the Institution, he could not but look
forward with a confident assurance that its prosperity would pro-
gress, and its usefulness be more widely diffused. No less thus
111 1100 children had been the objects of the care of this Charity le
the course of the short veriod of nine years, and this when its
means were limited, and its power of doing good consequendy
small. The loss which the Institution had recently sustaioad by
the death of the benevolent founder of this Chari, must be are•
dowdy regretted by all. lie felt, however, convinced, that great se
this loss was, still the Institution would not be suffered to become
less extensively useful, because deprived 2f the able -- •

~_

Frigr

were liable to be generated ; and it therefore became a paramount
duty on those who could afford it to endeavour to preserve the
liesi:ll of the lower orders, and thereby secure the whole of the in-
habitants from those serioni effete which too frequently occur in
large and crowded cities. Ir reference to the rate of the funds, he
would not disguise the feet that the Institution were labour-
ing under difficulties. The contractor for the building had
kindly suffered eleven thousand pounds to remain at interest of
only three and a hiif per cent for four ur tire years.
The sum of 2 0001., however, would enable the Charity to pay off
this debt, and also the loans, amounting together to about 6001.,
which had been male without any interest being required. He
therefore hoped the friends of the Society would not allow their
exertions to abate, hut to apply themselves 'woad, to the sup-
port of an Institution which was in every way worthy of being
supported. He begged leave to propose—
Prosperity to the Royal Universal Infirmary for Children."
The toast was drank with much applause.
Song—" Aly win firc.side."—Alr. Broadhurst.
The LORD MARDI then read a letter from his Royal Higlinrss
the Duke of York, expressing his regret at not being able to
attend at the anniversary dinner, owing to other very pressing en-
gagements.
" The health of Lord Bolton" was next given.
His Lordship ihonly returned thanks.
(flee—" When winds breathe soft."

" Charles Barclay, Esq."-
-Whoreturned thanks.
"Sheriff Brown' —Who rerurned tha-ks.

Song—" London Improvements."—Mr. Pitzwilltam.
" Nicholas Palmer, Esq."
This Gentleman begrod to express his thanks for the ho-
nour conferral on him, and to propo•..e the health of their
highly.respected presiders', the L rd Mayor. He hal the ha
nour of his Lordship's personal friendship • and he could
safely affirm of himt hat he was worthy of being the presid-
ing Ilagistrnte, over what it might be our pride and our boast to
call the metropolis of the world—where all things were to be found
conducive to human happiness, and where too, he would say, every
thing was to be found that could alleviate human misery. It had
been stated that this Institution was much in debt, but it should be
recollected that humanity was also much indebted to this Institu-
tion. If every Genthoran present would determine to get ten or
fifteen friends to become subscribers of I!. each, he was sure that
at the next anniversary they "gold have the satisfaction of hearing
that the whole of the debts of the Institution were paid off and
that the Charity was proceeding in its benign operations without
any thing to impede its way. He begged to propose—
" The health of the Right non. the Lord Alayor."—.Drank• with
great applause.
His Lordship briefly returned thanks.
The Lord Mayor and several of the Gertlemen around him
shortly afterwards left the Chair, which was taken by 'W. Hedger,
Esq., who presided during the remainder of the evening.
The donations and subscriptions received during the last year
were read by the secretary, and amounted to upwards of 4301.