The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-11 00:00:00

JUNE li, 1847.

KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.

On Wednesday the eighth anniversary festival in aid of
the funds of this institution took place in Stationer? Hall,
whose ample accommodations were kindly placed at the
disposal of the stewards when the extraordinary demand
for tickets, as soon as it became known that Sir R. Peel
had consented to preside, rendered it necessary that
some more spacious apartment should be provided than
was available at the Albion Tavern, where it had been
previously announced the dinner would take place. The
attendance was most numerous, nearly 300 being seated
at the tables, and the enthusiastic reception of the Right
Hon. Baronet on entering the dining hall, and through-
out the evening, may truly be said to have neen as com-
plimentary to the chairman as his presence and advocacy
proved beneficial to the charity.
The dinner was admirably served by Messrs. Staples,
of the Albion, and embraced a pro:usion of all the deli-
cacies of the season.

On the right of the Chairman sat the Duke of St.
Albans, Mr. Blakemore, Mr. Twining, Mr. J. Round,
Sir J. Annesley, Major Moore, Major Oliphant, Mr.
furner, Q.C., Rev. J. S. M. Anuerson, Mr. W. B.
Bering, Mr. T. G. Sambrooke, and Alderman Copeland;
and on the left the Dean of Westminster, Rev. Dr. Jell,
Dr. Saunders, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Green, Sir R. Smirke,
Dr. Guy, Sir W. Riddell, Dr. Major, Sir J. D. faul,
Bart., Mr. G. Frere, Mr. J. S. Capper, and the Rev. Mr.
Howarth. .

At the other tables sat the various professors of the
college, and the friends of the hospital, forming altogether
a highly respectable assemblage.
The musical arrangements, under the superintendence
of Mr. I'. Cooke, assisted by Messrs. Hall, Lockey, and
Machin, were admirable. Mr. Harker was tost-master,
and acquitted himself most creditably.
The cl .th having been removed,
The CHAIRMAN rose and said—l beg to propose "The
health of ,her Majesty the Queen," and I cannot doubt
that in any society composed of the subjects of her Ma-
je;ty, that name will be received with cordial demon-
strations of respect from pure abstract feeling, of lo) ally
towards our sovereign.—(Cheers.) But we who are
connected witb, or interested in, tne prosperity of the
King's College Hospital, stand in a special and peculiar
relation to her Maj. sty. As the patron of that institu•
lion, her Majesty has given repeated proofs of the inter-
est she takes in its welfare by liberal contributions, not
out of any public fund, but out of that private fund
which constitutes the private fortune of her Maje,ty,—
(Chest's.) On that ground, also, we shall mark our
cordial respect fur the Queen, but I cannot propose
this toast without adding, as another claim to the at-
tachment and affection of Englishmen, that her Ma-
jesty sits in every relation of life, as a wife and as a
"
mother, the brightest example of domestic virtue. I
beg, therefore, to propose to you The health of
the Queen," and I sun sure you will receive it with
all attachment and enthusiasm. (The toast was drunk
with all the honotirs, and followed by the national
anthem.)

The OHAIRMAN—I will now give you " The Queen
Dowager, Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and
the rest of the Royal Family."—(Cbeers.) You will
find among the members of the Royal Family many li-
beral contributors to this institution; the Queen Dow-
ager, Prince Albert, and, I may specially name the Duke
of Cambridge, who have all marked by the liberality of
their contribukons, and in some instances by persevering
personal exertions, their desire to promote the welfare
of the hospital of Kings College.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN—I now rise to propose to you " The
Church"—(Loud cheers)—and it gives the greatest sa-
tisfaction so associate with that venerable institution the
name of a Prelate, who is full of years and honours, who
by his Wild virtues, his discretion, his forbearance, and
his judgment, as well as by the purity of his private cha-
racter, has served the interests of the Establishment, and
founded the strongest claims to the attachment and re-
spect of his fellow-countrymen.—(Loud cheers.)
The Dean of WESTMINSTER returned thanks, and elo-
quently expatiated on the benefits derived by the poor
in such institutions as the hospital of King's College.
The CHAIRMAN—I now give " The Army and Navy."
Although above thirty years have elapsed since,
during the period of a general war, the army and navy
were called upon to make the utmost exertions in sup-
port of the interests and in vindication of the honour
of this country, yet; in that long interval of peace there
have been frequent occasions, in India—Cheers)—and in
other parts of the world, in which the services
of the army and navy in active warfare have been de-
manded ; and we know that these gallant professions
have nobly supported the reputation which they inherit
from their predecessors.—(Cheers.) We have had re-
cent occasions of doing honour to the names of Har
dinge—(Cheers)—and of Gough, of Sale, and of Smith
—(Loud cheers)—and we feel the utmost confidence that
if on a more extended sphere of action, in vindication of
the honour or in the protection of the essential interests
of this country, the services of our fleets and of our
armies should be required, all the glories of the Penin-
sula and of Waterloo will again shine forth with equal
lustre.—(Loud cheers.)

Major OLIPHANT returned thanks for the army.
Sir K. PEEL then rose and said—lt is now my duty to
advert to the particular object which has called us toge-
ther this evening, which I rejoice to bear has rendered it

necessary fur the stewards or this dinner to seek more
enlarged and extended accommodation than that which
they originally contemplated.—(Cheers.) And as the
interests of this institution are on this night committed,
in some manner, to my hands (Loud and continued
cheers) —accustomed as I may be to address public
assemblies I do feel a deep anxiety, from which I can
only b' relieved by my confidence in your liberality.
—(Cheers.) It is my duty to recommend to that libe•
relay an institution which contemplates two noble ob-
jects : first, the immediate mitigation of that suffering
which is connected with disease or accident ; and se-
condly, the promotion of that knowledge founded on
actual experience, without which all efforts at mitiga-
tion must be ineffectual and incomplete.—(Cheers.) Al-
low me to call your attention to some circumstances that
may not at first sight appear immediately connected
with this institution. We are Bitting here in the very
heart and centre of one of the greatest communities
that exist upon the face of the globe—the metropolis
of the greatest and most powerful empire. We see
around us within this locality no great evidence of
change. These wells existed as they now exist some
hundred years since ' • but it is impossible to look be-
yond these walls, and to witness without emotions of as-
tonishment and admiration the changes that are taking
place in the constitution of society within this metro-
polis. Let me take a privilege often taken on similar
occasions, and suppose it were possible to recal some
one who existed within this metropolis one hundred
years ago, and was conversant with the state of its popu-
lation and the institutions that existed at that time. He
would be impressed with awe in contemplating the won-
derful changes that have taken place. lie would see
around him every evidence of increased population, in-
creased wealth, increased refinemext, anti increased
civilization. I know not what the population of
this great metropolis might have been at the time of
which I speak, but we have the means of estimating what
has been its probable increase from the facts to which we
have access. Within 30 years, from 1800 to 1831, the
population of this metropolis increased not loss than 70
per cent. The number of houses increased, I believe, at
the rate of 63 per cent.; within some portions of the
metropolis, I speak more particularly of those districts
that are in the environs of London, and now consti-
tuting great Parliamentary boroughs, the increase of
houses in that short period has not been less than 95
per cent., and the increase of the population there was
not less than 105 per cent. You may judge from these
tacts what must have been the increase within 100 years.
Then let me suppose that individual revisiting the scenes
with which, so far as locality is concerned, he would
have been conversant. He would see around him a
vastly increased population; he would see the evidences
of enormous wealth; he would see the increase of esti•
blishments connected with the promotion of art, of lite-
rature, and science: he would see new theatres, he would
see new club-houses rivalling palaces in magnificence;
he would see new squares, new streets—everything that
can administer to the amusement and the rational re-
creation of the people. But, suppose he inqured what
has been the increase of your hospitals? The answer to
that question would be anything but satisfactory.
(" Hear, hear," and cheers.) He would be told there now
exists within the metropolis, which comprises a popula-
lation of not less than 1,500,000 souls, limiting myself
to those districts which return Members to Parliament,
,here now exist (speaking of hospitals for general pur-
poses, for the reception of patients and the dispensation
of medicine) only ten hospitals, audihe would answer,
with surprise and regret, that at the period he lived, 100
years ago, not less than seven of those hospitals were
then in existence—seven the most richly endowed with
he means of support, and the most capable, from the
extent of their accommodation, to give relief in cases of
disease or accident. Ho would tell us that Guy's llospi-
al, Middlesex Hospital. London Hospital, St. Bartholo-
mew's Hospital. and Westminster Hospital. all existed at
the period at which he lived, and that since that period
to the hospitals so richly endowed, either by the
munificence of our Sovereigns or by private bounty, there
has been the addition of only three hospitals, and these
on the most limited scale, namely, the Charing-cross
Hospital, and the two in connexion with University
College and King's College—those three additional
nospttals having been bu,lt within the last eighteen
years.
Now, it is in behalf of one of these three hos-
tal., that connected with King's College, tnat it is my
duty to-night to make an appeal to your benevolence
and liberality—(Cheers)—and to try to impress upon you
the duty which is incumbent upon us all, having before
us those evidences of increased population, increased
wealth, increased refinement, increased institutions
for every purpose that can contribute to recreation
and amusement—the moral obligation that is imposed
on us to do something towards repairing the great defi-
ciency which exists comparing these with former times
in respect to the means of initigating the suffering con-
eupon accident or disease.—(Cheers.) This
c•iugueut
spital is dependent for its support upon voluntary
contributions. It is on a very limited scale—it is not in
but w its d funds, and in
8 very suitable place,
its unsuitable position, see whatlimite good it has accom-
plished. It makes up not more than 120 beds. It has
~arcely a shilling, except what is de rived from voluti.
sry contributions. or from is meeting like this, wi en at,
stinsac. lleetiun takes place. With the means of accom-
wallas the hospital 120 patients, I believe that
not less than 1,276 patient' wire receiTed within the

walls in the course of the last year.—(Cheers.) But tht
relief given was not confined to those received within
the walls. With these limited means, on account of the
necessities of this vast population, because there is a
deficiency in the means of giving relief, not less than
16,547 cases were relieved without the walls in the
course of the past year.—(Cheers.) Besides these
there were many other cases where the demand f, .r
relief being pressing there was no opportunity for re-
gistration ; and therefore the total number registered
is but an imperfect index of the quantity of relief
afforded. But, taking the registered cases of 4, 'ver-
nal relief, and adding to them the oases of relief
dministered within the walls of the hospital, wilt
its limited means, you have not less than 17,82:1
persons receiving fro% this institution during the past
year an alleviation ofltheir sufferings.—(Loud cheers.)
There were not less than 450 cases in which peer mar-
ried women, unable, from their own earniogs, to poem-,
relief during their confinement, had a mitigation of then
ufferings through the intervention of the officers of this
institution.—(Cheers.) Such is the extent of good
which has been done by the hospital in connexion with
King's College; and that is good against which no pos-
sibility of objection can be ralsed.—(Cheers.) Then-
are cases of benevolence and charity where, however
unquestionable your motives, it is possible you may be
relaxing exertion and engendering habits of dependence
on external assistance; but here there is no possibility
of objection on any such ground to the exercise of your
charity.—(Cheers.) Here are cases of actual buffering
in which human misery was mitigated, in which no
habits of self-dependence were relaxed, no motives to
continuous exertion interfered with.—(Cheers.) You
will, therefore, bear in mind that every contribution
which you may make towards the funds of this society
will not only lessen the sum of human misery, not only
mitigate the severe suffering of thousands of your fel-
low-creatures, but that to your charity for that purpose
no legitimate objection can be made.—(Cheers.) Such
is one of the objects, the immediate mitigation of suffer-
ing, fur which this institution is intended; but it has
another object, and an equally important one. in view.
It constitutes a school where knowledge of the human

frame can be acquired—where there can he a close
observation of the appearances and progress of d sease.
You not only, therefore, by contributing towards
the funds of this society, are mitigating present suffer-
ing, but you are providing means by which, in this
densely crowded metropolis, the powers of future miti-
gation shall be appli, d.—(Cheers). You are training
up those who, to the coming generation, shall be enabled
to administer assistance and relief.--(Cheers). And, if
you want any .
other motive for contributing liberally,
you have it in thut you are contributing towards
sninstitution which recognises the great truths of re-
vealed religion, and is intimately connected with the Es-
tablished Church.—( Loud cheers.) Within the walls of
this hospital those who receive relief are called upon
to offer their acknowledgments to the Author of their
being.—(Cheers). Those who are entering into the
school, enter it under a deep sense of religious duty ;
and there is every opportunity afforded to them of being
impressed with the sanctions and obligations of religion.
While they are contemplating the human frame they
are called upon to recognise, in the admitted fact that
we are " fearfully and wonderfully made," a new obliga-
tion to reverence the omniscience and benevolence of the
Deity ; but, above all, in the wonderful constitution of
the human frame, and the marvellous connexion between
its material and spiritual part, to discover additional
evidence, not merely of Natural Religion, but of that re-
vealed truth which it is the object of our Church to teach
and propagate.—(Cheers.) I call upon you, then, not
merely as friends of humanity, but as friends of the Esta-
blished Church, as friends of religion, desirous of promot-
ing the connexion between medical science and that form
of religious faith we profess—by all these motives
I implore you to mark your sense of the im-
portance of this institution by a liberal contribution this
night.—(Cheers.) It is possible that before you entered
these walls you may have made up your minds to the
subscription of some particular sum. It is just possible
that the stewards may have already recorded particular
amounts in their subscription papers ; but let me make I
to you the consolatory announcement that there is a
locus pcenitentiw.—(Loud cheers.) You are in no degree
bound or concluded by any communication you may
have made to those respectable gentlemen—(Cheers)—
and if you are deeply convinced, as I am, of the truth
I am about to state, that if he who made up his mind to
give 51. will give 10/., and he who made up his miad to
give 201. will give 501., and he who purposed giving 501.
will give 1001., I venture to say you will not only pro-
portionately mitigate the sum of human suffering, but
my firm conviction is, you will thereby add to your own
enjoyment; you will reflect with pleasure that you had
made a convivial meeting anciliary to the purposes of
charity; you will never see or hear of the King's College
Hospital without reflecting with pride that you had by
your liberal contributions of this night rescued it from
the difficulties in which it is placed from deficient means,
contributed to its prosperity, and, through its pros-
perity, enabled it not only to diminish present suffering,
but to train up in the school of science, and not only of
science, but of religion and virtue, members of that
noble profession—for noble the medical profession is in
all its branches—having for its immediate object th,
alleviation of those grievous sufferings which are thy
lot of our common humanity. I give " Prosperity to
the King's College Hospital."—(Loud cheers.)
The Duke of ST. ALBANS proposed " The health of
Sir Robert Peel, and thanks for his presidency on this
occasion."

The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm.
Sir R. PEEL, in returning thanks, said—l wish very
briefly, but with the utmost sincerity, to return you my
warmest acknowledgments for the very flattering man
ner in which, on the proposal of the Noble Duke on my
right, you have had the goodness to receive my health. I
attended the first meeting which was held for the estab-
lishment of King's College—(Cheers)—and, although
the very important occupations in which for some years
past I have been engaged have prevented me from giving
♦ery close attention to the concerns of that institution,
yet I have always felt the deepest interest in its welfare,
and it is because I felt assured it was one effectual mode
of promoting its welfare to see it connected with one of
the best regulated medical schools of the metropolis that
I have been induced to appear before you this evening;
though I must say the gratification I have had in meet-
ing so very respectable a budy of my fellow-subjects in
this ancient hall has been far more than a sufllcieat re-
muneration to me for any saerifiee I have made to be
present.—(Loud cheers.)
The Right lion. BARONET then proposed the Trea-
surer, Mr. Alderman Copeland's, health, which was
drunk amidst loud cheers.

Mr. Alderman COPELAND briefly acknowledged the
compliment, and read a list of subscriptions, which were
announced to amount to the large sum of nearly 1,700/. ;
the chairman contributing 100/.
The following toasts were then drunk in rotation:—
" Mr. Green and the Council of King's College "
(acknowledged by Professor Green) ; " The Principal
and Professors of King's College ' (acknowledged by
the Rev. Dr. Jelf); " The Master, Wardens, and Court
of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Stationers,
and thanks to them for the use of their Hall ;" "Sir W.
Riddell and the Committee of Management;" " The
Medical Officers of the Hospital," " The Clergy who
have advocated the cause, and the Incumbents who have
lent their churches for collections in behalf of the hos-
pital;" and " Mr. Twining and the Stewards."
The company did not separate till near midnight.

MR. O'CONNELL'S FUNERAL.
THE "YOUNG IRELAND" PARTY.

Dusa.xx, JUNE B.—The Council of the Irish Confede-
ration met yesterday; William Smith O'Brien, Esq.,
in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN stated, that having heard that Mr.
O'Connell's family were desirous that the members of
the Irish Confederation should not attend the funeral of
Mr. O'Connell, he had thought it right to address the
following letter to Mr. John O'Connell :

" 4 Westlan, June 7.
" My dear O'Conaell,—As I should be d-row
very reluctant
to take any part in reference to the funeral of your
lamented father which may not be acceptable to his
'amity, I shall feel obliged if you would let me know
whether it is their wish that those who dissented from
the policy adopted by the Repeal Association during the
last twelve months should attend the funeral.

"I should not have deemed it necessary to trouble
you with this inquiry, if I had not learned that it is the
impression of some of my friends that Mr. O'Connell's
family desire that none of those who ars called the
Young Ireland' party should be present on the occa-
sion.—l remain yours very faithfully,
" WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN.
_ _

"John O'Connell, Esq."
" As our council meets to-day at three o'clock, perhaps
you will kindly forward an early reply."
He regretted to say that he had received the following
reply from Mr. Maurice O'Connell :
"30, AL-Trion-square South, June 7.
"ri Mr.
Smith
Mauricet h oßri O'ConnellO'Brien, .nand
begs
epresents
ayh i
thatshis compliments
brother,toM
Mr. John O'Connell, having submitted to him Mr. Smith
O'Brien's letter of this morning's date, it becomes his
duty in reply to inform him, that all arrangements
for the funeral having been entrusted to the Glasnevin
Cemetery Committee and the Rev. Dr. Miley, the family
leaves it entirely in their hands."
Mr. O'Brien stated that he did not desire to suggest
any course to the council in connexion with this corres-
pondence, as he thought that each member of the Con-
federation ought to act upon the occasion in accordance
to his own sense of propriety ; but for his part he in-
terred from Mr. M. O'Connell's letter, that it is the wish
of the family that he should not attend the funeral.
Atter some further business the council adjourned.

SUICIDE ON THE SOUTH-IVESTERN RAILWAT.—
At an early hour on Wednesday a young woman deliberately
threw herself in front of the seven o'clock express down
train, as it was approaching the iron bridge which carries
the Wandsworth-road over the line near the Plough, at
Battersea. The line at this part forms a curve, and a person
upon the line would be concealed from view of the driver of
a train until he got very near. The driver saw the young
woman, and called to her to get out of tlie way, andalmost
momentarily the engine struck her, and Inirle.her a
lasai
twice of several yards from the spot where she fell. she was
taken to the Wandsworth Union, where v
paid her; she survived, however, only te
admission. The deceased is an entire stranger to the neigh-
bourhood, and there was nothing upon her person to lead to
enle ne3; sttention was
lutes after her
h.
her identity.

'USE OF LORDS.-,VEST.
Roeu(B.
/ INDSOR, STAINES, AND fik..
•Wailw
TERN (RICHMOND TO WINDSOR, &c.)
cbm
Oopndusinititohn the
to chair.
ViTZZOISOIit 48. SOUTH-WESTERN (STAINES
TOASCOT AND WOKINGHAM, WITH BRANCHES).
DuEkviuk""Zrdence to p
The Committee met this morning, at eleven o'clock, the
projects was continued.
Sir Robert Peel was amongst the witnesses examined.
Mr. Anson was proceeding to put a question with respect
to some negotiations that had taken place between the Right
Hon. Baronet and Mr. Saunders, the secretary of the Great
Western, while he was in office with respect to an atmo-
spheric line from Slough to Windsor.
Mr. Sergeant WILAXGRAX objected to the question, on the
ground that that line was not before the Committee.
The Committee took the same view of the question, and it
was not put.
In reply to the question, whether the line would be ob-
jectionable to the property of the Crown, or not, be replied
that the line of -last session was objectionable, but whether
the present line was or way not t.)llectionable to the Crown,
was a question
• which would be inure properly answered by
the First Commissioner oh Woods and liere,ts, I.old Slurped),
i ..)..) 1 ord Lincoln, than by turn. He
and by his pre(.me., .1-, ,
could give no opinion upon it.
Tne Committee adjoaciied until to-morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS --(YESTERDAY.)

GROUP VI.

GI EAT WEST.r.I N (Er.TENSXON TO
EXLTEa).

This Committee met to-day at the usual hour; ➢lr. Deedea
chairman.
The cross-examination of Mr. Brunel occupied the Com-
mittee during the whole of the day.

GROUP X.
This Committee met at the usual hour this morning, but
several of th, members taking an interest hi the debate on
the railway resolutions,
The CHAIRBIAN declared the Committee to stand further
adjourned till to-morrow.

GROUP XXIV.
CHESTER AND UOLTHEAD.
The Committee met at the usual hour.
Mr. ALEXANDER addressed the Committee at some length
on behalf of the 'ones standi of the Liverpool Stem-packet
Company, contending th they ought to be heard, as by the
construction of the proposed railway their trams;, would be
diminished.

Mr. TALBOT was heard in reply.
The room was ordered to be cleared, and the Committee
decided that they could not regard this memsure merely as
railway Bill, and that they could not come to a correct and
proper deci.iun on the Bill if they did so, and they therefore
decided that the parties should be heard.
Mr. TALBOT then proceeded to address the Committee on
behalf of the vromoters of the Bill.
The Committee was occupied during the remainder of the
day in hearing evidence in support thereof.
The Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow.