The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-27 00:00:00

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.

The annual meeting of the governors of this hospital
was held yesterday afternoon in the board-room of the
institution, Gray'-inn-road, General Watkins, a member
of the committee of ;management, in the chair. Among
the principal governors present, in addition to the gal-
lant chairman, were E. Halswelf, Mr. T. M. Nelson,
Rev. Owen, Mr. W. B.,,Walisiesley, Mr. W. H.
Warr,- Mr. •,nner, Hodepn,
_Mr. Mackroll, Mr.
Grant. Mr. halters, Mr. Hannah, Mr. Morean, and,
among the offide-ra of the institution, Dr. O'Connor,J
physician ;` Dr. Marsden, senior surgeon ; Mr. Weedon
Cooke, Mr. Gant, Mr. T. \Vakley, Mr. A. Mersden, &c.
The proceedings commenced by
Mr. S. S. Smith, the secretary, reading the advertise-
ment, convening the meeting, after whice '
The CHAIEM4N said that the umal step wee, in the
first instance, to adopt the report.
The Rev. J. B. OwEN read the report of the com-
mittee, which, after expressing their gratitude to Diviss
Providence on being permitted to present to the sub-
scribers and governors their 30th annual report, says:—
" It is a &Amin reflection that a generation of our
fell° weereettiree has now pasted away slues this erni-
,. nentiy useful institution was established. During this
period 608,685 sick and destitute claimants of public
charity have been'more or less relieved. Commencing
with very small means, with very few friends, and in a
most humlle building, its medical skill, economical
management of finance,. and novel prinoiple of a free
admission to really deetitute patients, soon attracted the
attention and patronage of the public, and early se-
cuied the h.,nour of the approval, of her Majesty, who
condvscended to become
,the patroness of the
charity. Thenceiorward it so rapidly extended ,its
means of usefulness as to require a more commo-
dious suite of buildings, ,which were happily obtained
on its present site is Gray's-inn-roa I, to which a
considerable addition was made the year before
last in the erection and opening of the Sussex wing, in
memory of his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.
The committee regret to have occasion to refer to the
peculiarly trying events of the last three or four years as
having inevitably exercised an unfavourable influence on
the interests of benevolent institutions Tne pressih2
appeals on behalf of the suffers re in the Crimean struggle'
iu the inundations in France, and more recently the
calamitous mutiny in India, synchronising with a sin-
gularly severe commercial panic in the great trading
communities of the United Kingdom, America, and the
continent; have indirectly affected the ordinary resources
of all domestic c'earities. During the past year the
ho-pital has moreover sustained no common loss in tee
sudden death of its late esteemed secretary, Mr. Kerr.
The appointment, however, of a successor, in the person
of Mr. S. S. Smith, who has been officially connected
with the instieutiou for upwards of twenty years, and
whose unwearied activity and intelligence had secured
the confidence of the Weekly Board, obviate any serious
inconvenience to the charity, which the lamented decease
of his predecessor might otherwise have occasioned.
Notwithst ending all the foregoing painful impediments
and difficulties with which the hospital, in common with
other unendowed charities, has had to contend, the
committee have the thankful gratification to report that
the extent of in-pa lent relief afforded daring the year has
not diminished, but exceeded that of any previous year,
while the out-patient relief has not sensibly fallen short of
former years. The committee feel it to be due to the
seasonable generosity of George Moore, Esq., of Bow-
churchyard, and to the strenuous exertions of a depu-
tation of the Weekly Board, consisting of the Rev. J.
B. Owen (chairman), Benjamin Head, Esq., C. James,
Bowyer, Esq., to -state that the deputation were en-
couraged by the large liberality of Mr. Moore'e personal
donation, added to those of his immediate friends, to
undertake a special, canvass in the city and suburbs,
inclusive of Mr. Moore's list of 840/., obtained the total
sum of 1,7151., irrespective of several SUMS promised.
The difficulties of the committee were thereby most
opportunely met, and they were enabled to liquidate a
considerable portion of old outstanding debts against the
hospital to the amount of 1,865/., improving to that
extent their prOspects fur the ensuing year- The
unhappy troubles in India, and the pressure in commer-
cial circles, suddenly falling upon the deputation in the
midst of their canvass, necessarily suspended the appeals
which they hope to resume so soon as it way he prudent
to make the effort. The hospital has passed through
many an anxious crisis—and by the blessing of God has
survived—of various and painful kinds ; but, " through
good report and evil report," its committees have hon-
estly and hopefully adhered to the single characteristic
principle on which it was originally organised—of a free
admission to the sick and needy to the full extent of the
means which from time to time the confidence of the.
public has entrusted to their charge. So long as this
policy be fairly pursued, they have no apprehension,
under the Divine blessing, of the means.
at their disposal being suffered to prove_
to the demand, which distress, enhanced y
bquate
coincidence of disease, may make upon
referring to
committee have much satisfaction
happily
exists which so
the cordial unanimity and co-opera.the:a:de e:
hi relief
moat unqualified apprecia-
tion they beg to express the
exists among the various members of their medical staff,
tion of their vaeleuragbeleebos,erovriceise, whhoeutshee rs
surgeons
honoraryacid
physicians and
dispensers. This report could be considerably enlarged
with extracts from lettersand verbal expressions, bearing
grateful testimonies to their professional skill and humane
attention, from poor patients admitted to the hospital
during the year. The committee again repeat their
acknowledgment of the constant attention to their duties,
ear%) dttbhee
phairgthelyf itnibepowrteaenktlysebrevaicreds.rensdnemreetdhetfoittshe h
its careful
commencement,
Its
old
interacts
wfriend setaro are
sththaielvlecihtesalrobisteeysltyfrafornmidends. At the same time the committee
very thankfully recognise in more recent acquisitions to
the members of the weekly board a promising succession
of zeal, intelligence, and influence, not unworthy of the
most distinguished among their predecessors. The begagaincom-
continuedeealand
mittee
attentionke
to every branch of the hos-
pital's interests which still characterise the services of
its respected founder, W. Marsden, Esq., whose almost
daily visits as general inspector of the institution have
been attended with the most desirable results, in pos-
sessing the weekly board from time to time with every
point of information essential to the efficient discharge of
their functions. The committee report the financial
position of the charity for the past year as follows
—The donatigne amount to 3,152/. ; annual sub-
scriptions to 1,5281; legacies to 1,049/, making a total
from all sources, of which details are submitted in the
financial statements, of 5,7831. 19s. 9d. It is the
earnest hope of the committee that the results of the
canvass of the deputation from the Weekly Board may

NT: S PAP Pi?

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enable them to la f
expunge , the
rAiiiii-7404- .
remaining liabilitieSiof iisth_4lil - lib, ease
fc Idasitiot
its entire.annuatirreorn AiOsEleskliiiki‘n 1:01 more
extensive relief ;of' th eloostelik -ooelo stiOti og for
medical assietante. Th'asististssosiofi 4 ,uu.., ng, in
abiolutely destituteS- Oases_ , swath. to o''. nay, or
articles of clothing, toSiatienW-leavin th i ospital for
their homes at distant places, continues 'to bo attended,
fa many affecting instances, by favourable resulte—par-
foudhessctriithustri
tictilarly among fallen females, whose unhappy social
position usually leaves them without 'other resoircee
except the wretched course, which hied, redligsed them to
subscribers
.to
theTh M
The oseodmiemailtteßeepiriei4 fromvitethe
which it appears that 778 in-patients and 42,080 out-
patients have been treated during the year, making e
adtisteaentaion ando
total of 42,905 cases relieved. the comtnittee.ston-
litaientionslty, feel they have a Strong cage-of appeal for
public supportt,.Tice location of the be-vital in.the
centre of a vast.-popolation ,of the humbler dais of
citizens, and its rale of free admission to sick persons
from all parts of-the niettopolis-acid:from the provinoes,
net exclading even foreigners overtaken -by the help.
lesis'iisitation of sickness in a strange land; create a
large demand, constantly increasing in•proportion to the
population upon the resources of the charity. It
is aupperted entirely 'by voluntary contribtitions, which
have never yet failed,, and the committee
~ienture to
believe they never will fail, so long as there are feeling
hearts to condole with the sufferings of. poverty, and
just- convictions of its claims upon the sympathies of
affluence."
_. Istr._Ssuro, the secretary, then read the financial state-
ment, from which it appeared that the. income of the
institution during the past year (including a balance of
2461. 19s. 11d. for the previous year) has been 6,0801.
19s. Bd. The expenditure amounted to 5;8971..51, 7d.
(including the payment of 1,8651. 12s. • 7d. for debts in-
curred in 1856), leaving a balance of 1331: 14e. Isl.
The following is a copy of the medical report; from lit
Jan. to 31st Dec., 1857 : "Peiions afflicted with
malignant and contagious diseases, 19,650 ; ditto,
various disorders, 17,331 ; accidents relieved and sent
home, 1,750 ; patients under the dentist, 3,277. In
addition to the above there have been 778 totally destitute
diseased persons admitted into the waidi, of whom 61
have died, and 717 hays been disitharged ' cured ea
relieved. The number of accaients admitted into .the
wards was 119, of whom 23 died, and 96-were cured or
re'ieved. Total relieved in 1857, 42,905. Number of
patients relieved up to 31st Dec.„ 1856, 565,780, making
a grand total of 608,685."
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN the following gentle.
men were elected the Committee of Mariagernent for
, 1854 :—Messrs. W. W. Bramston Beach, M.P., J.
'Bowyer, T. B. Browne; J. P. Bull, Chibit4h44,44set,
Dobie, Edmund Holtman, Joseph Hanes's, Benjamin;
Head, John Hooper, W. Lawrence (Alderman), Joseph
Liggins A. L. Mocatta, Sir F. G. Moon, Bart. (Alder-
man), Geo. Moore, T. M. Nelson, Rev. J. B. Owen, B.
T. Perkin, W. Pritchard, Benj. Robinson, Thomas
Sidney (Alderman), Geo. Simpson, William Tegg, Thos.
Wakley, jun., Wm. E. Walmigey. Wm, H. Warne,
General Watkins, John Watson, 11. S. Westmatott,
Wm. Withal!.
The following gentlemen' were elected auditors :
Messrs. J. W. P. Field, H. Filler, E. Vislikott.
Votes of thanks baying been given to the committee
of management, the treasurer, and auditors,
Mr. HALSWELL moved that the thanks of the meeting
be given to Dr. Marsden, the founder of the institution,
for his valuable and gratuitous services in promoting its
interests. Not only was the credit ot.the idea of a free
hospital due to Dr. Marsden, but he was entitled to the
gratitude of the community at large for -theifforta sibich
he had-made to alleviate the distresses of his jellow.

creatures. (ffeeir.)
- •
Mr. T. W. COOKE seconded,the motion: .; " .`
Dr. MARSDEN, in acknowledging the' complinient,
said that when the institution was founded he hardly
expected to live To see its working for a period
as 30 years ; but, ehneidering his health.and sprits, he
trusted he shouldbe.ahle to assist it for some years
longer. (Cheers.) The public were greatly indebted to
the committee of management, and espemally. to the
gentlemen who constituted the weekly board, to whom
the prosperity of the institntinntwas mainly owing, and
it was highly gratifying.tolnd that that4)ciarthand.the
medical staff worked so harmoniously together; {Haar.)
On the motion of Mr. SNOW, seconded' by 1.f.r:.(,11Cp. ARB,
a vote of thanks was given to 'Mr.' Wakley,,jun4 and
the medical officers, which was briefly acknowledged 1 y
Wakley, who stated that nearly le per cent of the
whole population of the metropolis received gratuitous
medical relief, and that the Royal Free Hospital ,sup-
plied a very large proportion of tbat peeeentage. (Hear.)
De. kfAasnex, in proposing:a ,vote of thanks to the
chairman, observed that General Watkitor,,ivho had re-
cently joined the institution, was just%one of themen
whose assistance was hpede'll by the htipital. He was
not only a great commander, but' had the command of
great means—(a laugb)—anCi was willing and acre to
give effective support to the institution.'' (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in ref.urning thanks, expressed a hope
thAt the unanimity which now existed amongst the vari-
ous parties e-nnected with the hoseital would long con-
tinue, and said he should be happy to attend all the
,neetings of the institution, and to meet the calls which
might he made upon him. (Cheers.)
The meeting then separated.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER -TUESDAY.

It is now tolerably evident that no great amount of
wagering will be done upon the Chester Cup, until the
acceptances have been published. To-day 1,000 to 30
was taken. and afterwards offered against Charles the
Second, 1,000 to 35 was offered on the field. Blink
Bonny and Blaoktborn each recaived some support, com-
mencing at 50 to 1, and closed at 40 to 1 taken. , 1,000
to 15 would have been taken about The Hadji. 400 to
10 was taken once about King of the Gipsies, but 50 to
1 might afterwards have been obtained. The only horse
in demand for the 2,003 Guineas Stakes was Brother to
Marchioness, about whom 6 to 1 was taken freely.
Several investments were made to Smelt same upon the
Liverpool Steepleohase. Nothing, was done upon the
Derby.
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE'. - 5'
100 to 8 apt Harry Lorrequer (offered)
100 to 6 agat Escape (taken)
100 to 6 agst Jean du Quesne (taken)
20 to 1 agst The Brewer (offered)
100 to 3 agst Lough Bawn (taken)
100 to 3 agat Conrad (taken)
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.
6 to 1 agst Brother to Marchioness (t
20 to 1 asst Coxwold (w)
CHESTER CUP.
28 to 1 agat Palaiister (offered)
100 to 3 agst Charles the Second (taken anal off)
40 to 1 agst Blink Bonny (taken)
40 to 1 agst Blackthorn (taken) ,
50 to 1 agst The Hadji (take 66 to 1)
50 to 1 agst King of the Gipsies (offered)
100 to 1 agst Vanity (taken)