The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-23 00:00:00

THE REFORM LEAGUE.

The council of the Reform League met last even-
ing in their rooms, Adelphi-terrace, Strand, Mr. E.
Beales, president, in the chair. The following let-
_ _

ter from Count Bismark was read :—" Berlin, May
17, 1867. Gentlemen,—l have the honour to ac-

knowledge the receipt of a resolution passed at a
meeting of metropolitan delegates from trades,
friendly, and temperance and other societies, and
from 100 London branches of the Reform League,

congratulating the people of North Germany on
the achievement of full representation and vote by
ballot, and commenting very kindly on my conduct
in advising and defending that reform. I am glad
to think that the origin of the late Reichstag, and
the proceedings of that efficient and patriotic body,
should have met with so much sympathy in a coun-
try the history and institutions of which have al-
ways afforded, and will not cease to afford, a highly
interesting object to the scrutiny and reflection of
continental politicians. May the time be not far dis-
tant when all the nations of Europe will turn their
attention to each other for no other purpose than that
of emulating in good government and the arts of
peace. You will oblige me by conveying to the
members of the meeting the expression of my sincere
thanks for their flattering appreciation of what I
have been doing to serve the King and my country
in conformity with the individual character of
society and political institutions in Germany. I am,
Gentlemen, your obedient servant, BISMARIC—To
Edmond Beales, Esq., and the other Executive
Officers of the Reform League." Mr. Dresser Rogers
read the financial report for the year ending
April 20, 1867, by which it appeared that the in-
come of the League from all sources had been
£3,043, and the expenditure amounted to £2,976.
The assets and cash in hand amount to £226, and

the present liabilities to £l2l 19s. 2d. On the
motion of Mr. Richardson, seconded. by Dr. Per-
fitt, the report was received and adopted. The
_ _

chairman read the • annual report of the Executive
Council of the League, which was received and
adopted. The chairman said he could not help
congratulating the meeting on the reports, especially
on the financial report. If it were true that there
had been accusations thrown out that members of the

League were fattening on the funds, they would be
all met by the simple publication of the balance-
sheet just read. He wished to take the opportunity
of stating in the strongest manner his high appre-
ciation of the active, constant, zealous, and unpaid
labours of the working men. The League could not
have been carried on for one month if it had not

been for these unpaid labours. With respect to the
Royal Packs Bill, it appeared that Mr. Gathorne
Hardy had stated it would be brought on for second
reading after Whitsuntide, when public feeling on
the subject had subsided. He thought that feeling
ought not to be allowed to subside, and that it was
their duty to call as large a meeting as possible in
Hyde Park to protest against the bill. The demon-
stration should he made as effective as possible,
because it was quite clear that what the League had
done produced its effect. Mr. Lucraft moved, and
Mr. Odger seconded, the following resolution,
which was unanimously carried :—" That the Go-
vernment having intimated their intention to pro-
ceed with the Royal Parks Bill after Whitsuntide,
and then to move its second reading, this Council
resolves, in case of this intention, which it much re-
grets, being persevered in, to summon a monster
meeting of the inhabitants of the metropolis in Hyde
Park for the purpose of protesting against the at-
tempt proposed to be made by the bill in question
to deprive the public of their admitted right to meet
in the park for the consideration of political and
other questions—a right which has been lately exer-
cised with so much order and propriety, and without
any perceptible interference with the use and enjoy-
dent of the Park by others." Mr. Odger moved
the following resolution, which, being seconded by
Mr. Bannister, was carried : —" That this Council
meet on the night after the introduction of the pro-
mised Government amendments relating to the com-
pound householder, as upon the character of th ese
amendments will depend to a great extent the future
policy of the League in regard to the bill."

THE DREiDNOUGII7 D 771 E

ADMIRALTY.

Tho Dreadnought authorities have received a
communication from the Admiralty offering the

quarter of Greenwich Hospital known as Queen
;Mary's for the purposes of their hospital. It is fully
believed that this offer will be refused. The Seaman's
'Hospital Society and the Admiralty altogether differ
as regards the comparative advantages, so far as the
Dreadnought Hospital is concerned, of the two blocks
of buildings known as Queen Mary's and Queen
Anne's; the latter possessing a river frontage. The
Admiralty, after full inquiry, have arrived at the
conclusion that the former can be best adapted for
the treatment of the sick. On the other hand, a

special report made at the request of the committee
of the Seaman's Hospital Society by Mr. Busk, the
consulting surgeon of the Dreadnought, and pre-
sented on the 7th inst., condemn's Queen Mary's
quarter. Mr. Busk has been connected with the
society for a period of 30 years, and is therefore natu-
rally conversant with the peculiar wants of thepatients
admitted into the Dreadnought, and it is expected
that the committee of the society will be guided in
great measure by his opinion in the matter. Mr.
Busk says in his report, " Of the two I think there
can be no doubt that the more eligible is Queen
Anne's wing, not only from its better position, but
that it might be possible to render the wards in it in
some degree available for the number of beds required
by the Seaman's Hospital. I say nothing abdut the

want of kitchens, baths, and other conveniences,
such as surgery, dispensary, receiving-room, operat-
ing-room, &c., because it is clear that all thos can
be constructed in the officers' dwelling-houses at the
north and south sides of the quadrangle, which would
afford convenience for special wards also. On the
whole, I think Queen Anne's wing might at conside-
rable expense, probably, be made available for the
purposes of the hospital and for the fair accommoda-
tion of between 200 and 300 beds." Mr. Bask says,
Ith regard to Queen Mary's wing, " I look upon it
as next to impossible to find anything like proper
ward accommodation in it for more than about 100
patients at most. Owing to the peculiar construc-
tion of the building, the greater part of the present
wards, though they have served well enough for the
purpose for which they were built, is wholly inappli-
cable to that of a hospital for sick persons, for instance
the Windows on the second floor are so small, and the
wards themselves, if I am not wrong, so low that they
could not be used at all." Now the original report
made to the Admiralty by the Director-General of
the Navy, and the subsequent inspection made by
De. Bristowe and Mr. Holmes are entirely opposed
to that submitted to the committee of the Seaman's
Hospital Society by Mr. Busk. The objections to
both block of buildings have been very freely can-
vassed, but Mr. Busk does not seem to be aware
that the disadvantages that he describes as belong-
ing to the Queen Mary's, have been pronounced by
the Admiralty to be removable. We may recapitu-
late the facts of the case. The Queen Anne's quar-
ter, which faces the river, is a square block,
enclosing a court-yard, and the part which forms
e :eh side of the square forms, of course, the wards.
A central, massive wall runs from top to bottom of
the banding, so as to divide each ward itito two
halves, with a window on one side only. Now the
fact of there being au enclosed court-yard, and the
partitioning of the wards, with a window on one
side only, prevents a current of air laterally through
the building. On the other hand, is the Queen
Mary's block, which is oblong, one side of the square
is formed by an open corridor. There is no partition
running through thecentre of the wards, whilst there
are windows on both sides, and air can be made to
pin freely in all directions. Ia both quarters the
wards are divided into cabins. In Queen Ann's these
can be removed, but the central wall partition must
remain. In Queen Mary's quarter the whole of the
cabins can be knocked away, and the Admiralty ar-
chitect affirms that the stronger partitions can be
removed se as to convert the wards that are now
partitioned off in cabins, practically into large and
airy ones, having the freest communication from
side to side and from top to bottom. It is this fact
that the Dreadnought authorities no not seem to
have recognised. The expense of this change would