The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-11 00:00:00

AUGUSL

Heath of Maryboro'. 3 Galway
Roscommon lO j

SEPTEMBER.
4 I Jenkinstown Park 2l
• 7 Johnstown 2B

Kilkee ,—.
Curragli

TAB HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN.—This institution
is specially set apart for the reception of sick chi ren ;
it is salubriously situated in Great Ormond-street, W.C.,
and has apparently conferred great benefits, inasmuch
as since it was opened in 1852, 47,100 out-patients and
1,860 in-patients have been admitted and treated, all of
them children under 12 years of age, and 28,500 infants
under 5 years of age. A large garden, spacious wards,
the complete separation of contagious diseases from
other cases, a special dietary, trained nurses, and all the
arrangements to make a sick child well, and a conva-
lescent child happy, and to send it home better in heart
and in mind, as well as in body, have necessitated an
outlay which the present subscriptions do but very par-
tially defray. Accordingly a first festival in aid of the
funds was celebrated on Tuesday evening at the Free-
masons' Tavern, when some 160 gentlemen sat down to
a sumptuous entertainmeut shortly before 7 o'clock.
The chair was occupied by Mr. Charles Dickens, who
was supported by Sir Jas. Clarke, Mr. Labouchere, Dr.
Watson, the Hon. Mr. Vereker, Dr. Hawkins, Dr.
Babiegtou, M. Russel Sturgess, and Mr. J. D. Coleridge.
Mr. Dickens made a most humourous speech in propos-
ing "Prosperity to the Hospital for Sick Children." He
~xpatiated on the great advantages of the institution,
and informed the assembly that at present the governors
were able to accommodate 30 children at a time (inside
the hospital.) One most gratifying fact, which showed
how welt the hospital was appreciated, was to be found
in the circumstance that the poor mothers of these chil-
dren eut,scribed, in pence, no less a sum than 501. a
year for the foundation of a "Samaritan Fund," to sup-
port the children in the country after leaving the institu-
tion in Ormond-street. The subscriptions received on
Tuesday night amounted to about 3,0001., including
900/. from the ladies' gallery (which was graced by a
numerous assemblage), aid 5001., the (single) munificent
donation of a lady who modestly veiled her identity
under the title of " Mary Jane." After doing justice
to the merits of the excellent chairman, by drinking his
health in overflowing bumpers, and respondingto sundry
other routine toasts, the company dispersed at a very
late hour.

PASSPORTS IN THE OLDEN TIMIC—The manners of
the English gentry, in this age were, in a great measure,
purely national ; and, except at Court, had received
from foreign nations neither polish nor corruption.
To travel, had not yet grown to be a very common
practice. It was not yet thought that a visit to
more genial climes, or more lovely landscapes, was
the best preparation for afterwards living happy and
contented in our own. In fact, according to old Eng-
lish maxims, no one could go abroad without special
permission from the Sovereign. This, in the reign
of Elizabeth, Sir William Evers was severely punished
because he had presumed to make a private journey to
Scotland. In the first part of the 18th century, the same
authority seems still to have existed, at least with respect
to the groat nobility. The Duke of Shrewsbury, for
example, could not go abroad, in 1700, until he obtained
leave from King William. Thus, also, the Duke of
Marlborough's application for a passport, in 1712, was
opposed by several members of the new Cabinet. The
fees for a passport at the Foreign-office amounted to up-
wards of 61., a sum far from inconsiderable in those
days, and serving as a check upon the lower class of
travellers. To travel with passports from the foreign
ministers resident in England is a later, and, in my
opinion, a mischievous and unwarrantable innovation
History of England from the Peace of Utrecht. By Lord
Mahon [Earl Stanhope].
AN EFFECTIVE HOME FLEET.—Lovers of peace who
consider that the safest way of insuring the continuance
of that blessing is by being prepared for the contrary
state will be pleased to observe the measures now being
adopted by the Admiralty. The Coa tguard squadron,
heretofore consisting of mere hulks, such as the South-
ampton, Meander, Melampus, Amphitrite, Conway,&c.,
aro now being replaced by effective auxiliary 'screw propel-
ler line-of-battle ships. Thus the Conway will be super-
seded by the Ajax, 60, the Meander by the Blenheim, 60,
the Eagle by the Russell, and the others by effective
screw ships as soon as they can be got ready. But not
only are the Coastguard ships to be kept in a state for
immediate sea service, effective screw ships will be sub-
stituted for the sailing three-deckers which now bear the
flans of the Admirals Superinteni.ent at Portsmouth
and Devonport. The Victory and Impregnable,
which are more like harbour depots than anything
else, will remain as flag ships, seeing that a certain
staff must always be kept up, which staff must be
for the time domiciled in a stationary ship ; but
the St. Vincent will be very well exchanged for the Duke
of Wellington, and the Royal William at Devonport for
the Royal Sovereign, or some other screw three-decker.
The depot ships for the steam reserve at the different
ports are also being exchanged for others
60, of a
and larger
class. The Exmouth, 11, for the Ajax, the
Hannibal, 91, for the Blenheim, 60. The Edinburgh,
60, will also, no doubt, find a more spacious successor
in some of the large class screw liners now fitting fur
sea service.—United Service Gazette.
EAST INDIA COMPANY.—Ywaterday a Parliamentary
' return was issued giving as estimate of the receipts and
disbursements of the Home Secretary of the East India
the
Company from the let of January to 3oth of April,
1858, and from the let of May, 1858, to the 30th of
April, 1859. The receipts between the Ist of January
and the 30th of April in the present year are estimatei
at 5,156,0231, leaving a balance over the disbursements
of 859,9581. The estimated receipts from the Ist of
next May to the 30th of April, 1859, amount to
11,886,0261., this sum including an estimated deficiency
1 balance of 7,687,Q651,