The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-28 00:00:00

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BOIrAL FREE HOSPITAL.

The annual meeting of the governors of this hospital,
established upon the principle of admitting all applicants
of relief without letters of introduction, was held'at the
hospital, in Gray's-inn-'ane, yesterday ; Mr. Halswell
presided, supported by the Rev., J. B. Owen, Captain
CoNille, Drs. Marsden arid O'Connor. Messrs. Hooper,
I.'qclson, 136iw.yer, T. H. Wakley, •Weedon, Cooke, De
Retie, Thomas' Carr Jackson, Alex. Marsden, Finer,
Wane, Pope, Snow, Olney, Ford'e Davis, &c. The re-
pert 'said—
"In presenting the 29th annual report, the committee
arehappy-tes-ueateratnlete the subscribers on the steadily
increasing progress of the hospital in its usefulness to
suffering poverty, and in the confidence and favour of
the public. The handsome and commodious new wing
erected as a memorial to his Royal Highness the late
flake of Sussex, was formally opened in June last,
by the Right Honourable Lord Leigh ; the auspi-
cious event being celebrated by a banquet, hold in
Freemasons'-hall, the financial results of which netted
the munificent sum of 1,0101. to the charity. The
committee acknowledge with the most profound and re-
ipectful gratitude the receipt of an additional donation,
during the past year, of 100/. from her most gracious
Majesty the Queen, and also a liberal contribution from
!lie Royal highness the Duke of Cambridge. The com-
mittee are glad to state that frequent instances occur, in
continued demonstration of the wisdom and benevolence
of the pr.nciple of uninterrupted free admissioe day and
pight, on which the institution was founded, and to
which it -has consistently adhered.. Its example in this
respect wag subsequently adopted to a limited extent in
other hospitals, though in none other, as the committee
believe, was it ph% rule, or even the exception, unless in
'cases of accident, until the Royal Free Hospital em-
barked upon the principle, relying upon an enlightened"
public philanthropy to enable them to maintain it. The
committed most respectfully express their conviction,
founded upon the experience of nearly 30 years, that the
eysttm of .free admission of patients is the only effective
mode of dealiug with' the combined misfortune of disease
and destitution. The committee are content to take
their stand_ upon this principle, and are encouraged in
their strong impre-sion of its accuracy by the yearly,
increasing confidence in, and public support of, the hos-
pital in which it is embodied. It is a great satisfaction
to this comMittee to put upon record that during the past
year a larger number of cases of sickness have been
mite or less relieved than in any preceding year of the
existence of the charity. The number of in-patients ad-
mitted-during the year 1856 amounts to 844, being an
increase of 42 as c impared with the return for the year
1855. The out-patients for the same period were
43,443, being au increase of 4,354 cases over the
corresponding period for the preceding year. The total
number of patieete of both sexes for the year 1856
amounting to 44,287—the largest number of sick caees
relieved during' aey one year since the commencement of
the charity. The donations of the past year (including
the 'contributions at the inaugural banquet before referred
to) amennt to 3,1991. 63. 3d., exhibiting an increase of
1,3101. lls. Bd. over the previous year. • The annual
subscriptions; up in whioh the clarity more directly de-
pends as a less precarious means of subsistence, and
which the committee anxiously desire to see further ex-
tended, have reached an annual income of 1,5001., show-
ing an increase of 451. over the previous year. The
legacies during the past year amount to 4,585/. 2e. 7d.,
being 1,9261. Bs. more than the year preceding. Tee
total income of the year from all sources is 9,3161. SR.
6d., out of which sum, after payment of numerous cur-
rent charges of the hospital, and a considerable amount
(1,300/0 for the new building (of which 5,2001., includ-
ing 1,6001., the amount of the Sussex Fund, were paid
in 1855, and there is still owing 6001. to the builders),
the sum of 4,1441. 15s. 6d. has been applied towaros
the liquidation of outstanding liabilities. Tne committee
venture to press the strong claims of the institution upon
the libe.rality of the public, that they may ere long be
enabled, by a final discharge of debts still unsettled, to
appropriate the entire annual receipts to the exclusive
and more extended benefit of the sick and suffering poor.
Toe practice of bestowing small sums of money and
articles of clothing on wholly destitute patients when
leaving the hospital is still attended with very
gratifying result., particularly among the class of un.
fortunate females, who in many instances have been
restored to their families or to situations of respectable
service, through the instrumentality of the officers of this
charity. Money is also given to out patients, who from
their destitute condition require immediate food, and
who, from want of room, cannot be admitted into the
wards on the day of their application. The limits of this
report preclude the committee from any detail of the
many interesting, and even affecting shapes in which the
poor and bhe labouring classes 'exhibit their gratitude
and confidence in the management of the charity. It
may, however, be mentioned that scarcely a week passes
without considerable sums in pence, and even in farth-
ings, being found by the Weekly Board in the hospital
boxes, deposited there by the poor as they pass the gates,
under circumstances of secrecy, which touchingly illus-
trate the true canon of Christian charity, " not to let the
left band know what the right hand doeth." In one
instance during the last year, a poor mechanic left a
brown paper parcel at the gates of the hospital as he
'passed on to his daily labour, containing his watch,
which was still ticking, as if the self-denying. oblation
had been as suddenly conceived, as promptly executed ;
the name of the large-hearted donor being known only
to Him who seeth in secret, and rewardeth openly.'
The committee at the same time gratefully acknow-

ledge the frequent sums in notes,— gold, and silver,
which are deposited weekly in the same boxes, and ,
they heartily congratulate the governors and friends of
the hospital on its continued success, and on the pros-
pect of still more enlarged usefulness to the cause of
suffering humanity, consequent upon the occupation of
the new and commodious wards in the new win:4 of the
hospital. In addition to which, greatly increased ac-
commodation 141,5, at a large outlay, been afforded to the
out-patients. The committee rely upon the volun'ary
and generous support of the public to enable them, a-,
their almoners, to administer medical relief to the larg.e
number of destitute fellow-creatures, who are constantly
imploring assistance at the gates of the hospital."
The report was adopted, and a variety of votes of
thanks carried, not forgetting one to Dr. Marsden, the
benevo!ent projector of the institution.

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, JAN. 27
For long clothe, T cloths, and the better class of prin
ing cloths there is a good demand at fair prices, the
firmer tone of the cotton market having imparted soa.e
additional strength in these goods ; but in shirtiegs and
other cloth,,, suited to the market of India arid China, the
market is not only depressed, but great irregularity pre-
vails as to prices. Yarns are much the same as last
week, wish a moderate business of a miscellaneous cha
racter, adapted to most markets, but without any trans-
actions of moment for any quarter. Tne finer qualities
are in better demand than others, and being rather scarce
are firmer in price.
Messrs John Stagg and Co. report: —" As regards India
and China goods the market continues in the same dull
and inactlve condition, and the tendency of price- is
slightly in favour of buyers. In nearly every other de-
partment of the market we have to report a moderate
demand, and in consequence of the slight advance in the
Liverpool market a somewhat firmer feeling on the part
of producers ; but we cannot quote any actual improve-
ment in prices.'
Mes,r - . G. Fraser, Son, and Co. report :—" There has
been a spiel market. Present prices evidently prevent
transactions of any extent being entered into. Our quo-
tations are without change, but there is some giving way
in prices when transactions take place."
The judgment in the case of Mr. Lowe, of Lowe and
Lowe, yarn agents, by the Commissioners in Bank-
ruptcy, has called forth some expressions of sympathy
by its severity, on the part of those acquainted with this
gentleman's amiable qualities and repute for high cha-
racter and integrity, the sentence being a suspension for
two years of his certificate, which is to be of the thin
class, without protection. The object has been no
doubt to strike a blow at the system, too prevalent, of
dealing in accommodation bills, by which the commer-
cial world has suffered so much. Mr. Lowe commenced
with a capital of 10,8001. in 1854, owing to him by a
person, Walsh, who was at the time insolvent, but which
he coresidered as guaranteed by Wright, a millowner,
who succeeded Walsh in business. The balance-sheet
showed debts due to creditors, 25,8381. 11s. 81 ; trade
Liabilities, 72,7171. ; and for bills and guarantees to
Wright, 42,548/. 13s. 4d. ; total, 140,6041. 4s. Against
this, in respect of property, there were debts ans2oueig
to 35,4921. 10s., leaving a deficiency of 105b,,101_
e/
of 145. l
The bankrupt bad kept good and correct t ft
hem these
his trade transactions, but had kept o_ 0.
duthad iven three
guarantees of 42,0001. for Wright,
hanet a timge when he
of there guarantees for 6,000/. .
e err cab's were insolvent. The
knew that both himself ana ye rig
commi, sinner looked upon
the
ebepese transactions as having
nal clauses of the Bank.
brought Mr. Lowe withinet
ruptcy Act, the 9;1 clet's.
con-
cealing the true state of hisoeffitehiere2.s6th section, for
NOTTINGHAM, JAN. 27.
There is not much improvement in the demand for lace
for the home markets; manufacturers are, however, skill
si as to future prospects, and we may shortly ex •
sang—ne
peez. a reet.er t. demand. There is not much doing just now
for export.
There is an excellent feeling in the hosiery trade.
Manufacturers are getting a better price for their goods,
and the demand continues brisk. Material is enormously
high, but with a good demand manufacturers will be
enabled to secure a proportionate advance upon their
goods. The operatives in this branch are well employed
at tolerable wages. ,

LEICESTER, JAN. 27.
Business is quiet, and the hosiery trade, although by
no means active, is in a healthy state. We expect hhortly
to have a revival, until which time manufacturers are get-
ting off their stocks, and the present high rate of mate•
rift' prevents their increasing them. Wools are exceed•
ingly high,

LEEDS, JAN. 27

The woollen cloth markets have been active this morn-
ing, and more sales would have been effected if there
had been a better supply in the market. The chief busi-
MN, however, is done directly between the manufactur-