The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-13 00:00:00

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL

The sixteenth anniversary of this noble Institution was
celebrated on Tuesday by a dinner at the London Tavern,

Bishopsgate-street. Nearly two hundred gentlemen sat
down to a splendid repast, provided in the best style of
catering for which Messrs. Bathe and Breach are so justly
celebrated ,• the wines and viands were of the highest ex-
cellence. The chair was taken by Lord Ashley, M.P , sup-
ported by Lord 11. Grosvenor and Viscount Ebrington.
Among the gentlemen present, in addition to the Noble
Chairman and his supporters, we observed Lord Sandon, Sir
W. Stirling, Hon. Granville Ryder, Mr. E. Wigram, Mr.
Thomson Hankev, Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Vernon Wentworth,
Rev. Dr. Major, ilev. Dr. Rice, Rev. Mr. Packman, Mr. F.

P. Walesby, &c.
On the removal of the cloth the Chairman gave the toasts
of the Queen, the Queen-Dowager, his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, and the rest of the royal family. These toasts
were drank with every demonstration of attachment and
affection.
The Citamum( then said, their most hearty acceptance
and most earnest desires would be demanded for the next
toast which he• should have the honour of proposing. The
other toasts had been the mere compliments and decorations
of their festivity ; but this toast formed the main business
of the evening. All opinions must concur in the propriety
of establishing hospitals for the sick and needy, all their sym-
pathies should guide them in that direction. He would go
farther, and say that no principle of political economy was
so stiffly held, or was so severe, that would not bend to the
allowing the expediency of suchl an institution.—(Cheers.)
But if they acknowledged the force of this principle as ordi-
narily established, how much more would they confess the
blessed and beneficial uses of an institution such as this ?
(Hear, hear.) It was not necessary that they should dis-
parage other hospitals ; in the system they pursued, and the
tests they required, they urged very strong reasons for their
rules, and certainly they had in their favour many compen-
sating advantages.—(Hear, hear.) But let them speak
of this charity absolutely and not relatively. Their
institution was essentially the refuge of the poor,
the friendless, and the afflicted.—(Cheers.) In their
hospital disease was the test of fitness, and poverty the certi-
ficate of recommendation.—(Cheers.) Now surely in their
vast metropolis there ought to be at least one institution of
this kind.—(Hear, hear.) They all knew the many impedi-
ments that stood in the way of the applications of sufferers.
many were the inhabitants of those vast districts of the
•
metropolis, where wealth and station were never seen - they
might not know one human being of whom they,could ask
a recommendation. They might be too poor to provide the
requisite clothing—their diseases might be pressing, and
they might be ill able to bear the delays required. They
might live at a great distance, and might have to travel to
the institution at a great expense of time and trouble, and
after all they might be refused. These might be good and
very necessary rules, but nevertheless they had a very severe
operation. Theirdelight was in the freedom of their institution.
Time would show whether it would be permanently prac-
ticable, but meanwhile they were acting on the apostolic
principle of "trying all things, that they might hold fast
that which was. good."—(Cheers.) Their records would ex-
hibit in the statement of the extent of their relief the value
of their charity. In the period of seven years, from 1838 to
1844, as compared with the year of 1837, it appeared that
they had relieved threefold the amount of those they re-
lieved in the former year. In 1832 the recipients of their
charity were 3,132. In 1844, a year healthy compared with
that which saw the ravages of that awful disease—the
cholera—they relieved 20,754. Now these were people for
whom they went forth "into the highways and hedges"—
people who but for their institution would never have known
relief; every one who had perambulated the suburbs of this
overgrown city, its unhealthy localities, must have perceived
that even for the sake of self-preservation, if for no higher
consideration, they would be induced to endow hospitals
and dispensaries, in order to counteract, if they, could not
remove, the causes of pestilence.—(Hear, hear.) But the use
of hospitals surely did not end here; they might be directed
no less to the mind than the body of men. The hour of sick-
ness was often the hour of wisdom, and the word of counsel
proffered by the pastor or minister of religion would often
reach that hardened heart at such a time, that in the day of
health would have been inaccessible to its influence. The
institution was calculated not only to confer good on indivi-
duals, but blessings upon society. These were the rules of
the charity, and it depended on those present that the fruits
which such a charity as this would bear, should resemble
those of the tree that grew both for time and eternity. He had
. much satisfaction in proposing " Prosperity to the Royal
Free Hospital." The toast was drank with loud and conti-
nued applause.
Song—" The Captive Greek Girl," by Mr. Harrison.
The SECRETARY of the Charity (the Rev. Mr. Packman)
then read the report, which was of a very favourable kind, as
will be perceived by the following extract
The first point to which they would direct attention is,
the gratifying circumstance, that the two public meetings,
held at the 'West-end and in the City of London, for raising
a subscription to defray the purchase and fitting up of the
new Hospital, have realised the most sanguine expectations ;
indeed, it could hardly be otherwise, seeing they were
patronised by many of the greatest and most influential
philanthropists of the present day, among whom they have
to particularise as pre-eminent, Lord Robert Grosvenor and
Mr. Samuel Gurney, who respectively presided at those
meetings. •
"Your Committee have observed, with unfeigned satisfac-
tion, that the Government contemplate providing asylums, in
different parts of the metropolis, for receiving the "casual
poor," of the neepsisity for which measure we have recently
had but too alarming a proof; but, as these asylums, like our
union workhouses, which receive the destitute without medi-
cal classification, will have no adequate accomodation for the
`Casual Sick and Diseased,' who are still, to be relieved by
private charity, and who may henceforward be expected to
apply in even augmented numbers at this, the only. Hospital,
especially designed and appropriated for them, the Committee
are of opinion, that not a moment should be lost in making
every necessary arrangement for their reception. They
strongly recommend, therefore, the immediate erection of the
proposed new wing, which will admit of an additional 100
beds to the 150 now in use, and also afford room for some
much needed domestic offices."
The contributions for the past year were stated to amount
to 10,2061. 6s. 5d., of which 4,828/. was collected by Lord R.
Grosvenor and the West-end Committee, and 2,695/. by
Samuel Gurney, Esq., and the City Committee. During the
last year the charity has relieved 1,598 persons inextremeso i•ebeen
sickness, disease, and want ; 19,156 persons have
relieved as out-patients. The report also stated that—" Too
much praise cannot be bestowed upon the medical staff of the
establishment, for the part they have taken in this great
work ; for their unceasing labour and zeal in the performance
of their very arduous duties ; for the great Consideration they
have manifested towards the numerous unhappy sufferers ;
in a word, so to express it, for their medical philanthropy.
The Committee earnestly invite attention to the efficiency of
the Hospital in all its departments, as being thebest criterion
of the success of the plan on which it is conducted, and as best
evincing the deep interest taken in it by the founder and
director, Dr. Marsden, and his great anxiety to effect every
possible practical improvement—to that gentleman the thanks
of the Governors are eminently due." The report was re-
ceived with great applause.
Lord EBRINGTON, before he proceeded to propose the next
toast, begged to supply an omission which their worthy se •
cretary had made iu reading- the report ; he had omitted the
paragraph which contained a just tribute to his own exer-
tions, • the Committee having to express to the Rev. Gentle-
man their repeated obligations for his prompt and business.
like habits, kind disposition, and unwearied zeal on' behalf
of the Ilospital.—(Cheers.) He then proposed the health
of the Duchess of. Kent.—(Cheers.) It was not only in con-
nection with thisinstitution•that she set an example of libe-
rality and benevolence, nor was this the only charity in which
the name of their Gracious Queen was found followed by that
of the Duchess of Kent.—(Cheers.)
Mr. THOMPSON HANKEY proposed the health of the Presi-
dent and Vice-President of the Institution. Drank with
loud cheers.
'Rev. Dr. RicE returned thanks.
The SECRETARY then read the list of the contributions of
the evening, which amounted to 1,160/.. The Bank of Eng-
land and the East India House gave 100/. each.
The Rev. Dr. RICE then gave "The Royal Free Hospital,
and 1)r. Marsden, its founder. '
Dr. MAnsprs returned thanks. He said it gave him the

utmost satisfaction to see around him so many gentlemen
prepared to support the Institution in the principles on which
it had been founded. When he began his efforts he never
expected to have been enabled to do so much ; at that period
there was not one institution that gave immediate relief to
the destitute stranger; there was no instilution in the metro-
polis that gave the slightest pretection to these poor and
friendless creatures. It was in consequence of seeing a peor
and delicate girl of sixteen years of age perishing of--want
and disease in the streets of London, that the first efforts for
establishing such an Institution were made—a charity that
should give relief to those who were perfectly friendless and
destitute. St. Bartholomew's Hospital was founded 700 years
ago, and for the last 300 years it had been conducted on the
same principles till within the past year, when a great altera-
tion had taken place in it. In 1553 St Thomas's
Hospital was founded, and from that time up to 1774
there were only two hospitals in the metropolis. Since that
period five hospitals had been established in London ; but it
was strange that since the year 1828, there had been none
established. These hospitals not being free, the very poor
and utterly friendless were quite prevented from getting into
these institutions. St. Bartholemew's was possessed of con-
siderable revenues, and if it were a free hospital, it would be
able by its immense funds to relieve the whole of the desti-
tute sick of the metropolis. •
Lord SANDON proposed" The health of their Noble Chair-
man, Lord Ashley." Drank with enthusiastic applause. =
The CHAIRMAN thanked them from the bottom of his
heart for this testimony of kindness, which might be the
snore valuable, perhaps, because he felt it to be unmerited.
The particular charm of such meetings as this was,
that they kept gathering together men of all degrees, of
all stations and property, of all callings and professions,
of all forms of public and private opinion. All these were
found leaving their general pursuits and their personal inter-
ests, merging their differences that they might be banded
together in one common cause.—(Hear.) They ought to
cherish this universality of feeling ; it was peculiar to those
free institutions which, in this great and glorious country,
were not of recent birth, but of ancient standing. Those in-
stitutions could be observed only by those citizens who were
led by discipline, and accustomed to practise habits of dig-
nified and useful self-control. It was useful to all of them to
attend such a meeting as the present. Here those who had
the means of doing good might learn how much good their
bounty might effect. As their Chairman, if he had dis-
charged his duty to their satisfaction, their approval would
far surpass his just reward. He concluded by proposing the
health of Lord Robert Grosvenor and Mr. Samuel Gurney.
Lord R. GROSVENOR acknowledged the toast, taking the
opportunity of denying that this charity had any disposition
to underrate or undervalue the exertions of other institutions.
Ile acknowledged the liberal contributions of the evening,
and mentioned in terms of eulogy, the assistance the Plospital
had.received from the Coroner of Middlesex, Mr. Waklev.
Several other toasts were given, and duly horoured. Lord
Ashley left the chair at eleven o'clock, and the meeting
separated.
The proceedings were, in every respect, gratifying. The
arrangements of the musical department were were most effec-
tive. The professional vocalists present, including Mr. Harrison,
Mr. C. Horn, Mr. Handel Gear, Mr. Hatton, Mr. P. Bedford, &c.
The songs and glees were performed under the able superin-
tendence of Mr. G. Stansbury. The splendid band of the
Grenadier Guards were also in attendance, and played during
the repast, under the direction of Mr. Creaton, from the fol-
lowing pro gramme :
Selection, " Bohemian Girl" Belle.
Quadrille, " Chatsworth"
- Walzer, "Die Elfin"
Selection, " Joko"
Polka, "The Opera"
Vivi tu, "Anna Bolena"
Quadrille, "Don Pasquale"
Walzer, "Dublin" . Labitzky.
Polka, "The Royal"
Scena, "Ah Guista" (Sappho)