The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-16 00:00:00

BIRILLYOIIAM INSTITUTIOA FOR TSB

BELIEF OF DEAFNESS.

The annual meeting of the friends and supporters of
this institution was held in the Board-room, Cherry-
street, on Thursday last. The Rev. Dr. Miller (in the
absence of Lord Lyttelton) occupied the chair, and
amongst the gentlemen present were F. I. Welch, Esq.,
the Rev. J. B. Marsden, the Rev. John Dufton, Mr.
W. Dufton, and Mr. J. Seeking. A letter of apology
for non-attendance was read from Lord Lyttelton, who
was expected to preside, and Mr. Dufton also announced
that W. Chance, Esq., the honorary secretary, Was
prevented by illness from attending,
The report, which afforded strong proofs of the succses
and usefulness of the institution, was read by Mr.
DIIFTON. We extract the follo wing :—" Your committee,
have pleasure in presenting the annual report of the
surgeon, from which it appears that the number of
patients attending the institution during the past Year
has been 290, of whom a large majority have been either
cured or relieved. The eases consist of discharges
from the ears, noises in the head and ears, rheumatics
deafness, affections of the throat, producing deafness,
and several cases of fungoid growth and polypi
in
the ear. Your committee need not dwell upon the vast
importance of such a society as the Birmingham Usti'
tution for the Relief of Deafness, and the great benefit
it is annually conferring on the poorer classes of the •
tows and neighbourhood. They would again express
their high commendation of the valuable services of
your surgeon, whn devotes his time and attention to
the interests of the Charity." The number of cove
treated since the commencement of the institution is
3,457. The surgeon's report showed that out of the 290
patients treated during the past year, 184 bad been
cured, 77 relieved, and 29 returned as incurable. The
financial statement was equally satisfactary. The ba-
lance from last year was 781., and with the receiPts
from subscriptions and interest, made a total of 1371'
Os. 101. The sum remaining in the hands of the treae
surer at the present time is 861. 7s. 2d.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
expressed his regret at the absence of Lord Lytetlton,
and hie warm sympathy with the object of the inetitue
tion. He felt that deafness must be a great affliction,
and the prevalence of this disorder was a great hindrance
to the work of the clergy, inasmuch as they appealed
through that exquisite organ, the ear, to the conscience
and the hearts of their congregations. He thought the
public of Birmingham and the neighbourhood had reason
to congratulate themselves on the fact that they bad
amongst them a medical man who devoted se much
time and attention to the cure of deafness, and to the
furtherance of the object of that institution.
Mr. WELCH seconded the motion, and congratulated
the friends of the institution on the large amount of good
it had effected during the past year. He hoped that
Mr. Dufton's labours would be rewarded by an increased
measure of support, and an enlarged sphere of useful.
uses.
Mr. J. SEEKING moved a vote of thank to Lord
Ward for his kindness in filling the office of president,
and in doing so remarked upon the b;.ghly satisfactory
nature of the surgeon's report. It was wont gratifying
to find that so many persons bad been under r'
Dutton's care, and that of the patients treated about
seven-eighths had been either:cured or relieved. This
fact alone was sufficient to show the value of such en
Institution, and he hoped also to ensure for it an
creased amount of support from the publio.
The motion was seconded by Mr. MVO, 149 a
unanimously adopted.
Th Rev. J. B.
thanks of
surgeon, Mr. Dalton, for his careful attention to the
movedthe
—" That
patients attending the Institution, and for his valuable
during the past year."
the best
He remarked
meetingrt
eh
me anbreekecet
givenrtehe oa ltt to:
tit
!oh
rue.
Dufton had, during his connection with the institutieT,
rendered great service to the town, and proved hi
nee'
to be a skilful and gifted surgeon, andeta honour to his
profession. (hear, hear.) Although other institutions
in the town had obtained a stronger hold uP°l the
sympathies of the benevolent, owing to the fact that the
diseases which they treated were more distressing ,_t°,
the beholder, or more dangerous to life, yet he thought
that the deaf were entitled to more consideration than.
they at present obtained. The deaf man was genera.ll.9,
an irritable man, and the disorder was one, he shui:
think, which must act very injuriously on the nervous
system. Those who were afflicted with deafness were
prevented from profiting by the Gospel of Truth in toe
house of God, and a large proportion of those forpl•
ing the different congregations were so afflicted. Aga"o
there could be little doubt that deafness prevailed to es.*
great extent among the working-classes, and his own 13_
lief was that few labourers, and more especially out-ciol
labourers, who had arrived at the age of 40 years, 111!_.
preserved the power of hearing in a perfect state. Th!eet
then, was another reason why the institution should 1)
liberally Supported. He found that there one or two
_
similar
institutions in London, which he feared scarcely
obtained their fair share of public attention. It was
rather a proud thing for Birmingham that possessed se
efficient an institution, and under such able auspices.
The report read that day could not fail to make a deep
impression, and it must convince
thessgiornea.t attention he
advantage derived, not by the .svor
mumty, from the self-denying
tkhineepu clbalsicse of
satlohnee great
by all classes of the corn
lbaabdo up rasi
do ft
oMtrh.isDufto
branchn of
, andh
The resolution was carried by acclamation,
Mr. DUTTON moved a vote of thanks to the committee
fromis profession.
o f e
for their past services, and their re-election for the ensu-
ing year.
Mr. SEEKING seconded the motion, and took occasion
to congratulate the meeting on the prosperous condition
of the institution, and particularly on the fact that eo
large an amount of good had been realised by so comps'
ratively trifling an expenditure.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, it was resolved
" thut tho boat thanks of the meeting be given to Wiliiaas
Chance, Esq., the hon. secretary, together with the a:
pression of the regret of the meeting that the state of.
his health had temporarily deprived the institution of
his services, and that he be respectfully requested to
continue his services for the ensuing year."
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. WELCH having taken the chair , thanks were vote
to the Rev. Dr. Miller for presiding, and the procesa
t
ings terminated.—Aris' Birmingham Gazette.

THE A.VE.RICANS IN JAPAN•

(From the Friend of China of Oa S 1
United States' Consulate General,
Simoda, Japan, July 6.
Sir,—l have the honour to transmit for your informs.
tion a copy of a convention that I have made with the
Japanese.
It is proper that I should inform you that the relative g
values of go'd and silver are quite different in Japan tO
what they are in other parts of the world.
In the United States the relative value of gold to
silver is as 1 to 16, but in Japan it is about 1 to 3 1-7thr
so that although the Japanese give the same weight o
f
their gold coin as the foreign coin they receive, yet owing
to the difference of relative values, a loss ensues of more
than,7s per
ecent, on foreign gold, as compared with
silver.
To illustrate the operation of the 31 Artiole of the
Convention, I would state that where Americana have
heretofore paid 100 dole. in silver, they will now psi
344 dole.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
TOWNSEND HARRIS.

To James Keenan, Esq.,
United States' Consul, Hong Kong•

For the purpose of further regulating the intercourse
of American citizens within the empire of Japan, and
after due deliberation, Townsend Harris, Consul-General
of the United States of America within the empire of
Japan, and Inowonye, Prince of Sinano, and Naka•
moera, Prince of Dewa, Governors of Simoda,
having full powers from their respective Governmentot
have agreed on the foll Owing articles, to wit :
Art. 1. The port of Nangasaki, in the principality
of Ilizen, shall be 0p6.:. to American vessels, where tbefi
repair damages, procure water, fuel, provisions, a"
other necessary articles, even coals, where they nre
obtainable.
Art. 2. It being known that American ships co sit
to the ports of Simoda and Hakodade cannot have Ow!
wants supplied by the Japanese, it is agreed that
American citizens may permanently reside at Simet_l:
and Hakodade, and the Government of the ifnle'
State 3 may appoint a vice-consul to reside at oda
110
Ila
of kde•
This article to go into effect on the 4th day J 0
18,541.
Art. 3. In settlement of accounts the value of the
money brought by the Americana shall be ascertained
by weighing it with Japanese coin (gold and silver it'll)*
bees)—that is, gold with gold, and silver with silver ;
or weights representing Japanese coin may be used after
,
such weights have been carefully' examined and lona'
to be correct.
The value of the money of the Americans having bee:
thus ascertained, the suum of 6 per cent. shall be allow'°
to the Japanese for the expense of recoinage. hall
Art J 4
Americans committing offences in Japan IL-„J
be tried by the American Consul-General or Consul: a-
shall be punished according to American laws. boll
Japanese committing offences against A.mericanee;
an,
be tried by the Japanese authorities, and Punish
cording to Japanese laws.
Art. 5. American ships which may resort to the p°r,tol
Sirnoda, Hakodade, or Nangasaki, for the purperW pal
twining necessary supplies or to repair damages) DW
so
for them in gold or silver coin, and if they
have
money goods shall be taken in exchange. right
Art. 6. The Government of Japan admits tn_
off' the Consul-General of the United States to go b. no
the limits of Seven Ri, but has asked him to delquip,
use of that right, except in cases of emergenefo
wreck, &c., to which he has assented. r bi°
Art. 7. Purchases for the Consul-General 0. of
family may be made by him only or by some menlue`oo,
an
without the intervention of any J official , - his family, and payment made to the seller for the el for
this purpose Japanese silver and apcopp aneseer coin shall be
supplied to the Consul-General.
Art. 8. As the Consul-Generalueg of the United Stal
glrab
of America has nu knowledge of the Japanese tang
nor the Governors of Sterioda a knowledge of the be
A un
rd t n
9.t e
All u
the h
fvoerresgi oo
inn
go f
language, it is agreed that the true meaning Buh
f o
i
articlesielt
frorn the date hereof except article 2, which Waal' go
reteoS.
go
into, A
nto
effect on the date indicated in _n tin it. Bnglif3 be
Done in quintuplicate (each copy being
Japanese, and Dutch), at the Goyosso of Simodse °lB5/,
17th day of June, in the year of the Christian era, Aroe
And of the Independence of the United States c;;;Iej,
rica, the 81st, corresponding to the fourth yltirshieersinh
MI, the fifth month, the 26th day, the Beg .Ststell
being signed by the Consul-General of the h
Governors
of America, and the Japanese by the
gale,
TOYS:SIND
Simoda.