The Sun.
London, England, 1826-03-24 00:00:00

AFTERNOON, SERVICE.

At three o'clock the Yeoman Usher, followed by eleven
Yeomen in their state dresses, and one bearing a large gold
dish, on which were one hundred and twenty-eight purses,
each purse containing a sovereign and sited I silver pennies, as
many as the King is years old; Mr. House, Sergeant of the
King's Vestries ; the Sub-almoner, followed by two boys and two
girls from the 'Westminster Natiimul SO,OOl, selected for tiker
good conduct ; the Secretary and the Groom ache Aimonry, &c.
all wearing white scarfs and carrying iiosegeys, entered the Cha.
pa. Mr. Cooper played a solemn piece as the proceesion entered.
The procession advanced up the aisle ; the bah-Almoner and
two Yeomen to, ok their station within the altar, the Officers
and Children In seats in front of the °Nene and others along the
aisle, &c. The appropriate Church Service for the day was
and the young gentlemen
then read by the Rev. Dr. Vivian, the Rev. Messrs. Knapp,
lAlittelsez,ciaotrel,lillaoctliride;ll:hileigolyenntleeur of the Chapel Royal were
of the Chapel Itortl....The first anthem was " little not thou
thy face.' The Sub-Almoner then distributed to the men
shoes and stockings ; after which the second anthem was
sung, " Call to remembrance," when woollen and linen
cloths were distributed. At the conclusion of the third an.
them, " 0 Lord, grant the King fur -r—e," purses of
r money were given by the Sub.almoner to the Maundy men and
women. After they had returned to theirr .lg l
seats,nn
the church ser-
vice was resumed till the fourth anthem, " Who is this that
couieth from Edam," Or. Arnold. Then followed two prayers
composed for the oecasion, then the prayer for the King, &c. &c.
to the erd of the service, When the officers of the wine.cellar,
Mr. Mail, the Secretary, and Jones, the Groom, approached
Doctor Goodenough with a very capacious gold cup containing
wine, which they poured into a smaller cup and presented to
the Doctor, who drank the King's health, which was after-
wards drank by the Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal and the
Almonry Officers. The organist then played ,4 God save the
King," after which the Maundy people were supplied with
wine to drink the health of his Majesty out of wooden . . cups
which they were permitted to retain.

BA anOLOIVIEWIS HOSPITA.L.

IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION AT ST. BARTHO-
LOMEW'S HOSPITAL.

On Wednesday lasts Special General Court
of thipovernors and Supporters of this Institution was held in
•
thnkrT'ttee*,vo'- om of the Hospital, to investigate thvalfc.,
dons that were mad Against the surgeons connected Ath t e
case of Mrs. Mary Alcock,' who died in the Hospital, and an
Inquest held on the body, the proceedings at which were re-
ported in most of the Daily Journals, under the head of " Ex-
traordinary Proceedings at St. Bartholomew's Hospital."
The meeting was attended by 40 or 30 of the Governors, who
after the ease had been strictly inquired into, were unanimous-
ly satisfied that eVeryAttention had been paid to the unfortu-
nate woman, but referred it to the House Committee for fur
titer investigation, and for them to act as the thought fit.
Yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, the House Committee,
which had been especially called for that purpose, assembled in
the spacious room ; Sir. Stephenson, the banker, and treasurer
to the Hospital, id the Chair.
Alr. Vincent, the principal surgeon, under whose care the de-
ceased woman was, and Alr. 14. A. Joseph, the house-surgeon,
as well as Alcock, the husband of Mary Alcock, were present
at the investigation, and the following is a correct statement
made by Mr. John P. Vincent, touching the subject matter in
question
Mary Alcock, or Hancock, (which latter name she went
by in the ward) applied to the Hospital on the Ist of February
with an injury, which was so strikingly eventful as to
its probable result, that she was immediately admitted with- ,
out any form. Being surgeon of the week, I took charge
of her. I found, on examination, that she had lost the
scalp or integuments, including a great part of' the temporal
muscle or nearly the whole of the right side of the head,
leaving the bone uncovered to the same extent, and dead.
On inquiry, I was informed that this mischief had arisen from
her having Wien into the tire about three weeks before. There
was nothing in the condition of the parts that made this ac-
count questionable. She went on well, and the case proceeded
beyond my expectations, until shortly before her death. On
the 9th instant she became worse, continued the sante on the
10th ; and on my visit on the 11th, I found her in a very pe-
rilous state, with unequivocal symptoms of there being mat.
ter under the bone. It now became my duty to perforate the
scull, which I did, and gave exit to pas. her pulse.was im-
proved by this operation ; but the opening in the cranium ex-
posed such destruction of the parts underneath, that I had no
expectation of her surviving many hours. She died in the
course of that night. I was anxious to know the state of the
parts within the cranium, and having complied with the re-
gulations laid down (the book being on a Sunday. locked
up, I made the entry on a piece of paper, which is usual
under such circumstances). I made' an examination of
the body en the 12th. From the time of Mary Alcockla
admission, 1 watched her progress with solicitude, and
was unceasing in my attendance on her. I think it
but just to add, that she always appeared grateful for the
comforts she had about her, and for the surgical assistance
that was administered to her; and she expressed herself
thankful for the humane attention of Sir. Roberts,. who
officiated as her dresser. towards her. Her husband asserts

that while living the head of the patient, was cut and mangled,
This is altogether false ; there was no cutting at any time ;
the soft plats were never even touched by a cutting instrument.
The bone, and that dead bone, was simply perforated. The
priety of the operation is indisputable; and if be means to
assume to himself the authority of forbidding those resources
which surgical science can supply, to be resorted to, be must
misconceive the very character of an institution like this
Hospital. After the operation, care was taken to place the
patient in a situation that nothing should appear that could
hurt the feelings of any friend that might come to visit
her. In conducting the examination of the body after
death, there was nothing like unnecessary disturbance of
parts. Besides inspecting the brain, there were pathalogical
reasons for inquiring into the state of other organs; for
this purpose the abdomen and thorax were opened. It is
probable that the marks of these incisions impressed the bus.
bond with the notions that more freedoni was taken in this exa-
mination than was necessary. This certainly was not the case.
I am compelled to aver, that in the statement in the morning
newapapent, things are both grossly exaggerated and absolutely
false; to prove which, it is only necessary to observe that the
husband is reported to have declared on his oath that he found
the pupils about his wife dressed in some peculiar appendages,
appropriated for operation. It happens that it is not the usage
at this Hospital, either for the surgeon who performs an opera-
tion, or for the pupils who may be about, to make any change
in the ordinary dress. Mr. Vincent further said, that he hoped
he need not add more to convince the treasurer and the gentle.
men of the committee that every attention was paid to the com-
fort and surgical treatment of Mary Alcock whilst in the Hos.
pital, and that the husband's statement contained false and
unfounded accusations.
Mr. 1,. A. Joseph, the house.surgeon, who was examined
on the Coroner's Inquest, gave the following explanation of
the affair as far a« regarded himself :—Every care was taken
of the deceased woman while in the Hospital, and the o_peration
of trepanning the skull was performed on her by Mr. Vincent,
which, of course, refutes the charge of cutting and mangling
her head. My cure et' patients ceasing on their being seen
by the surgeon, and Mrs. Alcock having been attended by
Mr. Vincent a few hours after her admission' • 1 beg leave
to refer you to . him for the particulars of her treatment
and port mortem examination. With respect to my an.
swers to the questions put to me at the Inquest, I submit
that as my inquiries of the cause of the accident were only
directed with a view to the necessary treatment, anti not in
contemplation of affording future evidence, it is not extra:,
ordinary that, at the distance of six weeks, I could not state
on midi whether the information I had btained, as to the
manner in which the accident happened, was from her own
mouth or from others, and therefore I did not feel war-
ranted in giving a decided answer.' The indefinite answer
I did give on this point was by no means influenced by any
feeling of levity or disrespect. I naturally therefore felt much
hurt at Mr. Shelton's observations, and could not avoid
replying to them in the way I dial. Mr. Shelton 'mentioned
that ha had frequent occasion to find fault with the manner in
which evidence had been given on former occasions. I beg to
observe that 1 have attended frequently before him since I
have been house-surgeon. and on many previous occasions,
and no fault has hitherto been found with my conduct. I trust
this explanation will satisfy you, Gentlemen of the Committee,
that my answers to the Coroner's questions 'did not proceed
from any feeling of disrespect ; and that I am sufficiently aware
of the importance attached to the situation 1 hold in the Hos.
pital.
The whole of the above statement having been read over to
the Conimittee by Mr. Wood, they came, to; an unanimous
opinion, that Mr. Alcock was never refused admission to
see his wife, except on the day of the operation, when he was
advised to keep back, as a matter of hilmanity towards 'him-
self, until the wound was properly dressed. That he must
have been in error it' Ike stated that the young men were stand-
ing about in.coloured aprons and sleeves, as Mr. Vincent, the
surgeon, states that none of the medical men ever alter their
dress on any occasion. That the inspection of the body after
death, was in compliance with, and under the authority given
by the Governors, as far hack as the year 1750, for the benefit
of science, and that the body after such inspection was carefully
sewed up, and placed in a coffin, as is tumid for interment, or
until removed by the friends. That in point of fact, Mary
Alcock first preitented herself at the accident-ward called
" Queen," on Tuesday evening the 31st of January, but that
ward having no bed vacant, she was desired by the sister
to wait till the house-surgeon was sent for, but she said
she could not stop, therefore she was told to conic next
day. Next day she did some, and Mr. Clarke, the
house-surgeon then on duty, desired her to go to " Presi-
dent NVard" 'where there was a vacant bed. That Mr.
Clarke examined her wound,
ordered a poultice, and saw her
put to bed. That Roberts,
thetreater, was then present, and
on that same evening ordered
her some opening Medicine.
That Mr. Vincent saw her next day, and the Committee need
not declare their conviction that every kind attention had been
paid to her by that gentleman and every one about the Hos.
pital. That Mr. Joseph was out of town on account of his
herilth, with the permission of Mr. Vincent, and never saw
the case until his return, on the Uth of February. That he
had several conversations with her, but they were always re.
lative to her complaints. That it was unfortunate Mr. Clarke
was not examined, and they cannot but regret the altercation
which took place between M r—loseph anti the Coroner, but
they trust Mr. Joseph's declaration that, he intended no offence
will satisfy that gentleman. That it appeare that Mr. Alcock
did not come to see his wife for three days or more after her
admission, which caused lier great uneasiness, and she ex-
pressed herself to that effect. That Mary Alcock stated to Mr.
the Hospital. That the hus-
band in the customary
Cla
else,
rke' on her first admiasion, and Men to the sister, and every
oneethat her hurt arose from her having fallen into the fire,
hptruevpieotuistioton heri.or comitythewi e
grt,os
manner, to deposit with the steward, and therefore must have
been privy to her being there, and did come occasionally to see
her, and never was prevented seeing her, but as before stated,
threw
weeksbrou g
on the clay. of the operation.
The decision of the Meeting was made known to Mr. Alcock,
who went away apparently satisfied with the investigation.

I

I

BANK OF ENGLIIND.

I

ii

[Farther Particulars.] '
Yesterday a Half-yearly Court was held at ! ,
the Bank of England, for the purpose of declaring a dividend.
The minutes of the last Court vas read as spayratter of form,
which occupied some time, the Secretary have to read, the
whole of the recent correspondenie between qrtrtiment and
1
the Bank, on the subject of the charter.—The GovEnuosi
_[
then announced that the Court of Directors had resolved to
recommend a dividend of 4 per cent. for the interest and profit
for-the half year ending on the 6th of April next. A motion
to that effect was then put, and unanimously adopted.
Mr. YOUNG begged to occupy , the Court for a few minutes
upon the manner, in which their business was conducted. He
submitted, that if at any time it were improper for them to
. .
acquiesce in a declaration of dividend without having a gene.
ral statement of their affairs before' them, the present more
peculiarly called for that information, when they considered the
cnrilasriys wafthlitcirhslotafdtiarlericovuedntriyn; tlhtewgasenberathol commercialwthe.dig an
nity ofd pees=
sucha
body as that which he had the_ honour of addressing, to vote a
dstiavtietlieunetnl,twaitthlocuasi o
t hafvinthgehaacdtpuarelveoionndslirtiohne foot;
ttihteeni:
some
affsin ene.lliraera
l
could not therefore discharge his duty without calling for
the present occasion. Every body knew that the affairs of the
g
Bank of England were necessarily iaterwoven with thoseit
oOlf ' I
the country at large, and it was esseptial that they should be.
clearly understood and communicated. On a fate occasion the :!
Bank had promptly and considerately come forward and taken .
a step to assist the public, without which it was impossible for I,
any man to say what would have become of the commercial
interests.—( Hear, hear !)—With reference to what had been i
done, it was a matter of vital importance, that through' ', '
theforrn pedrocoefedtihngesloafn, tfortat
at
tColueartst .the public
outffne slotoluttdheyepunin:
o,i:'
uponiic
did which t the
mean Bank
to I ipa
lily regulatedillt
into
the
duals Who had sought theft
great importance that some general information should be given
t.;..,
upon the point. He entertained some doubts of the propriety ',',c
of anticipating for the Bank the operation of the new law of
.1
its
affairs of the indirt. ,
merchant and factor ; and he confessed,
assistance,- truT:eathrYosaghtavanitcei; 1.4, ,
he
old school, he should have
niitted to remain as theyobneeenotpter- "1
to the policy of the Bank advances upon goods, and par-
ticularly when he recollected the injurious consequences'
which had arisen Irons overstocking the market. It wast
upon this , ground that he had not made up his mind
that
to
equallyeh ianvgei n
upon the policy of the principle ou which the Bank had
doubt as
lately acted, nor could he say whether it was likely to
be a benefit or injury to the community. On the sub,.
ject of the currency, it was of the first importance to.
the country that it should be placed upon a solid basis, and nos
exposed to the fluctuation which taut of late been so productive
of mischief. They ought to look seriously at the probable con-
sequences
of the measures for tampering with the country
banks, the withdrawing of the circulating medium which must
attend' their operation, and the reduction in the price of goods
upon which they had probably been called upon to make ad-
vances. There was certainly no great security in advances made
pwrgee.rredHethwiroltgsha
upon property of the nature to which he alluded. He was
anxious to know to what extent the Bank had gone in lending:
money upon goods, and he was also desirous of some informa-
tion respecting the amount they had lent oa mortgages. What
line of conduct did they mean to pursue respecting
them ? Were they disposed to leeaivniinatl,ltlneamcnnefonsuirther sums upon
that species of security, and were they willing to permit
what they had already given to stand upon its present foot-
ing ? T 'ere was one others subject upon which lie requested
a little information, and it was, whether the Bank Were willluir '
to establish branch banks throughout the country ? He repeat
his regret at the tampering which last year, and the previews
one, had taken place with the currency, through the indiscre-
tion, both of Government, and, he was sorry to add, of the Bank-
'ilinhtoe
the redundantoppt)si
tecaepxiirtaelmwehbiycl.tcrwanaslpitig therebythec 1
rcreatedcui
ationlie.d_ tat:the
most mischievous speculations, „and they. were now going
con-
trast which he feared would pmduce the utmost inconveni-
ence. When he adverted the subject of branch banks, he view-
ed it, not as a probable source of profit to the Bank, but to
one calculated to confer a good deal of benefit upon the publit,.
for he had no idea that joint stock companies would be esta-
blished to any exttnt which was likely to be of use to the com-
munity. lie concluded by reiterating the three points upon
which he solicited information—namely, to what amount, and
to whom they had made advances upon goods ; what they
meant to do respecting mortgages ; and what was their decision
respecting the establishment of branch banks
1 The GoVERNOR replied, that he would give the worthy pro-
, prietor all the information in his power upon the matters which
ho had brought under their attention. IVith respect to tire ad-
vances made by the Bank upon goods, the following was the
outline of the course which bad been adopted. The sums they
had advanced upon manufactured goods and commercial pro:
duce varied according to the magnitude and trade of the parti-
cular place requiring assistance. Committees were locally
appointed to superintend the deposits; and ascertain the nature
of the security upon which they were made. Of course, proper
care was in all Cases taken, that the advances should be only
made in bona fide applications of commercial distress, not
growing out of overtrading or visionary speculations.—(Hear,
hear, hear!)—The goods were valued at the present de-
preciated price, and not more than one-half; or in some
cases two-thirds, of that valuation adeirnced upon them.—
These goods were held for the Bank by persons who had
been, but mostly were not at this moment, engaged
in commercial pursuits. The King's lock, where it could be
had, was fixed .on the goods; and every transfer was arranges
under the superintendence of legal advice, to secure the Bunk
from any loss by informality. These advances were generally
made fur three months, but in particular manufacturing cases,
the time of repayment was extended to four months, with the
express understanding that any further indulgence must be,
matter of new contract, and not at all to be reckoned upon al
matter of course.—(llear, hear!)—Various sums had . been
given in this manner upon goods, and in a-few instances upon
undoubted personal and collateral security; but the amount
was on the whole very inconsiderable.
Mr. YouNo.-.,0f what description were the persons?
The GOVERNOII.—I think they were chiefly manufacturers,'
but some were certainly merchants, with a full understanding
that the accommodation was not to be made a motive for raising
the prices.—(H ! )
Mr. Youstc..—lirhat is the amount of the advances so
made ?
treallyicioeisietianCduatd:aocdte:.stilie(eisi
it
eups:isetlbyerinb, but
nifu
sure,m 0
ri Ti
tl
Mr.::hgr "va
very
e sloGx1::00000
vut
inlvi
I named a quarter of a million sterling, that sum would, I am
erypyeroateudss
.itylliourlieiniNitwioh:loll,.allesetr as:aht
what is your intention respecting those alreadymade?
Intended to be made,
dthuoeipondbgone
recineeossnopeeprteeiingatitnionge
mortgage are
:a:rail:es
The 00YERNON.—That is natter left for future cow"
deration.
branch banks. ,
The GotEnson—Really our time has been of late so occu-
pied, that we have not yet been able to determine upon that
subject. It is, however, before us for consideration; nothing
has been at:present matured upon it.
Mr. SOLLY inquired Whether the report which he had seen
in the newspapers was correct, that Mr. Pearse had stated iii
his place in Parliament, that the lank had been put to an elte
pence of 80,000/. in an unsuccessful effort to get en engraved
plate for their notes, which would defy, or render extremely
difficult, the invitations of forgers ?
The GOVERNOa replied, that nothing like 80r0001. had
been spent for the purpose mentioned.
The dividend-warrants were then ordered to be delivered and
paid on the Bth April next.
•WARRANTS OF ATTORNEY.
ENNENUltECGlllN:r.:_roi°7lnc.ye—etouil

to the ;lank by fOrged warrants of ename
You G was anxious, before i.l;-(.3onrt adjourned, to in-
quire whether any steps had been taken so prevent further losses
men-
tioned a plan at"the last Court which would, he thought, be
likely to answer the _.namely,purpose. that notice should be
given by the Bank to the party in whose name the transfer was
effected, immediately upon its taking place. It would impede
business to furnish this ioformation before, there was certainly
no reason why it should not be given after the transaction wss
. hail
completed. Ile hadbeen told that this would be fastening the
stable door after the steed .was stolen ; but it ought to be recol-
lected that the Bank had 19 horses in the stable yet, anti only
One had been lost.—(A laugh.)
The Goys:axon. replied, that the Directors were anxious
to consider every suggestion which could be made to them on the
subject, but the present was not certainly considered by than
as great a safeguard as the worthy Proprietor was dispose 4
think it would be.—The Court then adpurned; •

GOOD FRlDAY.—lfoliday at all the Public Offices.

1110/1 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
Morning, 10 minutes after 3.1 Evening, 30 minutes after 3.

*** The Public are respectfully informed, that
'l'n SUN has passed into other hands, and con-
tinues to be published, as usual, at No. fl
Strand.