The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-24 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE STEAM-S.IILP
SAN FRANCISCO.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

tnE New York correspondent of the Times, writing
on the 7th instant, intimates *he circulation of a rumour,
which had reached that city, to the effect that the new
steam-ship San Francisco, which left New York on the
21st December, had been seen on the 26th of the same
Month, in lat. 38.20, long. 69, by the Maria Freeman,
with her decks swept, boats gone, and completely disabled.
The intelligencer of the Times throws discredit on the
report, grounding his disbelief on very arrogant and in-
conclusive suppositions. The results unfortunately con-
tradict his conjectures and verify the report, adding, how-
ever, considerably to the tragic interest of the occurrence
as rumoured. The San Francisco had on board 500 Ame-
rican soldiers, and the rumour caused very great excite-
ment at Washington, particularly in the government de-
partments. By the Antartic, Captain Stoffer, one of the
Tapscott line of packets, arrived in Liverpool yesterday,
we have the following interesting facts.
The San Francisco steamer, from New York to Califor-
nia, was struck by a sea and• disabled 24th December, and
abandoned. On the sth January, 200 persons were taken
off by the Antarctic, (arrived here yesterday,) and others
were saved by the Three Bells, bound to New York, and
Kelby, bound to America. One hundred and forty-two
persons had been washed overboard, and fifty-nine died
after being taken off the wreck. The San Francisco had,
it is said, 750 souls on board.

THE LIVERPOOL LYING-IN

INSTITUTION.

YESTERDAY, at noon, the annual meeting of the sub-
scribers to this institution was held at the Medical Hall, in
Mount Pleasant.
J. B. Lloyd, Esq., the Mayor, presided, and, on taking
the chair, observed that it afforded him considerable plea-
ture to accept the invitation of the committee, and pre-
siding at that annual meeting of the subscribers of the
Lying-in Hospital. He was sure too much praise could
not be bestowed on those benevolent ladies and gentlemen
who devoted their time to so good an object as promoting
the welfare and advantages of such an institution. It
afforded to poor females assistance at a time when the
comforts of a home were so necessary, and medical advice
was also necessary. His worship concluded by requesting
the hon. Secretary to read the
REPORT.

This institution has now stood the test of public opinion,
approbation, and support for twelve years. In this period
it has sustained the usual fate of all institutions that minis-
ter to the wants of the few rather than the many. It has
struggled through years of adversity, and had to encounter
the effects of prejudice and neglect. It has, however,
happily surmounted its difficulties, and, for the extent of
the demand upon its resources, it may be said to be in a
prosperous state, and present to view a fair prospect for
the future.
From the treasurer's report it will be seen that a balance
of £37 70. 6d. remains in his hands to the credit of the
hospital.

With this gratifying statement to make, your committee
must still urgently beg that no exertions may be spared
to retain the present subscribers, as well as to obtain new
ones, because, from the advance that has taken place in all
descriptions of food and articles necessary to the comforts
and wants of life, an increase upon last year's expenditure
in the current twelve months must be anticipated.
The number of admissions are as follows :—Admission,
118 ' • special cases, 6 ; mothers died, 0 ; children died, 2 ;
still born, 4; twin cases, 2 ; children born, 114 ; dispen-
sary cases, 261; wet nurses, 86. The admissions, on com-
parison with those of last year, will be found to be less,
arising, it is believed, from the improved state of the
times, and the abundance of employment for all classes of
the labouring poor, and the higher rates of wages they have
been enabled to obtain. It will be observed that no death
has occurred during the past year amongst the patients, a
gratifying circumstance, and gives proof of the good care
shown, under Divine Providence, towards them.

At the last annual meeting, in the report it was stated
that it was found necessary to close the special ward,
which had been opened experimentally, in consequence of
a fear arising on the part of the committee, that the ex-
pense in maintaining it would draw too heavily upon the
funds of the hospital, and so divert them from their legal
purpose. They closed the ward, it may be remembered,
with feelings of regret, because it was found of great ad-
vantage to many invalided persons, who required special
and constant skilful attention. While entertaining this
regretful feeling, they were glad to find that their report
had drawn the attention of some of the subscribers to the
subject, and an anxiety having been expressed to continue

the ward, with offers of assistance fo-r the purpose, the
committee intend on opening it again permanently, if a
sufficient fund could be obtained, independently of the
hospital subscriptions, and without weakening the parent
institute and annual list. The sum necessary having been
readily subscribed by those whose names will be found in
the annexed, without delay the committee received patients
into the special ward, which is now open, and will so con-
tinue as long as sufficient funds are provided for its main-
tenance. The committee cannot but mention with satis-
faction, that, although it having necessatilx 'won
the medical board considerable extra attention, the mem-
bers of it have cordially and cheerfully given their services
to render it valuable and of importance.
The dispensary has been opened since August Ist last,
on a self-supporting principle; each patient pays 2d. for
every supply of medicine. The poor, it may be stated,
very highly appreciate the advantage, and the dispensary
would be thronged did not the medical board limit the
attendance, and select the applicants for advice to special
diseases of women and children, and non-infectiga dis-
eases.

The register for nurses continues favourably progress-
ing, and has produced the sum of £29 2s. 2d.
The poor-box has only had contributed to it £2 Os. 10d.
This is owing to the very few strangers visiting the hospi-
tal. This is to be regretted, as an excellent impression
cannot fail to be imparted to those who inspect its domes-
tic, medical, as well as general arrangements.

During the past year, in consequence of the resignation
of Mr. Desmond, as surgeon accoucheur, an election for
that responsible and important office took place, when.
Dr. Imlach was the successful candidate. At that elec-
tion a difficulty having arisen respecting the votes of
clergymen and ministers, at whose places of worship col-
lections had been made, the committee recommends that
the paragraph relating thereto in rule xvi. shall be ex-
punged. At the same time they wish to renew the invi-
tation to all clergymen and ministers of the Gospel, as
well as Scripture readers, to send in patients whenever
they have an opportunity, from amongst the deserving
persons they doubtless frequently meet with, standing in
need of the hospital's resources.
An alteration is also proposed in rule xii., in which it is
stated that the subscriptions are considered due from the
Ist November. In future the hospital year, the committee
recommend, shall commence with the Ist of January, as
in almost all other charitable institutions.

The matron continues to give great satisfaction. Good
order, cleanliness, and economy are observable throughout,
and the hospital is well supplied in all necessaries requisite
to the comfort and welfare of the patients.
The subsequent proceedings were little more than
formal. _ _ _

The statement of accounts, which was then read, showed
that the receipts of the year had been £340 12s. 9d., and
that there remains a balance of £37 7s. 6d. in the hands of
the treasurer. The hon. secretary stated that he had
written to Dr. G. C. Watson, who was one of the origina-
tors of the institution, and who was now residing at Ches-
ter, inviting him to attend the meeting, and had received
in reply a note from that gentleman, expressing a lively
interest in the welfare of the institution, and stating his
opinion that the stability of its success demonstrates the
necessity for its foundation.
A resolution was passed adopting the report and order-
ing it to be printed and circulated amongst the sub-
scribers ; and also one as follows :—That Rule No. 12 be
altered to the effect that, instead of the subscriptions being
considered to be due on the 9th of November in each year,
they shall be held to be due on the Ist of January in each
year ; and that the paragraph, " One vote for life to be
allowed to every clergyman or minister at whose place of
worship a collection has been made," shall be admitted in
Rule 16 for the future.

Thanks were next voted to the board, the committee,
and the officers for the past year, who were re-appointed,
with the addition of the names of three ladies to the
former.

Mr. Jostin JONES said he had great pleasure in moving
the last resolution, which was an expression of their
acknowledgments to the Mayor for being present and pre-
siding that day.
Mr. Jon CROPPER seconded the motion, which was
carried by acclamation ; and

The MAYOR, in responding, said he was sure that the
chief magistrate of the borough could not be better em-
ployed than in presiding over a meeting the objects of
which were so benevolent ; and he could assure them that,
during his year of mayoralty, if he could promote the ob-
jects of the institution, he should use his best endeavour
to do so. (Applause.)
The meeting then broke up.

THE LITERARY 4- PHILOSOPHICAL

SOCIETY.

Llsr night, a meeting of this society was held at the
Royal Institution, in Colquitt-street,—Dr. Dickenson in
the chair.

£5O was voted unanimously towards the local fund for
the meeting of the British Association in Liverpool, in
September next.
Mr. John Jones, 55, Rodney-street, was elected a
member.

The SECRETARY exhibited a living specimen of a
species of mygale (spider), from the Brazils ; Mr. 3l'An-
drew, three specimens of avary large species of prawn,
from the coast of Ireland, similar to a species found in
Africa ; the Rev. Dr. Hume, a mineral from the coal mea-
sures of Edinburgh, about the nature of which there was
considerable doubt ; and Mr. John Clare, fossils from the
tertiary formation on the South bank of the Tagus, near
Lisbon.

Dr. IHNE then read the paper of the evening, which
consisted of a very eloquent but severe criticism on Mil-
ton's Paradise Lost. His first proposition was that the
subject was far from the finest which could be chosen for
the subject of a poem but his strongest objections were
urged to the profuse introduction into the poem of alle-
gorical and other characters from the Greek mythology.
He also argued against the absurdity of the author's
giving the attributes of materiality to his spiritual beings.
The concluding part of the paper, which will consist prin-
cipally of a criticism on the style and language, was
deferred till the next meeting.
The Rev. Dr. Hintz replied to several of Dr. limes
views, adducing incidentally some interesting facts bearing
upon the subject, especially as to the geographical refer-
ences made in the poem.
Mr. Bloxham, Mr. Heath, and several other members
having also made some brief remarks, the thanks of the
giddy were Toted to Dr. Jline, and the council adjourned,