The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-13 00:00:00

NORTHERN HOSPITAL

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
In your paper of this day I perceive the following editorial
remark " Humanity' asks us why we have not taken no-
tice of the late disgraceful proceeding at the Northern Hos-
pital. Our rule has hitherto been, that if we cannot advance
the interests of a useful charity, at least we refrain from do-
ing it harm ; and however we may feel inclined to expose
such an improper manifestation of ' liberal' spirit on the part
of some individuals connected with the Northern Hospital,
we are content, for the sake of charity, to allow the affair,
as far as we are concerned, to remain in oblivion."
With due respect for your kind feelings displayed towards
the charity in the foregoing remarks, I think its interests
would have been better served by its omission, as the inser-
tion of such a paragraph must tend to injure the hospital in
the eyes of those who are not in possession of the facts
alluded to ; and as they have given rise-to much discussion in
the town, I consider it only an act of justice towards the
subscribers, from the position I hold as their honorary trea-
surer, as well as to the public generally who feel an interest

in the welfare of this valuable institution, to lay before them
a true statement of the case, from which they may form their
own conclusions thereon ; and every unbiassed person must
allow, that it is only such a course as the committee have
hitherto pursued that can advance the true interests of the
hospital.
During the late municipal contest, a voter from North
Toxteth ward was a patient at the hospital; a day or two
prior to the election, being canvassed by the conservative
party for his vote, they were informed that the man was not
in a fit state to be removed ; and it was understood, both on
the part of the house-surgeon and a medical friend of the
conservative candidate, that the man not being convalescent,
he was not to be taken to vote. However, on the day of
election, the party alluded to, without the consent of the
house-surgeon, took the man from his bed and carried him
away in a coach. Prior to leaving the hospital, the man was
told that he was not in a fit state to go, that if he went it
would be at his own risk, and he would consequently break
through the rules of the internal management of the institu-
tion, and should not be again admitted. Notwithstanding
this caution, he accompanied them to the polling booth, and
on being brought back was again placed by them in his bed.
The following day being the monthly meeting of the com-
mittee, the subject was brought before them, and the man
ordered to be discharged on the grounds above stated.
It has been attempted to cast the imputation upon the
committee of having acted from political motives in coming
to this decision, but such was by no means the case, although
various shades of political and religious opinions are repre-
sented in this committee, yet upon the question referred to
the majority were composed of gentlemen known to be con-
servative, and their opinion as to discharging the patient was
unanimous. I was unavoidably absent on that day, but was
previously aware of the circumstances of the case, and on
being made acquainted with the proceedings of the committee,
I fully concurred in what they had done, as they acted solely
upon the principle which they always wish to see enforced,
to allow no party or political considerations to bias their pro-
ceedings. They had acted precisely upon a similar course
on a former occasion, when patients were taken out to vote
for the reform party ; and I trust that such principles will
always be firmly adhered to.

We might adept for our motto—" Open to all parties, in-
fluenced by none." Our doors are open to the crippled and
the diseased of every clime ; our funds are supplied and ad-
ministered by men of every shade of party ; and surely the
arena of political warfare is sufficiently wide without includ-
ing the neutral ground of charitable institutions in the stormy
and bitter conflict. It is gratifying that there are some points
on which we can all meet in union ; and I trust that the same
perfect unanimity which has hitherto prevailed in our com-
mittee will long continue. Some years have now .passed
over since the trust I hold in this charity was pressed upon
me ; for, having other important avocations which press hea-
vily on my time, I was reluctant to enter upon such a duty ;
but I consider that we have a duty to perform to our neigh-
bour as well as to our God, and as every one is called upon
to exercise the talents he may possess in promoting the hap-
piness and welfare of his fellow-creatures, so did I feel plea-
sure in contributing my poor services in aid of the wretched
and diseased, and assist in the alleviation of their calamities.
When I first took a part in the management of this charity,
I found its resources crippled to such an extent that, without
the greatest exertions of its supporters, its utility must be
considerably diminished, if not totally abandoned ; but I
have had the pleasure to see it rescued from these difficulties,
and diffuse its benefits on a more extended scale. It is un-

necessary here to speak upon the great benefits it now con-
fers on the poorer classes, and the advantages derived by the
public therefrom ; but I hope shortly to see it occupy a much
higher position, and the great increase of the town calls upon
us loudly for increased accommodation. To carry out this
we are solely dependent upon the public for their co-opera-
tion.; but I am convinced that it is only by acting upon such
principles as we have hitherto pursued that we can ever main-
tam our present position. For my own part, on the slightest
deviation from such principles, I should despair of receiving
from the public that support for which we have now so just
a claim ; I should immediately resign the post I occupy, and
decline acting with those whose opinions of management
were no longer in unison with my own.
As regards my own private political sentiments, they are
generally known, and have at former periods been publicly
avowed ; I trust that on every proper occasion I shall be pre-
pared to exercise them independently without fear of reproach,
which I consider is the high privilege of every educated
man,—at the same time I hope when placed in situations of
public trust, that I possess honesty of purpose and sufficient
firmness of character to throw aside all private feeling and
act with the strictest impartiality.
I must apologise for having trespassed at some length upon
your columns, but I trust that the subject, affecting so deeply
the interests of one of our most valuabe institutions, will be
deemed of sufficient importance,—and I am anxious, by re-
plying to an unjust charge, to remove a foul stigma which
might otherwise be attached to a body of gentlemen with
whom I have long acted, it having been imputed to them that
they were base enough to sacrifice the best interests of a va-
luable charity for the mere gratification of a paltry political
feeling.—I am, sir, your obedient servant,

R. W. BATESON

Water-street, Nov. 10, 1840
[We have given insertion to the preceding communicatiG..
at Mr. Bateson's particular request ; but we still adhere to
the opinion which we originally expressed, that it would have
been far better to have left the matter rest as it was, without
any further notice. Mr. Bateson's letter will, in all proba-
bility, provoke a reply from one of the parties referred to;
and though we cannot in fairness refuse insertion to such
reply, we beg to intimate that we cannot open our columns
to any further communications on the subject.—E. L. S.]

POPISH PLOT-FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Sia,—l was delighted to find sermons preached in many
of our churches, to commemorate with thankfulness our great
deliverances from popish vengeance and persecution in 1605.
But I must still ask—Why our churches were not all open
for service on that day ? It is enjoined by Act of Parliament,
that " service should be performed in all our churches," and
I verily believe that if every clergyman did his duty, he would
not allow the day to pass over without calling together his
flock, to join with him in offering up thanksgivings to Al-
mighty God, for so great a national deliverance. I believe
by so doing we should continue to raise such a protest against
the infernal plotting and despotism of the popkil system, as
would materially assist, by God's blessing, to open the eyes
of a multitude of our lukewarm protestants. I fear it is true,
as Fuller said, " that the keeping of this day among the pro-
testants begins already to wax weak and decay, so that the
red letters, wherever it is written, begin to grow dimmer
and dimmer in our English calendar." Do we doubt
what Fuller also observed ?—" If this plot had taken effect,
the papists would have celebrated this day with all solemnity."
If we doubt it, let us boldly and manfully avow it. But first,
consider well the St. Bartholomew massacre, and the medal
cast in commemoration of it, and also, consider well that this
medal was re-cast by order of the Pope at the mint at Rome,
in December last only. And why ? This we must leave to
the mild and lamb-like spirit of popery in the present day to
answer. _ _ _

Sir, it is no fair excuse that a congregation would not be
got together. Some would meet ; and are we not to believe
the unerring Word of God that " where two or three are
gathered together in my name, I am in the midst of them."
Besides which, the responsibility of a congregation not as-
sembling does not rest with the minister. His not giving
them the opportunity does. Ido trust that on the Fifth of
November next, we shall have a protest sounded from every
pulpit in our town. Yours, &c. &c.
A PROTESTANT.