The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-02-23 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

PROPOSED SOUTH HOSPITAL,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STAND.4RD.

Sin;—l feel more than 4 cormnon interest in the welfare of
the charities of the town, and out one of the last persons to find
fault with the charitable intentions of toy fellow-townsmen;
but, when charity becomes perVerted, I feel called upon to make
known to those who are ready to assist their needy brethren the
following statement, and at the same time Lid them beware lest
they be beguiled into an error which may have e very injurious
tendency•—

' The el-writable institutions for the relief of the sick and maimed
are more numerous in Li,erpool. in proportion to its size, than
any other town in England. We have an infirmary, which 4,u
accommodate 3JO patients; we have the Northern Hostikal,
which can accommodate nearly.loo; we have a lock hospital,
which aecoutniodates 80; we have a hospital attached to the
Wet khouse, which, I believe, will contain about 2UO; we have
a hospital for infectious diseases, which will contain 200; we
have an eye infirmary which will accommodate a few patients.
The institutions I have named are those which receive the poor
within their Walls, where they are fed—where they have warm
and comfortable beds, and are attended regularly by the most
talented of the medical profession. Besides these charities we
have two dispensaries, which give relief to upwards of 800 fresh
cases weekly! And we have a fern Ile charity. The medical
officers attached to these different charities amount to no fewer
than FIFTY. Compare Liverpool with Manchester, where the
population is greater—where it will be found the accommoda-
tion is in proportion otte•half. Then, sir, with this accommo-
dation in Liverpool, can another hospital be required ? This is
a question each man should ask himself. And again, is it ex-
pedient 16 establish another hospital while it is known that two
i,rour most useful charities are in debt? Is the Northern
Hospital languishing and in debt ? Is the Dispensary in debt?
Is this a time for establishing a .hospital when thousands are
starving in our streets? Is it a time to call upon the charitable
to support that which I shall endeavour to prove is not wanted?
The accidents at the south end of the town are comparatively
few. I assert this from experience: and, iu confirmation of
this assertion 1 call upon the medical officers of the South Dis.
pensary to state whether they have been celled to many cases
which could not have been moved with safety to the Infirmary ?
This can easily be ascertained by a reference to the visitors'
books. That au occasional case tray occnr, where dangerous
consequences might result front a removal, none can doubt ?
But in what part of the town may this not happen ? When I
attended the South Dispensary the surgical cases were few, and
I remember but two cases which could have been considered as
coming under the classof bad accidents, and these might have
been removed-safely to the Inlitwary.
The case I have brought before the public is one of great
consequence..
.The South Hospital cannot be established with-
out injury to the other charities; and it must be allowed by all,
even lift were considered necessary; that it must be much less
so than any other. Who are the promoters of this? Let this
be enquired ►nto. I fancy they will be found busy for self,
rather thau the public good.—! am, &c.,

A COMMITTEE M.N.

Feb. '26, 1838.

DISTRESS OF THE POOR.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST✓IND4RD

Ste, —" Charity begins at home" is a maxim of universal
application, and it is not. unfreqoent, when you apply to indivi-
duals for assistance, to hear it quoted, and dwelt upon at some
length and with effect. Rarely have I known it to be practised
more rigidly than at the present inclement season. Our town
abounds with Institutions of various descriptions, having for
their object the moral and intellectual improvement of the po-
pulation of this large and enterprising community, whose grand
objects embrace the culture of the wind; and it is hoped, in
some degree, they unite to promote a correct code of mot ale.
All this is very excellent, and all who assist in so good a work
are justly entitled to the appellation of good citizens. But, I
presume, there is a work of charity which is entitled to take pre-
cedence of this. I mean the work of active benevolence to meet
the wants of the suffering poor.
Whot hat has a heart or compassion does not feel for suffering
humanity at the present season—a season of severity rarely
The
within the memory of many of the present generation ?
tales of woe and the heart-rending sights which daily pre-
sent themselves to those who have the distribution of the funds
of the var;ons institutions of the town are such as would be
scarcely fit to meet the public eye. Often are the compassion-
ate and sympathising feelings of those who kindly undertake to
visit the abodes of wretchedness and misery excited to such a
degree as is impOssible to describe, at isiog from the means at
their disposal tieing so inadequate to meet the respective case's
of want and misery.
These remarks are not offered as a subject of complaint, for
it must be admitted, that our good old town has so far done nobly
in contributing to works of charity, for it has been matter of
congratulation for some weeks past it) particular amongst those
who take an active part in promoting. the charitable institutions
of the town, that the inhabitants have come torward in a manner
that does them infinite credit. But still there ate many w 6050
means enable them to contribute to the Stranger's Fund Socie- '
tyi the District Provident Society, to the Soup Fund, &c., who
are, nodoubt, only waiting to be called upon by some respectable
and authoiised person, when it is highly probable a donation
would be given, or perhaps a regular subset iption promised. I
would therefdre advise, that, as the town is 'divided into wards,
which are well defined, gentlemen (and ladies) be appointed to
particular sections, to call upon such inhabitants as may be
able to contribute to some of the various funds of the charitable
iirstitutions of the town,' which have for their object. the mitiga-
tion of the suffei ings now endured Ity the pour.
To the honour of some of the congregations in the town, there
have been large collections for the pour. Why should not all
follow ? Let the collectionS be general in all churches and
chapels; and it is also hoped, that the heads of families will
immediately recommend a subscription for the poor in their
respective domestic circles, and that the masters of establish-
ments, both large and small, will, without delay, recommend.
the cause of suffering humanity to those in their etnploy, for if
many do a little, much will be the remit. Let the same pion be
followed in the various mercantile estabishments, as well as the
manufactories in the town. I rejoice to find, that the cierks iu
a respectable 'firm in the Exchange-buildings have, within
the last few days, contributed the sum of sixteen pounds to-
wards the tunas of the District Provident Society. Who would
not follow so noble an example? Surely many, and doubtless.
season of
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Liverpool, 22d Feb., 18-38.