The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-09-20 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL EXCHANGE NEWS-ROOM.

A few individuals,- in temporary official situations connected
with this • establiihment, 'gave us the trouble, in the month of
February last, of calling the attention of the proprietors and
subscribers to their most. unwarrantable proceedings with refe-
rence to some alterations in the supplies of newspapers to the
room, which led to their retracing their steps. We thought
the lesson then given to them, and the arrangement resulting
from the measures taken at that time, would have prevented
the'i'epetition of so crooked a proceeding. We have been mis-
taken. Within the last ten days the trick, for such it is, has
been repeated; and consequent upon that fact is this, the repe-
tition of our exposure of so unworthy a course.

It appears to have been determined, by this quartett of offi-
cials, to change the list of papers in the room, by increasing
the numbers of the local, and diminishing those of the metro,
politan, press. In the London papers a most unfair diminution
has taken place. In violation of a distinct understanding,
which was come to on the former occasion, the radical London
morning papers, the Times and Morning Chronicle, have been
reduced by only three copies, whilst the Guardian and Morning
Post, conservative papers, have been cut down seven copies.
In the Liverpool papers the radical publications have been in-
creased by twelve copies, and the Courier, the only conservative
paper changed, is increased :by four copies, thus making a
change altogether of 19 to 7' against the conservative or tory
press. Let us not be misunderstood. We speak not for our-
selves; our weekly number of 21 papers remains unchanged.
If we acted solely from a regard to our own interest, we might
be inclined to say, that we do not care a straw whether a single
copy of the Liverpool Standard be, or be not, exhibited in the
Exchange room; as we have reason to believe, that every copy
taken in that room deprives us of a sale of ten elsewhere. Our
charge is against the parties whose political bias, thtis impro-
perly exercised in a case where they are mere official organs,
has led them, a second time, to attempt a paltry trick. But we
tell them it shall not succeed. Let us see whether they revise
their proceedings, and act fairly and impartially. If so, and
promptly so, it may be. well. If not, they shall speedily hear
from us again; in a way that will be more in accordance with
the principles of justice than agreeable to their own feelings.

N&RTHERN HOSPITAL.

A.meeting of the subscribers to the new Northern Hospital
was hela ou Wednesday, at the Sessions House. ,
His Worship the MA YO It on taking the chair said, that at their
last meeting they had met to consider the expediency of another
hospital, which having been determined upon, a committee had
then been appointed to carry that measure into effect, which had
since that time sedulously devoted itself to that object, and were
now prepared to present the subscribers with a report of their
proceedings.
The Rev. I'. C. GLADIVIN then read the report, by which it
appeared that dhe committee had taken the house in Leeds-
street, formerly occupied by the late J. B. Hollinshead, Esq.,
at a rent of £lOO per annum, for one year certain, with the
power of renewing the lease for ten years, which was recom-
mended by the committee; at a trifling expense it might be ren-
pered capableof accommodating sixty patients: The committee
had framed laws for the government of the hospital. And the
present amount of their funds was in annual subscriptions.E6lo,
and in donations £1212, besides- £5O per annum which the cor-
poration had granted them, besides many promises . from per-
sons who wished to sec the hospital fairly established before they
advanced any thing towards it. The rev. gentleman thought
they might congratulate themselves that their previous meeting
had not altogether fruitless, and hoped the idea was now
removed that the Hospital originated out of motives of jealousy.
Thep could now go forward with every hope of success, which
would always, he trusted, keep pace with the increase and pros-
perity of the town. He congratulated the chairman upon its
having been commenced in his mayoralty, and he hoped to have
the pleasure of seeing him, at no distant period, laying the
foundation-stone of a fabric, which would be both an ornament
and a blessing to the town. He trusted the hospital would con-
tinue to meet that liberal support which his townsmen were al-
ways ready to contribute towards objects of this nature; there
must not be, however, any relaxation of energy on the part of
its friends, but, on the contrary, additional zeal. should manifest
itself, for although they might say their ship was ready to be
launched, it still had to be rigged, and a crew of active and in-
telligent men had still to be selected to command and navigate it.

3tr'." BAssa Li., the secretary, then read over the proposed
regulations, which Mr. GLADWIN, together with the report,
moved should be adopted.
Mr. FREME said, it might be unnecessary for him to dwell
upon the great benefit the hospital would be to the poor in
that part of the town, but he thought it would prove an addition
if, in the formation of the committee, they followed in the track
of other towns where an advantage was found in having medical
gentlemen upon it. Cases were often occurring in which their
presence was necessary; and gentlemen who gave their gratui-
tous services should not be considered as servants. He, there-
fore, would suggest that one honorary physician and surgeon
should form part of their committee.
The Rev. 'l'. C. GLADWIN said, it was not intended to prevent
the institution from having the benefit of the experienceof their
medical officers, but it was thought they ought rather to form a
board of reference themselves than be one of direction, and
he considered it would• be more, complimentary to refer to them
in cases of difficulty.than have them giving their opinions in a
committee which might not be attended to. He wished that
all the medical gentlemen should remain on the same footing.
It was intended to form a medical board, and he wished it tube
understood that the committee had not the slightest idea of dis-
respect to the profession in not wishing to have them on the
general committee.

Mr. LEWIN MosLEY seconded the adoption of the laws which
had been-read to. therm He- would not pledge himself to ap-
prove of them all, but he knew that those gentlemen who had
drawn them up had framed and selected those which they
thought the best, and he thought it much better that the reso-
lutions which had been laid before them should be now adopted,
and after having undergone the test of experience, those which
were not found to work well might be altered at a future meet-
ing. . He acquitted the committee of any wish to cast the slight-
est imputation or reflection on the medical gentlemen of the
town; and he could not allow such a favourable opportunity as
that to pass without congratulating his worship upon the success
of a measure fostered by his care, having arrived at the point
which it now had, for it having been resolved to establish a hos-
pital, and a committee having been formed to carry that reso-
lution into effect, it was no little satisfaction to his mind to
meet them there on that occasion, with the fact before them of
having such a considerable sum of money in donations and an-
nual rental in support of an institution which might now be
considered as founded, and he was sure would flourish equally
with, he would not say superior to, any other institution in the
town. Why should it not? The desire to do good did exist,
and if it was found at a futitre time that the present building
was not large enough, he hoped that an institution which had
for its object the removing of pain and affliction from among
the poor would not be neglected. It would be a libel upon his
native town for a moment to suppose so, and he was sure that
every good member of society would come forward in support
of it. He was certain that when the laws were passed, and
they had appointed a committee, and valuable men for their
medical officers, a number of individuals would give it their
support, and they would see their charity dealt out to a very
large community. Whilst their town was prospering in every-
thing, how could its inhabitants show their grateful sense of
the benefits they enjoyed in a brighter manner than by render
ing their aid to those who required their assistance ? lle was
confident it would meet with such support as would entitle it to
the confidence of all.
The Rev. WM'. BLUNDELL wished to know whether the me-
dical officers were to, be chosen by the general body of sub-
scribers or by a committee of them. -He thought the choice
ought to be confided to a committee, as it was very unpleasant
to a merchant to be .solicited perpetually on 'Chiinge, as was
now the case, for some medical situation or other; and it was,'
besides, a degradation to the medical gentlemen themselves to
be obliged to run about the town soliciting votes. An altera-
tion would be for the benefit of both the subscribers and the
medical men, and he should move that the election of the me-
dical be vested in the committee.

Mr. EDEN was neiiiePared to say any thing upon that sub-
ject, but it struck hint that it the proposition of Mr. Blundell
were generally adopted in the various institutions of the town,
it would be productive of much advantage, and, he concurred
with that gentleman in thinking that it would be to the interest
of their hospital was the appointment of the medical men left to
a committee'. He considered the present system of election
open to this objection, that the subscribers might elect an offi-
cer disagreeable to the committee and the other medical officers,
which, from the necessity of their all acting in concert, must
prove injurious to the institution ; but, on the other hand, if the
appointment were left to the committee and medical officers,
which gentlemen must be the best judges, it would he discharged
more pleasingly to all parties, and if Mr. Blundell would make
an alteration in his Amendnient, in order that the medical Men
might be included in the committee by which the officers were
to be chosen. it would add to its effect, but he thought the al.
-teration those.who, from haying been so long
ent.,craged in the affairs of the institution, were the best judges.
The Hey. Mr. &LWOW. was willing to introduce Mr.
Eden's proposition into his amendment.
Mr. \Vsi. BROWN had the interest of the institution much at
heart, and was persuaded that a number of those who subscribed
to the institution expected the privilege of voting in the elec-
tion of medical officers; an alteration might have an effect upon
the amount of their subscriptions.
Dr. COLLINS conceived there was nothing more degrading to
the medical profession than being obliged to go, cap an hand,
soliciting votes in all parts of the town, the more so as it often
happened that a refusal was given, not upon medical but politi-
cal grounds, and nothing could afford him more pleasure than
to see the power of appointment vested in a committee. They
had instances before them every day in London of the most
eminent men in the profession being unable,. because their in-
terest lay in-a different direction, to gain admittance into a pub-
lic institution--Dr. Johnson, high in practice and reputation,
was never able to gain admittance into the dispensaries; Sir
Henry Raiford. never could succeed in his attempts of a like
nature. Two of the best Scotch practicians, Drs. Abercrombie
and Thomson, could never become attached to any public in-
stitution, because objections were urged against them on this or
that account, without any reference to, their professional talents;
Dr. Cheyne of Dublin was another instance. In this town an
admittance into the dispensary was considered a stepping-stone
to the fever hospital, and that to the infirmary, because it was
thought that if -a gentleman was connected with the dispensary
he must be a man of talent. The result of .leaving the ap-
pointment in the hands of the subscribers was, that it led to
partisanship. lie conceived that as a committee would repre-
sent the subscribers, the choice of that committee ought to re-
present the opinion of the subscribers in the same degree as if
they had voted themselves. He felt confident that it would not
only save the medical men a great deal of trouble, but also ad-
vance the interests of the institution. He had been a candi-
date himself, but although he was a candidate now he would
never go through the unpleasant fatigues he had formerly en-
dured; indeetthe was sure every man must feel it as a degra-
dation to himself, and it was, after all, a mere blind man's buff
whether they selected the best man or not.
The Rey. T. C. GLA owns thought it could not be advanced
by any one present, that, in a general way, talent did not in
the main succeed. It would be a very strange thing indeed if
every man should cavil because he did not succeed in his ob-
jects ; it would be similar to the man who, himself mad, thought
every one else insane. In every town, the same system of
election prevailed, and it was rather strange that in these times
the ballot should be exclaimed against. He would appeal to
them whether the generality of mankind would like to forego
the privilege of electing the medical men, or whether any man
would like the responsibility of election vested in.him, when he
would always be liable to be taunted with his bad choice, whilst
by leaving the matter .to the public there was no responsibility
incurred. They would lose, he considered, one-third of their
subscribers if the amendment was carried; and'thongh he