The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-18 00:00:00

EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY,

The annual meeting of the members and friends of the In-
firmary for Diseases of the Eye and Ear was held in the
Clarendon Rooms, South John-street, at eleven o'clock yes-
terday. The object of the meeting was to receive a statement
of the treasurer's accounts, the report of the committee for
the past year, and the election of the annual officers of the
institution. This was the first annual meeting since the
amalgamation of the Opthalmic Institution and the Ear In-
stitution, under the title of the Liverpool Eye and Ear In-
firmary. JAMES HEYWORTH, Esq., president fur the past
year, was unanimously called to the chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in commencing the proceedings, said he
certainly could not refrain from expressing his deep and sin-
cere regret that the attendance at that meeting should have
been so small. He had hoped to have witnessed a display
very different from that which manifested itself in the cause
of suffering humanity ; but at the same time he was not dis-
posed to view this circumstance in a very discouraging aspect,
because he was well convinced there were many individuals
absent from unavoidable and necessary causes whose hearts
were deeply interested in the institution, the first anniversary
of which they were met to celebrate. (Hear, hear.) It was
his intention to have gone into a brief history of; what had
taken place at the last annual meeting, had ale attendance
been more numerous than it was, in order to have shown the
connecting link that had entered into the history of this insti-
tution by the union of two separate institutions previous to
the amalgamation of the two societies (the.Opthalinic and Ear
Institution). The subscribers, at least those who had paid
any particular attention to the interests of the separate insti_
tutions, were aware that the Opthalmic Institution had been
in existence, and bad performed many operations highly be-
neficial to the community at large, and particularly to the
distressed individuals who soughtits aid, for upwards of twenty
years; and during that time it appeared that not less than
31,000 cases had been assisted, either with prescriptions or
operations. The Ear Institution had its origin with one of
the valuable medical officers to the united charities, Mr.
Neill, and to that gentleman great credit was due for the
introduction of so valuable a charity into the community
among which we lived. The two institutions were amalga-
mated at the last annual meeting, upon the concurrent wishes
of the committee of each, and upon the recommendation and
sanction of Mr. Neill. (Hear.) Too much praise could not
be given to the medical officers of the present institution
for the zeal, anxiety, and untiring energy with which
they had performed the onerous duties that had dev‘olved
upon them. They had well merited the praise of the whole
community of this great town. It was not in his pow& to
do adequate justice, by laudatory remarks, to the services of
those gentlemen ; they must themselves have a consciousness
of having done their duty, of which, indeed, the subscribers
must be equally well satisfied. They had tasted of the rich
feast and of the luxury of having done good; and they had
very properly and satisfactorily received the acknowledg-
ments of those who had been relieved by their great care and
skill. The sentiment of an inspired writer might be well
applied to them. The ear which had been paralised by dis-
ease, when restored to its natural functions and receiving the
glad sound of voices which before it had been deprived of,
blessed their remedies; and the eye which now received the
light of day, from what before was darkness, had borne
witness in grateful testimony to the value of their services.
Undoubtedly the blessing of those that were ready to perish
had been richly poured upon them, for they had made many
hearts, bowed down with sorrow and destitution, glad by
their successful efforts. It was most undesirable that the
great exertions which they had thus put forward should meet
with a cold reception at the hands of those who subscribed
to this institution. (Hear.) If this institution was to be
extended ; if it was to be perpetuated in its great office of
doing good, it must- be by increased and enlarged subscrip-
tions; and no means for effecting that purpose and no effort
of benevolence should be spared to further that end. It
had occurred to him, that if personal solicitations of sub-
scriptions were made from individuals who had not already
subscribed, the funds might be much augmented and in-
creased, especially if those who now supported the charity
would induce their friends and acquaintances to go to the
institution and witness the operations there carried on, he
was persuaded it would be impossible for them to see the
distress prevailing there, the remedies for it, and the active
exertions employed for the removal of it, without its creating
the strongest emotions of sympathy and kindness ; and he
was perfectly satisfied, that those individuals so witnessing
such scenes, would not retire from them with a mere empty
and transient feeling of sympathy, but would testify their
regard by pecuniary contributions to the objects of this ex-
cellent institution. (Hear, hear, hear.) There was another
source from which, also, he thought considerable benefit
might be derived. (Hear, hear.) The press,—mighty in
its power and effect,—was never backward to defend the
cause of justice and humanity, and to become the advocate
of those in distress : it might, by its continued efforts, excite a
more lively feeling of interest in the public mind towards this
charity, and by so doing lay under a vast debt of obligation
and gratitude the whole community, over which its influ-
ence was so great. There was another source to which
they might look with a great prospect of success for increased
and enlarged subscriptions,—that was by an appeal to the
ministers of religion of all denominations. Here was no
party wall ; here were no creeds ; here were no differing
forms of government, nothing, indeed, to interrupt a mighty
co-operation in the cause of general charity ; and he was
persuaded that in their public and private ministry they
might offer an auxiliary of the most powerful description in
the promotion of the objects of this charity. The Chairman
concluded by again urging the utility of making every effort
to obtain increased subscriptions.

The TREASURER then read a statement of his accounts.
It appeared that a balance of £l6 remains due to the trea-
surer on the accounts for the year, and that bills to the
amount of about X-10, not yet sent in, are yet to be dis-
charged ; making altogether a deficit of £56.
Mr. C. T. DUNLEVIE, the honorary secretary, then read
the annual report of the committee, as follows :