Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-03-28
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.

the seat of during the winter to in
spect the condition of the army thus spoke of the
vices of Miss Nightingale:
sThough I am unable to tell you who was responsible
for leaving the sick in that wreched condition able
to tell you who rescued them fromit-Forence Night
ingale. prolonged appause Except the aid recev-
ed from the Times fund, she provided at her
pense linen for the patients which could not
have cost less than e. 900 e., 900. [Appause She
found the hospitals unproyided with any establishment
for washing the linen and with the aid of the ladies and
the made arrangements for that purpose of
the ladies taking active share in that mental labor
She found the hospitals without any trained cooks and
she established private kitchen, in which food fitted
for those who were most reduced prepared, and
have no doubt contributed to the life of many
brave lCheers.
"Foreseeing that the accommodation would be INSULT
cent she urged the repair of large wing of the Bar
rack hospital, which dapidated as to be unin-
habitable and the repairs commenced but the
workmen struck because they were unpaid and
the officer who had charge of the work could procure
the requisite funds. She advanced them from her
MEANS and, curiously enough, the very day which
those repairs were completed number of sick and
wounded sufficient to fill that wing, and for whom there
other accommodation, arrived from the Crimea
and were placed there. Cheers. But the wards
empty barns and the hospital authorities declined
to provide the requisite furniture. She purchased it
at her cost and furnished the wards but the amount
has since been repaid. l mention these things, and
might tell you of many more, because many of you may
not know or may not remember them, and very few,
sure have heard viii hear of them from
her
But it is needless to dwell further upon services of
| the sick and wounded which known to the whole
world which have redounded to the honor of the
ton; which have made her dear to the army and
the country and which her place in the his
tory of our times as the worthy leader of of the
remarkable movements which this in many respects
memorable, has produced. l cannot, however, refrain
from stating one facts creaitable to the soldiers
of the British army which ought to be known Miss
Nightingale had of course occasion to be in the hospital
wards at all hours and she informed me that she
| heard even oath from soldier. Applause. And
lest you should imagine this propriey of behavior pro-
ceeded from difference and respect to her personally
will read very short extract from letter written by
lady who in another hospital. She says: In bear
ing testimony do most gratefully, to the extreme de-
LEGACY and respect with which was in every instance
treated by soldiers am but echong the sentiments
of every lady who has been in the Eastern hospitals
g In to my inquiry whether she had observed
the part of the soldiers much reluctance to leave the
hospital and return to their duty in the Crimea Miss
Nightingale replied that she did not remember having
been asked to write letter for any soldier with view
to prolong his stay in hospital but she believed she had
written FIVE six hundred for men who wished to in
form their officers that they considered themselves fit
for duty. Such is the character which the soldiers of
the army of the East have established for themselves
action, in camp during the worst times and in hospital
am confident that they will not throw away at home
the high reputation they acquired on foreign service.
TApplause. Every knows the public services of
Florence Nightingale but those only who have had the
honor of meeting her know the refinement and truly
feminine delicacy of her mind and manners, the
consciousness of having done any thing great remark
able that pervades her whole department and
sation.
Far from dwelling upon the past or taking any pride
in the applause which has followed her unsought the
whole energies of her powerful, highlycutvated, and
essentially practical intellect already directed toward
further and more permanent plans of usefulness Truly
pious and thoroughly Protestant in her sentiments her
attachment the Church of England free from any tine
af he hacn ofcf
read her Bible to believe that it ncucaes i'll will to-
ward any class of Gods creatures. Ready to extend he
assistance to the sick and wounded of all persuasions
without distinction she has freely avaed herself of the
assistance of all.
Holding fast her own principles with firm compo
of strong mind and settled conviction she avoid
alike the extremes of High Church and Low Church.
hears without resentment the extravagant and contra
dctory absurdties that circulated in regard he
opinions She appears to be too intent upon doing tn
good which may be permitted her to do in the walk sh
has chosen for either the evil the good that
spoken of herotherwse than may affect her useful
is not from and is not here that she seek
praise reward But should be acting little in accord
with her practice if in speaking of the service
rendered to sick and wounded omitted to direc
your attention to the obligations which she and all of
owe to the ladies who shared her pious labors; and
may be permitted, without disparagement to others,
remind you that of the most prominent
r own countrywomen.
f Miss Shaw Stewart had charge of the nurses in tn
general hospital Balaklava; Mrs Mackenz and afte
her Miss Erskine in the naval hospital at Therapath
Il first member of leading family among untite
arisocracy the second daughter of of the oremos
men of our generation, the late Dr. Chalmers, lou
cheers the third daughter of the accomplished hsto
ran of the Mahomedan conquest of India, and grand
daughter of the late Sir James Macintosh. And Their
were other Scottish ladies in less prominent positions
Our country therefore, worhiy represented in tn
r hospitals of the East. Cheers Let US hope that tn
moral and material improvements the higher standar
of feeling and of comfort which the wise beneyoenc
and patriotism of Miss Nightingale and the ladies VIII
IF aided her efforts have introduced into military hosp
tails will not be permitted to pass away with the oc
o casion that gave rise to them.
while we can obtain advice and assistance from tn
calm practical intellect of Florence Nightingale, thor
oughly trained and instructed from her childhood in tn
duties to which, actuaed by spontaneous impulse, sh
has devoted her life, and matured by experienc
I such as perhaps other person has acquired, let
hope that the nation may be enabled to reap the full
in that department in which she has in this country
& In time equal.
y On Friday Miss Florence Nightingale, accompane
by Lord Panmure paid visit to Woolwich, and was re
ceived by Sir F. Williams, commandant of the garrison
who proceeded with the distinguished party to the Roys
Artillery Hospital which they infinitely inspected Mis-
Nightingale recognised several of the Royal Artiller
who had been under her patients in hospitals
the East and conversed with them. The visit was un
expeeed and but few we're that the lady who &C
cor panied the Secretary-aWar was Florence Nightn
gale.-London paper.