The Sun. — 1847-10-15 (London, England)

THE GERMAN HOSPITAL.  Yesterday a special general meeting of the supporters of the above hospital was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, for the purpose of receiving from the house-committee a report upon the conduct of Dr. Freund, the directing physician. The meeting was very fully attended, and as the subject had for a long time occupied the attention of the subscribers, great interest was displayed in the proceedings, the result of which was to be either the retention or the dismissal of Dr. Freund. At twelve o'clock his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen, the Prussian Minister, entered the room, and took the chair.  His ROYAL HIGHNESS, after expressing his deep regret at the disputes which had arisen, said that, as chairman, he should remain perfectly neutral. Mr. PRELLER then read the report. It stated that for a long time the committee had been subjected to much annoyance on the part of Dr. Freund, who, in many instances, persisted in acting in direct opposition to resolutions passed by the board. One of the charges against him was, that he, without the permission of the committee, examined the out-patients in the board room, which was appropriated to the committee exclusively. Another charge was, that his behaviour when interfered with was so violent, that the officers of the institution stood in personal danger. The committee had therefore removed him from the board, suspended him in the discharge of his duties, and passed a resolution declaring him unfit for the office of directing physician. Mr. GADICHENS moved, and Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the adoption of the report. Dr. FREUND then addressed the meeting at considerable length. He denied the charge of acting in an unbecoming manner. The reason he made use of the board room was, that the accommodation for the patients in the room allotted them was farfrom r'c sufficient. He therefore availed himself of the board room, which in fact was used by the committee only once a fortnight. Dr. Freund was loudly cheered by a large body of his supporters. A part of and at intervals angry discussion thenar majority of the speakers taking the p Freund. Dr. Kuper, Alderman Sidney, ovfeensued,rpyr. the E. Bunsen, Esq., the and Mr. Twining took part in the discussion, all regretting the absence Chevalier v ne Mr. Bunsen, Visay s of unanimity. The dicussion had lasted about three hours, when Mr. Alderman SIDNEY said it would be exceedingly objectionable for the meeting to pass resolutions favourable either to Dr. Freund, or the committee, for the character of the hospital must be injured thereby. He therefore moved that the committee and Dr. Freund have each liberty to choose one governor of the hospital, these governors to select six on each side to inquire into the charges preferred, and to report to a subsequent meeting. Dr. BERNAYS, on behalf of Dr. Freund, said he was perfectly willing that the resolution should pass, but on condition that the resolutions already passed by the committee, declaring Dr. Freund unfit for his office, should be rescinded, and that he should in the interim be reinstated. _  The Rev. Dr. KUPERobjected to this condition, as no harmony could prevail as long as Dr. Freund continued to act.  E. BUNSEN, Egq., expressed himself of the same opinion, and said one of the officers hid declared that the conduct of Dr. Freund was so violent, he feared " murder would ensue if he were to go back to the hospital." _ . _  The question as to whether the conditions alluded to should form part of the resolution was warmly discussed, and a motion for its adoption was about to be proposed, when The Rev. Dr. KUPER tendered the resignation of himself and the rest of the committee, on the ground of the indignity cast upon them of rescinding their resolution.  His ROYAL HIGHNESS here rose from the chair, and, expressing his regret that he had not been able to restore harmony, hastily left the room, followed by the committee. As they left the room three cheers were given to the Duke of Cambridge and three groans for the Rev. Dr. Kuper. Immediately after their departure Mr. Alderman Sidney was voted to the chair, and a resolution was unanimously passed, to the effect that Dr. Freund should be restored to his office. Thanks were then voted to the Alderman for presiding, and the meeting broke up. it was stated that the present committee would continue in office until their successors were appointed.