THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| VOL. XVII, NO. 489.] | SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1831. | [PRICE 2d. |
ST. GEORGE'S HOSPITAL.
All who enjoy the luxury of doing good (and who does not, in some wayor other?) will be happy to learn that the above is the elevation of thenew St. George's Hospital, at Hyde Park Corner. It is already a splendidmonument of British benevolence; but is only a portion of the originalplan, which is to complete another front towards Hyde Park; this willextend even further than the old hospital.
St. George's Hospital, we learn from a printed "Account," "was seton foot soon after Michaelmas, 1733, by some gentlemen who werebefore concerned in a charity of the like kind, in the lower part ofWestminster. They judged this house convenient for their purpose, onaccount of its air, situation, and nearness to town; procured a leaseof it, and opened a subscription for carrying on the charity here.The subscriptions increased so fast, that on the nineteenth of Octoberthey were formed into a regular society, and actually began to receivepatients on the first of January following." The Establishment was,therefore, prosperous at its commencement, and the same good fortunehas subsequently attended its progress. It is supported by VoluntaryContributions. The resources are considerable in property, and have beengreatly enriched by legacies. Indeed, the legacies which fell to theHospital during last year, exceeded 11,000l.
The building of the new Hospital, in the Engraving, was first proposedat a meeting held in the year 1827, at which the open-hearted Dukeof York was chairman; and at a subsequent meeting, the Archbishop ofCanterbury presided. A "Building Fund" was raised, to which the lateKing munificently contributed £1,000. This Fund is entirely separatefrom the General Funds of the Hospital: "the sums already subscribed"says the Report of 1830, "have been expended in erecting a part ofthe building which is now occupied by 140 patients, and the public areearnestly requested to keep in view the importance of continuing theirbenevolent contributions, until the great object of re-building theentire Hospital has been effected. It is well known that the closenessof the wards in the old building has long been a subject of the deepestregret to the[pg 322]physicians and surgeons, who have observed its effect inpreventing or retarding the cure of their patients; and this evil must,in some degree, be increased by the new building partially obstructingthe ventilation of the old.
From the Report of 1829, we also learn that the subscriptions were£3,439. the Dividends £3,798. and the Legacies £1,781. and the expensesof the year £9,731. including £709. for bedding, &c. for the newbuilding.
The new building is from the designs of W. Wilkins, Esq. R.A. architectof the London University, &c. The Engraving represents the grand frontwhich faces the Green Park, and consists of a centre and two wings, inall 200 feet in length. Part of the north wing, which we have referredto as facing Hyde Park, or stretching