zim of
Bengal.

ST. GEORGE'S HOSPITAL.

_May 26th, 1870._

On the 26th of May, 1870, a public meeting was held at the Queen's
Concert Rooms, Hanover Square, in aid of the funds of St. George's
Hospital, especially with the view of enabling the Governors to open the
wards of the new wing. The meeting was one of unusual interest, not only
from the wide publicity given to the claims of the institution, but also
from the announcement that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales would
preside, and from the high distinction of the speakers who were to take
part in the proceedings. The Princess of Wales manifested her interest
in the charity by accompanying the Prince to the meeting. The room was
densely crowded, and a number of distinguished persons were in the
company.

His Royal Highness, on taking the chair, said:--

"My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,--Before opening the
proceedings of this meeting, allow me to express to you the
satisfaction I have in being able to accept the invitation to
preside at a meeting to-day which has for its aim such excellent
and important objects. We are met here to-day to discuss whether
it is expedient to open the new wing that has been added to St.
George's Hospital. Last year a meeting was held for the same
purpose for which we are met to-day, and it was then thought
that the subscriptions, although they were to a great extent
liberal subscriptions, were not sufficient in amount to
authorize the Governors of the Hospital to open the new wing. It
has also been much discussed whether it was not an extravagance
on the part of the authorities to build this new wing. I must
say--and I think I speak for those on my right and left--that
the authorities did perfectly right in building that wing, as a
piece of ground had been presented to them at a nominal rent by
the late lamented Marquis of Westminster, who always came
forward voluntarily to assist any great and important work.
Besides that, a further sum of L5000 was given by Miss Williams
to the building fund.

"As regards this wing, we all know that St. George's Hospital
lies near the South-Western and Great Western districts. We also
know that it lies within the precincts of Kensington, Mayfair,
and Belgravia. One would have thought that there would have
been no difficulty, and that the large number of inhabitants in
those p