In the year 1734, the Prince of Wales acted as president; the Queen and Princesses became subscribers; and the most eminent physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries attended the sick, &c. _gratis_. An additional wing was voted to the building, and the following statement[45:A] published: "Cured from 1st Jan. to 26th Dec. 1734 379 Discharged for non-attendance, most of them supposed to be cured 196 Dead 77 Discharged incurable 26 For irregularities 15 Discharged as improper objects 4 Sent to Guy's hospital 2 Patients in the house 87 Out-patients 50 Under the care of the house in the whole 840 Receipts for the year 1734. £. _s._ _d._ Subscriptions from Oct. 19, 1733, to Dec. 26, 1734 2277 5 6 Benefactions, ditto ditto 1859 11 0 --------------------- 4136 16 6 Disbursements 1734 2559 5 0-1/2 --------------------- Remainder 1577 11 5-1/2 --------------------- The necessity of Alms-houses, Hospitals, and, in short, every description of receptacles for the miserable poor, was apparent to every friend of humanity at this period; and it is to the honour of the then publick that the necessity was in a great measure removed. The parish-officers were universally negligent, and even the public papers asserted, "That the present laws (those of 1735) are defective; and that notwithstanding they impose heavy burthens on parishes, yet the poor, in most of them, are ill taken care of. That the laws relating to the settlement of the poor, and concerning vagrants, are very difficult to be executed, and chargeable in their execution, vexatious to the poor, and of little advantage to the publick, and ineffectual to promote the good ends for which they are intended." They proposed these remedies, which will at least explain the deficiencies of the day: "That a public workhouse or workhouses, hospital or hospitals, house or houses of correction, be established in proper places, and under proper regulations, in each county. "That in such workhouses all poor persons able to labour be set to work, who shall either be sent thither, or come voluntarily for employment. "That in such hospitals, foundlings, or other poor children not having parents able to provide for them, be taken care of; as also all poor persons impotent or infirm. "That in such houses of correction, all idle and disorderly persons, vagrants, and such other criminals as shall be thought proper, be confined to hard labour.