"As in the beginning of these institutions considerable expences are necessarily incurred, the guardians hope the benevolence of the publick will be excited, to enable them effectually to carry this laudable design into present execution; and to extend their plan hereafter as they shall see occasion." This forcible appeal was by no means made in vain; subscriptions followed immediately, and the Asylum _now flourishes_ in full vigour. [Illustration: _The Small Pox Hospital_] The efforts of the humane at present, in attempting to cure the ruptured poor, deserve every commendation; but it should at the same time be remembered, that the community of 1759 were equally desirous of alleviating the sufferings of the miserable. Mr. Lee, of Arundel-street, surgeon, superintended the hospital at that period; and according to his statement to the committee of subscribers, 60 men, women, and children, and upwards of fifty soldiers, had been perfectly cured, without the loss of a single life, from the day of its institution. Mr. Paterson, secretary to a charitable fund, gave the following account of it in a letter to the editor of the London Chronicle, April 21, 1759. "SIR, "The distressed circumstances in which many of our inferior Clergy necessarily leave their numerous families, induced the piety of our ancestors to establish a Corporation for their relief; in aid of which, the stewards of the feast of the Sons of the Clergy have promoted an annual collection for putting some of their helpless orphans apprentices to reputable trades. But there being still wanting a fund for the maintenance and education of these poor children in their more helpless infant state; some gentlemen in the year 1749, formed themselves into a Society for raising such a fund by a small annual subscription, and for seeing it faithfully applied to this very humane and necessary purpose. "The Society's income, small as it has hitherto proved, yet not being burthened with salaries of any kind, has enabled them in the course of nine years, to take care of 28 boys, selected out of the most numerous and distressed families that applied. "Of these, 13 have been placed out apprentices, and to the remaining number the Society have agreed to add two, besides filling up the vacancies that will happen, by the placing out of others who are now properly qualified. "The Society's general account at their last audit in February, stood as follows: "Total receipts 971_l._ 15_s._ 6_d._ Disbursements, for schooling and maintenance, 713_l._ 11_s._ 6_d._ Children's travelling charges 32_l._ 15_s._ 10_d._ Printing 62_l._ 12_s._ 6_d._ Balance in the Treasurer's hands 162_l._ 16_s._ 8_d._