Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888Edward VII, King of Great Britain
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Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888
Edward VII, King of Great Britain
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1837-1901
"The charitable objects of the society were first to grant
allowances to deserving foreigners in their old age. Pensioners
were elected by the governors, and the Board of Directors paid
the pensions annually. The second object was to grant temporary
relief in time of sickness. These cases were inquired into with
the greatest care, and sums from a few shillings up to £5 or £10
were sometimes given where the cases required it. A third object
was to afford temporary assistance to the younger members of
families when the heads of the families were by infirmity or ill
health unable to support them; but when such relief had been
once afforded to any extent a period of eight weeks was required
to elapse before any further help was rendered, unless in cases
of great emergency. The fourth and last object of the society
was to afford means by which foreigners might be able to return
to their native country. As many as 243 families had been
enabled to return to their native country by the assistance
rendered to them by this society. Several of the families so
assisted had been induced to quit their native land in that
unfortunate expedition to Mexico. They had engaged in what they
thought was a good cause, but when that fell to the ground,
owing to events that occurred last year, those poor creatures
were totally unprovided for, and then it was that the society
granted them the means of returning to their native country.
"There were some almshouses at Lower Norwood belonging to the
society, in which several families were comfortably lodged and
maintained. Since the origin of the society as many as 116,000
cases had received its attention and aid. Last year 3000 persons
were assisted, not including the 243 families that were enabled
to return to their native home. Similar societies had recently
sprung up, but they all differed from the one they were then
celebrating in this respect, that they confined their assistance
to the natives of certain countries, while this society had for
its object the giving relief to foreigners of all nations. He
had one more statement to make which had only been mentioned to
him a few minutes ago. There was a gentleman present who was
well known to them, but did not wish his name to be announced,
who had already given £1000 to the society, and who had
expressed himself ready to give an additional £100 if he could
find nine other gentlemen who would each give a like sum. He
hoped the society would be able to find those nine gentlemen to
assist them. Having made this brief statement, he begged to
propose that the toast be drunk up-standing with three times
three."
The call was heartily responded to, and, after some further
complimentary and formal toasts, His Royal Highness and the principal
guests retired.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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