Of the equivalent authorities of St. George’s, and of two or three other hospitals (including King’s College). [Sidenote: It is not possible for Nurses to purchase Annuities out of their Savings.] My impression is that it is not possible, in the majority of cases, for either head-nurses or nurses to purchase annuities out of their savings. I. Their work wears them out comparatively soon. II. During its continuance they require to live well _i. e._, to have a sufficiency of good plain food. III. They are obliged to put out and pay for either the whole or nearly the whole of their washing, making, and mending (and most properly obliged). Thus apart altogether from the consideration that many nurses are widows with families, and many others burdened with helpless or infirm relations, and that, in many of these cases, the smallest saving out of their wages is impossible, I doubt whether it can be reasonably expected that, as a class, hospital nurses should lay by out of their unassisted savings a provision for their age.[21] [Sidenote: Persons to be assisted.] 2. With regard to persons. Shall the Fund be open exclusively to nurses belonging to the proposed Institution under Miss Nightingale? Or extended to those of the London hospitals? Or extended to all Hospitals in England? Or in the three kingdoms? Or in Her Majesty’s dominions in general? Shall the Fund be extended to private and monthly nurses, including midwives, as well as to hospital-nurses? I submit that we should consult, on these points, the authorities of the principal hospitals and a few men of experience in business besides. (Philanthropists by trade are, as is well known, the worst possible authorities on subjects of this kind.) My impression is that the Fund should certainly be extended to the three kingdoms. Whether it should be extended to the empire would depend entirely, in my judgment, upon the check and scrutiny it would be possible to exert, on accounts, monies, and certificates, in distant parts. Upon this men of business should advise. I think the Fund might eventually be open to private nurses, midwives, and monthly nurses.[22] I think it perhaps might be open to the St. John’s House nurses and to those of any institution which does not provide its servants with a pension. The Nursing Sisters’ Society, I believe, have recently decided on granting their sisters £20 a-year, after twelve years’ service, a wise, generous, and, if properly worked, economical measure. We must avoid the very appearance of disfavour to other nursing institutions. [Sidenote: Objects to be sought.] 3. With regard to objects. Shall the objects be Material? Sanitary? Moral? Or shall they be restricted either to the first only or the first and second? Here, again, I submit that we should consult hospital authorities and a few men of business and of experience, as to the feasibility, often a distinct thing from desirability, of these things.