_PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL._ THOUGHTS SUBMITTED BY ORDER CONCERNING I. HOSPITAL-NURSES. II. NURSES IN CIVIL HOSPITALS. III. NURSES IN HER MAJESTY’S HOSPITALS. I. HOSPITAL-NURSES. [Sidenote: Definite Objects: road to them to be found out.] 1. It would appear desirable to consider that definite objects are to be attained; and that the road leading to them is to a large extent to be found out--therefore to consider all plans and rules, for some time to come, as in a great measure tentative and experimental. [Sidenote: Presumed Main Object.] 2. The main object I conceive to be, to improve hospitals, by improving hospital-nursing; and to do this by improving, or contributing towards the improvement, of the class of hospital-nurses, whether nurses or head-nurses. [Sidenote: Presumed Intentions.] 3. This I propose doing, not by founding a Religious Order; but by training, systematizing, and morally improving as far as may be permitted, that section of the large class of women supporting themselves by labour, who take to hospital-nursing for a livelihood,--by inducing, in the long run, some such women to contemplate usefulness, and the service of God in the relief of man, as well as maintenance, and by incorporating with both these classes a certain proportion of gentlewomen who may think fit to adopt this occupation without pay, but under the same rules, and on the same strict footing of duty performed under definite superiors. These two latter elements, if efficient (if not, they would be mischievous rather than useless), I consider would elevate and leaven the mass. [Sidenote: Religious Orders.] 4. It may or may not be desirable to incorporate into the work, either temporarily or permanently, members of Religious Orders, whether English or Roman Catholic, or both, who may, with the consent of their Superiors, enter hospitals nursed under the above system, upon the definite understanding of entire obedience to secular authorities in secular matters, and of abstinence from proselytism. [Sidenote: Their Advantages.] 5. Great and undoubted advantages as to character, decorum, order, absence of scandal, protection against calumny, together with, generally speaking, security for some amount of religious fear, love, and self-sacrifice, are found in the system of female Religious Orders. [Sidenote: Advantages of Hired Labour.] 6. On the other hand, the majority of women in all European countries are, by God’s providence, compelled to work for their bread, and are without vocation for Orders.