provement of the diet; and 1007. per annum to purchase linen. A portrait of St. BARTHOLOMEW fills the space over the chimney piece; and in the centre window is exhibited, in stained glass, HENRY VIII. delivering the charter to the lord mayor; he is attended by prince Arthur, and two noblemen with white wands, &c. Here is a fine portrait of PERCIVAL POTT, Esq. many years an eminent surgeon of this hospital, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Belonging to the hospital are three physicians of the highest respectability for integrity and practice; three skilful surgeons, an apothecary, to provide and prepare what the physicians direct and the diseased are duly visited by them in their wards, where they are lodged, every morning and evening, as there is need; every one having a bed to himself; and, by the care of the matrons, the wards are always kept clean and neat.

This hospital, from the time of its incorporation, began to flourish under the government of the lord mayor, four aldermen, and eight commoners*: who had under them an hospitaller, renter-clerks, butler, porter, matron, twelve sisters, and eight beadles; besides three surgeons in wages, and a chaplain.

* The president always a senior alderman. Purveyors four, two aldermen and two commoners. Almoners four, one alderman and three commoners. The treasurer, a commoner. Scrutiners two, both com

moners.

The governors were always elected by the lord mayor and his brethren the other governors, who yearly appointed six, that is to say, two aldermen and four commoners, who were admitted into the hospital after this manner: The whole company of the twelve old governors, sitting in assembly together, caused their clerk to read unto the six newly elected their charge. That done, and the new elected consenting and yielding themselves to the charge, the half of the governors, that had fulfilled their two years governance, stood apart, and the other half that remained, with the new elected, took them by the hands after their degrees, and so admitted them; and, before they parted, all dined together, as well those that came a-new, as those that had governed their time, and those that remained, every man at his own cost and charge. VOL. III. No. 74.

4 E

Above

Above an hundred and fifty years ago this hospital maintained about three hundred poor diseased people, at the yearly charge of 20007.

State of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Easter, 1806.

Patients admitted, cured, and discharged during the last year, 3700 in-patients, and 4432 out-patients, many of whom have been relieved with money, clothes, and other necessaries, to enable them to return to their several habitations

Buried this year, after much charge in their illness
S In-patients

Remaining under cure, Out-patients

So that there have been during the last year, and then were, under the care of this hospital, of poor, sick, and lame persons, destitute of all other relief

8132

308

430

298

9168

As the charge and expence of this hospital much exceeds the certain revenues thereof, and there not being a fund sufficient to admit and support the many poor, wounded, maimed, and sick objects, who daily apply for relief, assistance is often solicited, to enable the governors to support the present charity, and its enlargement.

The parish church of

ST. BARTHOLOMEW THE LESS,

was originally a chapel to the hospital; but is now a vicarage in the gift of the governors.

The church stands on the side of a passage from Smithfield, called "The Cloisters," leading to the hospital; the tower is antient. The form of the building is Gothic: at the south-west corner is a small turret. A large window on the side of the passage displays the arms of Mr. Henry Andrews, alderman, 1636.

The south side contains mullioned windows, now stopped up, and some antient sculpture of the arms of Edward the Confessor, impaled with the bearings of Henry II. under an imperial crown and angels, with blank shields and books.

The north side of the hospital, the south side of the church, and an elegant house at the east end, the residence of the vicar, form a pleasant court.

The length from the chancel wall to the west end is forty feet. The outline is an octagon; the east end the chancel; the adjoining sides contain the reading desk and pulpit; at the western end a small organ fills the arch: over the altar are the Decalogue; and on either side the Apostle's Creed and Lord's Prayer.

The whole is lighted by painted windows, in which sẽveral coats of arms are preserved, and are formed by the arches near the roof. The inside is chaste and simple, and the best imitation of the Gothic style.

MONUMENTS, Beneath the gallery, at the west end, in the north wall, is a rich, and beautiful antient monument, adorned with quartes foils and tracery, on which has been cut the following inscription:

H.S. E. Elizabeth Johannis Freke hujusce Nosocomii Chirurgi, uxor Charissima; Richardi Blundel, Londinensis, viri non minus humanitate quam arto Chirurgica insignis filia natea Major. Obiit: Nov. 16. an et 48 Dom. 1741 Et ipse Johannes Oboth Nov. 7. A. D. 1756 act 68.

At the back of the pulpit, an old tomb, adorned with pilasters, &c. of the Corinthian order, thus inscribed:

Thomas Bodleius Eques Auratus Fecit ANNA conjugi Piissimæ atque omnibus Exemplis bene de se Meritæ cum qua Dulciter vixit. Ann, XXIV.

At the back of the reading desk, another antient mont ment, with the figure of the deceased in a kneeling posture, and the following lines:

Here Robert Balthrope lyes Intomb'd

To Elizabeth our Queen,

Who Serjeant of the Surgeons Sworn

Near thirty Years hath been.
He dyed at sixty nine of Years,"

December's ninth the Day;

The Year of Grace eight hundred twice,
Deducting Nine away.

Let here his Rotten Bones repose

Till Angels Trumpet sound,

To warn the World of present change

And raise the dead from Ground.

The grave-stone and effigies of William Markby, and wife, 1438, engraved in the "Sepulchral monuments of Great Britain," are perfect.

Here was also the grave-stone, on which were figured in brass, a pilgrim with a scrip, and his wife with a bottle, each having a staff; round the stone, in antient characters, were the following lines:

Behold how ended is our poor Pilgrimage

Of John Shirley, Esq; with Margaret his Wife,
That twelve Children had togyder in Marriage,
Eyght Sones and four Daigters withouten Stryf,
That in Honour, Nórture and Labour floured in Fame,
His Penne reported his Lives Occupayon,
Saing peer his Lyfe time John Shirley by Name,

Of his degree that was in Brutys Albyon,

That in the Year of Grace dysesyd from hen,
Fourteen hundred Wynters and six and fifty,

In the Yerys of his Age fourscore and ten,

Of October Moneth the day one and twenty.

Stow informs us, that this Mr. Shirley was a great tra›veller; that he collected the works of Chaucer, John Lyd gate, and other antient writers, to be preserved to posterity. The family of Shirley have been very famous for

their

their peregrinations; Sir Anthony travelled to Persia, in the reign of James I. and so did his brother, Sir Robert; indeed a spirit of adventure seems to have, pervaded the whole family.

On the north wall is placed a monument of white marble, with boys weeping over an urn, inscribed, "Near this place are deposited the remains of John Darker, Esq. twentyfour years treasurer to the hospital. He died February 8, 1784, in the sixty-third year of his age.".

Among the antient inhabitants of this parish were Sir THOMAS BODLEY. This worthy benefactor to his country was a native of Exeter, and born May 2, 1544. The prosecutions of queen Mary and her agents expatriated the family to Germany, and afterwards to Geneva, where Sir Thomas, who was then only twelve years old, studied Hebrew, Greek, and divinity, under the most eminent professors. On the restoration of the Protestant faith at the accession of Elizabeth, the family returned to England. He was then sent to Magdalen College, Oxford, and placed under the tuition of Dr. Humphrey, from 1563 to 1566, and went through the different stages of learning. He became M. A. in the latter year 1569, and was chosen proctor 1576, when on his travels, during which he continued abroad four years. In 1583, he was appointed gentleman usher to queen Elizabeth, who sent him in 1586 to solicit assistance from various princes in behalf of the king of Navarre. He was engaged in hazardous services for that monarch, afterwards Henry IV. of France. In 1588, he resided at the Hague, was admitted one of the council to the states, and was permitted by the queen to act at his own discretion. In 1593, he obtained permission to return, but was soon after sent back as ambassador. When he had again finally visited England, lord Burleigh became so much his friend, that he had once thought of making him his colleague. But the partiality of the earl of Essex to him, and his earnest recommendation of him, so much created jealousy and distrust, that he formed the noble resolution to live from this period for himself, and " possess