other influential gentlemen. The usual loyal toasts having been proposed, His LORDSHIP said he had now to propose the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to the Royal Free Hospital," one of the most useful of the many noble charitable institutions the existence of which in the metropolis afforded so large an amount of relief to the sick and suffering. Happily the great merits and the excellence of the Royal Free Hospital were so well known that it required but few words on his part to point out

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... he-claims which the institution had on the sympathy and support of the public. Indeed, it was his belief that advocacy with those whom he addressed became unnecessary, for he knew that the gentlemen who attended the festival came there to do their duty, and he felt that it would be impertinence to attempt any appeal to their liberality. But if he could make himself heard throughout the masses of the metropolis, and awaken them to a consciousness of the value of this noble hospital, then, indeed, would a most desirable object be achieved, for he felt thoroughly convinced there was no charitable institution in the world that could claim higher pre-eminence than the Royal Free Hospital. Pure philanthropy was here carried out on the broadest and most useful basis, and taught in the most admirable manner. There was no necessity that the poor, helpless, wornout creature should bring a letter of recommendation for admission to the hospital. They only required that he should be in need of the healing art, and relief was immediately administered, no matter what the sex, country, or age of the applicant, or what might be the degree or character of the complaint in question. Let it be only ascertained that there was distress which required assistance from this benevolent institution, and it was freely offered. When he saw before him so large and so influential an assemblage, and when he recollected the starting of this hospital, then his next-door neighbour in Greville-street, he felt greatly delighted, for a manifest proof was afforded of the progress which the institution had made. His Lordship concluded by proposing " Prosperity to the Royal Free Hospital." The toast was received and drunk with great enthusiasm. Subscriptions to the amount of no less than £3740 were announced.