concord of the hospital, he is wisely "open to all parties, and influenced by none."

Although he is not entrusted with the power of appointing the inferior officers and servants of the charity (that privilege, as has been already stated, belonging solely to the Treasurer), and therefore, strictly speaking, is not a responsible guarantee to the superior powers for their integrity, he pays them their quarterly wages, and is required to investigate the proper performance of their respective duties. Whilst he is the warm encomiast of those whose behaviour challenges commendatory recompence, he admonishes, with lenient reproof, those who have shown themselves inattentive to the propriety of their demeanour this applies to their first error; if they commit themselves a second time, and appear regardless of the duties entrusted to their execution, he very properly censures them with greater severity: a third fault is customarily visited by a punishment commensurate with its moral turpitude, and that which wisdom and a lively attention to the interest of the charity suggests as an effectual dernier resort; I mean the discharge of the offenders from their situations.

The Steward estimates the expence of all the articles. necessary for the expenditure of the charity, not only of provisions for the daily maintenance of the patients, but the requisite implements, utensils, and furniture appertaining to the use of the household: of the former may be enumerated meat, flour, milk, beer, &c. which he is bound to provide of a good and wholesome quality; and the articles of beds and bedding, coals, candles, brushes, &c. comprise some of the latter, which are likewise required to be of a proper description. These he procures, by the consent of the Committee and Treasurer, from such tradesmen as are best approved of; and although a prudent attention to frugality pervades and is the order of the day, not only in his department but in every other, it is not suffered to degenerate into a parsimonious denial of any thing essentially necessary, so as to operate disadvantageously to the cause of charity, by confining the

liberty of supplying the hospital with requisites to such only as can be procured at the lowest prices and the cheapest rate.

Nullum numen abest si sit prudentia."*

The estimate of the Steward's expences is entered officially into the book of his department, to correspond with such bills as are sent in to Mr. Treasurer for payment. He is enjoined to inquire into the state of every article belonging to the hospital at certain regular periods, of which he has to make an inventory, and report accordingly.

When he examines into the state of the bedding, bed furniture, and linen, he is usually assisted by the matron, the superior who presides over the female servants.

Besides the duties here enumerated, many others of minor consideration might be added; but I confidently believe those adduced will suffice to convey a tolerably correct idea of the office of Steward, and clearly demonstrate, that it is an office of trust, of confidence, and of essential consequence. Some persons have considered it as approximating in its nature to that of a purser in a ship of war; indeed, so far as a rough comparison obtains, the place of Steward, in some particulars, would seem slightly analogous to that of a provisioning officer both in the army and naval services: it is, however, far more diversified by the variety of its employments, and therefore their apparent identity can be maintained only to a limited extent.

And here let not the sentiments of indifference obtrude themselves into the mind upon reading the definitions of an appointment characterized by a multifarious display of lesser and seemingly trifling duties, which many would consider as undeserving of much attention, or at best only calculated to elicit ideas of levity and sarcasm, to render nugatory the remarks which ascribe such importance upon it, whilst estimating its relative consequence in the grand scale.

Juv. Sat. x. v. 365,

They who deem no particulars trivial which advance the vital interests of a charity, and through this means extend such incalculable benefits to the poor, I am convinced will subscribe to acknowledge, that it confers on this place the rank of great respectability, and one of most honourable attainment.

We are now brought to investigate the nature of those duties which appertain to the more humble, though not the less essential appointments, comprised under the distinguishing names of inferior officers and servants of the charity; these will be briefly considered in regular succession, according to their gradations in rank or relation to each other in importance; they may be enumerated in the following order:

A knowledge of these offices is entitled to some little notice, as they enable us to estimate with greater precision the extent of other advantages, and to form a more correct opinion as to the order and harmony of the higher departments.

In some of the large charities of this metropolis, the revenues of which are perhaps more affluent than those of St. Thomas's Hospital, we find there are a multiplicity of inferior servants; but daily experience convinces us, that the comforts found in them are not always proportionable to the number of their menials. This truth requires no exemplification; many inconveniences arising from that source could be enumerated, were not such a detail foreign to the purport of this inquiry. It, however, is not to be denied, that more irregularities have found their way into families where many servants are kept, than where but few are employed. Within the range of our own observation, we find the verity of this remark is strictly applicable to public institutions; and on this account, we comprehend the reason why the inferior duties are so much better ex૩૨

No. 56.

ecuted at some charities than at others. In some, where the revenues have been rather slender, we, have been agreeably surprised at beholding a combination of good management, order, and cleanliness, most astonishingly displayed; in others, of rich endowment, possessing every essential advantage to constitute comfort, we have, with equal astonishment, noticed diametrically the reverse, when reasoning a priori would have induced us to conclude differently.

Amongst many servants it is not to be wondered at, that some idle, and consequently ill disposed ones must be intermingled: the promiscuous intercourse of the . meritorious and worthless seldom produces any alteration which preponderates in favour of the former; and therefore, whilst we usually have, to deplore the force of example, we are compelled to subscribe to the truism, that the perverted inclinations of human nature more readily imbibe improper notions, and acquiesce in the dictates of the idle and bad, than listen to the precepts of the industrious and good. This seems to have been had in view by the original directors of St. Thomas's Hospital, and we find they very wisely appointed only such a number of servants as could be constantly employed. If they erred in any particular, it is more properly imputable to the opposite extreme, for as no person is maintained on the establishment who has not plenty of work to keep him from idleness; whilst laziness and its probable consequences are effectually prevented, the duty may thereby be rendered arduous and perhaps rather too severe. This, however, is an error which, as it points out its own correction, is on the right side, and one easily amended; for as it guards against the burthen of maintaining useless persons, it lays the basis for all the essential œconomical arrangements, and tends to augment the real purposes of a chatity. Where many inferior officers and servants are employed, on the contrary, a large proportion of the funds of benevolence is frequently wasted in their maintenance, wages, and support.

It has been heretofore observed, that the inferior rank

of officers are appointed by the Treasurer; the propriety of this nomination being vested in his hands is unquestionable, for as they are entirely under his controul, and usually near his person, he must be the more proper one to choose such as have to officiate as his subordinates. Nearly all of them have residences within the building, and a salary allowed them; and after a certain number of years, when incapacitated by long servitude, or the infirmities of age, from continuing their duties, they are superannuated, and a comfortable provision made to cheer the decline of life, from the funds of the charity. Here, as at St. Bartholomew's, it is understood that no officer or servant can be permitted to perform the duties of his office by deputy. If any officer or servant receive fee, Christmas-box, or other perquisite, from tradesmen serving the hospital, or from patients or persons visiting patients, he is discharged, and rendered incapable of being again employed. This is as generally known to all as possible, by the boards which are affixed to every ward. "NO MONEY OR PRESENT TO BE RECEIVED FROM FATIENTS OR THEIR FRIENDS ON ANY PRÉTENCE WHATEVER."

It is the duty of every officer and servant belonging to this hospital, generally to promote the true interests of the charity, as well by his own diligence and example in the department wherein he may be employed, as by recommending to others a strict observance of the Rules and Orders, and upon no account to connive at, or con ceal any infringement of them by others.

(To be continued.)