resigned, and yvas succeeded by Mr. J. H . Umpleby, who, after a few weeks, went m a d from over-reading, and was transferred to the Lunatic Asylum, leaving his berth to befilledby Mr. Joseph Clowes. At a general meeting held on the 8th January, 1849, thefirstAnnual Report was brought up, from which several interesting facts are culled, viz. : — W h e n opened on the 15th March, the Institution yvas limited to the reception of ten In-patients, but soon extended to twenty, which so far fell short of the public requirements that the Committee intended to make provision for forty beds. T h e completion of a yving to the building was essential, and a further outfit grant additional to the ^'350 already expended on furniture, etc. T h e number of Admissions for 1848 w e r e : — M e n , 76; W o m e n , n ; Children, 2; Total, 89. From which were to be deducted 14 remaining in the house, which gave 75 as the total treated. O f these there were Cured 3 2 ; Relieved, 12 ; Died, 2 2 ; Left of o w n accord, 4 ; Died before duly admitted, 2 ; M a d e Out-patients 3 ; Total, 75. T h e number of Out-patients w h o had received medical and surgical aid, was 98, i.e., 87 men, 8 women, and 3 children. There was a large extent of suffering existing, for which an Hospital was less adapted than a Benevolent Asylum. Individuals disabled by age, disease, and various causes had to be refused admittance, and these unfortunates were incapable of doing any yvork for a maintenance. They were incurable, and if received would simply have a refuge for life. T h e proposed building additions would entail an expenditure of ^ 6 0 0 , one-half to be obtained by private benevolence, and the residue would be supplied by the Government. T h e only increase m a d e to the staff was the providing of four nurses, and by reasonable economy it was hoped that the cost per patient would not exceed £2$ or ^ 3 0 per bed per annum. T h e expenditure for 1848 amounted to £si^ 9s. n d . ; the receipts, inclusive of aid from Government, ^ 1 0 1 6 7s. 9d, leaving ^ 4 3 9 17s. iod. to the credit of the Treasurer. Amongst the maintenance items were salaries and wages, £167 7s. id.; wine and porter, ^"14 n s . ; and meat ^"20 5s. 4d. This report was adopted, after which the Committee of Management for the year was elected, and some fresh blood infused, including the name of Mr. (afterwards Sir John) O'Shanassy. A n A m e n d e d Act of the Legislature was passed, empowering annual contributors of £1 to vote at the election of officers, instead of Governors as before. T h e Managing Committee was henceforth to consist of a President, VicePresident, Honorary Treasurer, Secretary, Medical Officers, and twelve Governors, to be elected annually, and " the officiating resident clergymen connected with the different religious persuasions," were to be ex officio members. It was also decided that as vacancies occurred in the number of Physicians and Surgeons, they were to be reduced to two of each branch. T h e Committee was also empowered to make arrangements for the reception of "paying patients," and to defray out of the hospital funds the funeral expenses of destitute persons. T h e first two paid collectors appointed were Messrs. R. Heales and T. Watson, and in February, Mrs. Jones resigning the Matroncy was replaced by Mrs. Allingham. Sir Charles Fitzroy, w h o had succeeded Sir George Gipps in the Governorship of N e w South Wales, visited Port Phillip in March, 1849, ar)d His Excellency was, as a matter of course, feted and feasted in Melbourne. A grand ball was given to him, which was worked more profitably than was usual with public entertainments at the time. A profit of ^ 2 4 accrued after the balancing of accounts, and this was a god-send to the Hospital, enhanced by a cheque for £$, the private donation ofthe Governor. THE HOSPITAL ROBBED.
Churches have been robbed in Melbourne from the earliest times, and banks "stuck up" yvhen a fair chance of success was apparent; but one would think that an hospital should be exempt from the plundering propensities of the night-hawk, or the burglar. S o m e ruffians took it into their heads to perpetrate not only a larceny but a full-blown felony at the Melbourne Hospital, on the night of the 18th July, 1849. T h e Resident Apothecary, like other boy-medicos since, was spending an evening in some social relaxation, and during his absence, a house-breaking brigade turned its attention to his quarters at the Hospital. Effecting an entree through the kitchen window, the robbers proceeded stealthily to the private apartment of the prescriptioner, which they ruthlessly ransacked. Forcing the lock on a chiffoniere, they
