that the duties and responsibilities of position and wealth engross more attention than they did in the earlier days of the colony. " T h e subscriptions for the past year have been ,£1567 3s. T h e receipts from the Government, including a balance of ,£1775 due on account of the previous year, ,£8525. T h e Committee of the Hospital Sunday Fund voted ,£868 16s. id, making, with ,£1855 18s. iod. as proceeds of inmates' labour and from other sources, ,£12,816 17s. n d . From this amount has to be deducted the expenditure for the past year, amounting to ,£10,613 3s, yvhich, with a debit balance of ,£1200 16s. brought forward from the previous year, leaves a credit balance of ,£1002 18s. n d . for the current year, which includes a sum of ,£5 to the credit of the Building Fund. " T h e accommodation of the House at present is equal to 656 inmates of both sexes, and the average for the past year has been 6 3 5 ^ . T h e average is larger than it was last year, owing to the increase of accommodation. T h e number of both sexes relieved during the year was 857, being an excess of 71 over that of the previous year, yvhich m a y be accounted for by the increase of inmates and a m u c h larger death rate. " T h e expenditure per head per annum amounts to ,£14 12s. 7d, or 5s. 7d. per week. " T h e total amount received by this Institution from the "Sunday Hospital P u n d " during the last fifteen years is ,£11,222 19s. 6d." Mr. I). G. Stobiefillsthe joint offices of Superintendent and Secretary in the Asylum. From the earliest times the people were very charitable, and though publicans m a y be ranked amongst the sinners, some of the ancient Licensed Victuallers were liberal and benevolent in the relief of cases of distress. Before there yvas such an adjunct of civilization as a public Hospital or an Asylum, the sufferer used to be carried to the nearest hotel, and, as a rule, taken in and kindly treated, without the expectation or prospect of a farthing's recompense. In a few years some kind-hearted individuals established small charities, and yvorked them with a holy zeal unknoyvn in modern days. T h e principal one of these was the
St. James' Visiting Society,
Established by half-a-dozen Episcopalians, who, relying mainly upon private contributions, rented a cottage in (the now) Chancery Lane for a Hospital and Asylum, managed it economically, and out of the pittance of support received, accomplished much good. T h e building contained seven beds, and yvas assiduously attended by Dr. Arthur O'Mullane. M u c h of its success was owing to the untiring exertions of the Rev. A. C. T h o m s o n and Mr. Joseph Greening. For the year ended 31st March, 1846 (thefirstof its existence), its total receipts were ,£169 3s. 4d, all of which, except 3s. 6d, was expended. During its second year (1846-7) the income yvent up to ,£271 15s. 4d, and the expenditure left a credit balance of ,£21 ios. 6d. During the third year the income fell to ,£225 18s. 4>^d, all of yvhich was disbursed less £ 1 0 13s. 7>^d. Shortly after its usefulness came to be recognised, jurors and special constables used to give it their fees, to yvhich was added a small proportion of drunkards' fines, During 1848 there yvere three deaths, and the patients numbered forty men, ten w o m e n , and twenty children. Nine funerals cost ,£15 7s. 6d. The "Friendly Brothers" was a R o m a n Catholic out-growth of a kindred kind, and was mainly started and kept afloat by the exertions of the Rev. P. B. Geoghegan, Messrs. J. O'Shanassy, and Michael Lynch. It drew its support from sources similar to the other, and accomplished a proportionately large amount of good. A "Strangers' Friend Society" was also established early, and though not brought m u c h before the public, was persistently active for several years. Messrs. John Lush and R. Kerr were unceasing in their exertions on its behalf. There yvas likewise a "St. James' Dorcas Society," yvhich owed m u c h of its success to the good-natured labours of a Mrs. Dutton, a Church of England schoolmistress, and Messrs. W . H . Campbell, C. J. Sanford, and A. F. Greeves (well-known surgeons), cheerfully rendered gratuitous professional assistance when required. In 1848 the "St. Peters' Visiting Society" was founded, and, like its predecessors, solaced many a troubled h o m e by its works of mercy.
