By December, 1855, the greater number of the hospitals were closed; the Barrack Hospital was again used for its original purpose; and all seemed hopeful and invigorated. Her Majesty, to mark her warm appreciation of the inestimable services of Miss Nightingale, presented her with a beautiful ornament, adapted to be worn as a decoration of the most elegant and costly description. It was formed of a St. George's Cross, in ruby-red enamel, on a white field, representing England; this was encircled by a black band, typifying the office of charity, on which was inscribed the legend, "Blessed are the merciful." The letters V. R., surmounted by a crown in diamonds, were impressed upon the centre of the St. George's Cross, from which emanated rays of gold. Wide-spreading branches of palm, in bright-green enamel, tipped with gold, composed a framework for the shield, their stems being banded with a ribbon of blue enamel, inscribed with, the word "Crimea." At the top three brilliant stars of diamonds illustrated the idea of the light of heaven shed upon labors of mercy, peace, and charity. On the back of the jewel there was an inscription written by Her Majesty, recording it to be a gift in memory of services rendered to her brave army by Miss Nightingale. The ornament was about three inches in depth by two and a half in width. This gift was accompanied by an autograph letter full of deep feeling, and graceful, queenly kindness.
The sultan also presented Miss Nightingale with a superb bracelet, set in brilliants, as "a mark of his estimation of her devotion."
At the close of 1855 it was resolved that an acceptable testimonial of public gratitude should be offered to the generous Florence Nightingale; and a "Nightingale fund" was immediately raised. But, as the noble-hearted woman distinctly declined any purely personal reward for her efforts, a resolution was passed at a meeting held in Willis's Rooms, in December, that the fund raised should be invested to establish "an institute for training, sustenance, and protection of nurses and hospital attendants," to embrace the paid and the unpaid, for whom a home was to be provided, and a retreat for old age. Numerous meetings were held, over some of which presided a prince of the blood royal, who had been a witness of Miss Nightingale's labors in the East, and which were attended by men of the highest and noblest reputation. One important meeting was held at the Mansion House, December 26, at which the lord mayor presided, and at which the names of many of the most influential merchants, traders, and manufacturers were announced as having consented to become members of a committee. A copy of the proceedings of the meeting at "Willis's Rooms was sent out to Miss Nightingale; to this she returned, in January, 1856, a letter most characteristic of her firm, practical, and yet gracious, kindly disposition. "Exposed as I am," she says, "to be misinterpreted and misunderstood, in a field of action in which the work is new, complicated, and distant from many who sit in judgment on it, it is, indeed, an abiding support to have such sympathy and such appreciation brought home to me in the midst of labors and difficulties all but overpowering. I must add, however, that my present work is such as I would never desert for any other, so long as I see room to believe that what I may do here is unfinished. May I, then, beg you (Mrs. Herbert) to express to the committee that I accept their proposal, provided I may do so on their understanding of this great uncertainty, as to when it will be possible for me to carry it out." This gift of gratitude was, in very truth, but giving its recip-
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