citizens the Hospital of Saint Bartholomew for the relief of the sick or injured, and that of Bethlehem for the care and custody of lunatics.

The good work begun was continued under Edward VI., " of pious memory." The citizens of London especially bestirred themselves in the matter. In order to provide relief proportionate to the actual distress, it was determined to form an estimate of the number of poor who required charitable aid. For this purpose there was instituted, under the sanction of Edward, a committee or board of inquiry, for the purpose of obtaining information how many fatherless and unprovided-for children, sick and wounded soldiers, lame and diseased poor people, were to be found in the city and liberties of London, and also the number of idle rogues of both sexes who were levying contributions on public sympathy. The committee consisted of thirty persons; and the remarkable census of misery and vice which they compiled shows that within the City's jurisdiction there were:

Or a total of 2100 souls for whom provision of different kinds had to be made. The scheme of charity drawn up on the foundation of these figures was a most complete and Utopian one. There was to be no more poverty or crime in London. Poor and aged householders were to have weekly pensions granted them at their own residences. All poor diseased persons were to be at once taken to the hospitals, and if cured and out of employment, were to be set to some sort of work, as were all thieves who happened to be acquitted, either "by book or proclamation." Idle vagabonds were to be apprehended and confined in buildings where their wants were to be supplied, but where they must perforce learn some useful trade. As it was feared that these arrangements would tend to draw within the city's limits an additional number of rogues, it was recommended to increase the number of city beadles, and enjoin these to perambulate the streets and watch in rotation all the gates, so that they might prevent the ingress of country beggars. London, thus purified and rendered virtuous and industrious, was not to be permitted to extend its boundaries and grow unmanageable. The erection of new buildings was strictly prohibited, and some that were built in violation of the law were bestowed on existing charities. Alas, that the whole plan could not have been carried out!

The lord mayor and aldermen gave the plan of social reform their unqualified approbation, and with the sanction of the king opened public subscriptions for starting the work, first contributing handsomely amongst themselves. Small boxes were provided for every inn

keeper to gather alms for the purpose from his guests, and the aid of the pulpit was obtained for the purpose. The money so raised soon reached a vast sum, with which, in addition to assistance rendered by the king, St. Thomas's and Christ's Hospitals were endowed. The manor of Southwark was purchased of the Crown for the support of the former for a sum of 6471. 2s. 1d.; and as the old building had for some time been unoccupied and was falling rapidly into decay, it was repaired and enlarged, at the expense of 1000l., for the immediate reception of three hundred patients. The exact amount subscribed for each institution is not accurately known, and cannot be estimated; for many gifts were made of articles necessary for the furnishing of the building. One worthy citizen in particular undertook to provide five hundred feather-beds, five hundred pads of straw, or mattresses; the same number of blankets, and a thousand pair of sheets; and if these should be found insufficient, he consented to furnish as many more as should render his donation worth a thousand marks. The establishment provided for the hospital consisted of a hospitaller, or chaplain, at a salary of 107., a clerk at 107., a steward at 67. 13s., a butler at 51., a cook at 81., and physicians and surgeons at 157. each, per annum. Governors were appointed by the city authorities, who named the institution the King's Hospital, in compliment to Edward—though the old name was afterwards generally used-and ordained it to receive two hundred and sixty "wounded soldiers, blind, maimed, sick and helpless objects," who were accordingly admitted in the month of November 1552. The establishment of Christ's Hospital was much less costly to the city authorities, as through the king's beneficence the building of the Gray Friars' monastery was obtained for a very small sum. It was founded in pursuance of the intentions of King Henry VIII., for five hundred poor children; and thus the scheme proposed by the citizens was carried out, with the exception of that part of it relating to "rogues and vagabonds."

The uninhabited palace of Bridewell, the occasional abode of the late king, was deemed by the citizens to be well adapted for the reception, punishment, and employment of vagrants, and a petition was drawn up by the authorities begging the king that he would grant the building for the purpose. The address was presented to Edward by Ridley, Bishop of London, and his majesty granted the prayer, conferring not only Bridewell itself, but appropriated for its support, and that of the other hospitals, the landed estates in connection with the Savoy Palace, and known as Savoy rents. He also contributed 2000 marks from his own purse, and granted to the lord mayor and citizens "power and authority to search, inquire, and seek out in London and Middlesex, all idle ruffians and tavern-hunters, vagabonds, and all persons of ill name and fame, both men and women; and them to examine and commit to Bridewell, and by any means to punish and correct, as to their discretions should seem meet." This completed the number of royal hos

pitals. They were made subject to a code of laws, at the head of an old copy of which is the following inscription:

These institutions were ordained to be partly dependent on one. another; though Christ's Hospital was expected to be chiefly supported by voluntary contributions, Bridewell by the work of its occupants, and St. Thomas's by its rents and revenues. Great good was effected by the system thus established, but the good citizens had considerable difficulty in the management of the institutions. At St. Thomas's, for instance, the restraints imposed upon the patients seemed to be particularly obnoxious to them, for in the absence of the beadles and porters many of them took every opportunity of getting out, to practise their old occupation of stealing.

In 1693 subscriptions were opened for the rebuilding of the hospital, and seldom has munificence been displayed equal. to that of the citizens of London on the occasion. In a short time no less than 38,0007. was raised, a vast sum in those days. A spacious building was erected, which could contain nearly 400 patients; and this was enlarged from time to time by the addition of fresh wards. The history of the charity in later days is well known. It continued its useful work on the old site until the near approach of the Charing-Cross line of the SouthEastern Railway rendered its removal advisable. The Music Hall in the Surrey Gardens, which had been damaged by fire a short time. previously, was re-roofed, and made temporarily available for the services of the hospital. It was proposed to erect a permanent building a short distance in the country for the future home of St. Thomas's; but, as might be expected, the inhabitants of South London strongly opposed this scheme. While the dispute was pending, the arrangements for the construction of the Southern Thames Embankment showed that an advantageous site would be provided adjoining the proposed riverwall, and arrangements were made by the trustees of the charity with the Board of Works for its possession.

The buildings just commenced will be in every way worthy of the past history of the hospital; for when completed the establishment will be the most perfect of its kind in the world. The structure, too, will be a public advantage, by forming a fitting vis-à-vis to the noble Houses of Parliament on the other bank of the river.

E. M'DERMOTT.

THE ALOE

ΤΟ

"WELL, till that Aloe flourish !
So be it." Thus I said,

As I stood with thee in the twilight room,
And the Love-star shone o'erhead,-
As I stood with thee by the window lone,
Midst exotics bright and rare,

And the trailer's blossoms from above
Fell mingling in thy hair.

And the dance was done, and the music o'er,
And the floor no longer stirred,

And the voice of the merry company

From other rooms was heard.

And there you stood in that twilight hour
In your lovely summer prime,

With eyes whose lifting made the dawn
To many a heart by mine.

And yet to mine was their glance upraised
In beauty not unmoved,

As we said we would be friends for aye,
And love as then we loved!

Yes; till the Aloe flourish !

Though many a year must run

Ere the stately plant we looked on then
Will open to the sun.

And life with thee 's so sweet and fair,
Each day new joyance giving,

That the young heart all else forgets
In the very joy of living!

Now six short months are hardly flown,
And the snow is on the ground,-
And I sit by the midnight fire alone,
And hear the muffled sound

Of a passing footstep in the street,
Or else the broken lay

Of some reveller letting his gladness out;

But my thoughts are far away

Away over hill, and moor, and stream,

To summer-hours again,

To the radiant day we shall meet, and stroll
In our own romantic glen!

And half with a smile and half a sigh

I wonder, with a start,

If any of this winter's snow

Has chill'd my dear one's heart!

R. HOGARTH.