The Nightingale Fund meeting at Willis's Booms, on Thursday, did
not disappoint expectation, slither as to the aggregate mass of persons who more than filled the room, or the distinguished character of the persona who took past in it. The Duke of Cambridge took the chair at two o'clock, and stated in a business-like way the object of the meeting ; combining with it his own-personal testimony as an eye-witness of Miss Nightingale's exertions. There are various kinds of testimonials, but that proposed for Miss Nightingale would be such as would benefit her fellow creatures. It was proposed that a sum should be raised for the purpose of placing it in her hands, not to build a new hospital, but to es- tablish a school for nurses, partly of a higher order than common, and partly of an ordinary character, who, when trained by her, may be sent forth to the various hospitals that may require their assistance. The ex- ecution of the plan would be left entirely to Miss Nightingale, assisted by a council of her awn selection. "That is a compliment the public ought to pay." After this introduction, resolutions were moved and seconded by va- rious gentlemen,—the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir William Heatheote, Sir John Pakington, Sir James Clarke, Lord Stanley, Mr. Monckton Milner), the Lord Mayor, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Bracebridge, the Duke of Argyll, the Reverend Sidney Godolphin Osborne, Lord dode- rich, and Dr. Cumming.
Mr. Sidney Herbert told some interesting facts respecting Miss Nightingale. At the time when Miss Nightingale proceeded to the East, there was pub- lished, unintentionally—by what accident he knew not—a letter from him to Miss Nightingale, written with all the freedom of friendship and with all the urgency which the circumstances of the time imposed. In that letter he had taken a liberty with the names of Mr. and Mrs. Bracebridge : with- out any previous consultation, he had said to Miss Nightingale, as a further inducement to her to undertake the task which he was urging upon her- " This I will answer for, Mr. and Mrs. Bracebridge will go out with you" : and this he had said because he knew that in those two persons there existed such a feeling for the high and noble work, such an appreciation of and attachment to the virtues of Miss Nightingale, that he might safely answer for the conduct they would pursue. Other names there were, too, in this glorious band, which might also claim their gratitude ; but where all had done so well it would be invidious to select individuals. Miss Nightingale's name was selected only because on her the chief weight of responsibility fell, and through her, therefore, it was that the weed of praise which had been achieved ought to be paid Some years ago he had seen her at the great Lutheran Hospital on the banks of the Rhine, near Dusseldorf,—an establishment out of which no person was allowed to pass to practise as a nurse except after having gone through very severe examinations : and the superintendent of the hospital then told him, that since he had been at the head of it no person had ever passed so distinguished an examination or had shown herself so thoroughly mistress of all she had to learn as Miss Nightingale. Moreover, he had no hesitation in saying that Miss Nightingale in her present position bad exhibited greater power of organization, a greater familiarity with details, while at the same time she took a comprehensive view of the general bearing of the subject, than had marked the conduct of any one connected with the hospitals during the present war. An anecdote which had lately been sent to him by a correspondent showed her great power over all with whom she came into contact. Here was the passage. "I have just heard such a pretty ac- count from a soldier describing the comfort it was to see even Florence pass—' She would speak to one and another, and nod and smile to a many more ; but she couldn't do it to all, you know, for we lay there by hun- dreds ; but we could kiss her shadow as it fell, and lay our heads on the pillow again content.' " And his correspondent then very justly re- marked—" What poetry there is in these men !" And again—"I think I told you of another, who said Before she came there was such cussin and swearin ; but after that it was as holy as a church.' " lie had been told, too, by eye-witnesses, that it was most singular to remark how, when men, frenzied, perhaps, by their wounds and disease, had worked themselves into a passionate refusal to submit to necessary operations, a few calm sentences of hers seemed at once to allay the storm, and the men would submit wil- lingly to the painful ordeal they had to undergo. They could not pretend to offer to such a woman any recompense for her services without lowering their high standard. The only suitable mark of gratitude which could be shown her would be one which would testify the confidence of the English people in her energy, ability, and zeal. Great as was his friendship for Miss Nightingale, he should be merciless to her in one respect. The abilities which she had displayed could not again be allowed to slumber. So long as she lived her labours were marked out for her ; the diamond had shown it-. self, and it must not be allowed to return to the mine. It was, perhaps, a concomitant disadvantage of all great geniuses, but during her mission at Scutari she had developed talents which must chain her to the oar for the rest of her life ; and therefore it was that he hoped an enlarged field of labour would be provided for her, so that she might be enabled to rescue our hos- pitals from a great disadvantage under which they at present labour, to raise the system of nursing to a pitch of efficiency never before known here, and thus confer incalculable benefits on the country at large.
The Marquis of Lansdowne hoped that the permanent isanrevement in the duty of attending the sick and wounded would be one of the benefits conferred on us by the war. Sir James Clark said, lie 'bad been ac- quainted with Miss Nightingale for many years ; andle could bear the testimony of personal observation to the zealousness of her serriees in the cause of the poor : long before the war was thought of, he had known i her to watch day and night by the bedsides of the sick in this sountrY. Lord Stanley described the arduous and unexciting character of the la- bours of Miss Nightingale, as contrasted with those of the soldier: in her case there was no splendid excitement, no laurels, nothing of what the world calls "glory." One word more. The public had heard much of late about "urgent pri- vate affairs "; and it might well happen that those whom no danger could daunt, no difficulty dismay, would turn sick and weary from the tedium of a protracted exile : but Miss Nightingale had declared that, while the war lasted and the necessity for her services continued, and as long as her own health remained unimpaired, her "private affairs" should net became "ur- gent," and she would not abandon her self-imposed duty. (Enthustas t applause.) That was an ennobling example, and one which it might be use- ful to contemplate whether in the Crimea or at home. Mr. Monckton Milnes, while eulogizing Miss Nightingale, bethought him of another who deserved honour. What praise could be too great for the widow of that gallant officer whose death was among the most tragic events of the war—that gentle and loving woman, now unhappily no more—Mrs. Moore—who, after the death of her husband, had devoted
herself to the task which she believed that that husband would have most approved of, ministration at the bedside of his wounded soldiers ? Dr. Cumming said, he looked upon Miss Nightingale and those en- gaged with her in her labour of love as the noblest instruments to miti- gate the natural anguish and inevitable bitterness of a war just in its obligation, glorious in its purpose, and inevitable in its necessity. The resolutions adopted were as follows- " 1. That the noble exertions of Miss Nightingale and her associates in the hospitals of the East, and the invaluable services rendered by them to the sick and wounded of the British forces, demand the grateful recognition of the British people. "2. That it is desirable to perpetuate the memory of Miss Nightingale's signal devotion, and to record the gratitude of the nation by a testimonial of a substantial character ; and that, as she has expressed her unwilliu nem to accept any tribute designed for her own personal advantage, fun a be raised to enable her to establish an institution for the training, sustenance, and protection of nurses and hospital attendants. "3. That to accomplish this object on a scale worthy of the nation, and honourable to Miss Nightingale, all classes be invited to contribute. " 4. That the sums so collected be vested in trustees to be appointed by the committee, and applied for the purpose expressed in the second resolu- tion, in such manner and under such regulations as Miss Nightingale shall from time to time approve ; the subscribers having entire confidence in her experience, energy, and judgment. "5. That with a view to secure, under all circumstances, the appropria- tion of the funds raised to the purpose expressed in the second resolution, Miss Nightingale be requested to name a Council (selected from the Com- mittee) to cooperate with her, and who may represent her until her return to this country, or in the event of any suspension of her labours." The sixth resolution appointed a Committee of noblemen and gentlemen to carry the other five into effect.
The promoters of some memorial of the late Mr. Joseph Hume held a committee meeting at Radley's Hotel on Tuesday ; 'Mr. Roebuck in the chair. It was determined to enter into communication with the Me- chanics' Institutions in the country for the purpose of appealing through them to the working classes for subscriptions. A public meeting in Mary- lebone was spoken of, but no day was fixed, as it is uncertain what day would suit Sir Benjamin Hall, who is to preside. In reply to a vote of thanks, Mr. Roebuck said that he looked upon the promotion of a publics memorial of Mr. Hume in the light of a duty. It was Mr. Humewho had introduced him to public life; and ever since he had stood by the side of his political sponsor, acting always in the most strict harmony with his lamented friend. If he bad been able to do any good—and he hoped he had—be owed it all to Mr. Hume ; and so strongly did he feel that to be the case, that gratitude as well as duty impelled him to come forward on the present occasion. The character of the late Mr. Hume was rather a peculiar one in England) as he had never sought any- thing for himself. He was disinterested in all he did, and, more especially, was above all considerations of pecuniary benefit. But there was one thing to which Mr. Hume very properly aspired, and it was a grace which would have done honour to those that conferred it. Mr. Hume desired very much to be made a member of the Privy Council. That was a mark of respect on the part of the country which might have been cheaply Lied easily con- ferred. His friends were in power, and many applications, as Mr. Roebuck well knew, were made to them ; but the thing never was done. Why that was he could not tell—he only stated a fact ; but its not being done was a slur on those who having the power of conferring the honour had neglected to do so. But Mr. Hume's merits and services live in the hearts of his countrymen, and they are only doing themselves honour in associating to raise a memorial in his honour.
The Polish exiles in London, after attending the funeral service an- nually celebrated on the 29th November, in the Roman Catholic chapel, Sutton Street, for the repose of their countrymen who fell in the war of 1830, met at the rooms of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, further to celebrate this the twenty-fifth anniversary of the in- sturecfion. There they adopted resolutions declaring the determination of the Toles to persevere in their efforts to reconstitute Poland, and to support the 'Allies. They resolved- " That it is the duty of Polish exiles, in return for the secure asylum and generous hospitality which the English and French nations have afforded them, to render the Allied Governments in their righteous war against Russia the efficient assistance which (in consequence of at least one-fourth of the Russian army being composed of Poles) Polish troops, officered by men of proved devotion to their country, can alone contribute ; and therefore this meeting tenders its sincere thanks to the English Government for enabling the Poles to perform this service, by decreeing the formation of a distinct Polish corps under the command of Zamoyski, a name illustrious in the annals of ?eland."
Two other meetings were held in London; Mr. P. A. Taylor presiding over one, and Mr. Ernest Jones over the oilier : the object was, while supporting the cause of Poland, to denounce the Government for allying itself with despotism.
In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Monday, Lord Campbell delivered judg- ment in the case of Croft versus Lumley and others, involving the right of possession of the Operahouse in the Haymarket. The allegation of the plain- tiff was, that there had been breaches of covenant on the part of the defend- ant. The Court held, that Mr. Lumley had not broken the covenant in two of, the cases alleged,—namely, by closing the house in 1852 ; by demising certain stalls and boxes to Mr. Thomas Hughes for a full year; but that in the third case, that of granting a warrant of attorney to Thomas Hughes and covenanting to pay him 25001. upon which judgment had been entered up, there had been a breach. The lease had thereby been forfeited ; but the Court had to consider whether there had not been a waiver of forfeiture ; and it held that there had been, because the agent of the plaintiff had virtually received the rent tendered by Mr. Lumley as rent, although he reserved the right of reentry ; for "it is an established maxim of the law, that if a party would not apply the money tendered according to the express intention of him who tendered it, he should refuse it." The Court thought there had been a waiver of forfeiture, and gave judgment accordingly, for the defendant.
The Sessions of the Central Criminal Court were opened on Monday. John Gore, a dust-contractor who had perfumed the Adelphi buildings in a moat disagreeable manner by his proceedings at a wharf in front and below the Adelphi Terrace, was prosecuted and fined 3001. at a former Sessions; but the money was not exacted, time having been given to remove the nui- sance : it was stated on Monday that this had been done, and the fine was ordered to be remitted.
Robert Hopkins, a young man, pleaded guilty to robbing his employers, Messrs. Smith and Elder, the booksellers : he stole poetage-stamps, and then, by means of falsehoods, sold them to the cashier of the firm he had plun- dered ! Sentence, air mouths' imprisonment.
On Wednesday, Joseph Berridge pleaded guilty to a charge of sending a letter threatening to murder the Reverend Mr. Brown, Rector of Leathering- set, Norfolk. Berridge seems to have been insane. Formerly Mr. Brown lived at Cheam, near the prisoner ; and he formed an unfounded opinion that the father of his children was Mr. Brown. Berridge threatened to take use life of the Rector, and went to Leatheringset to shoot him ; but by mistake he left the pistol behind 1. This man—believed to be insane—is allowed to go at large on bail.
On Thursday, Daniel Lorden was convicted of the murder of his wife. She was in the habit of getting drunk ; and her light behaviour with one Kingston roused the husband's jealousy. One night he got drunk, an unusual thing. On coming home, he found his wife talking with Kingston, and a fight ensued between the two men. Lorden locked his wife out, and when she came in next morning he stabbed her. The Jury found him guilty, but recommended mercy, on the ground of provocation. Sentence of death was passed.
The Grand Jury found three true bills for felony against Dr. John Vaughan. The trial has been postponed to next Sessions. Dr. Vaughan has resigned the incumbency of St. Matthew's, Brixton it is said to be worth 5001. a year.
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