On Monday the honorary freedom of the City of London
was presented to Miss Florence Nightingale at the Guildhall. Miss Nightingale was too infirm to appeai, and the oak casket containing the resolution was received on her behalf by her relation, Mr. L. H. Shore Nightingale. Sir Joseph Dimsdale, the City Chamberlain, in an admirable speech, described how Miss Nightingale had prepared herself methodically and indefatigably in early life for the work of nursing. But though Miss Nightingale's work in England would itself entitle her to imperishable fame, her name must always be connected above all with 'the self-sacrificing labours of what Kinglake called " The Angel Band " at Scutari. That phrase reminds us of what is perhaps as happy an anagram on a name as was ever made. "Flit on, cheering angel," which is composed of the letters of " Florence Nightingale," is as good as " Honor est a Nilo," the anagram on Nelson's name. We believe that the honorary freedom of the City has been presented to only one other woman—Lady Burdett-Coutts—but we agree with Sir Joseph Dimsdale that Miss Nightingale should have received this exceptional honour long ago.
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