Royal Free Hospital, Gray's Inn Eg Ad.

whereas at the commencement of the institution the number of patients only amounted to a few hundreds , they had last year increased to nearly 40 , 000 . At the death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , Grand Master of Freemasons , a subscription was entered into to erect a memorial to his memory . This subscription amounted to about £ 1 , 600 , and after some deliberation it was determined to present it to the Royal Free Hospital towards the erection of a Sussex Wing , on their obtaining a further sufficient sum to carry out such a design . A

sufficient amount was considered to have been reached last year to justify the committee in proceeding with the work ; and accordingly , in July last , the foundation-stone was laid , with Masonic honours—Bro . Dobie , G . Reg ., officiating for the Grand Master , who was prevented from being present at the ceremony by the illness of the countess . The work was intrusted to Mr . C . Innes , and has been most admirably carried out—the new portion of the building being calculated to afford accommodation for 135 beds , fifty-four of which , however , were displaced by the

alteration in the building , necessary for the new wing , so that the real number of additional beds is about eighty—making the total number of beds in the hospital about 200 . The hospital is still upwards of £ 2 , 000 in debt ; and whilst the regular income for subscriptions is only about £ 1 , 500 a year , the expenditure exceeds £ 3 , 700—leaving the remainder to be supplied by donations and legacies , which last year were of sufficient amount to liquidate nearly £ 2 , 500 of debt .

As we have already stated , the opening of the new wing took place on the 18 th June , the ceremony being performed by the Right Hon . Leigh , R . W ., Prov . G . M . for Warwickshire , supported by the committee and a large number of the Brethren . The ceremony was as simple as possible . Lord Leigh and the committee having seen the patients placed in the beds , a simple and affecting prayer

was offered up for the success of the institution , and his lordship declared the wards duly opened . A procession was formed , and Lord Leigh and a number of the committee took up their position on a temporary platform , opposite the hospital ; a statue of his royal highness , by Mr . H . L . Thomas , was unveiled to public view amidst loud cheers . Underneath the memorial is the following inscription : —

" Blessed is the man that provideth for the poor and needy . The Lord shall deliver him in time of trouble . '—Psalm xli . " As a memorial in strict conformity with the tenour of the life of his late Royal Highness Prince Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex , and therefore most fitting to perpetuate the memory of his many virtues , this wing to the Royal Hospital was erected in the nineteenth year of her Majesty Queen Victoria . " His lordship then addressed the meeting as follows : — "Ladies and

Gentlemen , I congratulate you upon the happy circumstance of the opening of the new wing of the Royal Free Hospital associated with the name of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , but I feel that there are others besides yourselves to whom this event must be one of sincere congratulation , I mean the sick and afflicted of this populous city , to whom it is the pride of this hospital to open its gates indiscriminately , and I wish therefore to its noble founder , Dr . Marsden , and its philanthropic supporters , as heartily as I am sure all present must do , all the success and support which their benevolent efforts deserve . " ( Cheers . )

After a few words had been addressed to the assemblage by the Rev . Dr . Owen , the Chaplain , the band , which had been in attendance throughout the evening , played the National Anthem , and the proceedings terminated . In the evening the friends of the Charity dined together in Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , who was supported by the Earl of Zetland , G . M . of Freemasons ; Lord Denman ; the Rev . Dr . Bowles , Prov . G . M . for Hertfordshire ; Mr . Alderman Spiers , of Oxford , P . G . S . B . ; Dr . Kent , Prov . G . M . for Australia ; the Rev . Dr . Owen ; Dr . Marsden ^ the founder of the hospital ; Drs . Brinton , Haswell , O'Connor , Glover , and about 140 gentlemen , the large majority of whom were Freemasons .

The first toast drunk was , as usual , the health of her Majesty , his Lordship informing the company that a letter had just been received from Col . Phipps , enclosing her Majesty ' s donation of £ 105 . The next toast was Prince Albert , Albert Prince of Wales , the Duke of Cambridge , and the rest of the royal family ,