patient's name, his diet-table, and other
particulars of his case. Each man on admittance
has his money and effects taken care of
by the boatswain, and is supplied with the
society's clothes: his own being taken from
him for the nonce, as a very necessary
precaution in many cases against vermin. At
the end of the medical deck, is the
dispensary, and beyond that again the
operating-room: a poor place enough, having
no skylight, and being altogether behind
the requirements of modern civilisation.
After his visit to the patients, Mr. Chaffinch
ascended to the upper deck, and was taken
to see the galley, and then strolled aft, and,
without violating their sanctity, looked at
the quarters of the commander in the poop.
For this Dreadnought, though lent to the
Seamen's Hospital Society for benevolent
purposes, is still on the Admiralty books,
and consequently is under the command of
an officer of the Royal Navy, who takes
care that she is not "cut out" by the
pirates of Bugsby's Reach, or boarded by
the corsairs of Deptford Creek.

The revenues of the hospital, originating
in a fund subscribed in the winter of
1817-1818 for the temporary relief of
distressed seamen (who were at that time to
be found in great numbers in the streets of
the metropolis), may be considered to have
been rendered permanently available by
the munificence of Mr. John Lydekkar,
who, in 1832, left to them stock worth
nearly fifty thousand pounds. In addition
to this, collections are constantly made on
board ships belonging to the Royal Navy,
and the mercantile marine; and subscriptions
are received through official channels
from all civilised nations, with the exception
of the United States. The American
Consul, it is true, takes a lively interest in
the institution, and has been the means of
obtaining for it many good subscriptions
from his wealthy countrymen resident in
England; but this is privately and on his
own account. Applied to officially, he
quotes the Act of Congress as forbidding
him to take any cognizance of the institution.
While on the subject of revenue, one
is inclined to ask why the anniversary
dinners, which seem to have been always largely
profitable, have been given up since 1862.

An institution like this, which, in the
course of forty-eight years, has been of
incalculable service and benefit to upwards
of one hundred thousand seamen, is clearly
entitled to a considerable amount both of
public and private support. As regards
private support, the published lists of
subscriptions show that Jack "hove down in the
bay of sickness," as the nautical dramatist
puts it, is not forgotten by the gentlemen
of England who live at home at ease; and
it is to be hoped that this account of the
hospital thus simply set forth may have some
effect towards increasing the annual income.
With regard to public support, it is desirable
to point out that the government has now,
or will have shortly, an opportunity of
doing a graceful and liberal act which
would be singularly efficacious and
thoroughly appreciated. Under the new Order
in Council, which—by no means too soon
—reorganises and rehabilitates the splendid
charity of Greenwich Hospital, the building
known as the "Infirmary" will become
vacant. Let this building be handed
over to the Seamen's Hospital Society for
their inmates. Standing isolated, as it does,
there can be no pretence that such a
disposition of it would interfere with the
pensioners, the officers, or anybody concerned:
while it would enable the officials of the
society to remedy a great many shortcomings
necessarily inseparable from this
excellent institution while afloat. Mr. Chaffinch
has the boldness to hope that he here
offers MR. CHILDERS, to whom all credit is
due for the skill and boldness with which
he has encountered and slain the twin
dragons of Circumlocution and Lavish
Expenditure, guarding his department, a
wrinkle which shall suit his notions of
proper economy. The porous and spongey
old Dreadnought costs every year a sum
of some three hundred pounds for caulking;
when once her inmates are happily
housed in the infirmary, this item will be
wiped off the estimates.

With this great notion sprouting in his
mind, Mr. Chaffinch bade adieu to his
courteous conductor, was pulled ashore,
walked through the streets of Greenwich,
and, arriving at the house of the meat-tea
relative, found his boys steeped to the ears
in strawberry jam. He penned the present
article under those succulent circumstances,
and presents it, with his respectful
homage, to Mr. Childers.

WHERE DO SOME THINGS COME
FROM?

IT is not difficult to understand that things
made of wood and stone and metal, of which
the supply is virtually unlimited, as well
as fabrics of cotton, muslin, gauze, and wool,
should be turned out as fast as they are wanted.
It is comprehensible, too, that such developments
of silk and satin and velvet as may hit
the humour of the moment should be
forthcoming, in a degree commensurate with the