As there is hardly any limit of suffering to which humanity may not he exposed, so is there scarcely any boundary to the exertions made by benevolent individuals in this country to meet the probable wants of suffering individuals. In the progress of this division of our labours, the interesting details respecting which are now drawing towards a close, we have seen how active has been the human mind in the performance of benevolent offices, in the dissemination of instruction, in the protection of abandoned infants and neglected youth, and in providing medical and surgical aid to relieve the aged and the sick, the infirm and the maimed. We have next contemplated those excellent institutions, chiefly promoted and supported by the females of the British metropolis, for the comfort and preservation of lying-in women and their offspring;—but it is now our task to turn to establishments, the existence of which cannot but be gratifying to our feelings, whilst the necessity for such abodes rends the heart, and teaches a melancholy lesson to human pride.
Bethlem Hospital is a royal foundation. It was incorporated for lunatics by Henry VIII. It long stood in Moorfields, and the design of that building was taken from the Chateau de Tuilleries, Paris. Louis XIV. was so much offended at this copy of his palace, that he ordered a plan of St. James's Palace to be taken for officers of a very inferior nature. The Moorfields' building, however, has been taken down; and the patients removed to an immense and noble building, that is still called Bethlem Hospital, erected within the last few years in Lambeth, near West square. It covers the spot on which formerly stood the celebrated Dog and Duck gardens, and afterwards the school for the indigent blind. The new structure constitutes an immense range of building, fronting to the extent of near 300 feet, and capable of receiving in such front upwards of 200 patients. It cost about 100,000l.; and it was designed by Mr. Lewis. There are buildings to the south, &c. The building's and grounds occupy a space of about twelve acres.—Regarding the number of patients, the following is the last return from this establishment:—
Remaining in the Hospital................192
Buried last Year........................... None
Cured and discharged last Year.................. 152
Patients under cure.................................... 81
Ditto incurable.......................................... 65
There is one range of buildings here, for about sixty or seventy lunatics, the charge of which, it is stated, belongs exclusively to Government.
Source: New Picture of London, Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand; by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819
Source: Leigh's New Picture of London. Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand;
by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819