1823.] The Bourchier Chair.-British Hirundines. neither agree with the chair nor with Wright's engraving. Mr. Ment in your Magazine of September last, passing the fess Argent, as uncontradicted, says (to my surprise) that if the colours are distinguished on the chair by specific lines, it must be extremely singular and interesting, that the number of projections introduced on the chair does not prove them to be cheques, and that he does not clearly see how Wright's History gives evidence on the subject of it. Now, Mr. Urban, granting that it may not be very interesting to the public (no more than to myself) what the Louvain arms should be, yet in support of what I originally advanced, I beg to observe, as my last words on this occasion, that finding the 4th quarter of the arms carved on the Bourchier chair to correspond in form with the plate of the stained glass window in Oakham Church, I from that engraving drew my representation and description, and did not substitute one, either out of my own ignorance or from my own invention. That I never said that the pannel did shew heraldic colours, but that the lines were added by myself (from Wright's engraving) to distinguish them for greater accuracy. That the fess was Argent (as allowed by Mr. Ment), and that with regard to the billets, the express number of ten, did not agree, either with the chair, or the Oakham window. Certainly, Wright's " History of Rutland is not legal evidence, nor would it be admitted as such in a court of justice; but when I find a carving 300 years old, agreeing exactly in form with an antient painting on glass, it raises strong presumptive testimony, in my mind at least, that the Louvain arms were intended in both cases. I accordingly described the charges as cheques, from the engraving, because such I found them. Mr. Ment concedes that it was customary to add to the number of charges ad libitum; but as to myself, not caring whether they ought to have been billets or cheques, 401 I denied the limitation only, and depictured what I found on the plate. Heraldic lines were invented in 1639 (exactly 130 years), not centuries after the death of Henry the Seventh, in whose reign the chair was carved. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, INVESTIGATOR. Hartwell, May 1. NOW fulfil my promise of sending you representations of the two other species of British Hirundines. (See Pl. II.) The SWIFT, hirundo apus, is the largest of the genus, being seven inches in length, and nearly eighteen in breadth when its wings are extended. Ruy says of this bird: Ob alarum longitudinem et brevitatem pedum humo ægrè se tollere potest.-Raii Synop. p. 72. It is of a sooty black colour, with a whitish spot on its breast. It arrives in this country towards the middle of May, and departs about the middle of August*. It builds in holes of rocks, in ruined towers, and under the tiling of houses. It has only one brood in the year. The Swift comes at first in greater numbers at once, and they all depart more suddenly than any of the other species. This species is also known by the name of the Black Martin, Black Swallow, Squeaker, Screamer, Develing, or Shriek Owl. The SAND MARTIN, Hirundo Riparia, is the smallest of the genus, being about four inches and three quarters in length, and is of a dusky brown colour above, and whitish beneath. It builds its nest in holes, which it bores in banks of sand, and is said to have only one brood in the year. The steep banks of some rivers abound with the nests of this bird. They are numerous about Boxhill, Guildford, and other sandy parts of Surrey and of Kent, where I have examined their nests in autumn, by digging into their holes. This species is also known by the names of Sand Swallow, Bank Martin, or Shore Bird. T. FORSTER. * It is remarkable, that most countries have a similar proverb relating to the Swallow's accidental appearance before its usual time. The Greeks have Mia XEXdwr ag mo; the Latins, Una hirundo non facit ver; the French, Une hirondelle ne fait pas les printems; the Germans, Eine schwalbe macht keinen früling; the Dutch, Een swaluw maakt geen zomer; the Swedes, En svala gör ingen sommar; the Spanish, Una golondrina no hace verano; the Italians, Una rondine non fa primavera; and the English, one swallow doth not make a summer. GENT. MAG. May, 1823. Mr. 402 On the Management of Charitable Institutions. Mr. URBAN, March 10. IN the following endeavour to review some parts of the great work of public charity with which our Metropolis and our United Kingdom abound, am but too sensible of the difficulties which I shall have to encounter, in pointing at the truth of facts without offence. Yet I am so much impressed with the liberality of mind as well as purse which happily actuates the present æra, that as we all mean the same thing," namely, to promote the institutions which we patronise, and to render them more effectual for their respective objects, than for any sinister fame to their patrons, or favour to their dependent officers, I shall venture to pass on to the labour with the alacrity of one who earnestly desires to unite and advance the cause of all. This country had long before the present century been distinguished for its humane regard to the poor and afflicted; schools for the children, hospitals for the afflicted, alms-houses for the aged who had seen better times, and places of refuge and comfort for those who had served their country by sea and land, everywhere dignified the character of national commisseration and individual bounty; when the present period opened upon us, it was to afford to our astonished sight new stars and more beautiful constellations in this hemisphere of charity than had been hitherto discovered. Between twenty and thirty of these new institutions were founded in the first ten years of this century, and in the last twelve years the increase has amounted to sixty-two in and near the Metropolis alone! The devastations of a protracted war did not check their progress, although in many other respects it abbreviated the resources of individual prosperity; and the subsequent seven years of peace, which has called for the most rigid economy in all public and private expenditure, have still brought forth irresistible claims for more institutions, and for the annual support of the old ones ! Very few have experienced much default on these accounts; the same buildings, the same provisions, and the same open hospitality to the poor and distressed, are maintained; neither do we find that their settled funds are diminished, or their usual sources of contribution withdrawn in such a pro [May, portion as to restrain the admission of patients, except in very few instances -an undeniable proof that every sympathising Christian feels that he is bound not to take the whole of his loaf to himself, but rather that "What his charity impairs, He saves by prudence in affairs.” But there is an enlarged beneficence of equal importance with bounty, by the exercise of which these ornaments to human nature can be supported-I mean personal attendance and investigation; it is but a small part of the duty of charity to give, that only relieves us from importunity; but where an establishment is raised, every benefactor towards it should reflect that to embrace its benevolent design, a household must be retained, and important trusts must be confided to others, who will require not only to be maintained at their post, but also to be frequently seen and reviewed, that they do not relax in the duty to which they have been called. The erection of a new charity is too commonly preceded by plans and estimates for new buildings; and thus, before the poor objects who are stated by their zealous patrons to be waiting impatiently, at the very door, for relief, can for a long time be admitted to share in the proposed benevolence, a building-fund must be raised, an eligible piece of ground be sought for, contracts made, and legal titles be investigated, drawings prepared, revised, and altered, and, finally, Surveyors and Architects satisfied and paid, before the design of the first charitable set of resolutions can be carried into visible effect-in the mean time the trembling paupers may, it is hoped, have been taken into some other institution, which affords to many a decided evidence that the new one is not so necessary, or perhaps they have breathed their last without pity! In this way much of the subscription which was intended for them, is spent for a different purpose. To these patrons the alternative is obvious-a small house for their first experiment would have probably enabled them by encouragement to begin and carry on without an impaired fund, the principal object; for that of making a shew by a handsome building, must be allowed to be but a secondary object; this will always follow in its due time, if the institution be found worthy of support. OFFICERS. 1823.] On the Management of Charitable Institutions. OFFICERS. It is an essential in the foundation of such establishments, that men of fame and public knowledge should be its patrons; but the mere patronage of contribution is not sufficient, as credit is placed in their hands for legislative functions, so here the names of the great and of those who fill high and responsible stations are requisite to shew to the community that their judgment and sanction are staked upon the undertaking-but when these have been given, something more is requisite their presence at general meetings, and their taking part in what their names have recommended, are of the highest importance in the promotion of the cause, for the people will never place their confidence where it appears that their chiefs withdraw; in vain might these institutions, which are connected with any corporation, look for support from others, if those who fill its most elevated posts do not preside over them-happily we have in London very little ground for complaint against presidents for this defect, but amongst the long lists of vice-presidents, this personal influence is not so generally afforded as the nature of their office imports-it is not so much their money as their personal sanction which is sought for: sermons and festivals, general courts and elections, all very essential means of annual support, are considerably more productive when thus attended, and they constitute the chief or only duty which such persons undertake to perform. Treasurers and Secretaries follow in their train, whose official obligations are more defined, and where they are entrusted with the receipt of money, security is most prudently required, as well as from Collectors. Treasurers are of a higher class of both; fortune and station probably render them superior to the temptations of others; but over all these offices an active Committee, or well-instructed Auditors, are and ought to be vested with unrelaxing control, and if this is not freely exerted, they are not the true friends of either the charity or the officers whose accounts they are directed to inspect. COMMITTEES, &c. Every institution vests in a certain number of its members, full authority in a standing or revolving Committee to superintend the whole concern-in some of the 403 greater parts of it their transactions are subjected to the revision and confirmation of a general meeting, to which they are expected either to submit the whole of their minutes, or to present a report of their principal acts; they take the entire superintendance and direction as they would of their own household, and are frequently called upon to observe the most sound discretion in many difficult occurrences, all which they have to consider are to be done by their order, and to be made public, and thereby to effect the favour or the ruin of the establishment. This shews how very necessary it is that each member should feel himself bound to occupy his place at the times of meeting, should suffer no resolution to pass without a clear explanation of its utility and necessity, and should be excited to a sense of duty so far as to yield to none of his fellows in vigilance and punctuality; many young institutions have been actually raised to respect and opulence by the assiduity of their Committee, and by separating their duties into Sub-committees; for all are made active by the example of their leaders, and when they relax all vigour fails! In order to obviate the danger of wanting a quorum of the members chosen, it is frequently made a standing rule of these societies that every Committee should be open to all its members; a rule which is pleasing for its liberality, and for the disarming any, the least charge of partiality or jealousy amongst themselves; as also that it often secures a competent board for the business of the day, which must otherwise be deferred, or which may lead to worse effects, namely, that the officers, if members of the society, have a right to constitute themselves into a board and it should never be forgotten, that a board, once formed, has the entire dominion over the institution; it is obvious that the acting Committee should never suffer themselves to be so overruled in their absence. ; The inspection of the interior of these establishments, their necessary supplies, their repairs, improvements, nurses, and servants, in addition to the care of the patients, are all most important concerns, which devolve upon the Committee and the visitors, and require continual attention so long as the poor objects are made the principal end, as they were the cause of the foun dation. 404 On the Management of Charitable Institutions. dation. The Medical Officers, notwithstanding their professional eminence, are here the servants of the Committee, and are bound to report to them the results of their professional practice, and their conformity to the regulations of the institution. The manner of the recommendation and reception of patients, the abolition of all fees, the attention and due competence of the nurses, and the obedience of pupils, servants, and assistants in all their denominations, are matters of the utmost consequence, into which a vigilant Committee must be ready at all times to inspect and to see their duties performed with tenderness, and, as far as concerns the patients themselves, gratuitously. In all the great hospitals a diet table is affixed in the wards, to which a strict attention is to be paid in order to prevent the least partiality to any patient; but in some of the lesser institutions, this is sometimes a little relaxed, in cases which require, especially in the last moments, rather more indulgence: and I have never heard that such instances excited any murmur or dissatisfaction. Convalescent patients previous to their leaving these abodes, may with great propriety be set to help those who are yet suffering; it is a fit lesson of humanity and gratitude for their own protection and recovery, and it affords the properest season also for the Chaplain or Matron to draw their minds to praise and thanksgiving for the mercies with which they have been blessed. It is a melancholy fact, that an untutored mind does not seem to feel a duteous sense of gratitude for such blessings-but is too apt to forget the Divine hand that has raised it from its affliction, as soon as it finds its former strength return. Seasonable devotions in the wards, and appropriate exhortations to this subject, should not be spared while the patients have the evidences around them, and before they are sent again to intermingle with their former associations. The Committee and Medical Officers, in duly considering the competence of their nurses, have a very responsible obligation to perform; for the lives of their afflicted patients are committed to their charge; it is for them an unfortunate principle in very general practice, that when a woman is too low in circumstance, age, or physical power, [May, she is fit to be a nurse at an hospital; but the very reverse ought to be the practice; for if any one could doubt of this, he will be soon convinced, by seeing the labour which is incumbent upon the nurses of any wards in our hospitals; the agonies which call for help in one bed, are seconded by the cries of despair in another, the parching thirst of unabating fever, and the cold dew drops that hang upon the departing spirit, all at the same moment cry out for soothing comfort, for unwearied strength, for continual applications, and for an intimate and awakened knowledge of the method of administering prescriptions in writing, and observing verbal directions, probably too numerous and delicate to be written: hence also the fatigue as well as the skill requires due notice and relief; their hours of assiduous attention should never be prolonged, this is an unwise economy; probably one additional nurse would afford ample time for the due refreshment of others, and thus would, in prolonging their lives, also be the means perhaps of saving the lives of patients committed to their alternate care. I have on another occasion taken the liberty to recommend an inspection and examination of all nurses once every quarter of a year, and am well satisfied that if this plan were generally adopted by all House Committees, there would not recur such cases as have been deplored from the mistakes by debilitated and wornA. H. out nurses. (To be continued.) Mr. URBAN, AS Rose Cottage, King's Road, April 1. S Chronology has been taken up to oppose as well as defend our Holy Religion, allow a scrap or two in addition to what appears, p. 9. It seems Mr. Bellamy, by applying the 62 weeks in Daniel, to Christ, and reckoning from 3570, the 32d of Artaxerxes Longimanus, he makes them reach the birth of the Redeemer; and then applying the seven weeks (that precede the 62 in Daniel) to the period he began his ministry, supposes his crucifixion in his 53d year. Now, Sir, that Nehemiah had leave of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, to go up to Jerusalem in the 32d year, is plain from chap. xiii. v. 8; but it is also as plain, that this leave was granted ін |