University College Hospital
April 14. 1845.
Sir/
On behalf of the Committee of the University College Hospital by whom we are deputed to make arrangements for a Festival in aid of the funds of the charity, we take the liberty of requesting permission to announce you as one of the Stewards for a Public Dinner on Tuesday the 3rd June at the London Tavern at which Viscount Morpeth has kindly undertaken to preside.
The enclosed papers explain in full the actual circumstances of the Hospital and the grounds on which the Committee rely in their appeal for the assistance of the Public, but they may be permitted here to state that the cost of maintaining this Establishment which confers so vast and unquestionable a benefit on the surrounding district is about £4500 per Annm and that while not above £500 of that sum is received from Annual Subscriptions, between £2,500 and £3,000 are every year derived from the relinquishment by the Medical Officers for the maintenance of the Establishment, of the fees paid by Students for attendance on their Hospital practice. A deficiency of about £1000 per Annum remains to be provided for, and for meeting this the Hospital has to depend on incidental resources such as Legacies<,> casual benefactions, and the produce of appeals to the Public similar to that now in contemplation. No such appeal has been made since 1842.
We beg to add that the Committee have at present in view two important objects.
1st To increase the Income of the Hospital by additions to the Annual Subscriptions or by the dividends of invested funds.
2ndly To raise a fund for the completion of the building. The site of the North Wing is now unoccupied: such a Wing if completed would not only allow of an increase of 50 Inpatients but would confer facilities much desired for the better classification of cases of disease, and for other improvements in the administration of relief by affording accommodation for a larger number of Resident Officers.
We shall be much obliged by an early answer to our request, and shall esteem it a further favor if you will supply us with the name of any Gentleman who would be willing on our application to act as Steward on the occasion. The Office of Steward involves no pecuniary responsibility.
We are Sir Your Obedient Servants
Isaac L Goldsmid Treasurer.
Chas Cope
Chas Summers: –
Martin Thackeray
John Wood.
Fox. Talbot Esq. F.R.S.