that as far back as 1751, when Bath was in its pride and glory, one Sunday in each year was set aside in that city for the collection, at every place of worship, of funds for Bath Hospital, and a correspondent writing to Aris's Gazette recommended the adoption of a similar plan in this town. The first suggestion for the present local yearly Sunday collection for the hospitals appeared in an article, written by Mr. Thos. Barber Wright, in the Midland Counties Herald in October, 1859. A collection of this kind took place on Sunday, the 27th of that month, and the first public meeting, when arrangements were made for its annual continuance, was held in the Town Hall. December 14th same year, under the presidency of Dr. Miller, who, therefrom, has been generally accredited with being the originator of the plan. The proceeds of the first year's collection were given to the General Hospital, the second year to the Queen's, and the third year divided among the other charitable institutions in the town of a like character, and this order of rotation has been adhered to since.
| £ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | General Hospital | £5,200 | 8 | 10 |
| 1860 | Queen's Hospital | 3,433 | 6 | 1 |
| 1861 | Amalgamated Charities | 2,953 | 14 | 0 |
| 1862 | General Hospital | 3,310 | 4 | 7 |
| 1863 | Queen's Hospital | 3,293 | 5 | 0 |
| 1864 | Amalgamate Charities | 3,178 | 5 | 0 |
| 1865 | General Hospital | 4,236 | 11 | 11 |
| 1866 | Queen's Hospital | 4,133 | 2 | 10 |
| 1867 | Amalgamated Charities | 3,634 | 9 | 7 |
| 1868 | General Hospital | 4,253 | 9 | 11 |
| 1869 | Queen's Hospital | 4,469 | 1 | 8 |
| 1870 | Amalgamated Charities | 4,111 | 9 | 7 |
| 1871 | General Hospital | 4,856 | 9 | 2 |
| 1872 | Queen's Hospital | 5,192 | 2 | 3 |
| 1873 | Amalgamate Charities | 5,370 | 8 | 3 |
| 1874 | General Hospital | 5,474 | 17 | 11 |
| 1875 | Queen's hospital | 5,800 | 8 | 8 |
| 1876 | Amalgamated Charities | 5,265 | 10 | 10 |
| 1877 | General Hospital | 5,280 | 15 | 3 |
| 1878 | Queen's Hospital | 6,452 | 12 | 10 |
| 1879 | Amalgamated Charities | 5,153 | 3 | 10 |
| 1880 | General Hospital | 4,886 | 1 | 8 |
| 1881 | Queen's Hospital | 4,585 | 1 | 8 |
| 1882 | Amalgamated Clarities | 4,800 | 12 | 6 |
| 1883 | General Hospital | 5,145 | 0 | 5 |
| 1884 | Queen's Hospital |
Hospitals.-The General Hospital may be said to have been commenced in the year 1766, when the first steps were taken towards the erection of such an institution, but it was not formally opened for the reception of patients until 1779. The original outlay on the building was £7,110, but it has received many additions since then, having been enlarged in 1792, 1830, 1842, 1857 (in which year a new wing was erected, nominally out of the proceeds of a fête at Aston, which brought in £2,527 6s. 2d.), 1865, and during the last few years especially. The last additions to the edifice consist of a separate "home" for the staff of nurses, utilising their former rooms for the admittance of more patients; also two large wards, for cases of personal injury from fire, as well as it mortuary, with dissecting and jury rooms, &c., the total cost of these improvements being nearly £20,000. For a long period, this institution has ranked as one of the first and noblest charities in the provinces, its doors being opened for the reception of cases from all parts of the surrounding counties, as well as our own more immediate district. The long list of names of surgeons and physicians, who have bestowed the benefits of their learning and skill upon the unfortunate sufferers, brought within its walls, includes many of the highest eminence in the profession, locally and otherwise, foremost among whom must be placed that of Dr. Ash, the first physician to the institution, and to whom much of the honour of its establishment belongs. The connection of the General Hospital with the Triennial Musical Festivals, which, for a hundred years, have been held for its benefit, has, doubtless, gone far towards the support of the Charity, very nearly £112,000 having been received from that source altogether, and the periodical collections on Hospital Sundays and Saturdays, have still further aided thereto, but it is to the contributions of the public at large that the governors of the institution
