ideracion that he is
lame and impotent."

Again (ii., p. 293), "30_th April_ 1597.--Ordered that curtaynes be
provided for certain beds of the poor." The author adds that "moveable
curtains hang over the beds to this day, and are of great use in
providing privacy when patients are washing and dressing."

We meet with some trifling records of great events. Thus on 7th May 1660
it is ordered that "the shield of the States armes being the Redd Cross
and Harpe be taken downe in the Court Hall and the King's arms put in the
Roome thereof."

But even the King could not impose on the hospital. Thus in 1661 there
was a vacancy for a surgeon at the Lock. The King wrote in favour of
John Knight, but John Dorrington was elected (ii., p. 316).

In 1666 the great fire of London was only prevented from reaching the
hospital by pulling down houses. The consequent loss to the hospital may
be set down as 2000 pounds per annum. We are constantly meeting in the
history of St Bartholomew's interesting lights on the natural history of
the patients. An entry as to the supply of beer (of which, by the way,
the patients were allowed three pints daily) pleases me:--"Sir Jonathan
Reymond, Knt. and Alderman, is to serve the matron's cellar. Alderman
Lt.-col. Freind is to supply small beer" (ii., p. 339). These personages
doubtless belonged to the established church, for dissenters were not
allowed to serve the hospital with any commodity.

An entry under 26th February 1704 throws a sinister light on the
condition of the wards:--"Elizabeth Bond did propose to kill and clear
the beds and wards of bugs within this house for 6s. per bed." I hope
Elizabeth Bond was more careful in her work than was the writer of the
resolution (ii., p. 352).

It is interesting to come across the following:--

21_st July_ 1737.--It was resolved "that the thanks of this Court be
given to William Hogarth, Esquire . . . for his generous and free gift of
the painting of the great staircase. . . ."

5_th Jan._ 1758.--A committee considered the subject of visiting
prisoners in Newgate, but the plan was apparently thrown over because
prisoners were found entirely destitute of clothes, bedding, etc.

Even in the history of Mr Pickwick (chapter xlii.) we read that "not a
week passes over our heads, but, in every one of our prisons for debt,
some . . . must inevitably expire in the slow agonies of want, if they
were not relieved by their fellow prisoners."