To this church there is an ascent by a flight of steps, defended by plain iron rails. The door case, which is Ionic, has a circular pediment, ornamented with the heads of Cherubims in clouds; and on each side of this pediment, which reaches to the height of the roof, the front is adorned with a ballustrade and vases. From this part the tower rises plain, strengthened with rustic quoins, as is the body of the building, and on the corners of the tower are again placed vases. From this part the diminution is too great; and from hence are raised a series of Ionic columns supporting the base of the spire, which has ribs on the angles, and openings in all the faces. The top is crowned with a ball from which rises the vane.
This church is a rectory in the gift of the Crown; the profits of which to the Incumbent amount to about 220l. a year. English Architect. Maitland.
St. George’s Hospital, near Hyde Park Corner. This undertaking was set on foot soon after Michaelmas 1733, by some gentlemen who were before concerned in a charity of the like kind in the lower part of Westminster. This house they judged convenient for their purpose, on account of its air, situation, and nearness to town; they therefore procured a lease of it, and opened a subscription for carrying on the charity here, which increased so fast, that on the 19th of October they were formed into a regular society, and actually began to receive patients on the first of January following.
Here are admitted the poor, sick, and lame, who are supplied with advice, medicine, diet, washing, lodging, and some of the miserable with cloaths also. The Physicians visit their patients on Mondays and Fridays, and on all intermediate days whenever occasion requires; but the Surgeon attends every day; and on every Friday morning there is a general consultation of all the Physicians and Surgeons. No security for the burial of the patients is required, nor any money, gift, or reward taken of them or their friends, on any account whatsoever. Those who die, if their friends are unable to bury them, are interred at the charge of the society. And the money collected in the poor box at the door, is kept as a separate fund for furnishing those with some little sum of money, whose distance from their habitations, or other particular necessities, require it.
The apothecaries, who are Governors, are appointed to attend by rotation as visitors, to see that the apothecary of the house takes due care of the medicines and patients. Two visitors are chosen weekly out of the subscribers, to attend daily, and take care, by examining the provision and patients, that the orders of the society are punctually observed, that the patients are treated in every respect with order and tenderness, and to make a report in writing of their observations.
Prayers are read daily to the patients; a sermon is preached every Sunday, the communion is administered every month, and the chaplain attends at other times to catechize and perform other religious offices, as often as their cases require; and when the patients are discharged, religious tracts are given to each of them, for their farther edification.
A board of Governors meet every Wednesday morning, to do the current business of the hospital, to receive and examine the reports of the visitors, to discharge and admit patients, to receive the complaints and proposals of all persons, and to prepare such matters as are proper for the consideration of general boards. A general board of the Governors meet regularly five times a year.
The Governors are in number upwards of three hundred. No person receiving salary, fee, or reward from the hospital, is capable of being a Governor; but every other gentleman subscribing 5l. a year, or upwards, or giving one benefaction of 50l. although he be not an annual subscriber, is thereupon put in nomination to be a Governor, and at the first general court, which is held one month afterwards, is accordingly ballotted for by the Governors. The subscriptions are received by the Treasurers, at the weekly board, held every Wednesday morning in the hospital.
The other rules and regulations of this excellent hospital, are as follow:
I. No person is to be admitted a patient, except in cases of accidents, without a note from a Governor or contributor, specifying the name and place of abode of such patient, and that he or she is a proper object of this charity.