Abstract of cases admitted into the Pennsylvania Hospital, from the 28th of April,1760, to the 28th of Agril, 1761.

And the following is a general account of the number of patient admitted and dischargad, from the first

opening the hospital, the 10th of February, 1752, to

the 28th of April, 1761, viz..

The experience of above nine years, has given undeniable proofs of the necessity and usefulness of this laudable institution; and it is hoped, the perusal of the foregoing account, with what has been heretofore published, will afford pleasing reflections to the beneficent contributors, by whose generous assistance and encouragement, it has gradually arrived to its present situation, capable of extending relief to the distresses of many miserable objects, depressed by poverty and disease. And the managers have the satisfaction to observe its reputation daily to increase, by the frequent applications for the admission of patients from various parts of this and the neighbouring provinces, which they flatter themselves they shall still be enabled to continue and enlarge, by the future benefactions of many charitable persons from distant places, as well as those of our own country, who have yet delayed contributing, the affluent circumstances of many of whom will easily admit of their imparting a share of the blessings they enjoy, for the benefit of such, whose indigence and miseries claim the attention of every compassionate heart.

It would be a neglect of that justice which is due to the physicians and surgeons of this Hospital, not to acknowledge, that their care and skill, and their punctual and regular attendance, under the divine blessing, has been a principal means of advancing this charity to the flourishing state in which we have now the pleasure to

view it.

Relying on the continuance of the favour of Heaven, upon the future endeavours of all who may be concerned in the management of the institution, for its further advancement, we close this account with the abstract of a sermon, preached before the governours and subscribers to the Infirmary at Northampton, in Great Britain, on the 24th of September, 1750, by Thomas Hartley, rector of Wenwick, &c. viz.

"I come, thirdly, to speak of charity, under view of beneficence to the poor; and in this light we behold it in its fruits, as the principle called forth into act, and which may therefore properly be styled the expression or evidence of our charity, as it respects the temporal wants of our needy brethren.

"And here let it be observed, that as true charity always produces this effect to the extent of our power, so it is this inward disposition that dignifies and conse crates the outward act: For as there may be a mista ken zeal for religion, even to the giving our bodies to be burnt for what we may call such, and yet without any true love for God in our hearts; so likewise the same apostle tells us, that we may bestow all our goods to feed the poor, and yet, notwithstanding such a distribution be void of the spirit of real charity. But I am now speaking of benevolence; and among the various

&

occasions which offer for the exercise of it, the relief of the sick and lame poor, under the provision of a publick Infirmary, is that which lays claim to our present attention.

"And here it may be remarked, in behalf of these institutions, which I think holds true of few others, even the most excellent, that the invention of man has not yet been able to furnish us with any objections to them; which argument concludes no less strongly for their confessed publick utility, than for their being founded on the most allowed principles of humanity. Many considerations offer, which powerfully recommend foundations of this kind to our encouragement and support, and some which challenge a preference of regard to them above most others.

"As first, if we consider the greatness of the distress.. Poverty, joined to sickness, or to an ulcerated, broken, or dislocated frame of body, bears doubly hard upon human nature, and eloquence must fail, where such complicated sufferings cannot move: For a Lazarus, at the gate, is indeed a most affecting orator, where the heart is not heardened to a decree of insensibility more than brutal.

"A second recommendation of these houses of mercy is, that in this exercise of our bounty we are safe, both with respect to the objects and the application of it: As to the former, due provision is made for sufficient information concerning the poverty of the parties to be admitted. And as to their bodily maladies, there are few cases which do not explain themselves by corresponding symptoms, or can elude the skilful observations of the persons appointed to inspect and examine them; so

that it is not pretence, but reality, not an artful story, but actual distress, that here solicits our compassionate regard.

"A third excellency of this charity is the care taken to promote and expedite, in the best manner, the cure of the patients, by a voluntary, regular, and gratuitous attendance of physicians and surgeons, of approved judgment and character in their professions, who, on that account, may justly be styled principal benefactors to this excellent work, whilst we have the satisfaction of seeing the benefit intended to the poor by our contributions taking effect at the easiest expense, and thereby

rendered the more extensive.

"We read, that Almighty God, upon taking a survey of the six days work of creation, pronounced of every thing which he had made, that it was very good: How beautiful and perfect then must he have been in his better part, for whose sake all things were created! How excellent that creature, who was made in the image, and after the likeness of his Creator! But he lusted after the vanity of time, and so lost the riches of eternity; together with his innocence, his divine light and love, and purity departed from him.-God made man upright, but he sought out many inventions, Eccles. vii. 29. He sought to be made happy independently of God, and so lost his happiness in him: Hence by nature our sad alienation from the life of God; instead of heavenly wisdom, a serpentine craft; instead of divine love, gross and corrupt affections; and in the room of that perfect harmony in all its powers and faculties, which turned the soul to peace, all the discord and rage of conflicting passions.— Behold, O Man! in this thy aggravated misery of a dis