[1107] J. Bodini De Republica libri vi., lib. 1. cap. 5.
[1108] The imperial order has been preserved by Sozomenus in his
Ecclesiastic History, v. 16, where more information on this subject,
worthy of attention, has been collected. See Juliani Opera, edit.
Spanhemii, Lips. 1696, fol. p. 430.
[1109] Hieron. ep. 39.
[1110] Hieron. Epitaph. Paulæ.
[1111] Baronii Annal. ad an. 845, xxxvi. ed. Mansii. Lucæ 1743, tom.
xiv. p. 325.
[1112] Muratori Antiq. Ital. Med. Ævi, iii. p. 581.
[1113] Ib. et Antiquitat. Ital. Med. Ævi, iii. p. 581.
[1114] Antiquitat. _l. c._ p. 593.
[1115] See La Grande Chirurgie de M. Guy de Chauliac, Medecin
tres-fameux de l’Université de Montpelier, restituée par M. Laurens
Joubert. A Rouen 1641, 8vo.
[1116] There are various editions of the statutes of this order. 1.
Nova Stat. ord. S. Joannis Hierosolymitani. Madriti 1577, small folio.
2. Privilegia ordinis S. Jo. Hierosol. small folio, Romæ 1588. 3.
Statuta Hospitalis, without place or date, small folio. Each copy,
however, has many things which in the others are wanting. 4. Histoire
de Malthe, avec les Statuts et les Ordonnances de l’Ordre. Paris, 1643,
fol. 5. Codice del sacro militare ordine Gerosolimitano. In Malta 1782,
fol. The words relating to this subject may be found in Titulo quarto,
xi et xii.
[1117] The proofs of this singular account may be seen in Assemani
Bibliotheca Orientalis, tom. iii. P. 2. pag. CMXL.
[1118] Diogen. Laert. lib. i. seg. 55. This regulation has been praised
by many. Plato in Menexemo, Æschines contra Ctesiphon.
[1119] Suidas, v. αδυνατοι, Lysiæ Orat. 23, contra Pancleonem.
[1120] Cod. Theodos. lib. vii. tit. 20, 8. Brissonius v. Causarius.
[1121] Livius, ii. 47, p. 458.--Dio Cassius, lib. lv. 23, p.
793.--Sueton. Vita Jul. Cæsar. cap. 38. To this subject belong many
passages in the Auctor. Rei Agrar. pp. 15, 16, 17, 205, ed. Amstelod.
1674, 4to.
[1122] De Imperio Romano, lib. ii. cap. 12. Argent. 1612, 4to.
[1123] Lib. i. cap. 7, ext. 10.
[1124] Brisson de Verbor. Signif. v. Meritorius.
[1125] p. 146.
[1126] Histor. lib. vi. cap. 20.
[1127] This I learn from Pontac’s Observations on the Chronicon of
Eusebius, p. 507, Chronica trium illustrium auctorum. Burdigalæ 1604,
fol.
[1128] Platina de vitis Pontificum, p. 48, 1664, 12mo.
[1129] Lamprid. vita Alex. Severi, cap. 49.
[1130] Walch’s Histor. der Päbste. Göttingen, 1758, 8vo, p. 57.
[1131] Roma Vet. et Nova. lib. iii. cap. 21.
[1132] See Hardouin’s Observations on Plin. lib. viii. seg. 74, p. 477;
and the figure of the coin, plate vii.
[1133] Annæ Comnenæ Alexiados lib. xv. p. 484. The authoress says
expressly, that the name ὀρφανοτροφεῖον is taken only _a parte
potiori_, as it is known that at later periods not only children who
had lost their parents, but others also who were entirely or in part
educated at the public expense, and likewise the children of the
choir, were called ὀρφανοί. See Du Cange, Gloss. Græcit. The emperor
was accustomed to send orphans to the monasteries to be educated and
instructed; but with this express intimation, that they were not to be
treated and instructed as serfs, but as the children of freemen.--Anna
Comn. p. 381.
[1134] [There is a tradition that this institution owes its rise to the
patriotic exertions of Nell Gwynn, the celebrated mistress of Charles
II. A paragraph in a newspaper of the day seems to give some little
strength to the supposition that her family once dwelt in the vicinity;
and a public-house still exists at no great distance from the hospital,
having her portrait for its sign, with an inscription ascribing to her
the merit of the foundation. The anonymous author also of the life of
Eleanor Gwynn states, that it was at her instigation that this noble
charity was established. “Another act of generosity,” he says, “which
raised the character of this lady above every other courtezan of these
or any other times, was her solicitude to effect the institution of
Chelsea Hospital. One day, when she was rolling about town in her
coach, a poor man came to the coach-door soliciting charity, who
told her a story, whether true or false is immaterial, of his having
been wounded in the civil wars in defence of the royal cause. This
circumstance greatly affected the benevolent heart of Eleanor; she
considered that (besides the hardships of their being exposed to
beggary by wounds received in defence of their country) it seemed to
be the most monstrous ingratitude in the government to suffer those to
perish who had stood up in their defence.
“Warm with these reflections and the overflow of pity, she hurried to
the king, and represented the misery in which she had found an old
servant; entreated that he might suffer some scheme to be proposed to
him towards supporting those unfortunate sons of valour, whose old
age, wounds, or infirmities, rendered them unfit for service; so that
they might not close their days with repining against fortune, and be
oppressed with the misery of want.”
Another anecdote of that period states, with somewhat more probability,
“That when the garrison was withdrawn from Tangiers, there was among
them a considerable number of aged and decrepid persons. It was
therefore proposed to build an hospital for them; and the king being
applied to for a piece of ground for the site, he offered the spot on
which king James’s College stood; but recollecting himself, ‘Odso,’
says he, ‘’tis true I have already given that land to Nell, here.’
She, who was one of the most generous and benevolent of human beings,
immediately said, ‘Have you so, Charles? then I will return it to you
again for this purpose;’ and the hospital was accordingly erected. The
king however built a house for Eleanor in Pall Mall.”
It is however very probable, according to Mr. Evelyn’s Memoirs, that
the design originated with Sir Stephen Fox, who for some years had
been paymaster of the forces, and certainly had better opportunities
of becoming acquainted with the wants and distresses of the aged and
worn-out veterans, great numbers of whom had been thrown on the charity
of the country at this period. The building was erected under the
superintendence of Sir C. Wren, and cost £150,000. It usually contains
about 500 invalids; there are also a number of out-door pensioners,
amounting to about 85,000.]
[1135] An Historical Account of the Royal Hospital for Seamen at
Greenwich. London, 1789, 4to. [The foundation-stone of this magnificent
building was laid on June 3, 1696, and the whole of the superstructure,
under the honorary superintendence of Sir Christopher Wren, was
finished within two years; the hospital was opened for the reception of
pensioners in 1705. In the year of the foundation an act was passed, 7
and 8 William III., cap. 21, by which sixpence a month of the wages of
all seamen belonging to the royal navy is appropriated to the benefits
of the institution. Since that time large sums have been bequeathed
for the use of the hospital, and the buildings have been successively
enlarged and improved.
The indoor pensioners, of whom there are 2700 (which number is kept up
by filling the vacancies twice a month), are maintained, clothed, and
lodged, having also a weekly allowance for pocket-money.
By the act, 10 Anne, cap. 27, it is enacted that the seamen of the
merchant service shall contribute equally with those of the royal
navy; and that such of the former as may be wounded in the defence of
property belonging to Her Majesty’s subjects, or otherwise disabled
while capturing vessels from an enemy, shall also be admitted to the
benefits of the institution. The money received from visitors and
other sources is appropriated to the support of a school, wherein
upwards of 4000 boys have been (1838) educated, from the foundation
of the establishment to the present time. There are also about 32,000
out-pensioners.]
[1136] Even Alexander the Great undertook this office, as Plutarch
expressly says in his life.
[1137] Iliad. xi. 514.
[1138] Æneid. ii. 263.
[1139] Achil. Tat. Lugd. Batav. 1640, 12mo, pp. 243, 617.
[1140] Mauricii Ars Militaris, pp. 29, 62. Upsaliæ 1664, 8vo.--Leonis
Tactica, ed. Meursii, Lugd. Batt. 1612, 4to, lib. iv. 6; xii. 51,
53, p. 150; 119, p. 128. To this subject belongs, in particular, a
passage in the Tactica of the emperor Leo, p. 430, n. 62, 63, where it
is recommended that medicines both for the healing of wounds and the
curing of diseases should be kept in readiness in armies.
[1141] Often called _Concilium Carolomanni_. See Semleri Hist. Eccles.
Selecta Capita. Halæ, 1769, 8vo, ii. p. 144.
[1142] Rymer’s Fœdera, t. iv. 2, pp. 116, 117.
[1143] See Hoyers Gesch. der Kriegskunst, 1799, 8vo, ii. p. 176.
[1144] Kriegsbuch, durch Leonhart Fronsperger. Frankfort, 1565.
[1145] The Margate sea-bathing infirmary deserves especial mention, as
being the only institution of the kind in England, perhaps in Europe.
Its object is to provide sea-bathing for necessitous patients suffering
under scrofulous and such other diseases as are likely to yield only
to sea-air and bathing. It was set on foot in 1793, and established in
1796, by a few benevolent individuals in London, under the fostering
auspices of Dr. Lettsom, John Nichols, Esq. (the eminent printer), and
his son-in-law, the Rev. John Pridden. Its present site, Westbrook,
near Margate, was selected after much inquiry, as the most salubrious
spot on the coast within a convenient distance of the metropolis. From
a small beginning this excellent charity has arisen to considerable
importance in the scale of those valuable institutions which are
designed to lessen the amount of human suffering, and it now numbers
230 in-door and about as many out-door patients. This praiseworthy
institution however is closed during six months in the year (from
November to April), and the in-door patients are required to pay,
either by themselves or their friends, from 5_s._ to 6_s._ per week
for adults, and 4_s._ to 4_s._ 6_d._ per week for children; which, as
scrofulous diseases more particularly afflict the very poorer classes,
are subjects of regret.