Huaytér’s History of Chelsea, 
_ ORIGIN OF CHELSEA HOSPITAL. 
- "There is a tradition chat this institution 
Olves its rise to the benevolent exertions 
of Nell. Gwyn, the celebrated’ mistress 
of Charles If. A paragraph'in a news- 
paper of the day,* seems to give some 
little strength to the supposition; and a 
public-house still exists, at no great dis- 
tance from the hospital, having ~her por- 
trait for its sign, and-an. inscription,’ as- 
etibingto ber the merit of the founda- 
tibn. na NOK RS 
The anonymous author of the Life of 
Eleanor Gwyn states, that it'was at her 
instigation that this suble® charity was 
established. “~ A yes 
We will give the writer’s own words: 
Another act of generdsity,. 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 
cay, when shé was rolling about town in 
her coach,’'a poor witin ‘came, to the 
coach-door, soliciting charity, who told 
fier a story, whether trie or false is im- 
material, of bis having been.wounded in 
the .civil wars, in agente of the royal 
cause. This circumstance greatly af- 
fected the . benevolent . heart, of Miss 
Gwyn; she considered that, besides the 
hardships of; their being exposed to beg- 
gary by woands received in-defence of 
their country, that it seemed to be the 
most monstrous ingratitude in the go- 
Vernment to suffer those to perish who 
stood up in their defence, and screened 
them from the most hazardous attempts 
at patriotism, 4 
_ “ Warm_ywith . these. reflections, and 
the-overfow of pity, she hurried to the 
king, and represented the. misery in 
which she had found an old servant ;.in- 
treated that she might suffersome scheme 
to be proposed to him towards support- 
ing 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 re- 
pining against fortune, and be oppressed 
with the misery of want. : Wh 
¢ “ This observation she communicated 
to’ personages of distinction, who were 
public-spirited enough to encourage it; 
and to Nell Gwyn is now.owing the com- 
fortable provision which is made for de- 
OTE ENR IO SORTER Te EY BN SI 
“ ® We hear that Madam Ellen Gwyn’s 
‘iether, sitting lately by the water side, at 
her house by the neat houses near Chelsey, 
fell. accidentally into the water, and was 
drowned. —Domestic Intellig. Aug. 5, 1679. 
Monzurx Mae, No, 215, 
— 
669 
cayed soldiers, and that pleasant retreat 
they find at Chelsea.* 
We know not if any just degree of 
crgdit can be given to the work just 
cited, and it must still, therefore, remain 
a-doubtful point to whose kind exertions 
our brave veterans owe their present. 
comfortable asylum, It is, however, 
well known, that Sir Stephen Fox was 
one of its most liberal and zealous bene- 
factors; he, with a most princely spirit of 
generosity, which deserves to be recorded 
on worthier and more lasting pages than 
these, contributed above thirteen thous 
sand pounds towards defraying the ex= 
pences of the fabric. 
The edifice, as was before observed, 
was begun in the year 1682, but not 
completed till 1690. The whole expense 
of the’ building is computed to have 
amounted to 150,000/. and the three fol- 
lowing personages were appointed by 
patent, March 3, 1691, commissioners 
for the conduct of Chelsea Hospital: 
Richard, Earl of Ranelagh, Paymaster-general. 
Sir Stephen Fox, Kat, Lord Commissioner of 
the Treasury. 
Sir Christopher Wren, Surveyor-general of 
the Works. ; 
PRESENT STATE. 
Theaffairs of the Hospital are managed 
by commissioners appointed by patené 
under the great seal,.. They are, 
The Lord President of the Council, 
The First Lord of the Treasury, 
The Secretaries of State, 
The Paymaster-generaliof the Forces, 
The Secretary at War, 
The Comptrollers of Army Accounts, 
The Governor, ‘and 
The Lieutenant- governor of the Royal Hoss 
pital. 
Of these, the latter five only act, and 
hold boards occasionally for the admis- 
sion of pensioners, and the internal ree 
gulation of the hospital. 
The establishment of the hospital cone 
sists of @ governor, a lieutenant-governor, 
a major, an adjutant and assistant-adju- 
tant, a treasurer, a secretary, two chap~ 
Jains, ‘a physician, a surgeon, and an 
aputhecary, a comptroller, a steward, a 
clerk of works, with other warrant officers, 
_ There are four hundred and seventy 
six in-pensioners, divided into the fol- 
lowing*classes : f 
Twenty-six captains, one of whom’ acts as 
serjeant-major. 
a 
* Memoirs of the Life of Eleaner Gwyn, 
age 42.—London, 1792. : 
sid WL Ta Thirtys 
