TRINIDAD I THEN AND NOW. 



277 



to his name than I have pence, who was himself but 

 a boy in those remote days might not like it, so I will 

 let it pass ; I know he remembers it for it was only a 

 few months since he and I were speaking of it. Don't 

 think that it was he who wounded the old man ; it 

 wasn't. 



There is still one drawback to the successful 

 working of this noble institution, for which neither 

 the government nor Surgeon-General are responsible. 

 It is the lack of a charitable fund, voluntarily con- 

 tributed, by which deserving poor when discharged 

 from hospital would receive some temporary help, 

 for believe me many are deserving of, and much in 

 need of it. Cannot some charitable ladies be found 

 to take it up, the details can easily be arranged ? I 

 simply throw out the idea. 



Coincidences are curious things. This chapter 

 was in the hands of the printer on August 1st ; on 

 the 8th, I received the first and on the 17th the 

 second proof ; on the same day I accidentally came 

 across an old copy of the Port-of-Spain Gazette dated 

 June 17th, 1834, containing a report of a meeting of 

 32 ladies presided over by Lady Hill, (the Governor's 

 wife,) containing many names still familiarly known 

 in Trinidad, held with a somewhat similar object to 

 what I have suggested. Space will not permit me to 

 give it in extenso but the first rule is : — 



" First. The object of the society shall be to re- 

 lieve the industrious poor and indigent sick. ' ' 



I think this must have been before the present 

 Colonial Hospital was established, but the object 



