Histories of the Hospitals of Dublin.

**

Appendix III.**

Of the Hospitals, Infirmaries, and other charitable and useful foundations. **

Sect. 1.*** *

Of the Hospital and Free-School of king Charles II. commonly called the Blue-coat boys Hospital.* *

It has heretofore been a brand of infamy cast upon the city of Dublin by some foreigners, whom either business or curiosity brought to visit these parts, in their printed memoirs, that though we had several churches, yet not a single hospital: they took notice of it as strange, that in the capital there was not some publick provision for the indigent, while the humanity and policy of other places, always rendered it one of their principal cares. This censure, however, was rather remarkable for its severity than justice and, we may add too, an unweighed reflection. For, whoever reverts to the foregoing part of this history, will readily discover the weakness of the remark, when he considers that a people, torn by intestine divisions during a long and bloody war, supported with obstinacy and malice, seldom make advances in charitable endowments, or indeed in publick works of any kind: but when the blessings of peace are enjoyed by all, then, and then only it may be reasonably expected, that mens minds will naturally turn on the thoughts of relieving the distresses of their fellow-creatures. This is sufficiently evinced by the progress in works of charity made in the city of Dublin in less than a century, the first of which was the Blue-coat-hospital, situate in Queen street*, *at the S. E. corner of Oxmantown-green. It was also the first charity of that kind in the kingdom, and founded, in 1670, by the bounty of the city of Dublin, as well as other benefactions.

(The following extract of the charter may not, perhaps be unacceptable to some of our readers.

His majesty therefore has therein granted, to the lord mayor, sheriffs, commons and citizens of the city of Dublin, and their successors for ever, all that piece and parcel of ground in Oxmantown-green near the said city, where the intended hospital and school is already built, to be held of his majesty, as of his castle of Dublin, in free and common soccage, as a mansion-house, and place of abode, for the sustentation and relief of poor children, aged, maimed and impotent people, inhabiting or residing in the said city of Dublin; and giving power to the said mayor, sheriffs &c.** and their successors for ever, at their wills and pleasures, to place therein such master or masters, and such number of poor people and children, and such officers and ministers of the said hospital and free-school, as likewise an able, learned, pious and orthodox minister, to be approved of by the archbishop of Dublin for the time being, which minister, is to read divine service, and preach, to such as shall reside there, and catechize such children as shall be in the said hospital. or free-school, as to the said mayor, &c. shall seem convenient; Who are also thereby impowered to remove such master, minister, &c. or any other officers belonging to the said hospital, and to place others in their stead, and to appoint fees and salaries for* *all the aforementioned members of the hospital and free-school, an they and their successors shall think fit; that the mayor &c. and their successors be governors of the said hospital and free-school, and of the lands and tenements, &c. to the same belonging; that under this title of the governors of the hospital and free-school of king Charles the second, they be a body corporate and capable of fining or being fined in any of his majesty’s courts, and of purchasing to the yearly value of 6,000 l. sterl. and of keeping a seal, &c. And they are hindered from alienating any of the estate of the said hospital and free-school to any other use than that of the corporation now mentioned; and from making leases for above 41 years of houses, or other buildings, or 21 or lands, tenements, &c. **And that either in possession, or not above two years before the expiration of the estate in possession, and without any fine or income, at the best yearly rent that bona fide from good and solvent tenants may be had. Nor is any lease to be made to any of the governors, or any other person to the use of, or in trust for any of them. They have also power given to them of making rules and statutes, &c. For the government of the hospital and free-school, and to execute, or abrogate such rules as they find occasion, provided they be not contrary to the laws in force, or the royal authority.”)

The first design was noble and extensive, it being intended for the reception and support of the aged and infirm poor of the city of Dublin, as well as of their children; and at that time there appeared so great a spirit to promote this most humane undertaking, that the governors entertained sanguine hopes of accomplishing that design in its fullest extent.

At the same time they publickly declared, that the hospital was not intended for a particular personal relief, but rather for the common and public benefit, to which they thought the support and education of poor children would most effectually conduce.

Agreeably to this declaration, the governors, finding the benefactions inadequate to their original design, thought proper, about the year 1680, to receive children only; and from that time, as their revenues encreased, they have enlarged the number from 30 or 40, to 170; who are maintained cloathed and educated, and, when properly qualified, put apprentices to protestant masters. With each lad is paid the sum of 5 l. as an apprentice fee.

The children admitted are to be the sons of decayed citizens; who have the preference of all others, except 10 on the foundation of Henry Osborne, efq; and 20 on the foundation of Erasmus Smith, esq. None are admitted under three feet nine inches in height, or who are lame, deformed, or afflicted with any infectious disease; and those admitted are first examined by the surgeon in presence of the governors.

They are dieted in the most plain, wholesome and regular manner, and are in the general extremely healthy, there being seldom above three or four in the infirmary at a time. As to their education, they are instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetick; and, when they have made a sufficient progress therein, are bound apprentices as before mentioned. The corporation of merchants support a mathematical school in the hospital, for the instruction of 10 boys in navigation, who are to be put apprentices to merchants, or captains of ships, for the sea-service.

The children attend divine service twice on Sundays, and regularly every other morning in the week. This, together with their being carefully instructed in the necessary principles of religion, creates such an early habit of piety, as gives the fairest prospect of their becoming virtuous and useful members of the community. Indeed it is observable, that the boys of this hospital generally prove sober, honest and diligent apprentices, which is, no doubt, to be attributed to their having been thus early instructed in, and accustomed to, the duties of religion, and laid under the necessary restraints, whereby they are secured from the dangers arising from corrupt company, and the consequent vices, observable in boys abandoned to their own discretion.

There is a board held at the hospital, as often as the business of the house requires it, where such regulations are made as the governors think necessary, and such masters as want apprentices attend, in order for the approbation of the governors: at these boards the governors, by rotation, fill up all vacancies, except those already mentioned.

From this short account it is manifest of what essential service this foundation is to the community: during the last ten years, between 300 and 400 have received the benefit of it, have thereby been rescued from misery and vice, and tendered so many benefits, instead of pests in society.

Is it not then melancholy to reflect, though necessary to be known, that, for many years, the legacies and benefactions have fallen far short of their amount in former times; and that, upon this account, the governors are not only prevented from extending this charity to the many who are so greatly in want of it, but are also thereby prevented from rebuilding some necessary parts of the house, that are in a state of decay: for as the income (the casual revenue included) commonly amounts only to about 1,630 1. per annum, and the yearly disbursements are generally almost equivalent to the receipts, the governors have no scheme of re-building those parts of the hospital that so greatly want it, unless they cease to admit children for many years.

It is hoped, therefore, that such persons, whom providence has blessed with abundance, will extend their assistance to so useful a purpose. This hospital has a peculiar plea to the protection of the inhabitants of Dublin, it owes its existence to their bounty, which has ever since principally cherished and supported it and it is not doubted, when the pressing necessity of a supply is publickly known, but this most useful charity will meet all due encouragement and relief, from every one whose circumstances enable him to afford them. **

SECT. II*** *

Of the Royal Hospital of king Charles II. near Kilmainham, commonly called the Old Man’s-hospital

Ireland having enjoyed many years of peace during the reign of his late majesty Charles II. and under the happy governments of several lord lieutenants and deputies, the army living without action produced, in about 20 years, many old soldiers, who having honestly served the king from the time of their youth, and being arrived to old age, which rendered them incapable of further service in the army, they could not properly be continued any longer in the same; and they, by their constant service therein, having neglected all other ways of procuring a livelihood by* *arts or trades, must of necessity starve, if dismissed.

This consideration was the ground of all those provisions made by the antient Romans for disabled soldiers and although in those times they did not erect buildings for their cohabitation, when disbanded for age or infirmity, yet the care that was taken by the generals and emperors, was equivalent in the stipends and employments of ease bestowed on them, their wives and children, as might be instanced in several particulars from history.

But our modern princes, having the experience of former tunes in view, endeavoured still to out-do the past: and this entering into the thoughts of Lewis XIV. of France, produced that stupendous pile, by him named the Invalids, situated in the Fauxbourg of St. Germain’s, near Paris. ‘Tis not to be doubted, but from the excellency of that design, first sprung the notion of building the like in this kingdom, which was happily entertained at first by the right honourable Arthur earl of Granard, marshal-general of the army in Ireland, in or about the year 1675, he communicated his thoughts unto the earl of Essex, then lord lieutenant of Ireland, who was pleased to direct that several places should be viewed, that might be thought fit to erect Such a convenient building, but more particularly the ground where now it stands.

He being soon called from the government of Ireland, there was nothing further said thereof until the arrival of his grace James duke of Ormond in the year 1677, whose endeavours always tended to the good of that kingdom. He soon turned his thoughts upon this hospital, which he found absolutely necessary to be built, that the army might be cleared of all such soldiers as then were, or hereafter might be, incapable to serve longer therein, that thereby his majesty might have an effective army fit to serve him when occasion required. And having considered what number of soldiers, alter the grand purgation of the then army, which consisted of 7,500, might become qualified for the hospital yearly and also of the ways and means to raise money to build the house, and to maintain the soldiers; his grace represents unto his late majesty Charles II. the great advantages that would attend his service, by pursuing that design; which so much prevailed, that on the 27th of October 1679, a letter was sent over to the duke of Ormond for that purpose.

Upon the receipt of the letter, his grace, together with the chief officers of state, and the army, took the same into consideration; and after divers consultations, a committee of the lords and others of the privy-council, and chief officers of the army, were appointed a standing committee, to put the content of the said letter in execution.

As* *soon as this committee was elected, they entered on the consideration of the most speedy and best methods for obeying his majesty’s commands, and issued out orders to the surveyor of his buildings, (whom they thought most proper to advise with in that behalf) requiring that he do with all convenient speed view the lands of Kilmainham, near Dublin, at that time inclosed by the wall of the Phoenix park, which said lands being wholly in his majesty’s hands, formerly belonging to the order of knights templars, or St. John of Jerusalem, were by the said committee adjudged the fittest place (as well in respect of the title as situation) to build the hospital upon; and that a draught or design of a building, to be erected on the most advantageous part of the said land, be prepared, that may contain convenient lodgings for such number of the disabled soldiers of the army, as were incapable of further service, with proper accommodations for the master; and such other officers and ministers as should be appointed for management of the said house, together with all necessary out-houses, offices, and appurtenances fit for such a building; and also to bring in proposals from workmen, of the several rates of building, as well for carpenter’s work, as mason’s, bricklayer’s, joiner’s, carver’s, painter’s, &c. to the end, that contracts might be made with the ablest of the said workmen, to proceed with the building; and that the surveyor bring in a paper of such other memorandums and notes as may lead the said committee to the immediate and regular prosecution of the intended design.

In pursuance of these instructions, the surveyor, first considering that the then army in Ireland consisted of about 7,000 men, and having examined the muster-rolls returned by the commissaries, of such men as were not fit to be continued longer in the army, found the number so returned, did not amount to 300, being less* than the twentieth part of the army, and that if the twentieth part of the said army were purged or drawn out, that number would die, or be reduced to nothing, before the like number in the army, in times of peace, should become fit for the hospital: for admitting that out of every ten men in the hospital, one in the year should die, consequently out of 300, 30 would die; it follows that the whole number die every ten years, which would for ever keep the army free from disabled men From which measure it *was concluded, that the model ought to be designed to receive the number of 300 men, with other apartments and offices; and accordingly the surveyor having taken a view of the lands of Kilmainham, returned a model with his opinion, that the eastermost part of the said lands would be the fittest place for erecting such a building, being commodiously situated for adapting all manner of offices and out-buildings.

The ground lies on the south tide of the river Liffey, and is distant from the city less* *than a quarter of a mile; the land, as was observed before, formerly belonged unto the prior of the abbey of Kilmainham, chief of the order of the knights of Jerusalem; and on the west part of the said ground had been formerly a large pile of building, which consisted of several quadrangles, but at present even the ruins are not to be seen: there only remained standing in the year 1680 part of the walls of the chapel, the stones whereof were taken down and carefully removed to the new hospital, and wholly used in building the present chapel of the same.

The land is called by the name of the lease of Kilmainham, and contains 71 acres Irish measure This land came to the crown upon the suppression of the order of Jerusalem, and knights templars, or knights of Rhodes, the thirty-second of Henry VIII. but queen Mary was pleased to re-grant it unto sir Oswald Massingberde by letters patents, who continued in possession until the second of queen Elizabeth, at which time the said sir Oswald departed the kingdom; and by an act of the same year it was annexed to the crown, and continued so until king Charles II. was pleased to pass part of the said land, containing 64 acres, plantation measure, for the use of the hospital, in frank almoign, for ever; the other part his majesty was pleased to grant, in fee for ever, unto sir John Temple, knt. his majesty’s, sollicitor general, for valuable considerations; which part, so granted unto the said sir John Temple, lies on the west of the land adjoining to the road; the south side of this land riseth above 50 feet higher than the north part; towards the river, and is from east to west nearly on a level. Upon viewing the whole, the east part of the upper ground was adjudged by his grace the duke of Ormond, the fittest part for the site of the hospital, it being nearer Dublin, and the most eminent part of the whole, and was accordingly approved of by all the chief officers of the army and privy council.

The model of the house being approved of by the lord lieutenant and committee, the first work was to enclose the part so elected, by an outer wall, to preserve materials from embezzlement, and to begin the flanking houses at each corner, for keeping offices, lodging tools, &c. The foundation being dug (which proved a dry, hard, ponderous clay, mixed with gravel, difficult to be wrought with pick-axes) the first stone of the house was laid by his grace James duke of Ormond, on the 29th day of April 1680, and the second by the right honourable Francis earl of Longford, master-general of the ordnance, in the presence of several of the nobility, and principal officers of the army; which said first stones lies the lowermost in the north-west coin of the north-west flanker; it bears his grace’s name, and the day of the month, and year, when laid.

From thence forward, the building proceeded with such expedition, that on the 25th day of March 1684, as many invalids as were qualified for the same, were appointed to lodge therein, and accordingly received, and accommodated with bedding, and all other things necessary for their use. Total expenditure in building the hospital, infirmary, gardens, church-yard, walls, &c. 23,559 1. 16s. 113 d.

The earl of Tyrconnel having, in the time of his government of this kingdom, resolved to new-model the army of Ireland, by displacing the protestants, and entertaining Irish papists, in their room; and finding it directly inconsistent with several clauses in the charter of the hospital, that any papist should be either employed as an officer, or admitted as a soldier therein; he caused a petition to be drawn up, and signed by the governors of the hospital, (as appears by the minutes of the board in his time) praying for leave to surrender the charter to the late king James, in order to have a new one granted them. The better to justify such a step, the then lord chancellor Fitton offered some specious pretences for doing the same; and amongst several exceptions taken against the said charter, that the tenure of the hospital and lands thereto belonging, &c. to be held for ever in frank almoigne, by the governors thereof, and their successors, was not a legal or proper tenure. And from that time there was no publick meeting of the governors; but all matters relating to the hospital, were managed by the Lord Tyrconnel only, who placed and displaced officers and soldiers at his will and pleasure; and also admitted into the chapel, and rooms adjoining, an order of friars, to exercise the Romish religion in December 1688. Wherefore, upon the late king James’s abdication, Robert Curtis, Esq; the then register, apprehending that the charter and register-books would be taken from him, made his escape to England and secured them. The charter remained in his custody, till some time after sir Charles Fielding was appointed master of the hospital, who then took it into his keeping. No account being had thereof since that time, it was concluded to be lost.

Beside the happiness of the situation on a lofty eminence, the approaches to his stately edifice are thro’ several rows of tall trees, with fields in the front and gradual ascent from the river Liffey. The building being quadrangular, forms a spacious area, laid out in grass plots and gravelled walks, with a piazza about the whole, by which there is a covered passage from every quarter to the chapel and hall, both which are curiously decorated: the stucco and. carving of the chapel is masterly, and the hall enriched with elegant whole length portraitures of the founder and his queen, with all the succeeding monarchs of Great-Britain, the governors of Ireland, and other great personages, executed by the most eminent artists of those times.

The master’s apartments are very spacious and elegant, from which he has a passage by a gallery built over the hall to his seat in the chapel; the chaplain, physician, and other officers have also decent and genteel apartments, suited to their employments. But the greatest beauty of the whole building is the front towards the master’s gardens, which is composed of the chapel and hall; it has a stately entrance ascended by eight steps. The portal is decorated with the arms of the duke of Ormond and many architectural embellishments in the Corinthian order. Over all is erected a lofty spire, with a clock and dials; the whole being a piece of excellent workmanship. Strangers are seldom admitted to this side of the building, but for what reason, is best known to those who deny the curious that satisfaction.

(For the reader’s satisfaction here follows an abstract of the charter of the hospital of king Charles II. at Kilmainham near Dublin, from an enrollment of the said charter in the high court of chancery. - Charles II. by the grace of God, &c. In the preamble is recited his majesty’s will and pleasure than some provision be made for such officers and soldiers of his army in Ireland as are or may become unfit for service, by reason of age, wounds, or other infirmities, and that an hospital be erected near Dublin, where they they find a comfortable retreat and a competent maintenance therein, and sets apart 64 acres, formerly inclosed in the Phoenix park, being part of the lands of Kilmainham, for erecting the said hospital, and making convenient walks, gardens, &c. bounded on the east and south with a stone wall, being formerly the said park wall, on the north with the river Liffey, and on the west with part of the said lands of Kilmainham, belonging to William Robinson, Esq. His majesty appoints 6d. in the pound to be deducted out of the pay of all officers, soldiers, and other persons on the military list towards the building of the said hospital, and orders the same to be continued, until by some other ways it shall be provided with a sufficient revenue of lands for support of it, and appoints a corporation of persons in succession for ever, to be governors of** **the said hospital and by his letters patents, enrolled in the high court of chancery, declares and ordains, that the buildings lately erected, and all houses, edifices, lands, &c. within the same, or the 64 acres of land before mentioned, shall for ever hereafter continue an hospital for such a number of officers and soldiers of the army of Ireland, as by the governors thereof shall be limited and appointed, and also for the dwelling and use of one master, to govern them, and one chaplain to instruct them in the knowledge of God, and for such other officers as shall be found necessary. And that the said hospital shall be named for ever hereafter, the hospital of king Charles II. &c. Governors appointed, viz. the lord lieutenant, lord deputy or other chief governor or governors of the kingdom of Ireland for the time being, his grace the lord primate and metropolitan of all Ireland, and lord chancellor of the same, and his successors archbishops of Armagh, and all such as shall succeed him to be lord chancellors or lord keepers of the great seal of Ireland, lord archbishop of Dublin, James duke of Ormond, Richard earl of Arran, lord deputy and * colonel of the regiment of guards there, and all such as shall succeed him as colonel of the said regiment of guards, ** marshal of the army, master of the ordnance, chief justice of the king’s-bench, chief justice of the common-pleas, chief baron of the exchequer, secretary of state, * commissary general of the horse, * major general of the foot, muster-master general, ** captain of the yeomen of the guard, * captain of the troop of horse guards, * lieutenant colonel of the regiment of guards quarter-master general, * major of the regiment of guards, whilst they continue in the said offices, and their successors in the said offices, and the master at the said hospital for the time being.

[Note, several of those employments, as those marked thus * are discontinued, but governors are elected to supply the vacancies, as if those officers were in being, and those thus marked **, the office is continued, but the name is altered.]

And that the said governors and their successors shall for ever be a body politick and corporate, he grants and confirms to the hospital the site, circuit, and precincts of the said hospital and the 64 acres of land, houses, buildings, &c. to hold the premises with all their appurtenances for ever from his majesty in frank almoign*; **and that the said governors and their successors shall hold and enjoy the said site and circuit of the said hospital, and the said 64 acres of land, and all buildings that shall be erected, or made thereupon; and that the governors be capable in law to have, and purchase lands to the value of 6,000 l. per ann. and may set all the said lands (other than the hospital-house, out-houses, gardens, &c. that shall be set apart for the use of the master, chaplain, officers, and soldiers) for 31 years, or three lives in possession, and not in reversion; by the name of the governors of the hospital of king Charles II. &c. may be capable of pleading, and being impleaded; to have for ever a common seal for them and their successors, for ensealing all deeds concerning the hospital, with such a stamp as they shall think fit. All transactions for the use of the said hospital to be with the consent of the governors or the major part of them. That from henceforth for ever, there shall be one master, one chaplain, and such other officers as the governors shall think fit; John Jeffereys esq; to be the first master, to continue during good behaviour, and that all succeeding masters and the chaplain, and other officers, be chosen by the governors; and that the master, chaplain, and all other officers, shall take the oath of allegiance, &c and also such an oath as the governors shall set down for the due execution of their offices, which they are impowered to administer; and to grant the said master and other officers such salaries as the governors shall think fit, and that the said master and officers shall observe all rules and directions, which the said governors shall order and prescribe, and be subject upon neglect to be displaced: no person to be chosen master but one of the protestant religion by law established, a gentleman by descent, of above to years of age, an unmarried man, one that has served in the army in the capacity of a captain at least for ten years, that shall not have of his own estate to the value of 100 l. per ann. at the time of his election, and who shall then immediately quit his command in the army, if he has any; and if no fitting person shall be found who shall have all the said qualifications, the the governors to choose one with most of them; but if no person shall he chosen by the governors in two months after the said office is vacant, then the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors, may nominate and appoint some such fitting person to be master; the master to have the military and civil government of the hospital, and to administer an oath in cases of the hospital; and upon the vacancy of the master, by death or otherwise, the next military officer in the hospital, according to the dignity and priority of his commission, to govern the same, till a new master be chosen. The master constantly to inhabit in the hospital, and eat constantly in the common hall, except in cafe of sickness, &c. with the chaplain and the commission officers, and not to be absent from the hospital above the space of one month, in any one year, without licence of the governors; and to appoint a deputy in his absence. The governors shall have full power to perform and execute all lawful acts and things necessary for the hospital, as amply as any other body politick or corporate in England or Ireland may do; and to nominate and appoint such a number of officers and soldiers who have been maimed or served seven years in the army, and are become aged, to be lodged and maintained there as the lodgings and revenues shall hold out to maintain and provide for them and increase and lessen the numbers and allowances; and also, the salaries of the master and officers, and to fill up their places vacant by death or otherwise. And in case the governors shall not within two months after any vacancy shall happen, make a new nomination, then in every such case the lord lieutenant, lord deputy, or other chief governors, may appoint such officers and soldiers to succeed in the places void, by such default of the governors. And the governors shall have power to make such rules and statutes for the order, rule, and government of the hospital, and for the naming and electing persons to succeed in the place of any governor, and for the election and government of the master, officers and servants of the hospital, and concerning the stipends and allowances, &c. as they shall think fit, provided such rules and statutes be not contrary to the statutes of Ireland, &c. The governors as often as they shall think fit, may visit the hospital to reform all disorders and abuses, touching the government thereof. The governors and their successors shall be utterly disabled in law, to do any act whereby the precincts of the hospital, or the said 64 acres may be alien’d or applied to any other use, than what the same are hereby intended for; and that the remainder of the 64 acres shall be employed in building such out-houses, yards, gardens. &c. as shall be for the support and more comfortable residence of the members thereof. And all alienations, leases, &c. of the site, circuit or precincts of the said hospital, or the said 64 acres of land, or any the premises, to be utterly void. Whensoever any of the governors shall die, or be removed from the employment to which the place of governor is hereby annexed, then the remaining governors shall continue incorporated, and in such cases, where the place of governor is annexed to any office, the fame shall go in succession to such as shall succeed in such office or employment; but in case any of the said places of governor shall be void, by reason that any of the said employments are laid aside, then the governors shall have power within three weeks after, to choose some other fit person to be governor in such vacancy, and if neglected, then to be done by the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors. And it is ordained, that when the place of governor is to go in succession with any office or command, such persons to continue no longer than they continue in the said office or command; and no person to succeed in their place of governor but one who hath served 10 years a commissioned officer in the army of Ireland. The governors to observe four several set days of meeting about the affairs of the said hospital; and at such quarterly meeting, shall take an account of the quarter’s receipts and payments; and shall also hold one annual meeting, to take the year’s accounts, and such occasional meetings as shall be found necessary; the resolutions of the governors at such meetings shall stand good till changed at some succeeding meeting: the resolutions of every such assembly to be fairly entered in a book for that purpose by the register, and to be signed by the governors in one month after. In cafe of any doubt among the governors concerning any clause therein, about which they cannot agree, they may apply to the chief governor of the kingdom, whose resolution in writing shall be conclusive. Controversies between the officers and members of the hospital, to be heard and determined by the master. The governors are impowered to give and administer an oath to any person relating to the hospital affairs, and their sentence or determination entered in the registry to be conclusive. The hospital and 64 acres of land, with the buildings, to be freed from all manner of taxes. The 6d. in the pound out of the military list to be paid to such person or persons as the governors shall think fit. The master of the ordnance to make use of the gun-yard, house, and butts, lately erected on part of the 64 acres. These our letters patents and every clause, sentence and article therein contained, or the enrollment thereof, shall be in all and every thing and things firm, good, valid, sufficient and effectual in the law *unto the governors of the said hospital and their successors, according to the purport and tenor thereof, without any further grant, licence, or toleration from us, our heirs or successors, to be had, procured, or obtained. In witness whereof, &c.

By a charter granted in the 31st year of his late majesty king George II. the foregoing charter is confirmed in every part, excepting only where the business of the hospital requires the governors or the major part of them to make a board, that on account of many being of high rank in the army, and by their stations are often obliged to be resident in Great-Britain or elsewhere, and others absent from Dublin on other necessary service, by which means the major part can seldom be got together to transact the business of the house. It is thereby granted that the governors of any seven of them shall have power in as full and ample manner as the said governors or the major part of them have exercised the same, excepting only in the appointment of a master of the said hospital; and in that case, to be chosen by the governors, or the major part of them, by instrument under their hands and common seal, and not otherwise.)

To Appendix IV. Harris Contents.