as a free gift to the Governors, in trust for the public.  This most welcome and munificent offer, it need hardly be said, was gratefully accepted, and a general appeal was made for funds to properly endow the “Jaffray Suburban Hospital,” so that its maintenance and administration shall not detract from the extending usefulness of the parent institution.  The site chosen by Mr. Jaffray is at Gravelly Hill, and it is estimated the new branch hospital, of which the first stone was laid June 4, 1884, will cost at least L15,000 in erection.  Towards the endowment fund there have been nine or ten donations of L1,000 each promised, and it is hoped a fully sufficient amount will be raised before the building is completed, for, in the words of Mr. Jaffray, we “have great faith in the liberality of the public towards an institution—­the oldest and noblest and ablest of our medical charities—­which for more than a century has done so much for the relief of human suffering:  and cannot help believing that there are in Birmingham many persons who, having benefited by the prosperity of the town, feel that they owe a duty to the community, and will gladly embrace this opportunity of discharging at least some part of their obligation.”  Patients are said to be admitted to the General Hospital by tickets from subscribers; but, in addition to accidents and cases of sudden illness, to which the doors are open at all hours, a large number of patients are admitted free on the recommendation of the medical officers, the proportion of the cases thus admitted being as six to ten with subscribers’ tickets.

It is estimated that a capital sum of at least L60,000 will be required to produce a sufficiently large income to maintain the Jaffray Suburban Hospital, and donations have been, and are solicited for the raising of that sum.  Up to the time of going to press with the “Dictionary,” there has been contributed nearly L24,000 of the amount, of which the largest donations are:—­

G.F.  Muntz, Esq...............L2,000   0   0
The Right Hon. Lord Calthorpe  1,000   0   0
Trustees of Dudley Trust...... 1,000   0   0
W.B.  Cregoe Colmore, Esq...... 1,000   0   0
Ralph Heaton, Esq............. 1,000   0   0
James Hinks, Esq.............. 1,000   0   0
Lloyds’ Old Bank.............. 1,000   0   0
W. Middlemore, Esq............ 1,000   0   0
Mrs. Elizabeth Phipson........ 1,000   0   0
Miss Ryland................... 1,000   0   0
Mrs. Simcox .................. 1,000   0   0
Messrs. Tangyes (Limited)..... 1,000   0   0
Henry Wiggin, Esq., M.P....... 1,000   0   0
Mr. John Wilkes............... 1,000   0   0

About L5,000 more has been sent in hundreds and fifties, and doubtless many other large gifts will follow.