West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser - part 2 18 February 1859 THE ROYAL CORNWALL SAILORS' HOME - The seventh annual meeting of the friends and subscribers to this institution was held at the committee room, Polytechnic-hall, Falmouth, on Tuesday last, the Right Honourable Evelyn Viscount Falmouth in the chair. [An unreadable list of important persons who attended the meeting followed.] Several ladies were also present. . The meeting having been opened with prayer by the Rev. W.J. COOPER, Rector of Falmouth, Viscount Falmouth said that before calling on the Chairman of the Directors to read their report, he would refer to the benefits derivable by sailors from this institution, and to the diseases under which seamen in merchant ships laboured, more particularly that of scurvy, which he considered in many cases arose from the carelessness of masters of vessels, and from want of cleanliness and proper provisions; this dreadful disease not being known in the Navy or Foreign ships. His lordship considered that if government inspectors were appointed, such disadvantages would be overcome, and so horrible a scourge abated. . He also referred to the admission of sailors affected with contagious diseases in the Home. Until very recently the Directors had admitted all applicants indiscriminately, but, as would be seen in the report, this rule had been rescinded, subject to the approval of the meeting. The noble Viscount suggested that if the funds permitted, a separate ward for infectious diseases might be erected, but at present they were not in a position to do this, and he was afraid that unless it was better supported, the Institution must fail. He, however, recommended an earnest appeal being made to the public, as he considered now that this beneficial effects of the Home were known, the funds should not be in such an unsatisfactory state. . There was a refuge for all nations, a hospital where the sick were well cared for, a library at their service, a place where their money was safely taken care of, and transmitted with their consent to their friends at a distance, and he believed that if publicity were given to the touching cases which sometimes came before the Directors, more support might be received. . His Lordship dwelt at some length on the sickness and injury to which the sailor is liable when away from his home and friends, and expressed his conviction that these and other reasons strongly entitled the Home to the consideration of all charitable persons. . Mr. SWATMAN, Collector of H.M. Customs at Falmouth, and chairman of the Directors of the Home, read the report, from which the following are extracts: . Upon the termination of the seventh year, the directors esteemed it very gratifying to report that the Home continued to fulful the import object of its supporters. In the year now past, 765 seamen had experienced its benefits; 526 British subjects and 230 foreigners; of these 93 were admitted to the sick ward, and 107 were shipwrecked and distressed. The sum of GBP 3,097.17s.10d had been deposited for safe keeping, about one-third of which had been remitted to the friends of the depositors. The number of inmates this year exceeded the former by 116, and the money by GBP 1,566, or more than double the former amount. The infirmary or sick ward, has this year proved extremely beneficial, not so much, perhaps, on account of the number of invalids, as for the character of their complaints. . Out of 93 cases, some of severe and lengthened sufferings, 47 were afflicted with sea scurvy, a disease now entirely unknown in the royal navy. From one ship alone, 16 men were sent to the infirmary, one of whom died on his passage from the ship to the shore, a second about a week after his admission; the others, after they had received the benefit of careful nursing and every comfort the home could administer, were enabled to rejoin their own or other ships. . The directors felt it their duty, though not without some degree of shame and regret, to call the attention of subscribers to the lamentable fact that the prevalence of that dreadful scourge, sea scurvy, exists in British ships to a far greater extent than in foreign, evincing, on the part of their captains, an indifference to the welfare of their crews deserving the strongest reprobation, as a criminal evasion of the wholesome regulations established by the mercantile Marine Act, for the prevention of so dire and afflicting a malady. . Several cases of small pox were admitted during the year, but their reception operated so prejudicially on the minds of seamen, that they avoided the Home for a time. The Directors, therefore, deemed it advisable not to admit contagious or infectious cases, pending the general meeting. . The spiritual as well as the temporal welfare of the inmates has been attended to by the clergymen of the parish and ministers of different denominations. For an addition to the library (already furnished with religious and improving books) an application is about to be made to the Secretary of the Admiralty for a “Ship’s Library. . It will be found that the funds of the Institution have gradually diminished for the past four years, so that the reserved fund alone remains. It will be, therefore, evident that unless some very energetic measures are speedily adopted, the decline of this institution must, unhappily, result. The national value, however, of this port is at length likely to be acknowledged. The commercial marine of the world evinces an increasing appreciation of its geographical position, and, should the proposed docks be completed, (of which there is now but little doubt) a Sailor’s Home will hardly fail to be recognized as the first indispensible provision. The directors, therefore, indulge a sanguine expectation that, before long, public support will enable them to afford considerably increased advantages and a more convenient home to that brave and hardy race of men who contribute to our individual comforts and luxuries, and constitute the strength and security, the wealth and glory of th! e kingdom. . Mr. DUCKHAM, the secretary and treasurer, then read the statement of accounts, from which it appeared that the payments during the year amounted to GBP 643.5s.9d, and that there was a balance against the Home of GBP 22.11s.7 1/2d. . Mr. Duckham also read the following letter from Mr. RASHLEIGH: 22, West Street, Brighton, Frebruary 12, 1859 SIR, in reply to your circular, forwarded to me here from Menabilly, I beg to express regret that a severe attack of rhumatism, which has been on me for many months, will prevent my attendance at your annual meeting on the 15th; otherwise, had I been in the county, I should have made a point of supporting the chair when occupied by one who I may say with the many who have the honor of his acquaintance, appears to devote much time on all occasions to Cornish interests, and among those I am well aware stands prominent the Cornwall Sailors' Home; indeed, I may almost say that it more assumes a national character, and only from the position of our shores, but also by the noble and generous manner its funds have been conducted towards the mariner in distress, without thought of the nation to which he may belong. I beg you will place my name at once down for the sum of five guineas (GNP 5.3s.), as a humble donation towards the above funds, and I only wish my many pecuniary calls enabled me to afford more. Your obedient servant, Wm. Rashleigh Rev. W. J. COOPE, in moving the adoption of the report, bore testimony to the excellent working of the institution, and entered very fully into the benefits and general effects of this, and similar institutions, and the reasons why they should be encouraged by the public. He alluded to the nature and habits of the sailor, and to his religious and moral culture, and stated that during the past six years there had been received into the Falmouth Home 5,223 sailors, 347 of whom had been shipwrecked, and 760 were inmates of the sick hospital. During that period no less a sum than GBP 10,921 had been deposited for safe keeping. The rev. gentleman moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. E. B. TWEEDY. Rev. F. H. SCRIVENOR, moved "That this meeting, thankfully acknowledging the continued success of the Home in improving the moral condition of seamen, to be dependent upon the blessing of God, would request all the supporters of the institution to remember its well-being in their prayers." He considered that nothing could be more satisfactory than the fact that the number of sailors lodged at the Home during the past year exceeded that of the former by 116; it showed the sailors' appreciation of the Home. Establishments like this could not be supported except on a great scale; he considered the funds of the Home were administered satisfactorily, and that no fault could be found with the management or principle of the Institution, and he strongly urged the propriety of an appeal being made to the ministers of religion of the different denominations in Cornwall, for a congregational collection for the sick ward. He anticipated much success from this and would gladly act in the! matter. Colonel WYNTER seconded the resolution. Mr. W. BROAD moved, "That as it appears from the returns of shipping that a very considerable increase every year is taking place in the number of seamen visiting this port, and that the completion of the proposed docks must augment the increase, this meeting trusts that public support will enable the Home to extend proportionately its operations and usefulness." This was seconded by Capt. CADDY. Captain WODEHOUSE moved "That this meeting learns with great concern that the disease of scurvy prevails so largely among British seamen, and recommends that communications should be held with other Sailors' Homes, with a view of making a combined effort with the Board of Trade to remedy so great an evil in the Merchant service." Captain Wodehouse said that he considered scurvy arose from neglect, and in not providing proper food, &c. This resolution was seconded by Capt. ROBINSON. . Mr. BROUGHAM, Surgeon, moved "That with respect to the admission of patients suffering from infectious disorders, this meeting approves the course the Directors have pursued." He stated that he had ample opportunity of judging of the effect of the resolution; there were two cases of small-pox admitted into the Home from a vessel from Cardiff; at that time the town was perfectly free from the disease, but it afterwards rapidly spread. . Mr. TILLY seconded the resolution, and said he did not consider a Sailor's Home was a fit place for the reception of persons with infectious diseases. . REV. G. L. CHURCH moved the thanks of the meeting to the directors and officers of the institution. He considered this to be one of the most important institutions in the county, and he was glad to observe that although there had been more sailors provided for during the past year, the expenses had been less. He was the incumbent of a mining district, and the miners knew nothing of the sea. He met a man yesterday who never saw the sea; hence it was that the people in his district had no sympathy with the sailors, except Christian sympathy. He however considered the sailors our defenders, and was quite ready and willing to take a share in the suggestion thrown out by Mr. Scrivener for making a congregational collection, and he recommended the director to make an appeal to every minister of religion in the county, to bring it before their respective congregations. Mr. HOWARD FOX seconded the resolution. . A resolution of thanks to the noble chairman was proposed by Dr. D. BARCLAY, which was carried by acclamation. . His Lordship, in acknowledging the vote, said that he trusted the institution would hold its ground, and that next year it would find itself in a better position. The noble Viscount also proposed that the thanks of the institution be given to the ladies and gentlemen who had visited the sick patients during the year. Julia M.   West Briton Transcriptions, 1836-1856 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad St. Austell Area History and Genealogy at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell