tution, as well as to avoid the expense of rent and a librarian's salary, it was made a fundamental rule, that the books should be the property of the trustees of the hospital; the office of librarian being, with the consent of the governors of the hospital, annexed to that of housesurgeon. The library is under the exclusive management of the subscribers to the hospital; the medical officers enjoying no privileges distinct from the rest, with regard to the use or management of the library. Under these regulations the library has continued nearly thirty years, and now comprises many of the most valuable standard medical works, and some of the best and most expensive anatomical plates.

York Medical Society.

This society was established in 1832. The meetings are held at the Dispensary on the evenings of every second Saturday, from the beginning of October to the end of April; a paper or some medical subject being read by a member, and discussed by the society. In connection with this body is a medical circulating library.

Pork Lunatic Asylum.

At the time that this institution was established, (1777) there were but two institutions for the treatment of the insane in London, and but two in the provinces of England; one being at Manchester and the other at Newcastle. The York Lunatic Asylum was established by the private subscriptions of benevolent individuals; and was intended. for the reception of parochial and indigent lunatics; insane persons of the higher classes being likewise admissible. The false principles upon which most of our institutions for the treatment of Lunatics were conducted at the beginning of the present century, appear to have prevailed here; and in 1813, when Mr. Tuke's description of the Retreat was published, a controversy was provoked by the Physician of the Asylum, which led to several

charges of mal-treatment being publicly made. An investigation took place, several of the gravest charges were made good, and the upshot of the whole was, the dismissal of every servant entrusted with the care of patients, the revision of the rules, and the complete re-organization of the establishment by the superintendent and matron of the Retreat. In the year 1815, Godfrey Higgins, Esq., a magistrate of the west-riding, who took an active part in the investigation at the York Asylum, was examined before a committee of the House of Commons, and the facts then brought to light, have done much in favour of better and more humane principles of treatment.

The Retreat.

This celebrated institution for the cure and care of the insane members of the Society of Friends, stands on the road from the city to the village of Heslington, and commands, from its clevation, a delightful prospect over the vale of York. It was established through the indefatigable exertions of our late venerable fellow citizen William Tuke. It was opened for the reception of patients, in the year 1766. Much of the success of this institution must, however, be attributed to the conscientious zeal and talents of G. Jepson, the first superintendent, who, for about thirty years, carried out the wishes of its founders, in the improved management of the insane, beyond their most sanguine expectations. Here was first practically demonstrated in England, the extent to which kindness united with firmness, could be applied to the most effectual control of the irregular and violent tendencies of the insane. The results of these efforts have attracted universal attention, and have had a very powerful influence in the improvement which has taken place in the treatment of deranged persons.

* While the investigation to which we refer was proceeding, a fire occured In the Asylum, and four patients, who had been chained to the walls, perished in the flames.

The Retreat is adapted to the accommodation of 100 patients. The terms and accommodation are suited to the circumstances of the inmates, and vary from four shillings to five guineas per week. A few patients, not connected with the Society of Friends, are admitted, when there is room, into the higher class.

Private Asylums.

The medical men of York now enjoy a high reputation for their skill in the treatment of the insane, and there are several private asylums in the neighbourhood, the patients of which are under their treatment. The principal of these asylums is at Gate Helmsley; the others are at Clifton, Dunnington, Heworth, Osbaldwick, Acomb, and Barker Hill. The Dispensary.

This institution was founded in the year 1788. It is associated with the York County Hospital, as a school of practice, and more than 2000 cases are annually attended by the officers of the charity. Originally the Dispensary was conducted in a room in the Merchants' Hall, Fossgate, from whence, in 1806, it was removed to St. Andrewgate, where it continued until the erection of the present handsome Dispensary; the foundation stone was laid in 1827, by the late Alderman Wilson. The new building, the erecting of which cost £1950, including the site, was opened in 1828, and ever since that period, the institution has continued to increase in usefulness and public estimation.

Institution for Biseases of the Epe.

This institution, situated in Aldwark, was founded in 1831, for the treatment of patients afflicted with opthalmia, and in the first seven years after it was established, nearly 5000 cases were treated; in the great majority of which, cures were effected; the others being more or less benefitted.

Pork Public Cemetery.

The practice of burying the dead in church-yards, situated in narrow streets, surrounded by dense populations,

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having for some years back been considered both pernicious to health and distressing to the feelings, an effort was made in York, in the year 1833, to establish a Cemetery without the city, for the burial of the dead of all religious denominations of Christians. Nothing, however, was effected till the year 1836, when, the corporation having declined to take the subject in hand, a capital of £6000 was raised by a company, in 600 shares of £10 each. A piece of ground, about eight acres and a quarter in extent, not far from Fishergate and Walmgate Bars, was purchased, and laid out in a suitable manner. The lodge and entrance gates are very chaste and beautiful Grecian structures; and the pillars at each end of the palisading are crowned, one with an Egyptian Sarcophagus, and the other with a Sphinx. In April, 1837, the first stone of the new chapel was laid, by the Lord Mayor, James Meek, Esq.; and, in the September following, the part of the chapel devoted to the burial of episcopal protestants was consecrated by his grace the archbishop of York. One half of the Cemetery is devoted to members of the established church, and the other half to non-conformists; and the ministers of each denomination conduct their own funeral services. The chapel is so situated, that the line separating the two divisions of the Cemetery runs through the centre of the building; consequently, one half of the chapel is used for performing the burial service of the established church, and the other for the burial service of those not in connection with that body.

Cholera Burial Ground.

This burial ground was, in 1832, set apart for the interment of those who died of the terrible epidemic that then broke out in this city. It is situated in Thief-lane, without the walls, between North-street Postern and Micklegate Bai; not far from the depôt of the Great North of England Railway. The cholera morbus made its appearance in York, on Sunday, the 3rd day of June, 1832, in

a yard, or court, at the bottom of Skeldergate; in which, it appears, the plague that visited this city in 1604, first manifested itself. In the beginning of July, the malady had attained its height, when forty persons died in one week. It continued in the city for eighteen weeks; during which time there were 450 cases,-185 deaths, and 265 recoveries. The malignity of the disease was, no doubt, considerably neutralized by the admirable sanatory arrangements of the board of health, and the unwearied exertions of the medical profession of York:-upwards of £1300, raised by subscription, having been expended by the board, in bread and beef for the relief of the poor.

THE BRIDGES.

The bridges of York are six in number; five of stone and one of wood. The principal bridge crosses the river Ouse, and connects Micklegate with Ousegate. In the year 1154, we read, that when St. William made his first entrance into York, as archbishop, the wooden bridge, then in the same place, broke down in consequence of the multitudes that thronged to greet him; many people perishing in the river. In 1235, funds were procured by charitable contributions, and the first stone bridge was erected; which was swept away by a terrible flood, in 1564. A few years afterwards, the OLD OUSE Bridge, that preceded the present one, was erected. Although the terror of way-faring men, it was a very picturesque object; consisting of five pointed arches, the centre one of which,-81 feet in span and 26 feet 3 inches in height, -was esteemed the largest arch in Europe, except the Rialto at Venice. Till the year 1809, the chapel dedicated to St. William remained on the bridge, which, at the reformation, was converted into an exchange; subsequently being divided into a council chamber, a record office, and a felon's prison for the city. On the 10th December, 1810, the foundation stone of the present