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Sketch Of Legislative Proceedings, &c.

From: Reports And Other Documents Relating To The State Lunatic Hospital At Worcester, Mass.
Creator: n/a
Date: 1837
Publisher: Dutton and Wentworth, Boston
Source: Available at selected libraries

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And be it further Resolved, That, to defray the expenses of erecting said Hospital, His Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice and consent aforesaid, be, and he hereby is authorized to draw his warrant, from time to time, upon the Treasurer of this Commonwealth, for the necessary sums of money, not exceeding in the whole thirty thousand dollars. (1)


(1) A further appropriation of $20,000 was made by a Resolve of March 24, 1832, to defray the expense of furnishing the several apartments of the Hospital, for the use of the officers, patients, &c.

15  

This Resolve, having passed both Houses without alteration or amendment, was approved by the Governor on the 10th of March, 1830, and under the power therein conferred, the town of Worcester, "after diligent inquiry, and a faithful comparison of various proposed situations," was selected by the Governor and Council for the location of the Hospital, a plot of twelve acres of land, purchased at the cost to that town of $2500, "of a singularly regular and beautiful elevation, commanding a view of the town, and the rich scenery of the surrounding country, sufficiently near to the market, and principal places of business, for necessary accommodation, and yet so retired as to be secure from improper intrusion or disturbance, and within a short distance of the head waters of the Blackstone Canal," was "conveyed in fee to the Commonwealth, without other consideration than the interest taken in the locality of the Institution," -- and Messrs. Horace Mann, Bezaleel Taft, Jr. and William B. Calhoun, were appointed Commissioners to superintend the erection of the Hospital thereon.

16  

At the opening of the Session of 1832, the Report of the above Commissioners -- the first in the following series of reports -- was communicated to the Legislature by the Governor. The Governor, at the same time, transmitted an extract from the codicil of the last will and testament of Nathaniel Maccarty, Esq., deceased, bequeathing the sum of $500 to the Commonwealth, "if the government thereof will accept the same, in trust, that the same shall be faithfully appropriated and expended, under the direction of the Governor for the time being, in ornamenting, by the construction of walks, and in planting with trees and shrubbery the public grounds in Worcester, purchased and appropriated for the use and accommodation of a Lunatic Hospital, to the end that the said grounds may be made not only an object of tasteful regard to the citizens of the town and to visitors, but of refreshment and gratifying interest to the convalescent patients and inmates of the establishment," -- which bequest, on the terms of the trust, was accepted by a resolve passed February 7th, 1832.

17  

Under "an Act concerning the State Lunatic Hospital," (2) passed March 24th, 1832, the Governor and Council appointed, on the 5th July thereafter, Messrs. Horace Mann, Bezaleel Taft, Jr., William B. Calhoun, Eben. Francis, and Alfred D. Foster, a Board of Trustees of the Hospital. -- Mr. Francis declined the appointment, and on the 27th of the same month Francis C. Gray, Esq. was appointed in his place. The power to appoint all other necessary officers was vested, by the same Act, in the Trustees, and in the exercise of the power thus conferred, SAMUEL B. WOODWARD, M. D., of Weathersfield, Con. was appointed Superintendent, and Physician of the Hospital.


(2) v. Appendix, for the laws now in force relating to the Hospital.

18  

By a Resolve passed April 7th, 1835, the sum of $25,000 was appropriated for the enlargement of the Hospital, and a Board of five Commissioners was immediately thereafter appointed by the Lieut. Governor and Council, charged with carrying the object of said appropriation into effect. The plan of enlargement adopted by the Commissioners is an addition to the original building of lateral wings, with open porticos at the junction. One of these wings is completed, and is now occupied -- the other will probably be ready for occupancy in the course of the ensuing summer or autumn.

19  

At the late Session of the Legislature, a Resolve passed making an appropriation of $3000 for the erection of a Chapel, and $7000 for the purchase of additional Land, for the use of the Hospital.

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