A letter addressed to the treasurer of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh / [James Russell].

  • Russell, James, 1754-1836
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter addressed to the treasurer of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh / [James Russell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    not opulent, nor able individually to contribute much, are all able to contribute somewhat. The greatness of the numbers compensating the small” ness of the individual contributions, will, upon the whole, form a considerable sum. I am not acquainted with any data upon which the number of this class of inhabitants can be estimated with ac¬ curacy. But assuming them at Ten Thousand or Twelve Thousand individuals, will, I presume, be admitted to be a very moderate assumption. I shall likewise assume their individual contributions, at a rate so moderate, as to be far below the sum which they can easily afford. There are a great many Bible Societies established in Town, to which it is usual to contribute One Fenny a week, or Four Shillings and Fourpence a year. It is surely not unreasonable to expect, that those per¬ sons who are able to contribute Four Shillings and Fourpence a year for the advancement of an ob¬ ject, which, however laudable, is yet remote and contingent, and for the benefit of strangers at a distance whom they never saw, will be able to contribute a small proportion of this sum. One* Fourth part for instance, towards the support of a Charitable Institution of the most obvious and extensive utility to themselves, and to their dearest friends and relations. A Farthing a week, or, less