1868.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 301

Collins and Taneyhill, and Messrs. Thomas Wilson, Johns
Hopkins, Enoch Pratt and Thomas M. Smith, Esqs., dis-
tinguished gentlemen selected from the list of Managers.

After mutual expressions of gratification at the duty about
to be discharged, we were informed that the entire building
was thrown open with pleasure to our inspection, and that
the Books of the Institution were at our command for the
most minute examination. This latter invitation was -re-
spectfully declined, and your committee informed those worthy
gentlemen that our visit was of a friendly nature, and had
not been prompted by any unkind spirit of criticism, but had
arisen from the desire to learn the condition of the Institu-
tion, to witness the exemplary manner in which the patients
were professionally treated, and learn whether the helping
hand of Maryland was needed to promote the success of their
silent and philanthropic labors.

Placing ourselves under the guidance of these faithful
patrons of the Institution, we left the luxurious reception
room and proceeded through the various wards, and at al-
most every step we were forced to pause and admire the order,
neatness, purity and system that filled us with astonishment
and elicited our warmest admiration.

The Maryland Hospital is a bright, cheerful, though ven-
erable Institution, of vast proportions and chaste design,
crowning the summit of one of our loftiest hills, and over-
looking the broad waters that surround the City of Baltimore.
Simple in its architectural structure, yet spread over an area
of more than 300 feet in length, with symetrical proportions,
the Hospital lifts its modest towers aloft, high o'er the en-
circling tenements of man, that gradually have crept around
its former lonely confines.

From the centre of the main building, which contains the
residence, office parlors and studio of the resident physicians,
start spacious corridors extending east and west along its
whole extent. On each side of these vast avenues are rows
of rooms beautifully furnished, and from their neatness,
chaste decorations, reminding you of the series of chambers
in a well-regulated hotel. Interspersed among these, ever
and anon, parlors of larger proportions meet the astonished
gaze, in one of which, to our surprise, we discovered seated
at the piano a female form, whose gentle hand swept o'er the
responsive keys, eliciting the sweetest strains to soothe her
wandering intellect. We paused, and drank in the notes of
sweetest strains, such as from the master's hand are raptur-
ously drawn. In the little circle of her mute companions
sat the fair form of woman, awakening melodies to cheer the
gloomy minds of friends like her afflicted. Pleased at the
interest that we manifested in her performance, and conscious