A biographical memoir of the late Dr. Joseph Thackeray, of Bedford.

Date:
[1832?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical memoir of the late Dr. Joseph Thackeray, of Bedford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    contemplation of all he had so successfully achieved, exclaim, with conscious exultation, “ jamque opus eocegi ” and well might Iris pure spirit, as he ap¬ proached the verge of human existence, address its Maker in calm resignation and humble confidence, “ Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.” The special objects which Dr. Thackeray had at heart, in his various endeavours for the improvement of the infirmary, were to enlarge its sphere, increase its accommodation, provide for the spiritual care of its inmates, by a permanent chaplaincy, establish a library and museum as an appendage to the hospital, and create a pension fund from which retiring allow¬ ances should be made to those servants who, having devoted their best years to the service of the institu¬ tion, might, through age or infirmity, be reduced to want, when no longer able to labour for their support. Each of these objects received its just share of his regard, and he pursued each with those enlightened and benevolent views which so conspicuously characterised all his undertakings, Not content with enlarging the infirmary, so as greatly to increase its accommoda¬ tions, he laboured to remove every restriction on admissibility, and finally effected his purpose, by having it declared a general hospital, open to all who should need its assistance. Dissatisfied with the precariousness of gratuitous spiritual superintendence, he laboured to establish a fund from which a chaplain’s stipend might be per¬ manently derived. YVTisely regarding a library and mu¬ seum as legitimate objects of support by the charity it¬ self, and as intimately connected with its best interests, he obtained from the governors an annual grant of £10 for their extension. Feeling that good servants merit and are entitled to humane consideration, when, through age or infirmity, they become incapable of further labour, and unwilling that such should be a