| AdminHistory | The Minutes of the first meeting of the Court (3 September 1718) describe the election of the Secretary (Philippe Ménard), the Treasurer and Chaplain, and the appointment of a committee to draft regulations and by-laws for the Hospital. At the second meeting (8 October 1718) the regulations and by-laws were approved, and these rules remained standing for many years. Article IV of Chapter II of the regulations provided for a standing committee (the members to be appointed, or re-appointed, every three months) to supervise the administration, staff, and inmates of the Hospital, and to report to the Court. The first members of this Committee - referred to as the Management Committee - were appointed at the second meeting of the Court.
At the meeting of 6 January 1719/20 the 'Comissairs' (the Management Committee) for the previous quarter presented a scheme for the future administration of the Hospital. On 6 April 1720 a committee was appointed to administer the endowments of the Hospital. At the same meeting it was agreed to give notice to Paul Nissole and his sister, who had been in charge of the Hospital, and at the same meeting Jean Chaboussant was appointed as the first Steward. He continued as such until his death on 10 January 1726/7 and was succeeded by his daughter Mme. Marie Marin, who served until her retirement in 1742.
Successive meetings through the years produced regular items such as the Treasurer's report; appointment and reports of the Management Committee '(Commissaires du Quartier'), and of the Accounts and Endowments Committees; reports of gifts and legacies received; and nominations (by Directors in turn) of apprentices under the Seignoret bequest (from 1720) and the Mounier bequest (from 1777). More occasional items include the election of new Directors, officers and employees (including doctors and chaplains); questions of remuneration; the appointment of ad hoc committees; reports or discussions concerning building, property and investments; and legal problems. Details of Hospital administration are seldom referred to the Court of Governors and Directors.
An important legal opinion recorded on 3 October 1739 confirmed the Corporation's power to give external relief; it was accordingly resolved to assist poor persons who were registered as applicants for admission to the Hospital, as well as inmates. At a special court held on 5 January 1739/40 it was decided to extend out-relief to any poor French Protestant refugees in view of the exceptionally severe winter, using for this purpose part of the Dufour legacy of 1734. Such general out-relief continued, dwindling gradually, for 20 years.
On 7 January 1740, after the death of Paul Dufour and the election of Jacques Gaultier as Treasurer, a book-keeper was appointed. On 6 January 1741/2 an honorarium of 50 guineas, in addition to his fees, was voted to Mr Penny, the Corporation's legal advisor.
On 6 October 1742 it was resolved to limit the number of Directors (not restricted in the Charter) to 60. On 7 January 1783 the Court decided to cease admitting to the Hospital those with mental health problems; the then inmates were to be kept until their death or discharged as cured, and the cells or 'petites maisons' used in their cases were to be gradually converted into accommodation for other inmates. Minutes for 13 July 1796 give in full a report from the Accounts Committee on the state of the Corporation's finances, with recommendations for retrenchment.
On 1 August 1835 it was minuted that the Governor and Sub-Governor had agreed to a recommendation that in future English should be used for the Minutes and Accounts. Accordingly the last Minutes in French are those for 7 November 1835. From 1836 the Minutes become increasingly formal.
Volumes A/1/4 and A/1/5 (1836-67) contain also the Minutes of the Management Committee (previously kept in a separate series of books), interspersed with the Court Minutes. From 1867 to 1887 there are no fair copies of the Minutes, but from 1858 to 1887, overlapping, there are four volumes (A/3/1-A/3/4) of 'rough minutes' of both Court and Management Committee, indistinguishable in form from the 'Minutes' which continue from 1887. |