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as by the attachment of a spirit lamp , the heat, regulated at will, could
be raised under a coverlet in a feN minutes to 212 ° Fahrenheit.
He
explained that a similar apparatus \oJas. given to Queen Adelaide by
Lady Bedingfield .
The Courier commented that Hall
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• • • • succeeded completely, by divesting his discourses as much
as possible of technicalities , in making them perfectly comprehensible
to his auditory \'lho showed their appreciation of his talents and
ability by repeated plaudits. 6
Undoubtedly the ne\oJ surgeon was a valuable asset .
Before his
arrival the Committee had viewed with considerab le fear for the Society 's
interests the departure from the district of many of its valuable members .
No\ol, at the conclusion of Hall's lectures , the Secretary reported that there
Nas a considerab le increase in the numb er of memb ers since last year and
that the Society had acquired new strength , enlarged its resources , secured
greater pub lic interest and was well on its way to achieving its great
objecf:, "a permanent and prominent position in the estimation of the
community at large" . 7
Unfortunately, the Society suffered the loss of
Moss who , both as a lecturer and an artist, had fostered much interest.
On his departure from the district in Novemb er 1839 Hall added his name
to the list of forty seven members who addressed a Public Testimonial to
him. 8
After nine months Hal l's position was well estab lished :
when
a serious fire occurred at the Brewery in March 1840, it was he who on
March 9 wrote a letter, s.igned by Schaw and four others , commending to
Franklin the brave conduct of three convicts , E. Arnott , N. Thomson and
J. Jones . 9 As in Brighton, his home became the focus for the Roman
Catholics in the district.
Whenever Father Cotham of Richmond visited
Bothwell on his country rounds , services were held in Hal l's hous e.
When
a committee of the Mes rs Wilkinson, Allardyce, McDowall, Wheat ley and
Anderson organized a splendid Ball and supper held on Monday , March 16,
Hall was appointed Master of Ceremonies , whose duties he conducted with
such courtesy and ab ility 11as greatly to enhance the pleasure and
gratification of all present11 • According to the Courier, the ball was
an outstanding success .
Dancing commenced at an early hour and was kept up with unab ated
spirit until the morning. The ballroom was brilliantly lighted
'i 6 Courier , Nov. 8, 1839 .
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Ibid.
Courier , Jan. 3, 1840.
c.s.o. 5/234/5936.