.

ACCOUNT

OF THE

HOSPITAL

FOR THE

Maintenance and Education

Of EXPOSED and DESERTED

YOUNG

4

CHILDREN,

Including the Charter, A&t of Parliament, By-Laws
and Regulations, and annual Accounts of all Re-
ceipts and Payments, from the Commencement of
the Corporation, on the 17th Day of October,
1739, to the 31st Day of December, 1758.
By Order of the GOVERNORS of the faid Hofpital.

HELP

LONDON:

Printed in the Year, M.DCC.LIX.

Gough Add. London

1

An Account of the Methods which have been used for the Establishment of an Hofpital for the Maintenance and Education of Expofed and Deferted Young Children.

Otwithstanding the Attention which the

N Legislature has given to find proper Me

thods for the Maintenance and Employment of the Poor, our Laws are yet apparently defective to attain those desirable Ends: the In fufficiency of which, is in no respect more visible or more to be lamented, than with regard to poor unhappy Children; who, either by the early Lofs of their Parents, or, by being abandoned by them, are left to the Care of the Publick, for their Support.

THE Officers whom the Laws have charged with the Care of the Poor, have been fo negligent in this Part of their Truft, that fome Infants have been fuffered to perish with Cold and Hunger in the Streets, without any Attempt for their Relief, and few who are brought to the Parish-officers do long furvive under the Care of a Parish-nurse or Work-house, and such as do are generally habituated to Beggary and Idleness, and become a Burden to themselves and Reproach to their Country.