the reader reflect on the thousands originally preserved, and their descendants rendered happy, through the god-like benevolence of Captain Coram; and he will immediately recollect the Foundling Hospital.

In consequence of that worthy man's petition, George II. granted a Charter of incorporation, which authorised Charles duke of Richmond, and several other eminent persons, to purchase lands, &c. in mortmain, to the annual amount of 4000l. to be applied to the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted infants.

The first quarterly general meeting of the Corporation was held December 26, 1739, when subscription-books were ordered to be opened at the Bank of England and various bankers, for inserting the names of annual contributors. The governors and guardians then amounted to near 400, who unanimously determined to vote their thanks to Captain Coram; but he declined them, and modestly requested they might be transferred to those ladies whose subscriptions had enabled him to procure the Charter. This proposal was acceded to, and the benevolent Captain deputed to convey them.

Montague house, now the British Museum, had been thought by the governors in 1740, an eligible receptacle for the objects of the intended charity; but Messrs. Fazakerly, and the Attorney and Solicitor Generals, to whom the matter was referred,

referred, gave it as their opinion that the expence of obtaining those extensive premises would be too great. The governors resolved, in consequence, to open subscriptions for the purchase of land on which to erect an hospital, and in the mean time to receive sixty children in a temporary receptacle.

They accomplished their wishes in the following December, by obtaining 56 acres North of Ormond-street, of the earl of Salisbury, for 7000l. the present site of the Foundling hospital, Guiidford-street, &c. On the 25th of March, 1741, 19 male and 11 female infants were received, all of whom were less than two months old; their baptism took place the ensuing Sunday, when two were honoured with the names of Thomas and Eunice Coram; others of robust frames and apparently calculated for future seamen, were called Drake, Blake, and Norris.

John Milner, esq. vice-president of the corporation, assisted by many governors, laid the first stone of the new hospital in 1742, when a copper plate, secured between two pieces of milledlead, was deposited in a cavity; the plate is thus inscribed: "The foundation of this hospital for the relief of exposed and deserted young children, was laid 16th September, 16 George II. 1742."

The Corporation, laudably attentive to the future happiness of the orphans committed to their care, determined to have them inoculated for the

small

small-pox in 1744; a process then as much condemned as vaccination is at present.

The first stone of the Chapel was deposited by

Jacobson, esq. and contains the following inscription: "The foundation of this Chapel was laid the 1st day of May, A. D. 1747, and in the 20th year of his most sacred Majesty King George II." At the same time a successful attempt to obtain farther pecuniary assistance was made, by a public breakfast for ladies, at 2s. 6d. per ticket, when a collection for the Chapel amounted to 5967. 13s. and another for the hospital produced 110l. gs. 6d.

The Prince and Princess of Wales honoured the governors with their presence at the Chapel, Saturday, May 27, 1749, to hear one of Hander's compositions performed for the benefit of the hospital; the audience is said to have consisted of 1000 persons, who each paid 10s. 6d. for their tickets. The King sent 2000l. and an unknown benefactor 50%.

The worthy and veteran Coram died March 29, 1751, aged 83, and was buried April 2d, in the vault beneath the chapel of his hospital. The honours due to this excellent philanthropist were paid by the Corporation to the utmost extent; and the choirs of St. Paul's and St. Peter's Westminster chaunted Dr. Boyce's funeral service over the body, which was covered by a pall borne by many persons of distinction, followed

by

by the charter of the foundation carried on a velvet cushion; and the infants preserved by his exertions closed the procession. The present governors, fully sensible of the public debt of gratitude still in arrears, have recently given his name to Great and Little Coram streets, erected on the surplus ground belonging to the charity *.

Frequent repetitions of Handel's music, and contributions of every description, enabled the governors to receive 1240 children from 1742 to 1754. They, however, thought proper to petition the legislature for assistance two years afterwards, and obtained 10,000l. to be applied for the reception of infants under two months old. On the 2d June, 1756, 117 were admitted †.

The governors found it necessary to publish the following notice on this occasion: "The governors and guardians of this Hospital thinking it incumbent on them to expose the falsity of what has been propagated in several newspapers, that out of 10,000l. granted by Parliament to this Corporation, 1200l. was deducted in several offices for fees; do hereby assure the publick, that all fees whatsoever were charitably remitted by all the noblemen and gentlemen through whose offices the proper warrants pass, so that the clear sum of 10,000l. was paid into the Bank of England on account of the Hospital. By order of the general Committee,

Sept. 7, 1757.

* Gent. Mag.

J. COLLINGWOOD, Sec."

Jour. of House of Commons.

In 1757, the House of Commons granted the enormous sum of 20,000l. to enable the governors to take all children under six months of age, brought to them before Jan. 1, 1758.

A general statement of the proceedings published in 1758, declared, that from the opening of the Hospital, March 25, 1741, to Dec. 31, 1757, 6894 children had been received, 5510 of whom were taken from the 1st of June, 1756, in consequence of the grant of 10,000l. The number of deaths to the 31st of Dec. 1757, was 2821. The sums presented to the charity in 1757, including 30,000l. from the legislature, amounted to 38,0021. 1s. 2d.; 2806l. 10s. 3d. of which was bequeathed to the Hospital, 5081. 4s. 6d. given in annual benefactions, and 96l, 14s. 6d. benefactions towards the charges of the Chapel.

The expences of this eventful year, in the annals of the charity, was 33,832l. 138. 2d.; 5021. 4s. 6d. of which was paid in fees, when passing the warrants for 20,000l. the second grant from Parliament.

In 1797, there were 357 children on the establishment, 175 in the house, and 182 at nurse, principally received from the metropolis. From 1770 to 1797, 1684 were received, of which number, 482 died under the age of twelve months; their age when received is generally under two months, and the limitation is twelve months, unless in particular cases or when 100%.