a ->s 



EDINBURGH. 



Mcrdunt 

 ndTndct 



M ...!-. n 

 Hwpiuli. 



Orphan 

 KupitaL 



Trinity 



GUlopie'i 



Hospital. 



Wauon, fur maintaining and educating the sons and 

 grandsons of poor citizen*. It was founded in 1738, 

 mid completed in 17H, when twelve l.\s were ad- 

 mitted. The number iuu been greatly augmented, 

 and each, on leaving the hospital, receives a bounty 

 for apprentice-fee, anil, on attaining the age of 25, a 

 farther bounty, if he produce certificates of good cha- 

 racter. 



There are two hospitals, on a more limited scale, for 

 the maintenance of voting females. The first of these 

 i- tlu- Merchants' Maiden Hospital, a plain edifice, where 

 girls, the daughters of decayed merchants, are received. 

 And the other, which is a more regular building, is 

 appropriated for the daughters of tradesmen. In the 

 latter, there are at present 50 girls, who are maintained 

 t an expence of between L.25 and L.30 yearly. Girls 

 pay L.I, 13s. 4d. as entry-money, on admission; and 

 receive a bounty of L.5, 1 Is. Id. at leaving the hospital. 

 No entry-money is paid in the other ; and the bounties 

 are L.8, 6s. 8d. to some, and L.3, 6s. 8d. to others, on 

 quitting the institution. 



The Orphan Hospital was planned by Andrew Gard- 

 ner, a merchant of Edinburgh, who, being supported 

 by public bodies and individuals, it was founded in the 

 valley east of the North Bridge, in 1734. Its object 

 is more comprehensive than for the children of citi/ens, 

 as orphan* from any part of the kingdom may partici- 

 pate in the benefit of the endowment. None are ad- 

 mitted under seven years of age, and they quit the hos- 

 pital at the age of fourteen. In the year 1778, nearly 

 100 children were maintained and educated; at pre- 

 sent the number is greater. The building is neat and 

 plain, and ornamented with a spire. 



In the year 1461, it has already been observed, that 

 Mary of Gueldres, queen of James II. founded a col- 

 legiate church, and an hospital for 1 3 poor persons, de- 

 dicated to the Holy Trinity ; but all such institutions, 

 nt that period, were more for a religious than for a mo- 

 ral purpose ; and, at the Reformation, the hospital was 

 stripped of its revenues. They were restored, however, 

 by a subsequent transaction, and appropriated for the 

 maintenance of decayed burgesses of Edinburgh, their 

 wives, and unmarried daughters ; none being admitted 

 under fifty years of age. Each person has a separate 

 apartment, ample provisions, and sufficient clothing ; 

 they also receive a trifle annually for the purchase of ne- 

 cessaries, and there is a small library for their amusement. 

 The total number presently on the establishment is 181, 

 at an average expence of L. 15, 10s. each. Of these, 56 

 live in the hospital ; the rest are out-pensioners, who 

 have an annuity of L. 6. The females are about five 

 times more numerous than the males. 



Another hospital, also for the support of aged per- 

 sons, was endowed by James Gillespie, a snuff-mer- 

 chant in Edinburgh, who died in 1 797. None are ad- 

 mitted under 55 years of age ; and a preference is given 

 to persons of the founder's sirname. The total number 

 at present supported by the institution, amounts to 4-9, 

 including a housekeeper, chaplain, gardener, and four 

 female servants ; and the average expence of maintain- 

 ing each is about L.27, which testifies prudent and 

 u-conomical management, considering the comforts which 

 we enjoyed. Persons of both sexes are received indis- 

 criminately ; and, of 40 now in the hospital, '_'y are fe- 

 males. The edifice is a commodious oblong building, 

 -ituated beyond the south-west verge of the city, amidst 

 a small field, and somewhat withdrawn from the hi^-h 

 road. It is ornamented with battlements, and small 

 turrets at the angles, as if the same architecture com- 



4 



mon of old to a place of defence, should be suitable to Edinburgh. 

 an hospital. Connected with this institution is a achool, ><-p "Y" w 



'alilUhnl by the charitable founder, in which 

 there arc now seventy children, educated and provided 

 with all requisites, free of expence. 



There are three charity workhouses in Edinburgh ; Charity 

 one standing on the verge of the southern district of ork- 

 the city, another in the Canongatc, and the third be- housc<< 

 longing to the West Church parish. All arc conduct- 

 ed nearly on the same plan, being appropriated for in- 

 digent persons of both sexes, and also children. Those 

 who are able to work, receive a sixth part of the v.i- 

 lue it produces, besides maintenance and clothing. 

 The first of these is on an extensive scale : it wa 

 erected by voluntary contribution in 17*3, and is sup- 

 ported chiefly from the same source, and a tax on the 

 citizens. But the numbers relieved are so great, that 

 however liberally the public contribute, the institution 

 is always loaded with debt ; which is levied by a new 

 assessment on the inhabitants, and is very considerable 

 at present. The building is large, and so mean in ex- 

 ternal appearance as sufficiently indicates its purpose. 

 A large committee of management direct the affairs of 

 the establishment at weekly meetings, and reports of 

 its state are occasionally made public. We are thus 

 enabled to trace the increase of poverty, arising either 

 from the pressure of the times, by which the hands of 

 the benevolent are restrained from the exercise of cha- 

 rity, or from the greater resort of indigent persons to 

 the city. The following numbers were relieved by 

 the aid of the institution, either in the house or out 

 of it. 



Years. 

 1805 

 1806 

 1807 

 1808 

 180& 



Individuals. 



. 500 

 . 712 

 . 812 

 . 1000 



Yenrs. 

 IS 10 

 1811 

 1812 

 1813 



Individuals. 

 . 1284 

 . 1340 

 . 1402 

 1501 



We find, that, from 1st July 1811 to 1st July 181 -', ,.( 

 the 1402 persons relieved, there were 741 maintained 

 in the house ; and the children nursed at exj>ence of 

 the institution were 55. The average expence incur- 

 red for each individual was L. 6, 1 5s ; and the total 

 expenditure L. 6l60. In the succeeding year, termi- 

 nating July 1813, of the 1501 persons supplied, there 

 were 842 "maintained in the house, and 4<) children 

 paid for at nurse. The average expence for each indi- 

 vidual was L. 7, 7s., covering all charges, and the to- 

 tal expenditure L. 7256. But the debt had increased 

 to L. 4354, which the citizens are now called on to 

 discharge. In the former year, the deaths in the house 

 were 77, in the latter 55. Thus the numbers of the 

 poor seem to have doubled in alxmt seven years, and 

 the average expcnce of relieving each has increased an 

 eleventh part in a single year. Connected \\ith this es- 

 tablishment is an adjoining edifice for reception of in- 

 sane persons. Another, on a more judicious and en- 

 larged plan, is now erecting at a little distance from 

 the city, under the name of the Lunatic Asylum. 



An asylum for the industrious blind was instituted, Asylum fr 

 principally under the auspices of Dr .lohnstone of North the Blind. 

 Leith, in 1795, which is supported by voluntary con- 

 tribution, and the produce of labour. Nothing merits 

 greater commendation than the mode of conducting 

 this establishment. The industrious objects of the in- 

 stitution are taught all kinds of employment adapted 

 to their unfortunate situation ; and, from the judicious 

 management, the produce of labour exceeds that of 



