CH. II.] ORPHANS AND FOUNDLINGS. 137 



them. The clergy visited them, and the churchwardens saw 

 them at the periods when those who took care of them 

 were paid. 



Five pounds per annum is the highest sum for the sup- 

 port of each child. Heretofore the sum was provided by 

 a vestry assessment ; but since that was abolished, it has 

 been sought for under a special law from the going judge 

 of assize. 



When the children attained a certain age, they were ap- 

 prenticed, and for this an apprentice-fund was levied on 

 the parish. When children are deserted at a more ad- 

 vanced age than what may be termed infancy, the law 

 makes no provision for them, and they generally become 

 beggars. 



The practice of taking care of deserted children increases 

 the number of desertions ; but if no charge were taken of 

 them, might not a worse crime in consequence be appre- 

 hended ? 



The present system requires improvement : that which I 

 would propose, is to commit the superintendence of de- 

 serted children exclusively to the Protestant parochial mi- 

 nistry, and that the funds requisite be entrusted to them, 

 and the due administration thereof be accounted for before 

 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The general opinion, 

 however, is against this arrangement. 



Desertion has not decreased since the closing of the 

 Foundling Hospital in Dublin. 



Evidence of the Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, written by himself. 



There is scarcely an example (I never heard of any) of 

 legitimate children having been deserted. There are not 

 any funds for the support of deserted children ; few of them 



