CAPTAIN THOMAS CORAM. 151 



supported within the walls at the present time is about 500. 

 Towards the close of his life Captain Thomas Coram was found to 

 be in straitened circumstances, having spent almost all his wealth 

 in his care for others. Fortunately friends of public spirit came 

 to his aid. When Dr. Brocklesby asked him if he would be 

 offended by a public subscription being opened for his benefit, 

 Coram replied, " I have not wasted the little wealth of which I 

 was formerly possessed in self-indulgence and vain expenses, and 

 am not ashamed to confess that in this my old age I am poor." 

 Thomas Coram died on the 29th of March, 1751, at the age of 84, 

 requesting that he might be buried in the catacombs beneath the 

 chapel of the hospital. Great numbers of the governors were 

 present at the funeral ; the choir of St. Paul's attended voluntarily. 

 An inscription recording his merits was placed on the exterior 

 wall of the chapel, and a statue by Marshall was placed in the 

 quadrangle abutting Guildford Road. 



In bringing this paper to a conclusion I think it is only right 

 to state that it was written for the evening meeting, held on 

 Tuesday, July 21st, at Lyme Regis, the birthplace of Thomas 

 Coram, and was not intended to be placed in this volume. It was 

 only at the wish expressed by members of the committee for 

 arranging the contents that I was led to do so. The information 

 is chiefly derived from the history of the Foundling Hospital by 

 John Burroughs, secretary. 





