184 



BEIfEVOLENT ESTABLISHMENTS. 



Those who were the most conspicuous in following this vir- 

 tuous example, were the royal notaries, and the receivers of 

 the royal audience. These two bodies of civilians, whose pro- 

 fession has been so unjustly attacked by Quevedo, Torres, and 

 other writers, manifested by their conduct, that probity, phi- 

 losophy, and heroism even, are indifferent chara6teristics, ac- 

 cessible to all the conditions of society. They obtained the 

 permission of the viceroy, Don Luis De Velasco, to establish 

 a fraternity for the succour of orphans and children abandoned 

 by their parents. The above-mentioned Pecador was declared 

 the principal founder and abbot of this new institution, which 

 took the denomination of the brotherhood of lost and deserted 

 infants and orphans, of Our Lady of Atocha. In 1603 it 

 was patronized by his Catholic Majesty. 



A provision was shortly after made in favour of the orphans 

 and abandoned children belonging to the different casts, who 

 were continually exposed in the turning box of the hospital, 

 but whose admission had not before been deemed necessaryJ 

 It was accordingly determined that the children of colour should 

 be educated separately from the whites ; that they should be 

 obliged to perform domestic services until the age of eighteen^ 

 years ; and that they should be given to the respe6table inha- 

 bitants who should apply for them, on the latter contributing 

 a small sum to the funds of the hospital, in aid of the expen- 

 ditures, and as a recompense for what had been laid out in 

 their board, clothing, and education. 



The public was not satisfied with paying a tribute of steril 

 admiration to the progress made by this charitable institution, 

 in the admission and rearing of the poor orphans, and to the 

 excellent condu6t of the brotherhood by whom they were pro- 



te6ted. 



