LON 
From this curioufiy-metamorphofed place we come back 
to Brtinfwick-fquare, of modern creation, the ornaments 
of which contilt, on three of the Tides, in elegant manfions, 
with a delightful liimhbery in the middle. Here the highly- 
perfumed fyringa, the fweet lilac, the fumac with red 
berries, the yellow groups of acacia-flowers, and the mul¬ 
ticolor daifies ftudding the well-fhaved plots of grafs, ex¬ 
hibit all the luxuriance of a cultivated garden in the 
centre of the “ bufy haunts of men ;” and on the eaft fide 
the long walls and enclofure of the Foundling Hospi¬ 
tal fill the mind with congenial ideas of humanity and 
benevolence. 
An attempt was made in the reign of queen Anne, by 
feveral eminent merchants, to eftablilh an hofpital for the 
reception of fucli infants as the misfortunes or inhumanity 
of their parents (hould leave deftitute of other fupport; and 
to bring them up in fuch a manner as to fit them for the 
rnoft laborious offices and the lowed dations. With this 
view they opened a fubfcription, and folicited a charter, 
but without fuccefs, owing to the prejudices of fome peo¬ 
ple, who conceived that fuch an undertaking would per¬ 
haps encourage vice in the parents, by making too eafy 
a provifion for their illegitimate children. But the defign, 
though fufpended, was not defeated; and feveral of its pro¬ 
moters left large benefactions for the ufe of fuch an hofpi¬ 
tal, as foon as it fhould be erefted. Among the mod zealous 
of its promoters was Mr. Thomas Coram, commander of 
a ffiip in the merchant-fervice, who was fo earneftin thepro- 
fecution of the benevolent fcheme, that he left the lea about 
the year 1712, and,after an unwearied exertion of feventeen 
years, accomplidied it. Previous to prefenting his petition 
to the king, he procured a recommendation of his defign 
from a confiderable number of noblemen and gentlemen,and 
a fecond from feveral of the female nobility, both of which 
lie annexed to it; and thefe, with the plan itfelf, were fo 
well received by his majelty, that he immediately granted 
his royal charter, dated Oftober 17, 1739, f° r edablilhing 
the hofpital. 
The work now' went on with fpirit; books were opened, 
and, large fubfcriptions being received, an aft of parlia¬ 
ment was obtained to confirm and enlarge the powers 
granted by his majedy to the governors and guardians of 
the hofpital. A piece of ground was purchafed in Lamb’s- 
conduit-fields, of the earl of Salilbury, which his lordffiip 
not only fold at a very reafonable confideration, but pro¬ 
moted the charity by a noble contribution. The governors 
were fo anxious for the commencement of this charity, 
that, during the building of the hofpital, they hired a large 
houfe in Hatton Garden ; nurfes were provided, and it was 
refolved that fixty children fhould be admitted ; but, as 
the funds increafed, fo a greater number were received 
in proportion. As foon as one wing of the hofpital was 
finiflied, the committee ordered the children to be removed 
thither, and quitted the houfe in Hatton Garden. A cha¬ 
pel being much wanted, and feveral ladies of quality ex- 
preffing their defire of contributing to it, a fubfcription was 
opened for that purpofe, and a neat and elegant edifice was 
foon erefted. Two years after, the governors being in¬ 
formed of the increafe of benefaftions to this charity, of 
the number of the children, and the expediency of keeping 
the boys feparate from the girls, gave directions for build¬ 
ing the other wing of the hofpital; fince which the whole 
defign has been completed. 
The Foundling Hofpital is a very handfome building, 
and confifts of two large wings directly oppofite to each 
other, one of which is for the boys, and the other for the 
girls. They are built of brick, in a plain, but regular, 
fubftantial, and convenient, manner, and with handfome 
piazzas. At the fartheft end is the chapel, which is joined 
to the wings by an arch on each fide, and is very elegant 
within. In the front is a large piece of ground, on each 
fide whereof is a colonnade of great length, which alfo ex¬ 
tends towards the gates, that are double, with a maffy pier 
between them, fo that coaches may pafs and repafs at 
the fame time. The large area between the gates and 
DON. 587 
the hofpital io adorned with grafs-plats, gravel-walks, and 
lamps erefted upon handfome polls; befides which, there 
are two convenient gardens. 
In erefting thefe buildings, particular care was taken 
to render them neat and fubftantial, without any coftly 
decorations; but the firft wing of the hofpital was fcarcely 
inhabited, when feveral eminent mailers in painting, carv¬ 
ing, and other of the polite arts, were pleafed to contribute 
many elegant ornaments, which are preferved as monu¬ 
ments of the abilities and charitable benefaftions of the re- 
fpeftive artifts. In the court-room are fourcapital piftures, 
taken from facred hiltory, the fubjefts of which are pro¬ 
perly adapted to their fituation. The firft of thefe paint¬ 
ings was executed by Mr. Hayman, the fubjeft of which 
is taken from Exod. ii. 8, 9. The maid went and called, the 
child's mother ; and Pharoah's daughter J'aid unto her. Take this 
child away, and nurj'e it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. 
The fecond piece was done by Mr. Hogarth, and the fub¬ 
jeft taken from the following words, viz. And the child 
grew up, and Jhe brought him to Pharoah's daughter, and 
ht became her Jon, and Jhe called his name Mojes. The third 
painting reprefents the hiltory of Illimael, painted by Mr. 
Highmore, from Gen. xxii, 17. And the angel of God called 
to Hagar cut of heaven, and faid to her, What aileth thee, Ha- 
gar? Fear not ; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where 
he is. The lalt piece was painted by Mr. Wills, and is 
taken from Luke xviii. 16. Jefusfaid, Suffer little children 
to come unto me, and forbid them not, for offuch is the kingdom 
of God. —On each fide of thefe paintings are fmall drawings 
in circular frames, of the moll confiderable hofpitals m 
and about London, done by Mr. Hartley, Mr. Wilfon, 
Mr. Wale, and Mr. Gainfborough. Over the chimney is 
a very curious bas-relief, executed and prefented by Mr. 
Rylbrack, reprefenting children employed in hulbandry 
and navigation. The other ornaments in this room were 
given by feveral ingenious workmen, who had been em¬ 
ployed in building the hofpital, and were defirous of con- 
tributing to adorn it. In the other rooms of the hofpital 
are portraits of feveral of the governors and benefaftors, 
viz. his late majedy, by Mr. Shackelton; captain Coram, 
by Mr. Hogarth, See. See. In the dining-room is a large 
and beautiful fea-piece of the Englilh Fleet in the Downs, 
by Mr. Monamy ; and over the chimney in another room 
is Mr. Hogarth’s original painting of the March to Finch¬ 
ley. The altar-piece in the chapel, which is molt beauti¬ 
fully executed, is accounted one of Mr. Wefts’s belt pro¬ 
ductions. It was painted for Macklin’s Bible, and the 
fubjeft is, Except ye become as little children, &c. The firft 
organ was prefented by Handel, and was rendered parti¬ 
cularly ufeful, in the infancy of the inllitution, by that 
great mufician performing on it at certain times for the 
benefit of the charity; but, this organ having become de¬ 
fective through time and ufe, a new one was put up in its 
dead. 
The number of children received into this hofpital, be¬ 
fore the end of the year 1752, was 1040, of which 559 were 
at that time maintained by the charity, at an expenfe to 
which its income was by no means adequate. In 1756, 
therefore, the parliament voted the fum of io,oool. to the 
hofpital, and large fums were afterwards granted. It was 
found, however, that the fcheme of it was extended too 
far; numerous abufes crept in ; the governors were finally 
obliged to contract their views; bur, at prefent, from the 
income of their landed and funded property, and the col¬ 
lections of the chapel, fufficient is raifed to maintain up¬ 
wards of 400 children/ 
The ordinary age of reception is under two months. 
The previous good character and prefent neceffity of the 
mother, and the defertion of the father, are enquired into ; 
and alfo whether reception and fecrecy will be attended 
with the confequence of the mother’s being replaced in a 
courfe of virtue, and in a way of obtaining an honelt live¬ 
lihood. Where thefe concurrent circumttances can be af- 
certained on the teftimony of credible perfons, the unfor¬ 
tunate mother is requefted to apply herielf with her own 
petition 5 
