A Secretary, who keeps the accounts of the hospital, and does all such other business as is commonly done by Secretaries, Clerks, and Registers, at other charities.
A Matron, who superintends the affairs of the house, takes care of the provisions and furniture, delivers an account of the current expences weekly to the Secretary, to be laid before the Committee. She is to see that the children are properly employed, that they are attentive to their learning, and that they behave with decency; that the teachers do their duty, and that they treat the children with humanity. The servants under her, are teachers of reading, knitting, sewing, &c. a cook, a house-maid, and a servant man.
IX. The objects to be admitted are Orphans, the daughters of necessitous parents, residing in parishes where they have no relief, and deserted girls within the bills of mortality, from eight to twelve years of age; but infirm children are not admitted, as the objects of this charity are to be constantly employed in every branch of good housewifry.
X. Each object applying for admission, must produce such certificate of her age and necessity, as shall be satisfactory to the Guardians then present; and in all cases, wherein, during the infancy of this Asylum, more objects shall apply for admission than the Asylum can at once receive, the names of the objects not admitted are entered in a book kept for that purpose, and a notice is sent to the persons, signifying the certificate of each child, of the first opportunity of taking in such children that shall happen afterwards; in filling up all which, the children, before refused, have the preference as they stand upon the entry: each of the above certificates must be signed by two substantial housekeepers, of the parish where the object resides.
XI. The children are regularly and alternately employed in reading, knitting, sewing, and in the business of the kitchen, to which latter employment four are appointed weekly, to be with the cook, to assist her, and to receive from her the necessary instructions in plain cookery, curing provisions, and other employments of the kitchen. They likewise make the beds, clean the rooms, assist in washing, and ironing the linen, and in other household business, according to their respective ages and abilities, at the discretion of the matron.
XII. The Chaplain on Sundays preaches, and performs the other parts of divine service, and catechises the children. Prayers also are read on the other days of the week, by the matron or teacher; and some portion of scripture is read by those of the children who are best able. They have also, each of them, a common prayer book, and the new testament; and other good books are likewise provided for them.
The number of children in the house in April 1759, were forty-two, and the sums raised for the support of this charitable foundation, at the same time, amounted to 2032l. 4s. 9d.
Audley’s rents, Whitecross street.†
Audley street, Grosvenor square.†
Ave-Mary lane, Ludgate street. See Pater-noster Row.