The diet of the children is plain and good of the sort; their ordinary drink is water; tea, coffee, tobacco, butter, and strong drink, are never permitted to be used by any children in the hospital. Their diversions are ordered to be such as are innocent, and require activity; and all games of chance, swearing, indecent language or behaviour, are strictly prohibited. They are constantly to attend divine service in the chapel on Sundays; and the officers of the hospital are often to remind them of the lowness of their condition, that they may early imbibe the principles of humility and gratitude to their benefactors; and learn contentedly to undergo the most servile and laborious offices; for it is considered, that notwithstanding the innocence of the children, yet, as they are exposed and abandoned by their parents, they ought to submit to the lowest stations, and should not be educated in such a manner, as to put them upon a level with the children of parents who have the humanity and virtue to preserve, and the industry to support them.
When any person shall claim a child, they are to leave a petition with the Secretary, directed to the Governors: this, the Secretary is to deliver to the general committee, who are to transmit it to the house committee, and to give orders, that the person petitioning attend them at a day appointed; when the house committee shall enquire, what right they have to the child; what are their circumstances; whether they are able and willing to provide for the child; what security they can give for that purpose, and what satisfaction they can make to the hospital for the expence to which it has been put, by the maintenance of the child; which committee shall report the same to the next general committee, with their opinion thereupon. If the proposal made by the parent, and the report, is satisfactory to the general committee, they are then, and not before, to order the billets to be opened, and the register searched; and if they find the child is living, may make an order to deliver such child to its parent or relation, which order is not to be delivered till they have complied with the terms required by the committee. Every person to whom a child is so delivered, is to provide cloathing for that child, in which it is to be dressed, and the cloathing of the hospital to be left with the steward.
When any are discharged on having attained the age appointed for that purpose, by act of parliament, that is, twenty-four for the males, or twenty-one for the females; or when any of the girls shall be married, with the consent of the committee; the general committee may, at their discretion, give them cloaths, money, or necessaries, not exceeding the value of 10l. but as it is hoped, that the males and females will be able at those years to get an honest livelihood by their industry, this charity is to be cautiously and seldom practised, except on the marriage of the girls.
Fountain alley, 1. Maiden lane, Southwark.* 2. Silver street, Bloomsbury market.*
Fountain court, 1. Aldermanbury.* 2. Bread street, Cheapside.* 3. Chandos street.* 4. Cheapside. 5. Lothbury.* 6. St. Martin’s lane, Charing Cross.* 7. Middle Temple.* 8. In the Minories.* 9. Shoe lane.* 10. In the Strand.*
Fountain stairs, Rotherhith.*
Four Crown court, Rosemary lane.*
Four Dove court, 1. St. Martin’s le Grand.* 2. Noble street, Foster lane.*
Four Swan yard, Mile end green.*
Fox court, 1. Fox lane, Wapping.* 2. Gray’s Inn lane.* 3. St. James’s street.* 4. Newgate street.* 5. Queen square.* 6. Snow hill.*