CHAP. VIII.
The Doctor views three Hospitals, and the largest Cathedral in the Kingdom.—An Account of the Foundling Hospital. He goes to Versailles—views the King and Queen's Palaces, returns to Paris, and sees the Dauphin of France.
Paris, July 19.
This morning I viewed the grand hospital, the lying-in hospital, the foundling hospital, and the greatest cathedral in the kingdom, called L'Eglise de Notre Dame. It is a grand Gothic structure, has a very fine choir, altar, &c. and many paintings, some of which represent the miracles and resurrection of Christ.
There were 17,500 children belonging to the foundling hospital, above 7,000 of which had been taken in within the compass of a year. They were kept very clean, and I did not hear a child cry amongst the whole number.
The matron, or governess of the hospital, shewed me their grand stores of linen and garments for the children, which was worth beholding.
This hospital is a most excellent institution: People of all kinds, and from all countries, are allowed to bring their children into it; and no questions are asked; only the person that leaves the child is asked if the child has been christened. If that has not been done, they get it done at the hospital. Those that bring their children put a ribbon round their necks, or mark them with something whereby they may be known in some future time, and they are permitted to take them away when they please.
Those that remain in the hospitals, are put out to learn trades, when they are old enough;—and sums of money are given to those who take them.
I was told that a young woman from Great Britain had just lain in at the lying-in hospital, and had put her child into the foundling hospital. Perhaps she may pass for a virgin again, on her arrival in England!