lly.

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL.

The house of commons, among other articles of domestic economy, bestowed
some attention on the hospital for foundlings, which was now, more than
ever, become a matter of national consideration. The accounts relating
to this charity having been demanded, and subjected to the inspection of
the members, were, together with the king's recommendation, referred to
the committee of supply, where they produced the resolutions which we
have already specified among the other grants of the year. The house
afterwards resolved itself into a committee to deliberate on the state
of the hospital, and examine its accounts. On the third day of May,
their resolutions were reported to the following effect: that the
appointing, by the governors and guardians of the said hospital, places
in the several counties, ridings, or divisions in this kingdom, for
the first reception of exposed and deserted young children, would be
attended with many evil consequences; and that the conveying of children
from the country to the said hospital is attended with many evil
consequences, and ought to be prevented. A bill was ordered to be
brought in, founded upon this last resolution, but never presented;
therefore the inquiry produced no effect. Notwithstanding the
institution of this charity, for the support of which great sums are
yearly levied on the public, it does not appear that the bills of
mortality, respecting new-born children, are decreased, nor the shocking
crime of infant-murder rendered less frequent than heretofore. It may,
therefore, not be improperly styled a heavy additional tax for the
propagation of bastardy, and the encouragement of idleness among the
common people; besides the tendency it has to extinguish the feelings
of the heart, and dissolve those family ties of blood by which the
charities are connected. In the month of March, leave was given to bring
in a bill for the more effectual preventing of the melting down and
exporting the gold and silver coin of the kingdom, and the persons were
nominated to prepare it; but the bill never appeared, and no further
inquiry was made about the matter. Perhaps it was supposed that such
a measure might be thought an encroachment on the prerogative of the
crown, which hath always exercised the power of fixing the standard, and
regulating the currency of the coin. Perhaps such a step was deferred on
account of the war, during which a great quantity of gold a