The history and design of the Foundling Hospital : with a memoir of the founder.

  • Brownlow, John.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history and design of the Foundling Hospital : with a memoir of the founder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    Supposing, therefore, that it appears by the petition, and the petitioner's examination * that the claim for admission is advanced in respect of an illegitimate child, of a hitherto respectable parent, not twelve months old, whose father has deserted it and is not forthcoming, and whose birth has not been taken cognizance of by any parish authorities, the petitioner is considered to have established a case for inquiry; and the Enquirer is directed to obtain information, both as to these and as to other circumstances in the case now to be stated, which differ from those above-mentioned in this respect, that none are absolutely required, and that they are all taken into consideration by the Governors, and influence their estimate of the merits of each application, according to the degree only in which they prevail in the individual one under consideration. Thus the petitioner's child acquires a stronger claim to admission, according to the degree in which it appears. 1. That the petitioner is poor, and has no relations able or willing to maintain her child. 2. That her delivery and shame are known to few persons, being either her relations or inmates of the house in which the circumstances occurred. 3. That in the event of the child being received, the petitioner has a prospect of preserving her station in society, and obtaining by her own exertions an honest livelihood. * No one can blame the total change of the plan, which for the last