FORTUNE _court_, Duke’s place. FOSTER’S _lane_, Cheapside; so called from St. Vedast’s or St. Foster’s church there. _Maitland._ FOSTER’S _buildings_, 1. Whitechapel.† 2. Whitecross street, Cripplegate.† FOSTER’S _rents_, 1. King John’s court.† 2. Liquorpond street.† FOUBERT’S _passage_, Great Swallow street.† FOUL _lane_, in the Borough.║ FOUNDERS, a company incorporated by letters patent of King James I. in the year 1614. They consist of a Master, two Wardens, 24 Assistants, and 132 Liverymen, who upon their admission pay a fine of 8_l._ 7_s._ 6_d_. They have a convenient hall at the upper end of Founders court in Lothbury. ’Tis worthy of notice, that all makers of brass weights, within the city of London, and three miles round, are obliged to have their several weights sized by the company’s standard, and marked with their common mark; such of these as are Avoirdupois weights, are to be sealed at Guildhall, and those of Troy at Goldsmiths hall. The Founders company are also impowered by their charter to search for, and view all brass weights within the above district. FOUNDERS _court_, 1. Fore street. 2. Lothbury; so called from having Founders hall in it. FOUNDLING _Hospital_, or more properly _The Hospital for exposed and deserted Children_, in Lamb’s Conduit fields. This is one of the most useful among the numerous charities that are an honour to this age and nation. In the reign of her late majesty Queen Anne, several eminent merchants, filled with compassion for the many innocent children who were daily exposed to misery and destruction, proposed to erect an hospital for the reception of such infants, as either the misfortunes or inhumanity of their parents should leave destitute of other support; and to employ them in such a manner as to render them fit for the most laborious offices, and the lowest stations. With these laudable views they proposed a subscription, and sollicited a charter; but they sollicited in vain, from the ill-grounded prejudices of weak people, who conceived the opinion that such an undertaking would encourage persons in vice, by making too easy a provision for their illegitimate children.