London and Its Environs Described, vol. 2 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round ItAnonymous
History
London and Its Environs Described, vol. 2 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round It
Anonymous
London (England) -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; London (England) -- Gazetteers -- Early works to 1800
When all the balls were drawn, and the persons who had drawn black
balls were discharged, those who had drawn white ones were brought
in again, and seated as before. Then one who had a white ball was
taken into a room, and left alone, while her child was undressed and
examined in the presence of the matron, and if the Physician,
Surgeon, or Apothecary attending, had any reason to believe that it
had any infectious disease, or if it appeared to be above the age of
two months, it was dressed again in its own cloaths, returned to the
person who brought it, and taken immediately out of the hospital;
but if there were no such objections, it was received, and the
person who brought it dismissed.
Every child thus received, had a different letter of the alphabet
tied to its wrist; and both the clerk and steward marked a billet
with the letter fixed to the wrist of the child, and in this paper
wrote its sex and supposed age; the day and year when inspected; the
marks, if any, on its body; the particulars of its dress; and if any
writing or remarkable thing was brought with it, it was mentioned in
the billet, and then sealed up, marked with the letter of the child
on the outside. A female servant then took the child, with the
cloathing of the hospital, into the ward appointed for the taking in
of children, and there delivered it to the country nurse, who had
the same letter of the alphabet with that of the child.
In this manner they proceeded with respect to all who had drawn
white balls, and then if any had been rejected, they took as many
white balls as there were children so dismissed, put them into a
bag, and added as many black balls to them, as together with the
white, made up the number of persons who had drawn red balls. These
were drawn in the same manner as the first; but the persons who now
drew the black, might, if they desired it, stay in the house till
they saw whether all the children of those who in the second drawing
had got white balls, were received or rejected, till the whole
number of the children appointed to be taken in were received.
This method of drawing balls, was doubtless as unexceptionable as
any other that could possibly have been invented, since it left not
the least room for partiality in the choice: yet all who wished well
to this excellent charity, could not avoid being concerned for those
who were disappointed in the hopes of gaining admission for a child,
whom they had perhaps brought many miles out of the country for that
purpose, and at an expence, which they were perhaps but little able
to support. This is, however, now remedied, and the parliament has
granted very considerable sums, on condition of all the children
being taken in that are brought of the proper age, and free from
infectious diseases.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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