DONALDSON'S HOSPITAL, an extensive establishment at Edinburgh, of the character of Christ's hospital, London. Its founder was James Donaldson, a successful printer in Edinburgh, son of Alexander Donaldson, publisher, of whom some notice is taken in the articles BOOK-TRADE and COPYRIGHT. In 1763, Alexander started the Edinburgh Advertiser newspaper, which was afterwards conducted by his son James, and became a lucrative concern in his hands. Dying in 1830, James bequeathed the fortune of two generations, amounting to about £215,000, to trustees, for the endowment and erection of a hospital for the maintenance and education of poor boys and girls. The building. which occupies a commanding situation to the w. of Edinburgh, was begun in 1842, and finished in 1850, is a large and beautiful quadrangular structure, in the Elizabethan style, the late W. H. Playfair being the architect. The cost of the edifice and furnish ings was nearly £124,000, but as this was defrayed by the accumulated interest, the original endowment remained untouched. The hospital can accommodate 300 children
—150 boys and 150 girls: in 1877, it contained 214 children (120 boys and 94 girls), of whom 115 (70 boys and 45 girls) were deaf and dumb. Those eligible for admission are declared to be, " 1st, Poor children of the name of Donaldson or Marshall, if appearing to the governors to be deserving; 2d, Such poor children as shall appear to be in the most destitute circumstances and the most deserving of admission." None are received whose parents are able to maintain them. The children are clothed and maintained in the hospital, and taught such useful branches of a plain English education as will fit. the boys for trades, and the girls for being servants. The age of admission is from seven till nine, and that of leaving the hospital fourteen years. The children wear a simple uniform of modern fashion.