The present modified character of the hospital as an institution for foundlings will be understood from the following extracts from the regulations now in force :—" No person need apply unless she shall have previously borne a good character for virtue, sobriety, and ho nesty." Application for admission must, in the first instance, be by petition, and this, properly filled up, must be presented personally at the ordinary periodical meeting of committee of the institu tion. Inquiries are made into the po verty and good character of the applicant, the illegitimacy of her infant, the aban donment by the father, and the non-cog nizance of the case by the parish autho rities. The chairman of the committee questions the applicant as to the proba bility of her return to the paths of virtue on the event of her child being admitted, and the number of persons to whom her shame is known. The next step is to make inquiries into the truth of the ap plicant's statement. This delicate task is undertaken by the treasurer's clerk ; and in performing it his instructions are not to divulge any of the facts with which he may have become acquainted. If the result of the investigation be satisfactory, the admission of the child is secured either at once, if there be a vacancy, or when a vacancy occurs. The number of children is limited to 360. On leaving her child the mother receives a certificate in return, to which is attached a private msrk, by which the authorities of the hospital may, if requisite, subsequently recognise the child, and a corresponding mark is carefully attached to the child's clothing ; but, as respects the mother, it is probable that the child is severed from her for ever, and that she will never again be able to recognise it. The child may be restored at a future time if the mother can give the most satisfactory proofs of her ability to maintain it ; but this claim is of rare occurrence. Many devices are resorted to by mothers with a view to the future identification of their chil dren ; but the rules of the hospital are strict as to the severance being complete.
The children are sent out to nurse until they are five years old at establishments which belong to the hospital at East Peckham, Kent, and at Chertsey. On attaining their fifth year they return to the hospital for their education, and at its completion they are apprenticed to some trade.
In 1841 the income of the London Foundling Hospital was rather more than 11,000l.; but it is said that in a few years, by the falling in of leases, the income will be not less than 50,000/.
In 1833 there were 8130 children maintained in three foundling hospitals in Ireland. By the Irish Poor Law Act (1 & 2 Viet. c. 56) the control of these establishments was given to the Poor Law Commissioners : the number of children was to be gradually reduced ; and finally, the hospitals were to be converted into union workhouses, by which provision hospitals for foundlings are virtually abolished. The Dublin Foundling Hos pital was erected in 1704, and was scan dalously managed. A basket was placed on the outside of the gate for the recep tion of infants, and a bell was rung when they were deposited. The number of children received from 1785 to 1797 was 27,274; out of which number there died 13,120. In 1797 the admissions were 1922, and the deaths 1457. From 1799 to 1808 the admissions were 19,638, and the deaths amounted to 5043. The Dub lin Hospital was supported by Parlia mentary grants, and by an assessment on houses which realized 8000/. a year.
There are Foundling Hospitals in Eastern (Lower) Canada, and grants have heretofore been made to them by the local legislature ; but in 1845 it was officially stated that such grants would be discon tinued. The Commissioners of Found lings, &c. in the district of Quebec accord ingly issued a notice which stated, that "persons have been placed at the different avenues leading to the depot at the Hotel Dieu to prevent people from leaving clan destinely any children there.