paid for without encroaching on the funds of the charity, the benefits of the institution must be curtailed, and this we hope will never be the case.

This charity owes its origin to Sir John Fielding, an active magistrate, who had observed, that though our laws had humanely provided parish settlements, yet cases were constantly occurring where it was next to impossible to ascertain such settlements. In consequence he and other humane individuals became desirous of forming an establishment to remove those evils.

The children of soldiers and sailors, as well as indigent persons, whose parish settlement is unknown, bereft of their parents, and at a distance from their relations, are particularly objects of compassion; and of this description, females in particular.

Two hundred destitute, or deserted children, are daily sheltered and protected from vice and want, supplied with food and clothing, and taught whatever can render them useful in their future situations and happy in themselves-carefully instructed in the principles of religion, in writing, needle-work, and household matters, and trained to habits of industry, a supply of diligent and sober domestics is formed.

This charity is governed by a president, (at present his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge), six vice-presidents, and a number of guardians. A subscription of thirty guineas at once constitutes the donor a perpetual guardian, and a yearly subscription of three guineas qualifies for an annual guardian.

The asylum is supported by voluntary donations and subscriptions; occasional sermons are preached for its benefit, at which the young women who have been brought up there, and apprenticed out, return public thanks. Children between the ages of nine and twelve years are admitted, after it is ascertained that they are really orphans, and that they are neither diseased, deformed, or infirm.

The children make and mend their own linen, make shirts, table-linen, &c. and all kinds of needle-work; and twelve of them are weekly selected to assist the cook to wash, iron, and get up linen, and to do the general business of the house and kitchen. At the age of fifteen, or sooner, they are bound apprentices for service, as domestic servants; but the utmost care is taken to provide for them in respectable families, whose character is a guarantee that they will be well treated: and in order to encourage the girls to serve their apprenticeship faithfully, they are presented with five guineas each at its termination, if the master or mistress will certify their good conduct.

A chaplain reads prayers twice every Sunday throughout the year, and two morning and one evening preachers are appointed in addition to the chaplain. The preachers are generally popular divines, who attract large congregations, and thus contribute to the support of the institution.

LICENCED VICTUALLERS' SCHOOL,

KENNINGTON LANE.

THIS truly valuable institution is only noticed here to recommend it as a model of establishments of the kind. If you see the children, you behold health, beauty, and intelligence, combined with religion and moraility,

BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL.

THE present edifice, which is situate in the Lambeth Road, Surrey, near the Obelisk, was commenced in 1812, from the designs and under the direction of Mr. James Lewis, architect. The first stone was laid with the usual ceremony on the 20th of April in that year, and the building was completed in 1815, at an expence of about £100,000, of which £72,819 1s. 6d. was granted by Parliament at different times, and £10,229 subscribed by public bodies and private individuals. The corporation of the city gave £3000, the Bank of England £500 towards this sum.

This building, which is a great ornament to this part of the metropolis, is constructed principally of brick. It fronts the north, and its length is 569 feet; its altitude to the parapet 60 feet; and the depth of each wing is 45 feet. The style of architecture is plain and simple, but the symmetry of the building is perfect, and the general effect magnificent.

In the architectural design and arrangement of the interior great judgment has been displayed, and good provision has been made for the separation of the sexes, and classification of the unfortunate inmates. In the rear of the building are extensive airing grounds.

Bethlehem, or Bethlem Hospital, derived its name and origin from a priory founded by Simon Fitzmary, who was sheriff of London in 1247, on the west side of Bishopgate, on the site where the street now called Old Bethlem stands. This priory was for the fratres militiae beatae Mariae de Bethelem; but the society was never very numerous. It afterwards, according to Stow, became an hospital for "distracted people." On the suppression of the monasteries, Henry VIII. at the request of Sir John Gresham, Lord Mayor, granted its lands and revenues to the cities of London, for the reception and maintenance of lunatics; and in 1549, letters patent were issued to John Whitehead, proctor of the hospital, to solicit donations within the counties of Lincoln and Cambridge, the city of London, and Isle of Ely.

The confined limits and decayed state of the priory soon rendered a larger and more convenient building necessary, and a new hospital was built on the south side of Moorfields, and finished in the year 1676, at an expence of £17,000. To this building two wings were added in 1733 for incurables. The increased value of the ground so near the city, and the decayed state of the hospital, suggested the propriety of removing the establishment.

This establishment, which is supported by the estates it possesses, and voluntary contributions, is intended for the reception of indigent lunatics. At the time of admission the sum of two pounds must be paid with each patient, and security given that the lunatic will be taken away whenever the committee think proper.

In summer the patients rise at six o'clock every morning, and breakfast at eight; in winter at seven, and breakfast at half-past eight: they dine at one, and sup at six. Each patient has a separate room: the bedsteads are of iron, with a sacking bottom; a flock mattress, a pillow, three blankets, a pair of sheets (which are regularly changed every fortnight), and a rug are allowed for each. The patients' linen is entirely changed weekly; and washed in a very convenient laundry, having a large drying yard in front, and an excellent stove room for the same use in wet weather.

The general breakfast for the patients is gruel mixed with milk, and two ounces of bread; but those who cannot relish that food are permitted to take tea with the keepers, at a small weekly charge. The dinner is varied daily throughout the week: meat, either corned beef, veal, or boiled or roast mutton, with seven ounces of bread, and vegetables in season, being allowed on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; pudding, broth, peas-soup, rice-milk, bread and butter, &c. are allowed on other days. The supper is seven ounces of bread and two of butter. Good table-beer is allowed, without restriction as to quantity.-Sick and weakly patients have a different diet suited to their respective afflictions.

No person whatever, except governors, or those in company with a goyernor, is permitted to view the Hospital and patients; but either the president or the treasurer may issue written orders for the admission of any peer or member of parliament, at convenient hours. Patients, when sufficiently convalescent, are permitted to see a friend or two on Mondays, during the hours from ten till twelve.

It appears, from a return made by the physicians of this Hospital to the governors, in January, 1822, that the mumber of patients in the Hospital was 346, of whom 210 were deemed curable, 77 incurable; and 59 criminals, who were to be confined for life: among these are Margaret Nicholson, who attempted to stab his late Majesty, and Hadfield, who shot at the King in Drury Lane Theatre.

In the hall of the Hospital are the two celebrated figures of raving and melancholy madness, which were in front of the Old Bethlehem Hospital in Moorfields. They were executed by Caius Gabriel Cibber.

SURREY LITERARY INSTITUTION,

MANSION HOUSE, HIGH STREET, CAMBERWELL.

THIS Institution opened Tuesday, 1st February, 1825, when the Rev. J. Peers, M. A. gave a Public Lecture on the utility and importance of Literary Institutions.

The object of this Institution is to promote literary and scientific intercourse, and to provide for the members' access to a superior library and reading room, at an expence not exceeding that of the commonest circulating library, carefully excluding every work of a controversial nature, either in theology or politics, and every thing that can tend to loosen the moral or social ties of individuals to society.

The library consists of the most valuable works in the various departments of art and sciences, biography, general history, voyages and travels, Belles Letters, &c. and is open to subscribers at one guinea per annum.

The reading room is provided with morning and evening newspapers; weekly, monthly, and quarterly publications.

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