Their supper is bread and cheese, or butter for those who
cannot eat cheese; only Wednesdays and Fridays they heave pudding-
pies for supper.
The diet of these children seems to be exceeding mean and sparing;
and I have heard some of their friends say that it would not be easy
for them to subsist upon it without their assistance. However, it
is observed they are very healthful; that out of eleven or twelve
hundred there are scarce ever found twelve in the sick ward; and
that in one year, when there were upwards of eleven hundred in this
hospital, there were not more than fifteen of them died. Besides,
their living in this thrifty parsimonious manner, makes them better
capable of shifting for themselves when they come out into the
world.
As to the education of these orphans, here is a grammar-school, a
writing-school, a mathematical-school, and a drawing-school.
As to grammar and writing, they have all of them the benefit of
these schools without distinction; but the others are for such lads
as are intended for the sea-service.
The first mathematical school was founded by King Charles II., anno
domini 1673. His Majesty gave 7,000 pounds towards building and
furnishing this school, and settled a revenue of 370 pounds per
annum upon it for ever; and there has been since another
mathematical school erected here, which is maintained out of the
revenues of the hospital, as is likewise the drawing-school.
This hospital is built about a large quadrangle, with a cloister or
piazza on the inside of it, which is said to be part of the
monastery of the Grey Friars; but most part of the house has been
rebuilt since the Fire, and consists of a large hall, and the
several schools and dormitories for the children; besides which
there is a fine house at Hertford, and another at Ware, twenty miles
from London, whither the youngest orphans are usually sent, and
taught to read, before they are fixed at London.
The College of Physicians is situated on the west side of Warwick
Lane. It is a beautiful and magnificent edifice, built by the
society anno 1682, their former college in Amen Corner having been
destroyed by the Fire. It is built of brick and stone, having a
fine frontispiece, with a handsome doorcase, within which is a lofty
cupola erected on strong pillars, on the top whereof is a large
pyramid, and on its vertex a crown and gilded ball. Passing under
the cupola we come into a quadrangular court, the opposite side
whereof is adorned with eight pilasters below and eight above, with
their entablature and a triangular pediment; over the doorcase is
the figure of King Charles II. placed in a niche and between the
door and the lower architrave the following inscription, viz.:-
VTRIVSQVE FORTVNAE EXEMPLAR INGENS ADVERSIS REBVS DEVM PROBAVIT
PROSPERIS SEIPSVM COLLEGIJ HVJUSCE, 1682.
The apartments within consist of a hall, where advice is given to
the poor gratis; a committee-room, a library, another great hall,
where the doctors meet once a quarter, which is beautifully
wainscoted, carved, and adorned with fretwork. Here are the
pictures of Dr. Harvey, who first discovered the circulation of the
blood, and other benefactors, and northward from this, over the
library, is the censor's room.
The theatre under the cupola at the entrance is furnished with six
degrees of circular wainscot seats, one above the other, and in the
pit is a table and three seats, one for the president, a second for
the operator, and a third for the lecturer; and here the anatomy
lectures are performed. In the preparing room are thirteen tables
of the muscles in a human body, each muscle in its proper position.
This society is a body-corporate for the practice of physic within
London, and several miles about it. The president and censors are
chosen annually at Michaelmas. None can practise physic, though
they have taken their degrees, without their license, within the
limits aforesaid; and they have a power to search all apothecaries'
shops, and to destroy unwholesome medicines.
By the charter of King Charles II. this college was to consist of a
president, four censors, ten elects, and twenty-six fellows; the
censors to be chosen out of the fellows, and the president out of
the elects.
By the charter granted by King James II., the number of fellows was
enlarged, but not to exceed eighty, and none but those who had taken
the degree of doctors in the British or foreign universities were
qualified to be admitted members of this college.
The fellows meet four times every year, viz., on the Monday after
every quarter-day, and two of them meet twice a week, to give advice
to the poor gratis. Here are also prepared medicines for the poor
at moderate rates.
The president and four censors meet the first Friday in every month.
The Lord Chancellor, chief justices, and chief baron, are
constituted visitors of this corporation, whose privileges are
established by several Acts of Parliament.
22. Bread Street Ward contains Bread Street, Friday Street, Distaff
Lane, Basing Lane, part of the Old Change, part of Watling Street,
part of Old Fish Street, and Trinity Lane, and part of Cheapside.
The only public buildings in this ward are the churches of
Allhallows, Bread Street, and St. Mildred, Bread Street.
23. Queenhithe Ward includes part of Thames Street, Queenhithe,
with the several lanes running southward to the Thames, Lambeth
Hill, Fish Street Hill, Five Foot Lane, Little Trinity Lane, Bread
Street Hill, Huggin Lane, with the south side of Great Trinity Lane,
and part of Old Fish Streets.
