On Sundays they have boiled beef and broth for their
dinners, and for their suppers legs and shoulders of mutton. On
Tuesdays and Thursdays they have the same dinners as on Sundays,
that is, boiled beef and broth; on the other days no flesh meat, but
on Mondays milk-porridge, on Wednesdays furmity, on Fridays old
pease and pottage, on Saturdays water-gruel. They have roast beef
about twelve days in the year by the kindness of several
benefactors, who have left, some 3 pounds, some 50s. per annum, for
that end. 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.
