Have a quick look at what follows, by all means. But if you have never visited the parent page, with "scene setting", I hope you will visit it one day. It tries to explain what an amazing achievement Thomas Coram's Foundling Hospital was.

If you have seen the above, and just want the "home page" of the images pages, and it's links to the different images pages, then there's the link you need.

The following is a large graphic... 625kb... sorry.

But I hope that while studying it with brain fully engaged you will see some interesting things.

Again and again in the bylaws, I see indications that the people who drafted them were not wooly-minded idealists, but practical people, all too aware of how a Good Thing might be abused by Bad People.

As you read the following, think about the reasons behind all the very specific detail. No other part of the bylaws lay down so many minutiae. Why? What was the point of each of the provisions?

A few details to encourage you to dig for others: At this early stage in the Hospital's history, a baby had to appear to be less than two months old to have a chance of admission. Each child was assigned a number... and would carry a small "tag" with that number thoughout "its" time at the hospital. ("It" is used for the child quite frequently in the bylaws.) Elsewhere, we learn that the staff are to ensure that the childrens' clothing should include the child's number where it can be seen easily.

If it all seems a bit grim, remember the alternative in the 1700s.

Further material...

For the "home page" of the images pages, and it's links to the different images pages, then there's the link you need. Alternatively, I offer my broader introduction to Thomas Coram and his Foundling Hospital.

Search across all my sites with the Google search button which I have provided at the top left on the page to which the link will take you.
Or...

Search just this site without using forms,
Or... again to search just this site, use...

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Ad from page's editor: Yes.. I do enjoy compiling these things for you... I hope they are helpful. However.. this doesn't pay my bills!!! If you find this stuff useful, (and you run an MS-DOS or Windows PC) please visit my freeware and shareware page, download something, and circulate it for me? Links on your page to this page would also be appreciated!

This page's editor, Tom Boyd, will be pleased if you get in touch by email.

Page has been tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.org. Mostly passes. There were two "unknown attributes" in Google+ button code. Sigh.