serge gown and petticoat yearly. When superannuated they are allowed 20l. a-year.

We have entered thus at large into this establishment, because it is the most noble and complete of its kind in the world.

CHELSEA HOSPITAL.

This is a royal hospital for invalid soldiers, situated on the northern bank of the river, about a mile above the western extremity of the town. It is a handsome building of brick, ornamented with stone; having two main fronts, one facing towards Hyde Park, and the other to the river. The former is simple in its style, consisting of a centre and wings, in a straight line, and having no other ornament than a plain portico. Before it, is a very extensive inclosed area, having avenues, planted with trees. The front next to the Thames is more decorated, and has a very elegant and pleasing -appearance. The principal parts form three sides of a square, the centre building having a fine portico, with a piazza on each side; and the other two, noble and corresponding porticos. From the centre building, extend wings, covering two spacious quadrangles; the whole front of the hospital being 804 feet. The plan of this edifice was the design of Sir Christopher Wren.

The area, formed by the principal buildings on this side, terminates with a dwarf balustrade, beyond which are spacious gardens, extending the whole length of the hospital, along the river, with which they communicate by stairs.

The gardens are laid out in a dull taste, in straight lines; and are beside blemished with this extraordinary absurdity, that, although bounded in front by the noble expanse of the Thames, they contain within them two insignificant canals.

Chelsea Hospital, with its garden, &c. covers above forty acres of ground.

The interior of this hospital is in a simple but elegant style. In the centre are the chapel and the great din

ing-hall. The former is a large plain building; the floor is paved with marble, alternately of black and white flags. The latter is a fine room, decorated at the upper end with paintings by Cooke, representing Charles II. with devices, expressive of various attributes.

The affairs of this establishment are managed by commissioners, consisting of some of the great officers of state, especially in the war department, a governor, and lieutenant governor. The present number of pen. sioners amounts to 503; and of out-pensioners to no less than 10,000. The former are provided with all necessaries; the latter have each 121. per annum.

Chelsea Hospital was begun by Charles II. continued by James 11. and finished by William III.

A new building, upon an extensive plan, is now com❤ pleted, situated below Sloane-square, Chelsea, as a Royal Military Asylum for educating about 500 children of non-commissioned officers and soldiers; to erect and support which, parliament granted a sum of money, and each regiment contributes one day's pay towards it.

CHRIST's HOSPITAL.

This is a royal foundation, for the maintenance and education of orphans, and other poor children, situated a little to the north of Newgate-street. On its site anciently stood the house of the Grey-friars, or Mendicants, of the order of St. Francis, founded by John Ervin, mercer, about 1225; and part of the present edifice is a cloister of the convent.

It is a very extensive building, consisting of various irregular parts. The south front, adjoining to Newgate-street, is the best, being ornamented with Doris pilasters, placed on pedestals. In an area, before Christ's-church, to which there is a passage from Newgate-street, this front may be fully seen. The cloisters serve as a thoroughfare, and a place for the boys to play in.

The great hall is a spacious room, in which the boys breakfast, dine, and sup. The present apartment

was built when the former was burnt, in the great fire of London, at the sole charge of Sir John Frederic, Alderman of London, and cost 5000. On one side, at the upper end, is a prodigious large picture, by Verrio, representing James II. surrounded by his nobles, and receiving the president, governors, and many of the children of the hospital. In this picture are half-lengths of Edward VI. and Charles II. which are represented hanging as portraits. On the same side, at the lower end, is a painting, representing Ed ward VI. delivering the charter of the hospital to the lord-mayor and aldermen, who are in their robes, and kneeling. Near the king is the good Bishop Ridley. In this hall is a fine organ. In the winter, after Christmas, an anthem is sung, in the evening, about six o'clock, by the boys, accompanied by the organ; which is usually attended by a large, but select, company, admitted by tickets. The stranger will find no difficulty in obtaining one of these; and this is a ceremony worthy of his notice.

In a spacious apartment, where the governors meet, called the Court Room, are portraits of Edward VI. and of the chief benefactors to the hospital. The portrait of Edward is by Holbein, an unquestionable ori ginal, and a very fine painting.

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In a room, entirely lined with stone, are kept the records, deeds, and other writings, of the hospital. One of the books is a curious piece of antiquity. It is the earliest record of the hospital, and contains the an them sung by the first children, very beautifully illuminated, according to the custom of the time.

The writing-school is a handsome modern building of brick; supported on pillars, forming a spacious covered walk. The grammar-school is a plain brick building, more recently erected..

This hospital originated in the following manner: The convent of the Grey-friars, on the site of which it rose, being surrendered to Henry VIII. that mo

narch, a little before his death, founded Christ-church Hospital, granting the monastery to the city, for the relief of the poor. Other lands were granted to the city for the same purpose by Henry. But the object being neglected, Edward VI. at the instance of Rid ley, Bishop of London, sent a letter to the lord. mayor, inviting his assistance in relieving the poor; and, shortly afterwards, a regular system of relief for the metropolis was formed, of which this hospital made one principal part. The poor were distinguished by classes. St. Bartholomew's and St. Thomas's Hospi tals were destined to relieve the discused; Bridewell to maintain and correct the idle; and Christ's Hospi tal to maintain and educate the young and helpless; and the king incorporated the governors of these seve ral hospitals, by the title of The Mayor, Commonally, and Citizens, of the City of London, Governors of the Possessions, Revenues, and Goods, of the Hospitals of Edward VI. King of England.

This monarch also granted Christ's Hospital, lands to the yearly value of 6007. belonging to the Savoy; and added other benefactions, the last being his licence to take lands in mortmain, to the value yearly of 4000 marks.

In 1552, the house of the Grey-friars was first prepared for the reception of the children; and in No. vember, in the same year, nearly 400 were admitted.

Charles II. founded a mathematical school in this house, for forty boys, to which he granted 10001. per annum, payable out of the exchequer for seven years. Of these boys ten are yearly put out apprentices to the sea service, and in their places ten more received on the foundation.

Another mathematical school, for thirty-seven other boys, was afterwards founded by Mr. Travers; but these boys are not obliged to go to sea.

There are at present about 1000 children on this foundation. The boys wear a very ancient-dress? it

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consists of a blue cloth coat, close to the body, having loose skirts of the same; yellow under coats, and yel low worsted stockings, and a flat, round, worsted, black bonnet, with the hair cut short. Their fare is plain and wholesome; they sleep in wards, kept in a very cleanly state.

The governors have established a school at Hertford, to which they send the younger part of the children, ge nerally to the number of 500; who are taken into the house as room is made by apprenticing the elder. All the girls are educated at this school.

The education given to the boys of this hospital, is excellent of its kind, consisting chiefly of writing and arithmetic, fitting them for merchants' counting-houses. One boy is sent annually to Cambridge, being properly educated for the church; and every seven years one is sent to Oxford. This is one of those institutions which do good in the best way to the country.

The permanent revenues of Christ's Hospital are great, arising from royal and private donations in houses and lands; but, without voluntary subscriptions, are inadequate to the present establishment.

By the grant of the city, the governors licence the carts allowed to ply in the city, to the number of 420, who pay a small sum for the licence; they also receive a duty of about three farthings upon every piece of cloth brought to Blackwell Hall, granted by acts of common-council.

The expenditure of this hospital is immense, being at present about 30,000l. per annum, of which about 1300 is paid in salaries to the officers and servants of the foundation.

The governors, who choose their own officers and servants, male and female, are unlimited in their num ber, being usually benefactors of the hospital, or persons of considerable importance, associated with the lord-mayor and citizens, governors by the charter. A donation of 4001, makes a governor: formerly the sum