in the will of Joshua Peirce, who died at Linnæan Hill, near Washington, April 11, 1869, the bequest being as follows:

I give, devise, and bequeath all those fourteen certain lots or pieces of ground, part of square number two hundred and seven, situate between R and S streets north and Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets west, in the said city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, which lots are numbered from number twenty-four to number thirty-seven, inclusive, on a certain plan of subdivision of the said square, registered and recorded in the surveyor's office for the said city, in Liber W. F., folio 211, and are situated on the east side of the said Fifteenth street, at the distance of one hundred and sixty feet northward from the north side of the said R street north, containing together in front on the said Fifteenth street west one hundred and thirty feet, and in depth eastward, between parallel lines, two hundred and ninetyfour feet and a half inch, more or less, to Johnson avenue (including in the said depth a twenty-feet-wide alley, laid out through the middle of the said lots), to my friends William M. Shuster and William H. Claggett, both of the said city of Washington, and the survivor of them, and the heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns of such survivor, in trust. Nevertheless, and to, for and upon the uses, intents, and purposes following, that is to say: In trust to hold the said fourteen lots of ground, with the appurtenances, as and for a site for the erection of a hospital for foundlings, to be built and erected by any association, society, or institution that may hereafter be incorporated by act of Congress, as and for such hospital, and upon such incorporation, upon further trust, to grant and convey the said lots of ground and trust estate to the corporation or institution so incorporated for the said purpose of the erection of a hospital, which conveyance shall be absolute and in fee: Provided, nevertheless, That such corporation shall be approved by my said trustees, or the survivor of them, or their successors in the trust, and, if not so approved, then upon further trust to hold the said lots and trust estate, for the same purpose, until a corporation shall be so created by act of Congress, which shall meet the approval of the said trustees, or the survivor or successor of them, to whom full discretion is given in this behalf, and, upon such approval, in trust to convey as aforesaid. And I recommend to my said trustees to select an institution which shall not be under the control of any one religious sect or persuasion, and until such conveyance I direct the taxes, charges, and assessments, and all necessary expenses of, for, and upon the said lots, and every of them, to be paid by my executors, as they shall from time to time accrue and become due and payable, out of the residue of my estate.

The hospital, although chartered in 1870, did not begin operations until 1887. It is located on Fifteenth street NW., between R and S streets, on a half square (38,000 feet) given by Mr. Peirce, and now valued at $95,550. The delay in starting the institution was due to the difficulty in raising money to erect the necessary building. The sum of $31,500 having been secured, Congress appropriated $3,500, necessary to complete the building, the designs for which were prepared under the direction of John S. Billings, surgeon U. S. A.

Since its opening the hospital has cared for, up to 1897, 538 children, 108 of whom have been adopted, 34 being retained in the institution, and the remainder having died. Excepting in one instance, no child has been retained beyond the age of 6 years, the majority being adopted between the ages of 2 and 3 years. The capacity of the hospital being limited to 50, only white children are admitted.

The by-laws of the institution, adopted March 17, 1887, provide that

WASHINGTON HOSPITAL FOR FOUNDLINGS.

105 whenever the number of incorporators shall from any cause become less than 100, the remaining members shall, at an annual or special meeting, elect so many new members as shall be necessary to increase the total number of members to 100. It is provided that no officer, director, or visitor shall receive any compensation whatever for his or her services, but the matron, nurses, and servants are paid regular salaries. Each incorporator pays annually $5 in dues.

The Government makes an appropriation of $6,000 for maintenance, and from private sources in 1896 $1,923.43 was obtained, being the proceeds of dues, donations, and entertainments. Two directors, 1 male and 1 female, are elected each year to serve for five years, and until their successors are chosen. Fifty ladies make up the board of lady visitors, whose duty it is to visit the hospital and to unite with the finance committee of the board of directors in efforts to raise money for its needs.

Applications for admission are made to the matron, and children are received by her, subject to the approval of the executive committee. Children are received into the hospital upon personal application of the mothers, or of some responsible citizen who has personal knowledge of the case, no application being received after the child is 3 years old. The rules provide that in passing upon applications the present necessities of the mother, if living, the fact that she is not an habitual offender against chastity, that the father of the child has deserted it and the mother, and that the reception of the child would probably be the means of restoring the mother into the course of virtue and in the way of an honest livelihood, shall be considered.

No money is received for the admission of children, and no infant having infectious, incurable, or contagious diseases is admitted. The medical staff consists of a chief, elected by the directors, and two or more assistant physicians appointed by the chief of the staff, subject to the approval of the board of directors. The medical staff serve without compensation, and is subject to removal by the board of directors. At the time the hospital began operations, the directors were Dr. Z. T. Sowers, W. F. Mattingly, J. P. Klingle, M. M. Parker, Thomas J. Fisher, Miss H. Williamson, Mrs. Francis Colton, Mrs. W. H. Lamon, Mrs. H. M. Hutchinson, and Mrs. Frank B. Conger.

On the day the hospital was opened for the reception of children there were three admissions, and within three weeks the first child, a little over 2 years old, was adopted, and during the year two more were placed in homes. In 1888 eleven adoptions were made; in 1889, eight; in 1890, twelve; in 1891, sixteen; in 1892, seven; in 1893, thirteen; in 1894, nine; in 1895, five; and in 1896, seventeen; making a total of 101. The Peirce Guild have taken the responsibility of supplying the furnishings of the children's wards, including clothing. The board of lady visitors takes charge of the bed and table linen, and everything that relates to the domestic part of the asylum. During the continuance of

the Pansy Magazine, the Pansy societies throughout the country became interested in the institution, and for four years sent contributions from all over the world, varying from 25 cents to a 2-cent postage stamp, the total contributions from this source amounting to $440.88.

For two years the children were taken to the country home in the Rock Creek Park, but last year the finances of the institution did not permit this movement. From November, 1895, to February, 1896, the private fund was exhausted owing to the extra demands made by the diphtheria and scarlet fever epidemic, and this experience has impressed upon the management of the institution the necessity for an isolated ward. Besides the contributions in money, considerable amounts of clothing, furnishings, and provisions are sent to the hospital annually.