coxe’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.

619

three times a week. I was particularly ftruck with the neatnefs of the rooms; eventhe nurferies were uncommonly clean, and without unwholefome fmells. No cradlesare allowed, and rocking is forbidden. The infants are not Twaddled according to thecuftom of the country, but loofely drefled.

The Director obligingly favoured us with his company, and fhewed us the foundlingsat their refpedtive works. On his appearance the children crowded round him ; femetook hold of his arm ; fome held by his coat; others killed his hand, and all expreffedthe higheft fatisfadlion. Thefe natural and unfeigned marks of regard were convincingproofs of his mildnefs and good-nature; for children, when ill tiled, naturally crouchbefore thofe who have the management of them. I could be no judge w’hether thechildren were well inltrudted, and the regulations well obferved ; but I was perfectlyconvinced, from their behaviour, that they were in general happy and contented, andperceived from their looks that they were remarkably healthy ; a circumftance owingto the uncommon care which is paid to cleanlinefs both in their perfons and rooms.

The foundlings are divided into feparate dalles according to their refpective ages.The children remain in the nurlery two years, at the end of which term they are admit-ted into the lowed; clafs; the boys and girls continue together until they are fevenyears of age, at which period they are feparated. Both fexes are inftrudted in reading,writing, and calling accounts. The boys are taught to knit, card hemp, flax, and wool,and to work in the different manufactories. The girls learn to knit, net, and performall kinds of needle-work j they fpin and weave lace, and are employed in cookery,baking, and houfe-work.

At the age of fourteen the foundlings enter into the firft clafs, and have the liberty ofchufing any particular branch of trade; for which purpol'e different fpecies of manu-factures are eltablilhed in the hofpital; the principal are embroidery, ftlk {lockings,ribbands, lace, gloves, buttons, and cabinet-work. A feparate room is appropriated toeach trade. Some are inftruCled in the French and German languages and a few ofthe boys in tne Latin tongue; others learn mufic, drawing, and dancing. About thffage of twenty, the foundlings receive a fum of money, and feveral other advantages,which enable them to follow their trade in any part of the empire: a confiderable pri-vilege in Rullia, where the peafants are Haves, and cannot leave their village without thepermiffion of their mailer.

In another vifit which I paid to this hofpital, I faw the foundlings at dinner: the girlsand boys dine feparately. The dining rooms, which are upon the ground-floor, arelarge and vaulted, and feparated from their work rooms. The firlt clafs fit at table,the refl Hand ; the little children are attended by fervants ; but thofe of the firft andfecond clafs alternately wait upon each other. The dinner confilled of beef and mut-ton boiled in broth, with rice ; I tailed both, which were remarkably good: the breadwas very fweet, and baked in the houfe, chiefly by the foundlings. Each foundling hasa napkin, pewter plate, knife, fork, and fpoon : the napkin and table-cloth are cleanthree times in the week. They rife at fix, dine at eleven, and fup at fix. The littlechildren have bread at feven, and at four. When employed in their neceflary occupa-tions, the utinoll freedom is allowed, and they are encouraged to be as much in the airas poflible. The whole was a lovely fight; and the countenances of the children ex-preffed the utmoll content and happinefs.

In the hofpital is a theatre, of which the decorations are the work of the foundlings :they conltrudted the Itage, painted the feenes, and made the dreffes. I was prefent atthe reprefentation of the Honnete Crimincl , and the comic opera he Devin da Village , bothtranflated into the Ruffian tongue. Not underltanding the language, 1 could be no

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