book chefs, namely, with four perfons at the fame time, tw®
againft two; and for this purpofe the board is longer than ufu~
al, contains more men, and is provided with a greater number
of fquares. I-was informed, that this method is more
difficult, but far more agreeable, than the common game.
Among the public inftitutions of Mofcow, the moil remarkable
is the Foundling Hofpital, endowed in 1 7 64 by
the prefent emprefs, and Supported ‘by voluntary contributions
and legacies, and other charitable gifts. In order to
encourage donation^, her majefty grants to all benefactors
fome valuable privileges, and acertain degree of rank in proportion
to the extent of their liberality. Among the prinr
cjpal contributors muft be mentioned a private merchant,
named Dimidof*, a perfon of great wealth, who has expended
in favour of this charity above £100,000. The
hofpital, which is fituated in a very airy part of the
town upon a gentle afeent near the river Mofkva, is an im-
menfe pile of building of a quadrangular fhape, part of
which was only finifhed when we were at Mofcow. It contained,
at that time, 3000 foundlings ; and, when the whole
is completed, will receive 8000.
The children are brought to the porter’s lodge, and admitted
without any recommendation. 'The rooms are lofty
and large; the dormitories, which are feparate -from the
work rooms, are very airy, and the beds are not -crouded:
each foundling, even each infant, has a feparate bed ; the
bedfteads áre of iron ; the iheet-s are changed every week,
and the linen three times a week. In going over the rooms,
i was particularly ft-ruck with their neatnefs ; even the nurseries
.being uncommonly clean, and without any unwhole-
* The anceflors o f this gentleman fir ft difcovered and worked the richefi mines of
Siberia; from whence his family acquired iujmenfe riches,.
fome fmells. No-cradles are allowed, and rocking is par- chap.
ticularly forbidden. The infants are not fwaddled accord- ■ Vh' ■
ing to the cuftom of the country, but loofely drefled.
The diredtor obligingly favoured us with his company,,
and ihowed us the foundlings at their refpedlive works.
Immediately upon his appearance the children crouded
round h im ; fome took hold of his arm; fome held by his^
coat; others luffed his-hand, and they all expreffed the
higheil:fattsfadlion. Theie natural and unfeigned marks of
regard were the moitconvincing proofsmf his mildnefs and"
good-nature ; for children, when ill ufed, naturally crouch
before thofe who have the management of them.. I could’
be no judge merely in vifiting the hofpital, w d ie th e r . the
children were ,well initrudted, and the regulations well ob -
ferved; butT was perfedlly convinced, from their behaviour,,
that they were in general happy and contented, and could
perceive from their looks that they were remarkably healthy. .
This latter circumilance muft be owing to the uncommon
care, which is paid to cleanlinefs both in their perfons and-
rooms.
The foundlings-are divided into feparate daffes-, according
to their refpedlive ages. The children remain two years in■
the nurfery, when they are admitted into the loweft clafs ;
the boys and girls continue together until they are feverf
years of age, at which time they are feparated-,. They all
learn to read, write, and'call accoun ts.. The boys are taught
to knit ; they occafionally card hemp, flax, and wool, and
work in the different manufadiures. The girls learn to knit,
net, and all kinds of needle-work; they fpin and weaver
lace; they are employed in cookery, baking, and houfe-work.
of all forts,
It