AN ACCOUNT OF THE Westminster New Lying-in Hospital, Begun and finished under the Patronage of the Right Honorable Earl PERCY, President. Sir Edward Astley, Bart. Sir Joseph Mawbey, Bart. Major General Williamson. Vice Presidents John Crewe Esqr. Thomas Dundas, Esqr. Thomas Hearne Esqr. IN the Year 1765, Dr. John Leake, of Craven-street, in the Strand (a Member of the College of Physicians, London) purchas’d a Piece of Ground on a Building Lease on the Surry Side of Westminster Bridge, and afterwards presented to the Public the Original Plan for the Institution of this Hospital:-As soon as the Hospital was built, by Public Subscription on the above Ground, he voluntarily, and and without any Consideration whatever, assign’d over to fix Trustees chosen by the Governors at a General Meeting all his Right and claim to the above Premises, in Favor of this Charity; otherwise, in Case it had not continued to subsist, the Building rais’d on his Ground wou’d have legally become his own Property. Being honor’d with the Patronage of the Right Honorable Earl Percy, to- gether with several Gentlemen of Rank and Distinction, and being also favor’d with the Assistance of his Friends and the Public, which he is desirous most respectfully to acknowledge, he at last had the Satisfaction of seeing this charitable Design carried into Execution, after the repeated Exertion of his utmost Endeavours, to that end.. The Institution of this Charity is principally designed for the Relief of those Child- bearing Women who are the Wives of poor industrious Tradesmen or distress’d House-keepers, who, either from unavoidable Misfortunes or the Expence of main- taining large Families, are reduced to real Want: Also for the Reception and im- mediate Relief of indigent Soldiers and Sailors Wives, the former, in particular, being very numerous in and about the City of Westminster; but it being represented to the Governors of this Hospital, that great Hardships do arise to poor Women with Child, who, from their Inability to produce Certificates of their Marriage are excluded else- where; in order to remove such Inconveniences, and to render this Charity more ex- tensively useful, they have unanimously resolv'd, at a General Meetings, not to require any Certificates of Marriage towards the Admission of such Women, as are other- wife properly recommended as Objects of real Want;—but least the Perversion of this Circumstance should tend to encourage Licentiousness, they have thought proper to limit this Indulgence to the first Time only, in which, such Women have been unwarily seduced from the Paths of Virtue.—This Resolution, being founded in Humanity, the Governors have no Doubt, will meet with the Approbation of the Public, as several Melancholly Instances have occur’d where unfortunate Women, when shut out from all Shelter,—destitute of Hope, Money, or Friends,—overwhelm’d with Shame, and wounded with Contrition for their past Indiscretion, have been driven to a state of Dispair by such complicated Misery, and were tempted to destroy themselves or to murder their Infants. It is much to be lamented, that many of those poor Creatures who lie-in at their own wretched Habitations, from their extreme Poverty, and the high Price of Provi- sions, are often bereft of such Comforts as tend to the immediate Preservation of their own Lives, as well as those of their Infants, who, in due time, might become service- able to their Country. A midst the Severity of the coldest Seasons, they are often de- stitute of Firing, warm Cloatbing, or sufficient Nourishment; and besides, are frequently in want of proper Care and Nursing, till the Perils of Child-bed are over:—The Evil does not always end here;—because, in præternatural Labours, or Cases of absolute Danger, where extraordinary Skill is required, the poor Sufferer for want of proper Advice and Assistance, sometimes dies undelivered. In short, were the Generous and Humane but Eye-Witnesses of the Wretchedness, and Want, that many poor Women undergo at this critical Juncture, when they most stand in need of Tenderness and Indulgence; a Representation of this Kind would almost become unnecessary;-for, nothing would more powerfully excite their Compassion, or enforce their Bounty, towards the Establishment and Support of this Charity. To the Sanction and humane Consideration of the Ladies, this Charity is recom- mended by the Governors in a particular manner; especially to those who are Mo- thers themselves, and have experienced the Fears and Sufferings of that Condition which attends the Objects of their Bounty, As no one is so rich, but he may become poor, nor any one so happy, as to ex- clude the Possibility of becoming miserable; tis earnestly hoped that all such as have been successful in the World, and live in Affluence and Plenty, will not withhold their Assistance from the Poor and Needy; but chearfully spare them a little, as a grateful Acknowledgement to Providence for their own happier Fate. These Hints are submitted to the Good and Great of both Sexes, to whom it would be an Indignity to point out further Motives for this Institution; since those who are influenced by the Divine Spirit of Charity, follow not the Dictates of others, but of their own benevolent Hearts. This Charity, from its general Utility, having hitherto met with great Encourage- ment from the Public, tis hoped, by the Governors, that many of the Nobility and Others, and also that Gentlemen of Rank both in the Army and Navy, will follow the laudable Example of those, by whose generous and charitable Assistance the whole Building is now raised; being One Hundred Feet in Front, and large enough to contain Seventy Beds, or thereabouts. The Governors also think it proper to acquaint the Public, that altho’ the Benefac- tions and Subscriptions already received, have enabled them to finish the Building, the Centre of which, for upwards of twelve Months past, has been open for the Re- ception of In-Patients; a great Number of which, have, already, been deliver’d and reliev’d there, many of whom were in the utmost Distress and must, otherwise, have been destitute, especially those who were unable to produce Marriage Certificates; yet a considerable Sum of Money is still wanted to furnish the inside of the Wings; which, the Governors also hope, thro’ the Assistance of the Public-spirited and Humane to complete and open in a short Time, according to the Plan originally proposed. Dr. Leake being unanimously elected Physician to this Hospital, attends in all præternatural Labours or Cases of real Danger, where extraordinary Assistance is re- quir’d, and in order to extend the Benefits of this Charity (at the Request of the Governors) he will also give Advice every Friday at twelve o’clock at the said Hos- pital, to such Poor, as shall then offer themselves as Out-Patients, with a Recom- mendation from Governors or Subscribers, for Relief in the several Disorders incident to Child-bearing Women or Infants, and to whom, proper Medicines will also be dispensed according to the Exigence of their several Complaints. Subscriptions are received at the Hospital, near Westminster Bridge;—at Richard Dixons, Esqr. near Buckingham-Gate, Treasurer;—at Mess. Drummonds, and Co. at Charing-Cross; and at Mess. Fullers, and Co. Bankers, in Birchin-Lane, Cornbill; at all which Places, a Printed Account of the Present State of this Charity may be had. Every Benefactor of Fifty Pounds, One Hundred Pounds, or more, will be un- limitted with Respect to the Number of Lying-in Patients, as well as those recom- mended to the Hospital Weekly for Advice in the several Disorders incident to Child-bearing Women or Infants. Privilege of Governors & Subscribers. Benefactors Benefactors of Thirty Guineas, at one Time, will be deem’d Governors for Life, and may yearly recommend Five In-Patients, and one Out Patient, Weekly, for Advice. Every Gentleman or Lady subscribing Five Guineas annually, becomes a Governor, and may recommend Five Lying-in Patients yearly, and Out-Patients as above. Subscribers of Three Guineas, may recommend Two In-Patients, and One Out- Patient for weekly Advice. Subscribers of Two Guineas, may recommend One Patient into the Hospital, and Out-Patients, as above. The Business of this Hospital is regularly transacted by the Governors at a Boara held at the said Hospital every Tuesday at twelve o’Clock, precisely, where the Attendance of Governors or Subscribers will be deem’d a valuable Addition to their Subscription;—and, as seversal. Letters of Recommendation are frequently obtain’d from Governors or Subscribers by Women whom they have not an Op- portunity of seeing or asking Questions;—the Governors, &c. are desired to observe, that the Weekly Board has a discretionary Powder to make a proper Enquiry of the Patients then presenting, respecting the Nature of their Circumstances, in Order to prevent the Admission of those, who are not found to be real Objects of Distress, or who do not come within the true Intent and Meaning of this Charity. Note, No Governor or Subscriber can have more than One Patient in the House, at a Time, and they are particularly requested not to sign any Letters of Recom- mendation, except for those Women who are in the last Month of Pregnancy. The Governors have given Orders to the Matron, to wait on such Ladies round the Wards as are pleas’d to view the Hospital, or to see the Treatment of the Patients, several of whom, from their health; Appearance and decent Behaviour are frequently recommended as proper Wet-Nurses; a List of such Women, only, being kept for that Purpose. The following Form is humbly recommended to those, who, by their lasl Will, or any Codicil thereto, are disposed to bequeath any Legacy for the Benefit of this Hospital, as yet in it’s infant State, viz. Item. I Give and bequeath unto A. B. and C. D. the Sum of upon Trust, and to the Intent, that they, or one of them, do pay the same to the Treasurer for the time being of a Society, who now call themselves the Go- vernors of The Westminster New Lying-in Hospital near Westminster Bridge; which said sum of I will, and desire, may be paid out of my Personal Estate, and applied towards carrying on the charitable Designs of the said Society. By the Statute of Mortmain, charitable Bequests of Manors, Lands, or Money, if directed to be laid out in Lands, are void, unless by Deed indented and executed before two Witnesses, at least Twelve Months before the decease of the Donor, and inrolled within Six Months next after the Execution of the same. The Patients are attended by A Physician Man Midwife. A Physician Man Midwife extraordinary. A Consulting Physician. A Surgeon. Two Visiting Apothecaries, and A Matron.