Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/215

Rh schedule which assigned the sum of thirty-two thousand piastres to the orphan fund. The walls of the church were erected on the ancient site; and the buildings annexed to it, together with the interior of the hospital, edified and restored.

The establishment, at the present time, may be said to be in a very flourishing state. The children are commodiously lodged; and nothing has been neglected that can contribute to the preservation of their health. The strictest attention is at the same time bestowed on the inculcation of their religious and moral duties. In a word, it may be said that the hospital has received a new existence, both with respect to its construction, and the form of its discipline. In addition to its numerous rents, other fixed incomes, and the adventitious alms, it enjoys the clear produce of the press established within its precincts, and entitled that of the foundlings, or orphans. In this press, which is incomparably the best in the capital, the Peruvian Mercury is printed. The very heavy charges incurred by its publication contribute in part to the support of these innocent creatures, the sight of whom, in the intercourse which we have necessarily to maintain with them, inspires us with the deepest compassion. We feel a lively pleasure when we reflect that our Mercury renders this small service to humanity, and to the country. This is one of the motives by which we have been influenced in fulfilling the engagement into which we have entered, to carry on our periodical work, the indispensable charges attendant on which are frequently not compensated by the public contributions, in payment and in gratitude, towards our unfortunate lucubrations.

The hospital has in its pay from eighty-five to ninety nurses,