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him. More free from frailty himself than most men, he was charitable and lenient in his judgment of others; and although always doing some good, declining the praise attached to it. Such a character (though it might be his wish to pass unnoticed to the grave) ought surely to be held forth to the imitation of others. One not connected with the family, will therefore, it is hoped, give no offence, by offering this humble and imperfect record of those virtues, that won the regard and esteem of all who knew him; and which ensure him that reward promised by Him who went about doing good; and to whom we are never more acceptable than when employed in those acts of benevolence to our fellow-creatures, which so strongly marked the exalted and benevolent character of Sir Walter Farquhar. He died 21st of March, 1819, aged eighty-one.

ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM.

The Royal Military Asylum for the Children of Soldiers of the Regular Army of Britain, is situated near the Royal Hospital, on the North-East; the principal or Western front faces the Park to the North of the Royal Hospital. It was built by Mr. Copland, from the designs of Mr. Sanders.

On the 19th day of June, 1801, the first stone of this elegant structure was laid by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, accompanied by many General Officers, and a considerable number of the Nobility. The motives which gave rise to the establishment, and the principles upon which it is founded, are alike honourable to the present enlightened age, and congenial with the soundest maxims of policy, humanity, and benevolence. The necessity of such an Institution will appear obvious, when we consider the helpless and forlorn condition of many among these orphan objects of commiseration, who in this comfortable asylum are clothed, have good wholesome food, acquire a decent education, are taught Gent. Mag. vol. 89. p. 375.

the principles of Christianity, and, finally, are made useful in whatever course of life they may be enabled to adopt.

Having observed thus much respecting the object of this Institution, we will now endeavour to present our readers with an accurate description of the spacious building.

It is environed with high walls, and a handsome iron railing opens towards the grand front; the ground is laid out in grass plots and gravel walks, and planted with trees. The edifice forms three sides of a quadrangle; it is built of brick, with an elegant stone balustrade in the centre of the Western front, which is ornamented with a noble portico of the Doric order, consisting of four columns, which support a large and well-proportioned pediment. On the frieze is the following inscription :

THE ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM FOR THE CHILDREN OF SOLDIERS OF THE REGULAR ARMY.

Over it are the Imperial arms. The North and South wings are joined to the principal front by a colonade, which forms a good shelter for the children in wet weather.

The Vestibule is in the centre of the grand front. On the left and right are the Dining Halls, eighty feet long and thirty feet wide; near which the boys wash themselves every morning, in two stone chambers built for the purpose, each of which is furnished with a good cold bath.

Over the Dining Halls are the School Rooms, of the same dimensions, where they are taught to read, write, and cast accounts. The school hours, in the morning, are from half-past nine till twelve; and from half-past two till five in the afternoon.

The Committee Room is over the Vestibule; here the Board meets quarterly, and the Committee whenever occasion requires.

The North wing contains the apartments of the Commandant and Surgeons, and Dormitories for the Boys. The South wing contains the apartments of the Chaplain, Quarter-Master, and Dormitories for the Boys.

The Chapel is built in a style of architecture corres

ponding with the Asylum; it was consecrated in 1824, by Dr. Howley, Bishop of London, and is calculated to contain the whole of the establishment, with accommodation for about one hundred and fifty strangers.

The Girls were removed to Southampton in 1823, and the four hundred Boys in that institution were removed to Chelsea; so that now the latter contains only Boys, one thousand in number; and the former only Girls, four hundred in number.

All the clothes, viz. shirts, caps, shoes, and every thing they wear, are made by the Boys. The children who have been apprenticed from the Asylum, upon the expiration of their apprenticeship, receive a reward of five guineas, if they bring a certificate of good conduct from their master.

Regulations and Internal Economy. The affairs of the Royal Military Asylum are regulated by Commissioners appointed by the King's sign manual, who hold four Quarterly Boards in every year. The general business transacted at these Boards is, the appointment of officers, approval of contracts, examination of accounts, and applications to Parliament for the sums of money necessary for the support of the Institution. The Board also selects the children for admission, who are chosen by the following scale: orphans, or those whose fathers have been killed, or have died on foreign stations; those who have lost their mothers, and whose fathers are absent on duty abroad; those whose fathers are ordered on foreign service, or whose parents have other children to maintain.

The merit of the father, as to regimental character, is always considered a principal recommendation. None are admitted but children born in wedlock, of warrant and non-commissioned Officers, and Soldiers of the Regular Army. Every child admitted into this Institution must be free at the time from mental or bodily infirmity. The parents or friends who apply for the admission of children are required to sign their consent to the stay of such children in the Asylum as long as the Commissioners may judge proper, and to their removal,