Note 2 — CATALOGUE OF HOGARTH'S PRINTS.[1] (continued 2)

Mr. Coram was bred to the sea, and spent the first part of his life as master of a vessel trading to our colonies. While he resided in that part of the metropolis which is the common residence of seafaring people, business often obliging him to come early into the city and return late; he had frequent occasions of seeing young children exposed, through the indigence or cruelty of their parents. This excited his compassion so far, that he projected The Foundling Hospital; in which humane design he laboured 17 years, and at last, by his sole application, obtained the royal charter for it.[A] He died at his lodgings near Leicester-Square, March 29, 1751, in his 84th year: and was interred under the chapel of the Foundling Hospital, where the following inscription perpetuates his memory:

"Captain Thomas Coram, whose Name will never want a Monument so long as this Hospital shall subsist, was born about the year 1668; a Man eminent in that most eminent Virtue, the Love of Mankind; little attentive to his private Fortune, and refusing many Opportunities of encreasing it, his Time and Thoughts were continually employed in endeavours to promote the public Happiness, both in this Kingdom and elsewhere, particularly in the Colonies of North America; and his Endeavours were many Times crowned with the desired Success. His unwearied Solicitation, for above Seventeen Years together, (which would have battled the Patience and Industry of any Man less zealous in doing Good) and his Application to Persons of Distinction of both Sexes, obtained at Length the Charter of the Incorporation (bearing Date the 17th of October, 1739) For the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Young Children, by which many Thousands of Lives may be preserved to the Public, and employed in a frugal and honest Course of Industry. He died the 29th of March, 1731, in the 84th Year of his Age, poor in worldly Estate, rich in good Works; was buried, at his own Desire, in the Vault underneath this Chapel; (the first here deposited) at the East End thereof; many of the Governors and other Gentlemen attending the Funeral, to do Honour to his Memory. Reader, thy Actions will shew whether thou art sincere in the Praises thou may'st bestow on him; and if thou hast Virtue enough to commend his Virtues, forget not to add also the Imitation of them."

[A] For his other charitable projects, see Biog. Dict. 1784, vol. IV. p. 120.