STATUTE I. The Name and Designation of the Ho­spital.

THIS Charitable Foundation shall be called the MAIDEN HOSPITAL, founded by the COMPANY of MER­CHANTS of EDINBURGH, and MARY ERSKINE; and, in all rights and wri­tings of importance, in which the Ho­spital is concerned, it shall be descri­bed by this designation, and no other.

STATUTE II. The Governours of the Hospital.

THE Management and Admini­stration of the affairs of the Ho­spital, and of all the Funds thereof, shall be in the following Council of Go­vernours, viz. the four Old Bailies, and Old Dean of Guild, who serve as such in the Town Council of Edinburgh; three Ministers of the Gospel of Edin­burgh or Suburbs, to be elected by the Ministers thereof; the Master of the Merchant Company of Edinburgh; three Assistants of the said Company to be e­lected by the Master, Assistants, and Treasurer thereof; and nine others, who have been Masters, Assistants, or Treasurers of the Company, or Bene­factors to the Hospital, to be elected by a General Meeting of the said Com­pany; the Treasurer of the Hospital, while he serves, without fee or salary; [Page 10]and, on account of the pious and cha­ritable MARY ERSKINE, two of the name of ERSKINE to be elected and presented yearly, in terms of the con­tract with her, making in all twenty-four Governours.

The Master of the Merchant Com­pany to be the Ordinary Preses.

Which twenty-four shall be perpetual Governours of the Hospital, for mana­ging and directing all its affairs, with power and authority to choose and ap­point a Governess, School-mistresses, and such officers and servants as may be necessary for education of the children and service of the House, and to dis­miss them when they shall see cause; to elect the children who are to be ad­mitted into the Hospital, and expell them for misbehaviour; to regulate the diet of the family, and to settle and di­rect the government thereof; with power also to make rules and bye-laws for the better administration and con­ducting the business of the Hospital, [Page 11]such rules being no way inconsistent with the statutes now ordained.

STATUTE III. The Election of Governours.

UPON the third Monday of Octo­ber yearly, the several Societies who have a right to elect Governours, as in the preceding statute, shall choose the respective number of persons afore­said, and a list of their names shall be given in by the clerk of the Hospital, on the last Monday of October, at a meeting of the Governours for the pre­ceding year.

In respect the old magistrates com­mence their serving as such, and are exauctorated before the last Monday of October, and that the annual election of office-men of the Merchant Company is some space of time before said day, it is provided, that they who served the [Page 12]preceding year shall continue Gover­nours until the last Monday of October yearly.

But none of the persons chosen Go­vernours, as above mentioned, shall en­ter on the administration, or have any voice or interest in the concerns of the Hospital, until he or they solemnly swear the following oath.

‘"I A. B. do faithfully swear and promise, before God, that, to the best of my knowledge and power, I shall carry and demean myself in all matters which concern the election of the officers and children, or any thing else, belonging to the Maiden Hospi­tal, founded by the Company of Mer­chants of Edinburgh and Mary Er­skine, truly and honestly; and, if I know any person going about to de­fraud or prejudge the said pious work, I shall obstruct it to my power, and reveal it to the Governours."’

After which, such of the former Go­vernours as are not continued, shall be honourably dismissed.

Then the Preses shall exhort the new Governours to make conscience of their duty in the government of the Hospi­tal, and, for that purpose, regularly to attend the quarterly and other Meet­ings, and to visit the Hospital during the months appointed them; and one of the ministers present shall exhort the Children, the Governess, the Mistresses, and others, having charge of the edu­cation of the young people in the Ho­spital, to attend to their respective du­ties, faithfully as in the sight of God.

STATUTE IV. The Meetings and Quorum of the Go­vernours.

FOR the management of the Ho­spital, and the administration of all its affairs, there shall be seven stated [Page 14]Meetings of the Governours yearly, viz. Quarterly Meetings on the third Mon­days of January, April, July, and Octo­ber; the last Monday of October for passing the Treasurer's annual accounts, and receiving the new Governours; and the last Mondays of November and May for electing girls into the Hospital. But the Preses, and, in his absence, the Treasurer, may call other Meetings, as often as the business of the Hospital shall require.

No Meeting of the Governours can proceed to business, unless there shall be present at least eight of their num­ber, including the Preses, who are de­clared to be a quorum. In absence of the Ordinary Preses, the Old Dean of Guild shall preside; in his absence, the first of the Old Bailies; in absence of all these, a Preses shall be chosen for the time; and, whatever shall be concluded on by a majority of those present, shall stand in full force; the Preses to have [Page 15]the first, and, in case of an equality of voices, a casting vote.

All Meetings of the Governours for the business of the Hospital, Commit­tees excepted, shall be held in the Hall appointed for the Governours, unless unavoidably impeded. And all the Go­vernours shall be warned to every Meeting by the Officer of the Merchant Company, who is to serve as Officer to the Hospital, by delivering a billet at each of their dwelling-houses the day before the Meeting at latest. He shall be paid by the Treasurer the quarterly sum of [...]

STATUTE V. The Election and Duty of Treasurer.

ON the third Monday of October yearly, the Governours of the Ho­spital shall choose a sufficient Merchant in Edinburgh to be Treasurer of the [Page 16]Hospital for one year; but he may be continued for two or more years, if the Governours think fit to elect him of new yearly. Before he is admitted to the exercise of his office, he shall solemnly swear the oath following:

‘"I A. B. elected Treasurer to the Maiden Hospital, founded by the Company of Merchants in Edinburgh and Mary 'Erskine, do swear, and faithfully promise, with my best skill and power, to discharge all that is re­quired of me by the Statutes of the said Hospital, truly and honestly. So help me God."’

The Treasurer's office is to receive all the Hospital's rents, and interest of money; to keep all the stock and mo­ney belonging to the Hospital; and to uplift and re-employ principal sums, as directed by the Governours; to pay all wages and salaries due from the Hospi­tal; to provide and pay all necessaries [Page 17]for the Children and the House; to fur­nish the Governess with money for buy­ing provisions, and to take in her ac­count thereof monthly; to attend to the repairs of the building; to observe the conduct of the Governess, Mistresses, and Servants; and, if necessary, re­port his opinion thereof to the Gover­nours of the Hospital.

He shall make out the accounts of his payments quarterly, fairly written in a book, which he shall deliver to the Auditors, so as they may examine the accounts, and, with their reports, lay them before the Governours at the Quarterly Meetings, for approbation, and to be allowed in his Annual Ac­count. He shall also make out and de­liver to the Auditors the whole Account of his year's intromissions with the Stock and Revenue of the Hospital, to be exa­mined and reported by them to the Governours, at their meeting on the last Monday of October; and, after that Account and Report are approved by [Page 18]the Governours, they shall discharge the Treasurer of his intromissions, the Account and Report shall be fully co­pied into the record of the Treasurer's Accounts, and, in case of a change, signed by the Treasurer accounting, and his successor in office; the discharged Account to remain with the Old Trea­surer for his exoneration. The Gover­nours shall finish their approbation of said Account before the admission of their Successors, that the Treasurer's Accounts may be judged by those who knew how he has acted. At his remo­val, he shall deliver up to the succeed­ing Treasurer all the Accounts and Pa­pers belonging to his office, together with all the Rights and Writings of e­very sort that belong to, or any way concern the Hospital; of which Wri­tings and Papers two inventories shall be made and signed by the Old and New Treasurers, one to be kept by each of them.

If the Treasurer shall die, or be re­moved, before the annual expiration of his office, the Governours shall, within a month after his death, or removal, elect another, according to the terms of this Statute.

STATUTE VI. The Election and Duty of Auditors.

ON the last Monday of October yearly, the new Governours of the Hospital shall choose four Audi­tors of the Treasurer's and all other Accounts which concern the Hospital; of which Auditors, one shall be an old magistrate, one a minister, and two o­thers, all Governours for the time, who shall take the same oath as the Treasu­rer, mutatis mutandis; and, if any one of them shall not accept, or happen to die, the Governours, at their first meeting [Page 20]thereafter, shall elect onother in his stead.

The Auditors, or any two of them, shall examine the Treasurer's Quarter­ly Accounts at the end of every quar­ter, and deliver to the Governours, at each Quarterly Meeting, the Account for the three last months, written in a Book, containing all the particular sums paid during that time, with their report thereon subscribed, which shall be publicly read, the Account either comptrolled or allowed, and the appro­bation thereof signed by the Preses and Clerk, with these words: 'By order of the Governours.' On the last Monday of October yearly, the Audi­tors shall deliver to the Governours in Council the Account of the Treasurer's intromissions for the whole preceding year, with their report thereon, which shall be read publicly, and the Account comptrolled or allowed, as the Quarterly Accounts. The benefactors to the Ho­spital, their heirs and representatives, [Page 21]may, if they please, be present at audi­ting the Treasurer's Accounts.

STATUTE VII. The Election, Office, and Duty of a Clerk.

THE Clerk of the Hospital shall be chosen by the Governours, and continue in office during their pleasure only. His office and duty is to keep in order all the Writings and Papers be­longing to the Hospital, to attend the Governours at their meetings, to minute their sederunts, to draw their orders and resolutions, and to keep a clear and distinct record or digest of all their pro­ceedings, marking down in the margin of each sederunt every thing material done at the meeting. He shall have the benefit of drawing all manner of securities and writings which shall occur in the course of the business, and shall [Page 22]receive no greater fee than is usually paid to the writers to the signet, or town clerks of Edinburgh, in like cases. Before his admission to the office, he shall take the oath de fideli, the same as the Treasurer. Upon his death or re­moval, the Governours shall proceed within a month to the election of ano­ther Clerk, in terms of this Statute. He shall be paid quarterly the sum of [...]

STATUTE VIII. The Election, Qualifications, Charge, and Duty of Governess.

AN unmarried woman of good cha­racter, and of the established re­ligion of the country, shall be chosen Governess of the Hospital. She must be free of the burden of Children, not under thirty-five, nor above fifty years of age, and well qualified for all the duties of the office. She shall have the [Page 23]charge and superintendance of the whole house and family, and be ac­countable for her management to the Governours. In this she shall strictly ob­serve the Rules for the government and order of the House appointed by the Governours of the Hospital the twenty-seventh day of May seventeen hun­dred and seventy-six, or such other Rules as they shall afterwards ordain. That, after considering the Statutes and Rules of the Hospital, a copy of which shall be previously given her, she shall, in the presence of the Governours, so­lemnly take the following oath:

‘"I A. B. elected Governess of the Maiden Hospital founded by the Com­pany of Merchants of Edinburgh and Mary Erskine, do swear, and faithfully promise, before God, that, to the best of my power, I shall discharge all that the Statutes and Rules of the Hospi­tal require of me, and shall do my best to see them observed by all o­thers [Page 24]under my care and inspection; and I promise faithful obedience to the present Governours of the Hospital, and their successors in office."’

After which, she shall, in the pre­sence of the Mistresses, Children, and Servants, be publicly declared Gover­ness over them, and they commanded to yield her all respectful obedience, on pain of being expelled the Hospital.

She having the whole charge of the House committed to her, shall keep an exact Inventory of the household fur­niture and linens, and deliver the same to the Treasurer, before making up his annual Accounts. She shall be also careful to keep the furniture, with all the apartments of the house, neat, clean, and in good order, and shall not be any night out of the Hospital with­out leave of the Preses, or the Treasu­rer, or two of the Governours.

If, at any time, the Governess shall marry, her place shall thereby become [Page 25]void. The Governour may also re­move her from her office at any time, and for any cause they think she de­serves to be dismissed. If, through in­firmity, old age, or otherwise, she shall become unable to discharge her duty, which shall be made unquestionably to appear to the Governours, then she shall be respectfully dismissed from her office; but, if she hath served in it any considerable time, ten years at least, and be not able to maintain herself, she shall be allowed suitable lodging and maintenance in the Hospital during life, or, in the option of the Governours, such an annual pension, out of the House, as they shall judge proper.

In case of a vacancy in this office, the Governours shall, with all convenient expedition, inquire after and elect a new Governess. She shall be paid quarterly the sum of [...]

STATUTE IX. The Qualifications, Election, and Duty of the Schoolmistresses.

THERE shall be chosen as many Schoolmistresses as the Gover­nours think the number of girls in the House require. They must be unmar­ried, free of the burden of children, not under twenty-five, nor above forty years of age, of good character, of the established religion of the country, and well qualified for all the duties of their office. They shall teach the children to read, to sew coloured and white seam, the washing and dressing of li­nens, and such other parts of educa­tion as belong to their different depart­ments, and are pointed out to them by the Governours. They shall also have an eye over the morals and manners of the children, and correct those under their care for their faults. They shall [Page 27]be careful to see the schools and cham­bers kept clean, and in good order, and the children neat and clean in their per­sons and clothes. They shall strictly observe the Rules appointed by the Go­vernours for the management and or­der of the House, and, in all the duties of their office, shall be subject to the di­rection of the Governess, to whom they must give a respectful obedience, and set an example thereof to the children and servants.

The Schoolmistresses may be dismissed in the same manner as the Governess; and their office shall become void on marriage. In like manner, they may be rewarded for long and faithful service, of twenty years at least, if the Gover­nour shall think fit. On the marriage, dismission, or death of a Schoolmistress, the Governours shall inquire after and elect another with all proper expedition. Each Mistress shall be paid quarterly the sum of [...]

STATUTE X. A Master, or Masters, to teach Writing and Arithmetic, Church Music, and Reading. A Chaplain, to say Pray­ers, and catechise the Children.

AS, from the increased number of girls now in the House, it is found impracticable for the Governess or Mistresses faithfully to discharge their respective duties, and, at the same time, to teach them to write and to cast ac­compts, to sing church-music, and to read with propriety, the Governours may therefore choose Masters for these different branches of education, to at­tend at such hours as they shall judge proper. The teacher of writing and a­rithmetic shall be paid quarterly the sum of [...] and the teacher of church­music and reading the sum of [...]

For the same reason, the Governours may choose a Chaplain regularly to say [Page 29]prayers in the Hospital, and also to ca­techise and instruct the children in the principles of religion, in such days, and at such hours, as they shall appoint. He shall be paid quarterly the sum of [...]

Neither the Teaching Masters nor Chaplain shall reside in the Hospital.

STATUTE XI. The Qualifications and Election of Poor Children.

THERE shall be chosen and ad­mitted into the Hospital so many Girls as the stated and certain revenue shall be able to maintain and educate, with the reservation after provided. They shall be the children or grandchildren of such who are or were merchants, burgesses of Edinburgh, or ministers of Edinburgh, Canongate, Leith, or West Church, or who have been Governours of, or be­nefactors [Page 30]to the Hospital; reserving to Patrons their right of presenting any Girls who are objects of charity, un­less, by the patronage, it be otherwise restricted, providing they present with­in a year after every vacancy, other­wise the presentation shall fall pro ista vice, and the Governours may elect a Girl to supply the vacancy, qualified as above expressed.

It is provided, that no girls be chosen or presented, either on patronage, or o­therwise, who are under seven, or above eleven years of age. They must be wholesome, and sound in body and mind at their entry to the Hospital; and, seeing the intention of this foun­dation is only to relieve the poor, none are to be chosen or admitted, until it is certified to the Governours that the pa­rents are unable to maintain them, or that the children have not whereupon to maintain themselves; and the Go­vernours are strictly required, on their consciences, to choose none but such as [Page 31]are objects of this charity. It is also specially recommended to the Gover­vours, not to receive into the Hospital a greater number of children than they can reasonably suppose the stated and clear revenue will easily maintain and educate, after the reservation of a cer­tain part thereof, to be added to stock, for incidental expences, and for build­ing a new Hospital, when found neces­sary, as the present House is very old.

The ordinary election of Girls shall be twice in the year, viz. the last Mon­days of November and May, when it is to be considered by the Governours what vacancies there are, and how ma­ny the certain and stated revenue of the Hospital, making a reserve as above, is able to maintain, that so many, quali­fied as above expressed, may be chosen. They shall have lodging, diet, clothing, washing, and common fires allowed them, besides education, suitable to the design of this charitable institution.

The Girls may continue in the Ho­spital until they are seventeen years of age, and no longer; but, should any of them be guilty of any immorality or misbehaviour, or be disobedient to the Mistresses, they may be put out of the Hospital, if the Governours shall think they deserve to be expelled.

It is appointed and declared, that the ministers of Edinburgh, Canongate, Leith, and West Church, who have been very instrumental in promoting the interest of the Hospital, and their successors in office, shall jointly have the presentation of two girls in all time coming; the one unlimited, the other limited to a daughter or grand-daughter of a merchant-burgess of Edinburgh, or minister of the church of Scotland. And it is likewise hereby declared, that the successors of the worthy Mary Er­skine shall, in all time coming, have the presentation of four girls, qualified in terms of the contract before mentioned.

STATUTE XII. For securing the Stock and Estate, and safe keeping of Rights and Writings belonging to the Hospital.

IN respect frequent losses fall out in lending money, it is appointed that no money belonging to the Hospital shall be laid out or employed, but by warrant of the Governours, voted by way of balloting, and that either for purchasing land, or on sufficient heri­table bonds, or to the city of Edin­burgh, on the public security, or to two or more responsible persons, bound, conjunctly and severally, provided the sum lent to them do not exceed five hundred pounds Sterling.

And that the rights, securities, and other writings, may be safe, and kept in good order, it is appointed that they shall be lodged in the press now fitted [Page 34]up, fire proof, in the New Hall of the Hospital.

STATUTE XIII. The Salaries due from the Hospital.

THE Salaries of the Clerk and Of­ficer, of the Governess, School­mistresses, Teaching Masters, and Chap­lain, payable quarterly, and left blank in the Statutes, shall be appointed and filled up by the Governours, after due conside­ration and experience, of what may be suitable to be allowed for the time, which may be augmented or diminished after­wards, as they shall see cause. And none bearing office, or serving in the Hospital, shall take any gift or perqui­site from the children, their parents, or friends, on pain of deprivation.

STATUTE XIV. Power reserved to the Contributors for revising and altering the Statutes.

FOR the better establishing and im­proving the government of the Hospital, it shall be lawful for the do­nors and contributors, their heirs and representatives, to meet by themselves or proxies, in the Hall of the Hospital, as often as they shall find it necessary, or be desired by the Governours, for the purpose of revising or altering the Statutes, there being always present at such meetings at least fifteen donors and contributors, whose donations and mor­tifications amount to twenty thousand pounds Scots; and it shall be lawful for them to reconsider the foresaid Sta­tutes and Rules, and alter or innovate the same, or add thereto, as they shall judge proper, keeping always the origi­nal purposes of the Institution in view; [Page 36]and the articles agreed on between the Governours and Mary Erskine, con­tained in the contract before mention­ed; providing that such alterations, in­novations, or additions, be agreed to by at least two thirds of the persons pre­sent, and subscribed by them. And, in case, at any of the said meetings, there shall not be a full quorum, as above mentioned, it shall be lawful to such as have met to adjourn from time to time, until they get a full quorum, and pro­ceed as above.

And it is further ordained, that it shall be competent to the donors and contributors, or one appointed by them, to inspect the accounts and manage­ment of the Hospital; and, for that purpose, the necessary accounts and pa­pers shall lie open to their inspection on the first Monday of November yearly, from the hour of ten in the morning to two o'clock afternoon, in the Hall of the Hospital.