Chapter I: HEREBY certify, That . . . served in His Majesty’s . . . Regiment of

. . . Years, during which Time he conducted himself as a good Soldier; That he . . . {69}

* * * * *

I further certify, according to the best of my Knowledge and Belief, that the several Circumstances contained in the Petition on the preceding Page of this Paper are truly stated; and that the Applicant has no Parent capable of supporting Him; wherefore I recommend Him as an Object worthy of the benevolent Attention of the COMMISSIONERS of the ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM.

» Signature of the Officer †

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N.B. The Children to be admitted into this Institution must _be free from mental and bodily Defect or Infirmity_. They must be the Children of _Men actually serving in the_ REGULAR ARMY; or have been born, _before their Fathers ceased to serve therein_; and the Fathers, if living at the Time of Application, must either be still in the _Regular Service_, _or Out-Pensioners_.

The _Age_ of the FEMALES must not exceed TEN Years.

The _Age_ of the MALES must not exceed TWELVE Years.

CHILDREN under the _Age_ of FIVE Years will not be admitted, except when belonging to _Regiments ordered to embark for Foreign Stations_; or in the Case of ORPHANS, or under other Circumstances of _peculiar Distress_, which must be _specially stated_.

A MARRIAGE

FORMS OF APPLICATION, RECOMMENDATION, AND CERTIFICATES, FOR THE ADMISSION OF BOYS INTO THE ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM.

_To His Royal Highness the COMMANDER IN CHIEF_, _and Others His MAJESTY’S COMMISSIONERS for the Management of the Affairs of the Royal Military Asylum_.

THE HUMBLE PETITION of . . . in Behalf of . . . the Child of . . . Soldier in His Majesty’s . . . Regiment of . . . SHEWETH, that the said . . . is the lawful Child of . . . as by the annexed Certificates will appear. That . . . {70a}

* * * * *

Your Petitioner therefore humbly Prays, that the said . . . may be admitted into the ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM; and if this Prayer be granted, your Petitioner hereby agrees, that the said BOY shall remain in the Asylum as long as the Commissioners thereof shall think fit; and that, when of proper Age, he shall be disposed of at their Discretion, as an Apprentice, or Servant; or placed, with his own free Consent, as a Private Soldier, in the Regular Army.

† {70b}

CERTIFICATE

FOOTNOTES.

{69} Here state whether the Soldier is still in the Regiment; or dead; or discharged: if dead, whether he died in the Service; and, if discharged, the Date of his Discharge, and whether he was recommended to Chelsea.

{70a} Here state the Service and present Situation of the Father; the Situation of the Mother (if living), and Number and Age of their other Children (if any).

{70b} To be signed by the Parent, or Person who has Charge of the Child.