orare_. Refuges had been formed, at Chelsea for
girls, and at Clapham for women, while the Ladies' Society and the
convict-ships demanded funds incessantly. A fancy sale was held in
Crosby Hall, "conducted in a sober, quiet manner," which realized over a
thousand pounds for these charities. After recording the fact with
thankfulness, Mrs. Fry paid her second visit to the Continent, going as
far as Switzerland on her errand of mercy.

At Paris she was received affectionately by those friends who had
listened to her voice on her previous visit. Baron de Girando and other
philanthropists gathered around her, oblivious of the distinctions of
creeds and churches, and bent only on accomplishing a successful crusade
against vice and misery.

Among the hospitals inspected by her were the hospital of St. Louis for
the plague, leprosy, and other infectious disorders; the Hospice de la
Maternite, and the Hospice des Enfans Troves. This latter was founded by
St. Vincent de Paul for the bringing up of foundlings, but had fallen
into a state of pitiable neglect. From the unnatural treatment which
these poor waifs received, the mortality had reached a frightful pitch.
It seemed, from Mrs. Fry's statements, that the little creatures were
bound up for hours together, being only released from their "swaddlings"
once in every twelve hours for any and every purpose. The sound in the
wards could only be compared to the faint and pitiful bleating of lambs.
A lady who frequently visited the institution said that she never
remembered examining the array of clean white cots that lined the walls
without finding at least one dead babe. "In front of the fire was a
sloping stage, on which was a mattress, and a row of these little
creatures placed on it to warm and await their turn to be fed from the
spoon by a nurse. After much persuasion, one that was crying piteously
was released from its swaddling bands; it stretched its little limbs,
and ceased its wailings." Supposing these children of misfortune
survived the first few weeks of such a life they were sent into the
country to be reared by different peasants; but there again a large
percentage died from infantile diseases. Mrs. Fry succeeded in securing
some ameliorations of the treatment of the babes; but sisters, doctors,
superior, and all, seemed bound by the iron bands of custom and
tradition.

The Archbishop of Paris was somewhat annoyed at her proceedings and
expressed his displeasure; i