470

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

of Baltimore City, a corporation duly incorporated

Authorized

under the laws of this State, be and is hereby au-

to receive

thorized and empowered to receive into its custody,

foundlings

care and control, all such foundlings and orphans

and other destitute infants under the age of four

years as shall be committed, by instrument of

writing, under the hand of the party so committing

to its keeping, by the parents, guardians or others

having the right of disposition, or by any Orphans'

Court or justice of the peace of this State, if of

the class of children whom such court or justice

could lawfully bind out as apprentices, which com-

mitment to the said Protestant Infant Asylum of

Baltimore City such Orphans' Courts and justices

are hereby empowered to make and retain under

its care, charge and restraint each of such found-

lings and infant children so committed to its keep-

ing until he or she shall have attained the full age

of fourteen years, or for any shorter period, and

May bind out

at or before said age to bind out any and every-

one of said foundlings and infants for a term of

time not exceeding the age of twenty-one years, if

the child be a male, or of eighteen years, if the

child be a female, as an apprentice to learn any

trade or business suitable to the sex of the child,

or to learn to be useful in housewifery, or to place

them for adoption or as inmates with any families

or persons, or transfer them to the custody, charge,

care and training of any corporate or other home,

asylum or other association authorized by law to

receive such children and retain or bind them out

in this State ; provided, that all such acts of bind-

To be evi-

ing, placing or transferring shall be evidenced by

denced by in-
strument of
writing.

instrument of writing, signed by the president of
said Protestant Infant Asylum of Baltimore City

and by the person or corporation taking such child
as apprentice, or for adoption, or for subsequent

custody, care and rearing, and by such signers

acknowledged before a justice of the peace of this

State, and within one month from the date thereof

recorded in the office of the Register of Wills of

Baltimore city, at the expense of the party so tak-

ing, receiving or adopting; and provided, also,

that the said Protestant Infant Asylum of Balti-

Keep record.

more City shall keep a fair record in a suitable

book of the admission of all children so received