» [To be Signed by the Commanding Officer of the Regiment: unless the Regiment be abroad, and the Child at home; in which Case, it is to be signed by the Colonel, or (in his absence from Great Britain or Ireland) by the Senior Officer of the Regiment, who may happen to be at home.]

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 †

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