La situación de las inclusas en el siglo XVIII. La encuesta de 1790

Abstract

Among all the scholars that write during the 18th century on founlings, Antonio de Bilbao is the most representative and important one, not only because he shows the most dramatical testimony ever written on this topic, but also because it was he who most encouraged the authorities to be aware of these children’s problems. In 1790, Bilbao, through some representatives, informs the Council of Castille on the conditions of the foundlings hospitals, and he denounces their extremely bad state all over the country. This same year, the Council of Castille foster an inquiry among the church authorities about the general conditions of the foundling hospitals in their diócesis. The prelates answer the Council between 1790 and 1791. In this article we analyse the answers they gave.