Chapter III: Preface (3)

The continued rains of May 1761 had almost ruined the haymakers assembled near the Metropolis, and compelled them to enter it as suitors for charity, which they received to the amount of 16_l._ 12_s._ from the Merchants on Change spontaneously. 129 persons shared the above sum.

In a work of this description the thoughts of respectable writers cannot but be acceptable; one of those observed, in July 1761, "that parish charges (were) every where justly complained of; but how insupportable would they be, were it not for the hospitals erected in the Metropolis, and of late in several county towns, which, so far as they extend, for they go no farther than to relieve such sick or lame poor as there is a probability of curing, are of infinite use, not only to London and the county towns, but to the country for many miles around them.

"In St. Bartholomew's hospital, in the year 1760, there were 3,539 in-patients cured. The number of in-patients in that hospital at that time is 405, and in Guy's and St. Thomas's about 400 in each. Supposing the numbers of in-patients cured in the two last to be the same, therefore, with that in St. Bartholomew's hospital, the total in the three will be 10,617: add to these, the number cured in the hospitals at Hyde-park corner and Westminster, the London Infirmary, the Middlesex, Small-pox, Bethlehem, and other hospitals in London, and they will amount to 15,000 at least. Add to this number the patients cured in the hospitals at Winchester, Bath, Bristol, Newcastle, Shrewsbury, Northampton, Liverpool, and the two hospitals at Exeter; I think there are fourteen of them out of London in different counties; and I believe I shall not exceed when I put the whole number, including those at London, at 20,000. All these are entirely maintained, and do nothing towards a subsistence; except that in some houses, those who are tolerably well assist in cleaning the house, making the beds, &c.

"And it is very observable, that these hospitals for the sustenance and relief of the sick and lame poor have all of them been founded (St. Bartholomew's, St. Thomas's, &c. excepted) within these forty years: Hyde-park hospital was founded in 1733.

"The London hospitals are so many and large, and under such prudent management, that scarce any persons are so destitute of friends, but they can procure admittance into one or other of them. In this, as in all other instances, Providence seems to have proportioned the quantity of pity and compassion to the real wants and distresses of the indigent."

There are numbers of well-disposed persons who would contribute to the support of charitable institutions, were they introduced to their notice in a manner congenial to the bent of their inclination. A man of a grave and sedentary turn of mind may be prevailed upon by a tale of distress to open his purse, but similar methods will not succeed with the _bon vivant_; full of life and spirit, he drives care from him by every artifice in his power; and yet the governors of our hospitals and benevolent foundations have contrived a trap for him, and he cheerfully catches at the bait.--_Ecce signum!_

_Magdalen-house charity, Prescot-street,
Goodman's fields, Feb. 10, 1762._

"The _anniversary feast_ of the Governors of this Charity
will be held on Thursday, the 18th of March next, at
Drapers-hall, in Throgmorton-street; after a Sermon to be
preached at the parish church of St George's, Hanover-square,
before the Right honourable the earl of Hertford, president,
the vice-presidents, treasurer, and governors of this
Charity, by the Rev. William Dodd, A. M. chaplain to the
bishop of St. David's. Prayers will begin at 11 o'clock
precisely.

"_And dinner will be on the table at three o'clock._

"N. B. A _Te Deum_ composed by Mr. Handel, for the late duke
of Chandos's chapel, with _Jubilate_ and other Anthems, will
be performed by Mr. Beard, and a proper band of the best
performers, both vocal and instrumental.

"Tickets for the feast may be had at the following places at
_five shillings each_," &c. &c.

The readers of the newspapers of our day will thus perceive that Solomon was right in saying, 'there is nothing new under the Sun;' from the above hour, nay long before, conviviality and charity have coalesced. Dinners, and collections after dinners, when the mind generously dilates, have relieved thousands from the deepest misery; and I hope this mode of filling the chasms of more disinterested benevolence will prevail till such methods are unnecessary.

An occurrence happened in 1762, which places the humanity of his present Majesty in a very amiable point of view. A female infant had been left in one of the courts of the palace of St. James's; some of the officers in waiting sent it to the overseers of St. Martin's parish, who, with those of St. Margaret's afterwards applied to, refused to receive the child under the plea that the palace was an independent jurisdiction. When the King heard of the circumstance, he immediately ordered that a nurse should be provided, and the fortunate orphan was subsequently honoured with the name of Georgiana Charlotta Sophia.

The City of London Lying-in hospital, established many years past, has served as a pattern for several others in various parts of the Metropolis. From the date of its commencement to 1762, 3655 married women had been received, 45 of whom were delivered of twins, and one of three children; including which, 1896 male and 1806 female infants were indebted for life to this humane establishment[57:A].

Collections have been frequently made during severe weather, or on some particularly distressing occasion, from door to door in the various parishes within the bills of mortality, and considerable sums obtained. In the winter of 1763, the inhabitants of St. Anne's, Westminster, gave 169_l._ 15_s._ 3_d._ the Princess dowager of Wales 100_l._ and the duke of York 50_l._ to the poor not relieved by the regular assessments. Nor was this a solitary instance of generosity, as the duke of Newcastle gave above 400_l._ to different places at the same period; and the rich parish of St. James's relieved 1200 persons with gifts of money and coals.

Though so much had been done to prevent the calamities of poverty, wretchedness prevailed in places where benevolence could not imagine it existed. Garrets in retired alleys and lanes always afford inmates in the last stages of disease and starvation; and the instances that might be adduced would prove very distressing in the recital; but that _supposed empty houses_ should contain wretches expiring with want, was beyond the imagination of the most exalted charity; and yet the following melancholy fact actually occurred in November 1763, the narrative of which may serve as a hint to overseers, whose duty it is, I should conceive, to prevent actual _death through want_ in their respective districts.

A Mr. Stephens, of Fleet-market, was commissioned to shew some empty houses in Stonecutter-street intended for sale, and one day accompanied a gentleman to them, who had thoughts of purchasing the estate on which they were situated. On entering a room on the first floor, an object of horror attracted their attention, _a naked female corpse_! Stephens, alarmed beyond expression, fled from the scene; but the other more courageous ascended to the next floor, where he was soon after joined by his terrified attendant, and they discovered a second and a third woman dead, and nearly destitute of clothing; pursuing this dreadful research, they found in the upper story two women, and a girl about eighteen years of age, one of whom, and the latter, appeared emaciated beyond description, but their companion in misery was in better condition. Prudence and humanity dictated that an examination should take place as to the cause of so singular and dreadful an occurrence; in consequence, the survivors were taken into custody, and the ensuing particulars were related by them before the Coroner and his Jury.

"It appeared on the inquisition, from the evidence of Elizabeth Stanton, one of these women, that on the Wednesday preceding the inquiry she came from Westminster, and being in want of lodging, strolled to this house, and laid herself down on the ground-floor, where she saw nobody; that about eleven that evening the woman in good condition (Elizabeth Pattent) a stranger to her, came into the room where she (Stanton) had laid herself down, and by treading on her awakened her, at the same time crying out 'Who is there?' To which Stanton replied, 'No person that will hurt you, for that she was going away in the morning.' Pattent therefore advised her to go up to the garret with her, which she did, and stayed there all that night, and the following day and night, and until she was taken into custody in the garret upon the above discovery.

"Pattent, being out of place, attended the Fleet-market as a basket-woman; where she became acquainted with the deceased women, who were basket-women, and both known by no other names than Bet. Pattent, being destitute of lodging, was recommended to this ruinous house by the deceased women, who had lived, or rather starved, there for some time. Pattent, in the day-time, used to go to her late mistress's, who kept a Cook's-shop in King-street, Westminster, and worked for her victuals, and lodged in this house at night, where she continued till she was taken into custody. About the middle of the week preceding the inquisition, the deceased women were taken ill; and on Saturday the 12th instant, Pattent pawned her apron for sixpence, and bought some beef and plumb-pudding at a Cook's-shop in Shoe-lane, and both the deceased women on Saturday and Sunday ate heartily thereof, and on Sunday night she heard the deceased women groan. One had the itch, and the other a fever; and, being fearful of catching the one or the other, she did not go to them any more; nor did she know of their deaths till taken into custody.

"Elizabeth Surman, the girl, was the daughter of a deceased Jeweller, in Bell-alley, Coleman-street; her parents died when she was about six years of age, and she was taken care of by Mrs. Jones, a next door neighbour, with whom she lived about four years; Mrs. Jones then dying, Surman was left destitute; and on being informed she could get employment in Spital-fields, she went there, and assisted a woman in winding quills, but she retiring into the country, Surman was again left destitute; however, she found employment in Spital-fields market, with Mrs. Bennet, in winding silk, but, not pleasing her, was discharged in a week. She then went to Mrs. Roach's in that market, who took in washing and nursed children, where Surman continued six years, and until she was taken ill, on which account she was discharged her service. She then went to the churchwarden of the parish where her father had been housekeeper many years, to desire relief; _but he refused, without so much as expostulating with her about her legal settlement, or informing her that she had gained a settlement by servitude_. She being very ill and weak, _lay all night at the churchwarden's door, but it had no effect on him_; and this girl was obliged to lie about in the streets, until she was informed of this empty house, where she lay every night for near two months; the deceased women being there when she came, and both then lying on straw in the two pair of stairs room. For the first week of Surman's being there, she lay in the room with them on straw, all which week _she was ill with an ague, and had no sustenance_ whatever; _that then Elizabeth Pattent relieved her_; and as Surman grew better, she went abroad and received alms, returning at night, and delivering her money to Pattent, who bought her victuals. Surman was afterwards received into St. Andrew's workhouse, where she continued a week; and, about a fortnight ago, she returned to this empty house, and lodged in the garret; and being very ill, _was assisted by Pattent_, and for the last fortnight was not out of the garret till last Friday, when she, with the two other women, were found in the garret, and taken into custody, and never saw or heard, all that time, any thing of the deceased women till she was apprehended.

"On Pattent's being interrogated with respect to the woman's being stripped naked and selling her cloaths, she strictly denied knowing any thing of it; alledging, that as they all entered the house at the cellar, and she being mostly out in the day-time, and attending the poor girl at night, other persons might strip the deceased unknown to her.

"There were no marks of violence about the deceased women, _but they appeared as if starved_.

"The Jury were well satisfied with the account they had received from their most deplorable evidence. The Coroner gave them some money; and the Jury ordered them a supper, and that care might be taken of them in the Casualty-house."

These pitiable objects, worthy of a far better fate, who starved rather than they would steal, and met death surrounded with tenfold terrors, supported by pure consciences, deserve statues to their memory; nay, Pattent would have done honour to Roman virtue, who worked the day through for a miserable subsistence, and passed the night in watching and relieving the sick--and yet I should be afraid to know the sequel of her eventful story. Is it not shocking to think on this catastrophe, when we reflect how many would have contributed to the relief of this family of misery, had they known their wants, when advertisements for relief daily appeared from the distressed and were successful. Even at the moment they were dying a thousand lingering deaths through every possible privation, Catharine Shaw, a widow, with seven children and a mother, acknowledged the bounty of the publick in the receipt of 191_l._ 13_s._ 9_d._ and presentations to Christ's hospital for two of her boys.

The Marine Society, mentioned in "Londinium Redivivum," relieved 295 youths _a second time_ in 1763. These lads, rescued originally from ruin, and sent by the Society into the King's service, were discharged on the conclusion of peace; when they apprenticed 15 to fishermen, 71 to trades, 17 to manufacturers, 6 to public-houses, 29 to the merchant's service, 80 to naval officers for three years, one to agriculture, and nine to water and lightermen; assisted 17 to procure masters, sent 29 to their friends, and 21 provided for themselves.

The unfavourable weather which occurred in July 1764, did infinite damage to the grain near London; and a hail-storm that fell on the 23d injured the inferior farmers' property to the amount of 4864_l._ in Middlesex only: the benevolent inhabitants of the Metropolis, touched with their misfortunes, opened a subscription, and restored their losses[64:A].

A second scene of wretchedness and distress attracted commiseration in the above year, for certain Germans; who, deceived by splendid offers of prosperity provided they emigrated to America, were left by their inhuman deceivers to perish in the neighbourhood of London, because they found some deficiencies in their own calculations of profit. Such was the miserable situation of those poor Palatines, that they actually lay in the fields near Bow, where, it is asserted, they had not eaten for two days previous to the following generous act recorded of a baker, who should have been a Prince. This worthy man (whose name has unfortunately not been mentioned) passing along the road near the Germans with his basket on his shoulder, containing 28 two-penny loaves, perceiving their forlorn situation, threw it down, and observed, that his customers must fast a little longer that day, and immediately distributed the bread, for no other return than signs of gratitude and tears of joy.

This affecting circumstance is the first intimation the publick received of their situation; but Mr. Wachsel, Minister of the German Lutheran church, in Little Ayliffe-street, Goodman's-fields, thus addressed the publick immediately afterwards, through the medium of the newspapers:

"I hope you will permit me, by means of your paper, to inform those who have the power to redress it, of the very deplorable situation of the poor unhappy Palatines, lately arrived here from Germany. They are in number, men, women, and children, about _six hundred_, consisting of Wurtzburghers and Palatines, all Protestants; and were brought hither from their native country by a German officer, with a promise of being sent to settle, at his own expence, in the Island of St. John and Le Croix, in America; but _by inability he has been obliged to decline the undertaking_; so that, instead of their being shipped off for those places, some of them have lain during the late heavy rains, and are now lying, in the open fields adjacent to this Metropolis, without covering, without money, and, in short, without the common necessaries of life; others lie languishing under the complicated evils of sickness and extreme want, at the Statute-hall in Goodman's-fields; and more than 200 remain on board the ship which brought them over, on account of their passage not being paid for, where they are perishing for food, and rotting in filth and nastiness. Collections have been made at the German churches and chapels here, several times, to afford them some relief; but as the number of these poor creatures is so considerable, it is impossible, by such means, to furnish them with a regular and continued supply, adequate to their wants; so that, unless some provision is very speedily made for them, they must inevitably perish. These unfortunate people would think themselves inexpressibly happy, if the English Government would be graciously pleased to take them under its protection; to allow them, for the present, some ground to lie on; tents to cover them; and any manner of subsistence, till it shall be thought proper to ship them off, and settle them in any of the English colonies in America; where, I doubt not, they will give their protectors and benefactors constant proofs of their affection and gratitude for such kindness, by behaving as becometh honest, industrious, and dutiful subjects to the British government. I take the liberty of thus expressing the hopes and wishes of these wretched beings, as they have no friend to intercede for them who has interest sufficient for such an undertaking, or even a knowledge of the proper method of application.

"That their distresses are unutterably great, I myself have been too often a mournful witness of, in my attendance on them to administer the duties of my function; with one instance of which I shall conclude this melancholy detail. One of the poor women was seized with the pangs of labour in the open fields, and was delivered by the ignorant people about her in the best manner they were able; but, from the injury the tender infant received in the operation, it died soon after I had baptized it; and the wretched mother, after receiving the Sacrament at my hands, expired from the want of proper care and necessaries suitable to her afflicting and truly lamentable condition.

"That the Almighty may, of his infinite mercy, incline the hearts of the great and good of this Kingdom, distinguished for its charity and hospitality, to take under their protection these their unhappy fellow Christians, who did not intrude themselves into this country, but were invited hither, and send them whithersoever they in their wisdom and goodness shall think proper, is the most ardent prayer of

G. A. WACHSEL."

A subscription was opened at Batson's Coffee-house, where eight hundred pounds was instantly subscribed; and Government, fully impressed with the urgency of the case, immediately sent 100 tents and other necessaries from the Tower. On the following Sunday 120_l._ was collected at Whitechapel-church, and several other parishes followed this most urgent example; but one unknown good Samaritan sent Mr. Wachsel an 100_l._ bank note, who soon after addressed the Editors of the Newspapers with the following welcome information:

"As I have twice solicited the attention of the publick through your paper in regard to the German Emigrants, give me leave now to inform those beloved servants of the Lord, of every rank, who so cheerfully fulfilled the will of their Divine Master, in kindly receiving, feeding, clothing, and visiting these poor strangers, that the remainder of them on the 6th instant (November 1764), left this Christian hospitable shore, to settle in America, on the spot assigned them by the bounty of the gracious Ruler of this happy realm. For all which extraordinary and unparalleled instances of beneficence, and likewise for the attention paid to them by the most worthy gentlemen of the Committee, who not only generously contributed to their relief, but have also been indefatigably employed in conducting this charity with the utmost wisdom and integrity, my warmest and most respectful thanks, as well as those of my poor brethren, are too mean a tribute. But, though they earnestly entreated me to convey their humble and sincere acknowledgments to their very humane and generous benefactors, it is out of the power of language justly to describe their grateful feelings on this occasion: I am, however, confident, that the remembrance of the benefits so seasonably and liberally bestowed on them will remain on their minds to the latest period of their existence; and that they will seize every opportunity of testifying their gratitude to this nation.

"I have been applied to by anonymous letters, complaining of the delay of the promised account of receipts and disbursements; to which I take this opportunity of replying, that when the gentlemen subscribers, after the publication of my first letter, had formed themselves into a Committee for the management of this Charity, I gave into their hands an account of what I had received and expended before their establishment; and to them I have paid all the monies since received by me, &c. &c.

G. A. WACHSEL."

The King sent 300_l._ to the Committee alluded to by the indefatigable Wachsel, who exerted themselves with the utmost perseverance, in providing food and other necessaries, while the Minister read prayers and preached daily before the Palatines, in addition to his other unwearied exertions in their favour. After the more immediate attentions had been paid to their wants, the Committee determined to petition the King, that he would be pleased to grant the Germans lands in some of the American provinces; which they had no sooner done, than they were informed land in South Carolina should be appropriated for that purpose, and that they would be allowed 150 stand of arms to be used by them on their settlements for defence from the Indians and for hunting. Upon this favourable result, the Committee agreed with certain ship-owners to convey the objects of their care to the place of their destination, on the following liberal terms:

"Two ships of not less than 200 tons each, and to carry no more than 200 persons in each ship, to be ready to sail in ten days: the necessaries to be provided were, one pound of bread of sixteen ounces for each person, men, women, and children, every day; one man, one woman, and three children to a mess: Sunday, for each mess, a piece of beef of four pounds, flour three pounds, fruit or suet half a pound, and a quart of pease. Monday, stock-fish three pounds, butter one pound, cheese one pound, potatoes three pounds. Tuesday, two pieces of pork six pounds, rice two pounds. Wednesday, grits five pounds, butter two pounds, cheese two pounds. Thursday, the same as Sunday, only potatoes instead of pease. Friday, grey pease two quarts, butter two pounds, cheese two pounds. Saturday, flour three pounds, fruit half a pound, potatoes two pounds, butter two pounds, and cheese two pounds. Sufficient of vinegar, pepper, and salt every day; a ton of water for every three persons; six quarts of good ship beer each mess, for the first three weeks; and for the remainder of the voyage, a pint of British spirits each day; medicines, and a doctor to each ship, provided by the Committee.

"Half the freight to be paid before sailing from Gravesend, the other moiety at their delivery at South Carolina, deducting one half of the second payment for every person that dies on their passage: all that exceed fourteen years on the first of September, to be deemed whole passengers; all under two to be deemed as one passenger. Security is required for the exact performance of the above contract."

On Saturday, October 6, the Germans left their tents, to embark on board of lighters which were to convey them to Blackwall, attended by the Treasurer and several gentlemen of the Committee.

The parting between those poor people and their guardian Wachsel was exceedingly affecting; nor were their expressions of gratitude to the inhabitants of London less fervent, who accompanied them in crowds in boats, admiring the devotion with which they sung various hymns on their way.

One detestable act disgraced this dignified scene of disinterested Charity, which seems almost beyond credibility, and yet it is certainly a fact; the Committee had filled four tents with clothing, which were guarded by children during the time their parents were attending Divine Service; at that critical moment, several wretches decoyed the guards away by a distribution of half-pence to buy cakes, and immediately stole every article worth conveyance.

The above splendid æra in the annals of Charity was equally distinguished by the exertions of other individuals, who obtained large sums by contributions from the publick, with which they relieved 4931 persons who had been compelled to pawn their clothes, and other necessary articles, to supply the deficiencies in their earnings, through the decline of the Silk manufactory in Spitalfields. I am, however, sorry to add that the conduct of those artizans did not in the least resemble that of the Germans; clamorous assemblies of men, women, and children, under turbulent leaders, with a black flag carried before them, approached the Royal residence of St. James's; where, disappointed of meeting the King, many of the most violent presumed to follow his Majesty to Richmond with a petition, which certainly ought to have been presented to the House of Commons through the medium of a Member; others met in Old Palace-yard, where they obstructed the passage of the Peers, and were only prevented from committing acts of violence by a party of guards. Thus disappointed of their aim, they spread in various directions, and almost filled Bloomsbury-square in defiance of parties of horse and foot soldiers sent to keep the peace. After suffering several severe injuries, self-committed by pressure, they returned towards home; but in their way broke all Messrs. Carr and Co.'s windows on Ludgate-hill, and would have done other damage, had not a patrole of grenadier guards interfered and dispersed them; but, as this article should be wholly devoted to the peaceful operations of benevolence, I must refer the reader to "Popular Tumults," for the remainder of the event.

The King gave 1000_l._ to the sufferers by a fire in Bishopsgate-street, London, in November 1765; and the Society of Quakers 500_l._

During the severity of the winter of 1767-8, a great deal was done for the relief of the poor, particularly in the following instances: Earl Percy gave 400_l._; 200_l._ was collected at Almack's; Daniel Giles, esq. distributed 20 chaldrons of coals; the Archbishop of Canterbury gave 5_s._ 3_d._ each, to upwards of 200 watermen of Lambeth; the Lord Mayor had 50 pounds of beef boiled every day, and distributed it and the broth from it; an unknown person released 26 prisoners from the Poultry, and others from Wood-street, confined for debts between forty shillings and six pounds, and each received thirty shillings, the surplus of the cash sent; besides these generous acts, large sums were collected in various parishes, and the Queen gave 500_l._ under a feigned name, through the hands of Dr. Hill[74:A].

Sir John Fielding, long celebrated for his activity as the supreme director of the Police Westward of Temple-bar, thus addressed the publick in March 1770:

"The worthy and ingenious Mr. Nelson, in a book, intituled, 'An Address to Persons of Quality and Estate,' relative to the different methods of doing good, seems from the benevolence of his mind, and from that rich fountain of humanity in his heart, to have furnished hints for almost all the charities which have been established since his time; and, indeed, from the present number of them, one should imagine, that scarce a distress could arise to the poor, but there is an hospital, infirmary, or asylum to relieve; yet, alas, how short-sighted is the eye of man! for, behold a new Charity makes its appearance, of a most striking nature indeed; namely, a Dispensary for the benefit of the infants of the industrious poor; and how objects so essential to the community should have been so long overlooked by the ingenious and benevolent, is very surprising. The fate of those children that have fallen to the lot of workhouses in their tender state, has been proved, beyond contradiction, to have been dreadful to the last degree; few, indeed, of such lives having been preserved. For this evil some remedies have been provided by law, which, I hope to God, may prove effectual. The next class of distressed objects of this kind are, the infants of the industrious poor, who, being careful and temperate, have frequently large families, which they may indeed subsist, but numbers of these sort of children are precipitately snatched from the fond mother's embrace by sudden diseases, which the poverty and the ignorance of the parent render them incapable of contending with. The lives of children hang on a slender thread, and their diseases, though few, require immediate and able assistance: behold then Armstrong's Dispensary opening its bosom for the relief of these tender patients! It seems a work of supererogation to recommend such a charity as this; it speaks for itself, and needs but to be considered to be encouraged; and to the mother's breast it speaks a feeling language indeed; for the experience that may be acquired in the knowledge and cure of diseases incident to children, by this institution, may be the happy means of preserving heirs to many valuable families, and of preventing much of that sorrow which swells the mother's heart when the little object of her affection is snatched from her tender arms.

"J. FIELDING.

"The remarkable success hitherto experienced in treating the little patients, as appears from the account published after the meetings of the Committee, must doubtless be no small recommendation of this charity."

This Dispensary, calculated for infants only, was accompanied by a plan (separately recommended by Mr. Daniel Sutton) for the _eradication_ of the Small-pox by inoculation, at receiving-houses in various parts of the Metropolis. The latter, however, appears to have been the most successful application to the feelings of the publick, as I believe amongst the numerous Dispensaries, which at present do honour to London, there is not one appropriated exclusively to children; nor is it necessary when relief is afforded at all to every description of disease in either infants or adults.

The excellent Institution for the relief of persons confined for Small Debts, which originated from the active mind of the late unfortunate Dr. Dodd, and which has been continued to the present moment, principally through the exertions of Mr. Neild, gave the following flattering account of their success, even in the infancy of the undertaking, Jan. 1773: "535 persons discharged, together with 245 wives and 1496 children, amounting in all to 2276 souls relieved by means of the public humanity."

An Act was passed in 1773, for the better regulation of Lying-in hospitals and other places of reception for pregnant women, and to provide for the safety of illegitimate children born within them; a clause of which enacts, "That from and after the first day of November, 1773, no hospital or place shall be established, used, or appropriated, or continue to be used or appropriated, for the public reception of pregnant women, under public or private support, regulation, and management, in any parish in England, unless a licence shall be first had and obtained, in manner therein-mentioned, from the Justices of the Peace at some one of their General Quarter Sessions to be held for the County, Riding, Division, City, or Corporation, wherein such hospital or place shall be situated."

One of the most singular methods of obtaining charity perhaps ever adopted, occurred in January 1774. The severity of the weather had rendered navigable canals useless; and with others, those of Oxford and Coventry; consequently the persons employed on them were distressed for want of employment. Eighteen of the sufferers obtained a waggon, which a gentleman of Willoughby generously filled with the best coals; and thus furnished, they harnessed themselves to the vehicle, and set off from Bedworth in Warwickshire to draw it to St. James's, there to present the coals to the King. The oddity of their contrivance proved highly beneficial to them on their road; and when they arrived at the Palace, the Board of Green-cloth ordered them twenty guineas, but refused the coals, which were disposed of, and the produce greatly augmented by gifts from numbers of persons who witnessed the exertions of these human _drafts-men_[78:A].

Several instances have been already given of individuals endeavouring to alleviate the calamities arising from the resentment of inexorable creditors, by the discharge of the debts which excited it. Every possible praise is certainly due to those philanthropists; nor is the Society just mentioned less deserving of the thanks of the community; but their's is an Herculean labour, and a sum equal to the revenues of a state would be little more than sufficient to accomplish the release of all entitled to commiseration. Impressed with similar sentiments, John Howard, esq. determined to explore the various prisons in England, and indeed throughout Europe, not so much with a view to discharge captives, as to render them the most essential service while such, by exposing their unwarranted sufferings, inflicted in defiance of the dictates of humanity, and even contrary to law. His labours in this pursuit, his disregard of opposition, his manly reprobation of oppression to the oppressor, disdain of personal danger from vindictive revenge and disease, his death, and the honours decreed him by public bodies and public gratitude, are all fresh in the memories of my readers: I shall therefore merely quote his own words in explanation of his intentions, when they were perhaps not fully developed to himself.

"To the Publisher of the London Chronicle.

_Cardington, March 6, 1774._

"Mr. WILKIE,

"The account I gave before the House of the state of Gaols
being somewhat misrepresented in the papers, I must beg the
favour in your next to set it right.

"I am, Sir, &c.

JOHN HOWARD.

"I informed the House that I had travelled and seen 38 out
of the 42 gaols in the Lent circuit, besides others, as
Bristol, Ely, Litchfield, &c.: that those I had not seen in
the circuit, in a few days I should set out to visit them:
that I released a person out of Norwich City gaol, who had
been confined five weeks for the gaoler's fee of 13_s._
4_d._: that at Launceston the keeper, deputy keeper, and ten
out of eleven prisoners, lay ill of the gaol distemper; at
Monmouth, last Wednesday se'night, the keeper lay dangerously
ill, and three of the prisoners were ill; at Oxford, eleven
died last year of the small-pox.

"That as to fees, those in the Western counties were highest,
as at Dorchester, 1_l._ 3_s._ 9_d._ Winchester, 1_l._ 7_s._
4_d._ Salisbury, 1_l._ 6_s._ 4_d._: but in the county of York
only 9_s._

"That the gaols were generally close and confined, the felons
wards nasty, dirty, confined, and unhealthy. That even
York-castle, which to a superficial viewer might be thought
a very fine gaol, I thought quite otherwise; with regard
to felons their wards were dark, dirty, and small, no way
proportioned to the number of unhappy persons confined there.
Many others are the same; as Gloucester, Warwick, Hereford,
Sussex, &c. The latter had not for felons, or even for
debtors, at their county gaol at Horsham, the least outlet;
but the poor unhappy creatures were ever confined within
doors without the least breath of fresh air.

"I was asked my reasons for visiting the gaols? I answered, I
had seen and heard the distress of gaols, and had an earnest
desire to relieve it in my own district as well as others.
It was then asked me, if it was done at my own expence? I
answered, undoubtedly. Some conversation passed relative
to gaolers taking off their prisoners irons; but that was
private, and not at the bar of the House.

"The above account, including that of garnish, which was from
3 and 4_s._ to 8_s._ which I said was a cruel custom, and
connived at and permitted by gaolers, was the whole of what
passed at the House as to myself, except the great honour
they did me in their thanks _nem. con._"

This true Patriot addressed the printer a second time, March 7, in the same year.

"SIR,

"I shall set off for the gaols in Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Northumberland, next Monday, and also visit again some which I have already seen, likewise Lancaster, Chester, and Shrewsbury, _if I am not taken off with the gaol distemper_; as Dr. Fothergill says, 'I carry my life in my hand, and it is a wonder I have not been taken off.'

"The misery in gaols is great beyond description; Sheriffs for many years not having set foot into the prisons of most of the counties in England. There are many of them (the felons wards I mean) dirty, infectious, miserable places; so that, instead of sending healthy useful hands to our Colonies as transports out of our gaols, they become infectious, sickly, miserable objects: half of whom die on their passage; and many of those that arrive at the places of their destination infect the families they enter into. I saw lately in your paper, what I knew our Colonies complained of from Philadelphia: 'An Act passed to prevent infectious diseases being brought into that Province.'

"Another great evil in gaols is, that the poor debtors on the common side in most counties have not even the felons' county allowance of bread; and I have not found twelve people that have sued out their groats in all the county gaols; that benevolent Act of 32 George II. being frustrated, as no attornies will, without pay, take a poor debtor's case in hand. These I have found some of the most pitiable objects in our gaols.

"I am, &c.

JOHN HOWARD."

The result of the visits thus announced has long been before the publick, and that infinite improvement followed must be admitted; yet much still remains to be done, merely to obtain that order and cleanliness which the Legislature has at various periods declared should be maintained in each prison throughout the Kingdom. Mr. Neild, the worthy magistrate, has undertaken the task left incomplete by his exalted predecessor; and there cannot be a doubt that he has done incredible service to the criminal, and the debtor, most unaccountably immured within the _inclosures intended for the purpose of justice only_.

The same distresses which accompany every severe winter recurred in 1776, and the utmost exertions were made to alleviate them; when the Corporation of London gave 1500_l._ and several rich Citizens from 100_l._ to 20_l._ each, to be distributed to poor housekeepers. This fund was augmented by the exertions of the Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Deputies, who went from house to house soliciting contributions.

The Humane Society, instituted for the recovery of persons supposed to be dead from the effect of disease, suffocation, and drowning, had arrived to that degree of importance in 1776, as to be enabled to distribute several gold and silver medals, from a die executed by Lewis Pingo, from a design by Dr. Watkinson. The four gentlemen first honoured with this mark of distinction were Dr. Hawes, who had frequently advertised, before the Society was formed, offering a reward to those who would call for his assistance in cases where the functions of life were suspended; and Dr. Cogan, his colleague, in establishing the first principles of the Institution; Alderman Bull, president; and Dr. Watkinson.

Since the above period, the enterprising spirit and activity of Dr. Hawes has been constantly exerted in promoting the continuation of the Humane Society, which, though under Royal Patronage, derives very small pecuniary aid from the publick, compared with some Institutions of less importance; nor has the Legislature granted it a farthing; though, as the Doctor once observed to me, there are benefactions recorded in the Journals of the House of Commons for a Veterinary College, to recover horses from diseases[84:A].

Sermons, and an annual dinner, with a procession of those recovered from death by the Society, are substituted to obtain contributions; and I am happy to add, that they have always amounted, with other voluntary gifts, to a sum which has enabled the Governors to render thousands of persons supremely blest by the restoration of their relatives from the relentless grave.

Similar Institutions now existing throughout Europe and America, are strong proofs of the honours due to the founders, Hawes and Cogan--honours to be paid by posterity.

A most melancholy circumstance occurred in 1777, which deprived the inhabitants of London of one of the best orators in the cause of benevolence they had ever possessed. The reader must be aware that I allude to the ignominious death of Dr. Dodd, whose conduct cannot but be allowed to have been inconsistent beyond parallel; a teacher of the most exalted benevolence, and one who practised it to the degree he taught; and yet a luxurious spendthrift, and a violator of the penal laws of his country, to support unjustifiable extravagance and splendour of living. When we reflect on the thousands of pounds his exertions _have_ collected, and _will yet_ collect, for the relief of penitent Prostitutes, in the establishment (in conjunction with Mr. Dingley) of the Magdalen hospital, and the Society for the relief of prisoners confined for Small Debts; besides those, the fruits of his preaching on numerous occasions; we cannot but lament that mercy was withheld which _a Nation_ solicited. His was a singular case--but enough--Justice required his life; and Death, the portion of forgery, closed the scene.

We have now arrived at a period within the recollection of most of my readers; it will not therefore be necessary to notice every Institution existing at present, the result of recent exertion; they are numerous beyond all former example. From the temporary relief afforded during severe winters, and the charities even to passing mendicancy, with that to individuals advertising for assistance, up to the incorporated Societies for constant duration; all are successful, and none more so than the Patriotic Fund, established for relieving and rewarding military and naval sufferings and merit.

Exclusive of the various means, described in the preceding pages, for effecting the great work of alleviating the wants of mankind, there are others of established and permanent operation. I mean, the constant charitable bequests, continued even from the establishment of masses for the repose of the souls of the testators. In those the poor were always remembered; but the Protestant, more disinterested, has long given the whole of his money to the wretched, and _required_ no prayers in return. Were I to collect the items of bequests from the days of Henry VIII. to the present moment, this work would not contain them, and the reader would barely credit the enormous amount: and yet this is independent of the Alms-houses and Hospitals which we meet with in every direction, where many thousands are absolutely supported by the benevolence of those who have very long since paid the debt of nature.

Such are the effects of the general charity of the Natives of London; such their attempts to smooth the path of life, and to render the person those services which are necessary to maintain its dignity and proportion. I am now compelled to turn from this grateful scene, and to exhibit what has been done by depravity and laxity of manners, to shorten life, and destroy the fine proportions of the Citizen.

FOOTNOTES:

[13:A] Gent. Mag.

[13:B] Jour. of House of Commons.

[15:A] See the plate of the North side of the Foundling.

[15:B] Gent. Mag. The origin of the Welsh Society, and the subsequent charity school, may perhaps be dated from the celebration of the birth-day of the Princess of Wales, Feb. 1715, when several distinguished sons of St. David heard a Sermon preached in their native language, by Dr. Lewis, at St. Paul's, Covent-garden; whence they adjourned to Haberdashers hall, where, invigorated by repletion, the Antient British Society was planned for the double celebration of the Prince's birth-day, and the commemoration of their Patron Saint.

[23:A] Original proposal.

[24:A] Statement of the trustees.

[24:B] Newspapers.

[25:A] This Royal donation is still annually repeated; and a collection under the King's letters patent is also made in all the parishes within the Bills of Mortality.

[27:A] All these statements are from the Daily papers.

[31:A] Statements in Newspapers.

[44:A] Newspapers.

[45:A] Treasurer's statement.

[47:A] See the view of this superb structure--Seymour's London.

[57:A] London Chronicle.

[64:A] London Chronicle.

[74:A] London Chronicle.

[78:A] London Chronicle.

[84:A] The worthy Doctor died in December 1808. See a Tribute to his Memory in Gent. Mag. vol. LXXVIII. p. 1121.

CHAP. II.

ANECDOTES OF DEPRAVITY, FROM 1700 TO 1800.

Mankind may be universally divided into two classes, the honest and dishonest; for I admit of no medium. That those distinctions have existed from the very remotest periods, I believe no one will deny; therefore it is perfectly natural to suppose, that depraved and idle wretches, who would rather steal the effects of another than labour to acquire property for themselves, have infested London, from the hour in which an hundred persons inhabited it in huts or caverns. How those depredators on Society were treated by the Cits of very very very antient times is not worth enquiry; but that death was often inflicted cannot be doubted; and that might be effected by twenty different methods. Strangulation was certainly used before the time of Henry I. in London: punishment for crimes of inferior magnitude are always species of torture; to repeat the probable modes would be far from pleasant.

Whatever may have been the other inventions of the idle to obtain bread, that of begging in all its ramifications was the most antient; the fraternity of mendicants have resisted every attempt to dissolve their body, nor will they vanish till the last day shall remove every living creature from the surface of the earth. After the establishment of Christianity, flocks of Christians determined to devote themselves to the service of the Lord _in their way_, and work no more; such were some orders of Monks and Friars mendicants! The monasteries afterwards, acting upon a mistaken idea of charity, gave alms, and fed the poor and idle indiscriminately at their gates: thus a wretch might invigorate his body with the viands of the Abbots and Monks in the day, and pass the night in attacks upon the defenceless traveller, perhaps often relieved in presence of the depredator by the blind religious.

In vain have the Monarch, the Law, and the Judge, from the days of the Aborigines down to the present moment, exerted their authority and terrors; and I am compelled, for brevity's sake, to confine myself to the disgraceful acts of a single century. To mention the numbers who were condemned at the Old Bailey in 14 years from 1700, will be sufficient, without particularizing their crimes.

Years. Condemned. Executed.
1701 118 4 died after conviction 66
1702 49 13
1703 38 18
1704 35 17
1705 44 16
1706 33 5
1707 23 18
1708 34 18
1709 39 10
1710 36 8
1711 36 13
1712 43 15
1713 60 25
1714 108 59
--- ---
696 Reprieved 391 301

In the mayoralty of Sir Francis Child, 1732, 502 persons were indicted at the Old Bailey; 70 of whom received sentence of death; 208 of transportation; eight fined, imprisoned, or pilloried; four burnt in the hand; four whipped; and 288 acquitted.

In 1722, ten pounds reward was offered by the Clerk of the New River Company, for the apprehension of persons who had wantonly tapped the pipes, and others that had cut the banks to let water on their own possessions.

Lotteries.--These pernicious contrivances to raise money were in full vigour at the commencement of the century. There was the "Greenwich Hospital adventure," sanctioned by an Act of Parliament, which the managers describe as "liable to none of the objections made against other Lotteries, _as to the fairness_ of the drawing, it being not possible there should be any deceit in it, _as it has been suspected in others_." Mr. Sydenham's Land Lottery, who declared it was "found very difficult and troublesome for the adventurers for to search and find out what prizes they have come up in their number tickets, _from the badness of the print_, the _many errors in them_, and the _great quantity of the number of the prizes_:" the Twelve-penny or Nonsuch: and "the Fortunatus."

Esquire Sydenham's lady's gentlewoman obtained an estate worth 600_l. per annum_, in her master's Lottery; but the unfortunate holders of blanks, suspecting foul play, advertized an intended meeting on the 11th January 1700, for the purpose of entering into an investigation of their real or fancied wrongs. This produced a denial on the part of his Trustees, but did not prevent the meeting from taking place, when it was unanimously resolved to appoint an eminent goldsmith in Lombard-street cashier, for the receipt of subscriptions to carry their purposes into effect; which being accomplished, they exhibited a Bill in Chancery against the unfortunate Squire[90:A].

Guinea-dropping was practised in 1700; and it was customary for thieves to carry cocks into retired or vacant places to throw at them, in order to collect spectators, and empty their pockets. The following extract from the Protestant Mercury of February 14, 1700, point out three of those places of iniquity: "Last Tuesday, a Brewer's servant in Southwark took his walks round _Tower-hill_, _Moor-fields_, and _Lincoln's-Inn-fields_, and knocked down so many cocks, that, by selling them again, he returned home twenty-eight shillings odd pence a richer man than he came out."

In collecting materials for this portion of my review of London, order and regularity are unnecessary; cheats, impostors, knaves, and thieves, members of one great family, will be indiscriminately introduced, with their schemes and crimes to mark _them_, and the cullibility of the good Citizens of London, a large portion of whom are ever ready to catch at the most silly and absurd baits, provided they happen to agree with their pursuits. Money-lenders, those excellent members of Society, the friends of youth, the alleviators of distress, who hold forth their thousands to the publick, merely with a view to accommodate the wants of their countrymen, and without the least wish of private advantage to themselves, were known to the inhabitants of this Metropolis at the period from which I date my present researches. The reader will find a wonderful similarity in the ensuing advertisement to some of very recent date. "From our house, New Tuttle-street, near the Royal-oak, Westminster, or Young Man's Coffee-house, at Charing-cross, in the morning. All gentlemen and others that have business in Treasury, Admiralty, or Navy offices, or any of the Courts of Law or Equity, may have it faithfully solicited. We buy and sell estates, _help persons to money_ on good security. We help persons to employments, &c. and have now several to be disposed of, of 400_l._ 100_l._ 80_l._ 60_l._ 40_l. per annum_[92:A]; any that shall give in timely notice of places to be disposed of shall be rewarded for the same. _And because many have been defrauded of considerable sums of money_ by one that lately printed from Salisbury-court, Fleet-street; that none may be served so that apply themselves to us, _nor the reputation of this undertaking ruined, because ill men have had the management of it_, we shall not take our gratuity, _till we have done their business_; which must be allowed to be a candid acknowledgment of _our intention_."

In so populous a City as London, no place is sacred from the contrivances of Sharpers. Even plate used at the Coronation feast of Queen Anne, in Westminster-hall, April 1702, was stolen, with table-linen and a great deal of pewter[92:B].

To second the operations of the Royal Proclamation for the Suppression of Vice, certain well-disposed Citizens entered into the following agreement, to promote the Reformation of Manners.

"We whose names are hereunto subscribed, out of a sense of the duty we owe to Almighty God, in pursuance of His Majesty's Proclamation for the discouragement and prosecution of debauchery and prophaneness, and for the suppressing of them, do agree as followeth: