Philanthropia Metropolitana. A view of the charitable institutions established in and near London: chiefly during the last twelve years

Front matter

ISHjtlanfiji'opia i*Tctropolttana; A VIEW OF THE CHARITABLE INSTITUTI O NS ESTABLISHED IN AND NEAR LONDON, Chiefly during the last Twelve years. By A. HIGHMORE, Esq. Author of Pietas Londintniis, Sfc. Sfc. " THE INCREASE OF FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY." Collect, 14 S.' Trin Faith believes the Revelations of God — Hope expects his Promises — and Charity loves his Excellencies and Mercies, Taylor LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, akd BROWN, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1822. K. Wilks, Printer, 89, Chancery Lane. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS FREDERICK DUKE of YORK & ALBANY, 8sc. Sfc. Sfc. SIR, Your Royal Highness's gracious conde scension, by which you have been pleased to accord your protection to the following Work, impresses my mind with grateful acknowledgment, and affords me the first rewards for my present labours.

In my former publication of Pietas Lon dinensis, dedicated by gracious command to a 2 our DEDICATION. our late venerable Sovereign, in the year 1810; a concise history was offered of more than Four hundred and fifty Institutions of Charity in and near London, and this com pilation presents a review of more than Sixty additional Societies, which, in the short interval of Twelve years, have ema nated from the same active benevolence of my fellow citizens; the whole together forming a standing record to the honour of my native city, too nearly allied to the national character to be suffered to pass unregistered to posterity ! Your Royal Highness's name, rendered illustrious not only by exalted birth, but by the high stations which you so ably and honourably fill, and which, under Your Royal High ness's vigilance and supervision, have main tained the national glory, receives additional lustre by your standing eminently forward as the Patron or President of many of these Institutions, which your patronage and example DEDICATION.

V ample have either founded or promoted, for the alleviation of distress in its multifarious character. For my own humble part, I shall never cease to contemplate* with sentiments of the sincerest satisfaction, that it has fallen to my lot to have been made instrumental in the management of one of these Institutions, the Hospital for the Small Pox and Vaccination, which it has pleased Your Royal Highness thus to patronise ; and to bear respectful testimony to that princely munificence and condescending affability with which you have essentially promoted, during 20 years past, its benevolent design, and established its permanent utility : and still more may I be allowed to rejoice in having been made the almoner of your bounty, as efficient in its means for public good as it was judicious in its benign application.

Section I

Societies for Religious Purposes 1 . Prayer-book and Homily Society 1 2. St. Swithin's Association for Distribution of the same and Tracts - - - - - - . -31 3. Merchant Seamen's Auxiliary Bible Society - - 35 4. Port of London Society ------ 4<i 5. Bethel Seaman's Union ----- 7(1 6. Relief arid Instruction of poor Africans and Asiatics - 71 7. Baptist Missionary Society ----- 83 8. London Association in Aid of Moravian Missions - 103 9. The Continental Society 120 10. AVesleyan Methodist Missionary Society - - 133 11. Home Missionary Society - - - - - 158 12. The like for London and its Vicinity - - - 171 13. The Missionary and Tract Society of the New Jerusalem Church - - - - - - -176

Section II

Societies for Education. 1. The City of London School of Instruction and Industry 185 2. The National Society Schools - - - . 192 3. The London National Auxiliary Schools - 208 4. The British and Foreign Schools - - - -212 a CONTENTS. Page 5. The Bedford Free School 254 6. The Caledonian Asylum 259 7. The London Orphan Asylum - - - - - 261 8. St. Swithin's Sunday School - - - - 266 9. The Jews' Free School - - - - - 269 10. The Jews' Hospital 276 11. The Jews' Charity for Bread, &c. - - - - 280 12. The Jews' Ladies' Benevolent Institution - - - 281 13. The Jews' other Charities, Aid for the Sabbath, &c. - 283 14. The Licensed Victuallers' School - - - - 285

Section III

Societies for Local Charity. 1. The Maritime Cambrian Society .... 289 2. The Cumberland Benevolent Society - - - 294 3. The Islington Dispensary 296 4. The South London Dispensary .... 298 5. The Surrey Institution for Discharge of Debtors - 302 6. The Wiltshire Society 314

Section IV

Societies for Visiting, S?c. 1 . The General Philanthropic Society at Clerken well - 315 2. The Female Friendly Union Society ... - 320 3. The Mother and Infant's Friend Society - - - 323 4. The Ladies' Benevolent Society for Lying-in Women - 325 5. The Dorcas Society for the like .... 307 6. The Misericordes Society - ... - 330 7. The Widow's Friend and Benevolent Society - - 333 8. The Spitalfields Benevolent Society .... CONTENTS. IX

Section V

Dispensaries. Page i . The Royal Universal Dispensary for Children - - 345 2. The Royal Dispensary for Diseases of the Ear - - 354 3. The General Dispensary ------ 357 4. The Institution for the Cure of Glandular and Cancerous Diseases -------- 369

Section VI

Infirmaries. 1 . Asylum for Recovery of Health -' ■ - - - 3"3 2. For Asthma, Consumption, and Lungs - - - 381 3. For Cutaneous Diseases ------ 383 4. For Diseases of the Eye 387 5. The West London Infirmary and Lying-in Institution - 390 6. Royal Metropolitan for Sick Children - - - 395 7. The Floating Hospital for Seamen - - - - 397

Section VII

Societies for Philanthropic Purposes. I . Artists and their Families - 402 2. Pensions for Artisans, Mechanics, and their Widows - 409 3. For Poor Clergymen - - - - - -414 4. Guardian Society and Asylum for Public Morals - 418 5. Hayes's Trust - - 437 C. Philanthropic Harmonists ..... 440 7- Herve's National Benevolent Institution - - - 443 a X CONTENTS. Page 8. Nightly Shelter, &c. to the Houseless - - - 447 9. Law Association for Widows and Families - - 458 10. Medical Benevolent Society 4-S0 11. Suppression of Mendicity .... - 464 12. Permanent and Universal Peace .... 473 13. Encouragement of Industry and Reduction of Poor Rates 487 14. Improvement of Prison Discipline .... 519 15. The Theatrical Funds -575 16. Registry of Female Servants 579 17. Waterloo Subscription 592 ADDENDA. 1. The Ladies' Royal Benevolent Society - - - 609 2. Southwark Female Society - - - - - 615 3. City of London Lying-in Institution ... 624 Conclusion .....--- 627 Index .-----...-

Preface

. i. When the Institutions of Charity in the Metropolis of London extend in number to nearly 500, as may he clearly ascertained by my former and my present work, it may without contradiction be asserted, that the universality of the principle itself is proved to exist amongst us in its most disinterested form ; it proves a general and prevailing spirit of beneficence towards each other, not only unvaried and unrelax ing, but also increasing; and as it is the life and soul of all other duties, which without it are empty per formances, (Bp. T. Sherlock Dis. iii. 136.) so does the enumeration of its several ways of doing good pre sent a memorable record of evidence of national sensibility, and of feelings which take delight in seeking the welfare and consolation of others in their various distresses, without the casuistry of selection, or de liberation on the causes of trouble ; and its acts are always, upon the divine principle that he is the best neighbour who shews mercy. (Lu. x. 37.) "Charity," a 6 says

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. says a right reverend prelate of the last century, " is reason made perfect by grace : it is a beneficence which arises from the contemplation of the word, from a knowledge of a great Creator, and the rela tion we bear to our fellow-creatures : it is that reason into which all duties owing from man to man are ultimately resolved; and when we chuse to say, in a word, that it is the character, the temper, or the duty of a disciple of the Gospel, charity is the only word that can express our meaning." (Sherlock's Dis. iii, 139.) It is not confined to any kind of good works, but it is r. general spirit of life influencing all the actions, an uninterrupted love which exerts itself uniformly in every motive. However some men may question the sincerity of motives, and pass probably an erroneous, at least an uncharitable judgment on others, for the causes of many gifts to these Institutions, yet they must allow that the benefit to the public is the same ; but when they look round tbe city, and visit the chambers of affliction in the numerous degrees which affect our poor and afflicted, from moon-struck madness to fe ver, to disease of every kind, to evil accident, to po verty and wretchedness, and then turn to the means adopted to give protection from ruin, and to the rescue of ignorance and profligacy, to instruction and to salvation, they will assuredly find an answer to all casuistical reasoning: Let the dissatisfied ca suist go to the bed-side of one of the objects of these numerous sources of consolation, and he will soon lose

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. XIII lose the disposition and relinquish the right to question the motive. Every one will say, " I Mas a stranger, and they took me in; naked, and they clothed me; sick, and even in prison, aud they visited me." In the recorded names of thousands of benefactors it may be asserted, and I have no small stock of evidence in my own view to prove, that the difficulty of finding an impure motive would lie wholly on the side of so ungracious an inquiry ; but where one such case could be found, all the rest would disdain the triumph of praise. It is however admitted that, in a natural sense, there can be no charity amonoany people unless there is a general love flowing throughout their common intercourse ; a prompt desire to help each other by advice, by instruction, by physical strength, in health, in sickness, in prosperity, and in adverse fortune; a spirit of forbearance, a readiness to bear each other's burthen, and to forgive to the uttermost.

If any man frustrates these duties, yet gives alms to any individual or to any Institution for charity, his inconsistency manifests his want of true benevolence. An active and lively charity proceeds out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and a faith unfeigned; the sins which it is to cover must therefore be found in some other heart, for there is no room for them There such a disposition dwells. The general fact is certain, that human beings may in various ways be the procuring causes of good to one

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. XIV one another; so true it is that almost all our happiness is conveyed to us, not immediately from God's hands, but by the instrumentality of our fellow beings, or through them as the channels of his be neficence, in such a sense, that had it not been for their benevolence and voluntary agency, we should have for ever wanted the blessings we enjoy.* The beneficence here conferred is two-fold, for the best disposition is first excited in the heart of the agent, by being thus made the happy instrument ot divine commiseration; and also that the benefit conferred on the person in affliction awakens in his mind the highest sense of gratitude and praise. The true character of this christian spirit having been defined by the Gospel, and eminently illustrated by its divine Founder and his apostles, we are unavoidably carried back in our researches for such examples as are capable of showing what we now so ardently seek ; for the intermediate times have not always furnished either principles so pure or examples so philanthropic, as were recorded in the first, or have stood forth to public veneration in the present era of Christianity.

II. In the primitive times of the Gospel, so early as the first century, there reigned among the members of that community, however distinguished by worldly rank and titles, not only an amiable harmony, but Price on Prayer, p. 224. also

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. XV also a perfect equality. This appeared by the feasts of charity in which all were indiscriminately assem bled, by the names of " brethren and sisters," by which they mutually saluted each other; and by several circumstances of a like nature. Nor in the first century was the distinction made between Christians of a more or less perfect order, which took place afterwards. (Mosh. i. 100.) Their mutual use of a general contribution from what each possessed, towards a common fund for necessary support in all cases, was the first effusion of a holy spirit, which, as in the case of Barnabas, induced them to sell their lands and lay them for the common good at the apostle's feet : having their hearts, says Dr. Clarke (v. x. 176.), filled with a most excellent spirit of love and charity, they either all, or at least most of them, voluntarily agreed to sell what they had, and putting it into the apostle's hand, they were for the future equally maintained out of it, as by a public stock: and nothing can more clearly show how general and inexclusive this distribution was, than the choice of seven new deacons, because of some partiality then suspected by the foreign Jews against the former, who were natives of Pales tine ; and that of these, six were foreigners, and not of the Hebrew nation, as appears by their names (Acts vi. 5.), and the seventh was chosen out of the proselytes of Jerusalem ; and all these particularly ministered to the necessities of the poor. (1 Mo sheim 104.) In

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. XVI In fact, every consideration of the state and his tory of the primitive church of Christ proves, that general and universal charity was ordained by its divine Founder, to constitute the essence of its faith and action, and to form a principal part of its worship, and its mutual offices of apostles, prophets, bishops, presbyters, deacons, and congregations ; all were in this of one mind and soul and spirit ; and this infusion of a pure and beneficent principle, clearly evinces that the beginning and " progress of Christianity is not to be ascribed to human means, but to a divine power." (Ibid. 114.) And thus we of these degenerate times can enter tain little surprise, that those who saw and conversed with " Him who spake as never man spake, and who went about doing good," should have forsaken all and followed him.

(Luke v. 11.) This improvement of society began in the era of its first promulgation, and opened a channel for con ciliating its adversaries and extending its influence to the remotest periods. St. Gregory Nazianzen, the sublimest of the Greek fathers, who died at the close of the fourth century, (A. D. 376) affords an early testimony to the truth of this remark, and proves that at that period there were many such institutions. " Hospitals and other foundations of charity, now so common in the world, are owing to Christianity ; for Julian the apostate, proposed the Christians as an example of innocence, devotion and charity to his

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. XVII his priests, when he would have had structures erected among the heathen for such purposes." (Greg. Naz. Stel. I.) This Emperor died at the early age of 31 years, in the year 363, 13 years be fore St. Gregory. The principles and spread of Christianity have illustrated the beneficence of every dispensation granted to man, for they have developed designs which before were wisely concealed, and pronoun ced the way to everlasting glory ! Pythagoras being asked in what man could resemble the Divinity, justly, and as it were with a truly Christian spirit, answered, " In beneficence and truth." If from these beginnings we pass the long inter vening period and turn our attention to our own age, we can recollect the works of pure and disinterested charity in many, who were not chargeable either by the most scrutinising penetration of envy, or the colder suspicion of philosophic doubt, with ostenta tion on the one hand, or with any sinister motive on the other.

National Providence seems to guide us in these institutions of charity, to erect them as a combined evidence of National Christianity. III. Wisely is it ordained by Providence, says Lord Kames (2 Sketches, 321), that charity should in every respect be voluntary, to prevent the idle and profligate from depending upon it for support. There is indeed little pleasure where charity is rendered

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. dered unnecessary by municipal law • but were that law laid aside, the gratification of pity would become one of our sweetest enjoyments. Charity, like other affections, is invigorated by exercise, and no less enfeebled by disuse. Providence, withal, hath scattered benevolence among the sons of men with a liberal hand; and notwithstanding the ob struction of municipal law, seldom is there found one so obdurate as to resist the impulse of compas sion when a proper object is presented." Had this eminent lawyer been a contemporary of these times in the South of England, he would have seen with exulting satisfaction, that the municipal law which enforces an annual rate for tbe support of the poor in every parish, presents no obstacle to the exercise of charity in every department, botli public and private; he would have rejoiced to see the unanimity of all sects and parties in this cause, and the pleasure with which voluntary benevolence is daily practised at the Anniversaries of our Cha ritable Institutions of London and Westminster, and with what readiness the poor-rates are at the same time paid wheu demanded.

I am not aware of an instance, where any one being desirous of declining his contribution on these occasions, adverted for one moment to the poor-rates as the ground for withholding that contribution; this is therefore a double evidence of public willingness to devote an ample part of the fruits of prosperity to deeds of charity. This

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. XIX This term is the same as love to each other ; and this manifestation of it, is an evidence too convincing to be questioned, of the increasing spread and effectual influence of Christianity; and by such acts, and by all the concurrent exercise of a candid judgment and kind offices, mankind shew them selves to be the disciples of him whose name they profess. Nothing can more unequivocally prove the in creased extent of the blessings of the Christian faith, than the works of charity of these our days; and this evidence has been greatly strengthened by the establishment of such institutions during a long and severe war ; continued and enlarged after the return of peace ; and preserved and maintained during both these periods for the inexclusive be nefit and comfort of poor and afflicted persons of all conditions, sects and nations that happen to be dwelling amongst us.

Charity thus has awakened in the soul that universal call to deeds of peace and mercy, which adversity demands with so impressive a claim, that she has lent her attentive ear, and given her helping hand, as well while the trumpet called her children to arms, as while they reposed in the shade of peaceful rest. Men of every denomination are now led to unite in this great cause of general benevolence; the Jew, the Mahometan, and the Christian, in all their various and multiplied sects and opinions, the peo ple of all countries and languages, the enemies and adversaries XX PilEFACE. adversaries at war, the allies and friends and de pendencies at peace; the people at home and the inhabitants of tbe remotest corners of the world, natives and emigrants, bond and free, the opulent and the poor, the scientific and the laborious, all unite in this common cause, the pound and the mite; and wherever these are wanting, the prayers mid the tears of sympathy are alike cast into the trea sury for the purposes of disinterested charity.

These amongst many other testimonies very dis tinguishable at the present æra, prove that the grand design and end of the sacred mission of our bh ssed Redeemer was to form one universal church gathered out of all nations and tongues and people, which should be united and extended through all the multifarious orders of society, from land to land and age to age, and that its chief designation should be " universal love ; " whereby all men should be known to be his disciples. The continual and increasing spread of this principle of action since the commencement of the present century, is the divine herald of that blessed period which is fast approaching, when the animosities and dissentions which have hitherto visited the ruder ages of the history of man shall gradually subside, when every one will rejoice in his duty, will cultivate the obli gations of peace, and know and enjoy the real ad vantages of his holy calling; — " when the lion shall lie down with the lamb," and a foretaste be cultivated of that future felicity, which shall be full of glory !

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. XXI glory! In the ninth and following centuries, the progress of scieuce towards perfection was slow, be cause the interruptions arising from the troubled state of Europe were frequent (Mosheim); but the great difference now every where visible is, that in the 19th century, during the longest war that ever deluged all parts of that continent, and thinned the ranks of society in all classes of its members, science, education, charity, the diffusion of the holy scriptures, and missions to all lands, have not only met with no interruption, but, on the contrary, have been embraced by nations hostile and in arms against each other, with concomitant zeal, ardour, and encouragement! IV. " By means of the medical establishments, not less than a 20th part of the population of the lower orders are annually relieved, and a sum expended on them to an enormous amount."

The number of diseased individuals that are pro vided for in hospitals, or gratuitously supplied with advice and medicines, either at their own dwellings or by daily attendance at different dispensaries, is truly astonishing! In this metropolis there are 22 hospitals or asylums for the sick, for the lame, and for pregnant women; 17 dispensaries for gratuitously supplying the necessitous with medicines and medical aid at their own habitations; one Royal Humane Society for recovering of the apparently dead,

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. XXII dead from drowning or suffocation ; two Universal Dispensaries for the sick children of necessitous poor, who are relieved in it from every district of the metropolis and its vicinity; besides 127 places for the reception of the aged and infirm, who are clothed and fed, and provided also with every medi cal attention; and a poor-house to every parish for the reception and accommodation of the distressed.* To these may be added numerous alms-houses, established schools, subscriptions in several places for the blind, the deaf and the dumb, and several additions made to the number of these Institutions. Even while I was compiling and even printing the following work, communications were handed to me of some which were then either instituted or com mencing their benevolent operations, and were in time to find a place in the following arrangement.

Whether in this extensive view of public good, the true character of charity is in any respect accomplished, let it be tried by tbe criterion of that great- Example, which is the spring of every virtuous effort. This was indeed a charity equalled only by unfeigned piety, greatly disinter ested, universal and constant; being rich, yet be coming poor, and by poverty or forbearance making many rich ; a love which not only produced the highest effects, but also by operating in the different lower forms wherein it is possible for love to shew itself by kindness, pity, sympathy, compassion, good- * Dr. Davis's Annals of Children's Dispensary, preface vii. Will,

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. XXIII will, tenderness, in cases the most affecting and as numerous as the occasions occurred, in none of which can one interested motive be discovered by the keenest scrutiny, but on the contrary the happi ness or comfort of others were alone consulted ; an undeviating perseverance in all kind offices and truth, notwithstanding the shafts of envy and ca lumny were ready to strike, and although persecution and ignominy even to death awaited it: a charity unlimited to persons or relatives, or circum stances or station, but exercised alike to all as one great family in which all are equally allied: a love which lives and expires but with our Being for the benefit of the world. In all these an unvarying constancy, which gives permanent blessing to deeds of benevolence, begun upon a well-founded judg ment of action, not excited by artful persuasion, nor by the ephemeral attraction of transient passion : doing good for the sake of the good itself, and looking for neither recompense nor reward. — See on this subject, Macknight, p. 67.

In a word, says St. John, he that saith that Christ abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked. — 1 John ii. 6. In my former work as well as in this, I have pur posely avoided Friendly and Benefit Societies, and all or most of such contributions as may seem from the affluence and respectability of the subscribers to be establishments of charity, but, in fact, however laudable and prudent they may be, are not free from a private

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. XXIV a private interest in their ultimate object; and how ever small the extent of this principle may be found, yet while any of such resulting trusts form a part of its plan and design, the institution cannot par take of this disinterested merit which constitutes the meaning of the term Public Charity. However re mote from adversity any person may be at the time of his contribution, still none are entirely shielded from the trial of pecuniary adversity, and no man has lived, even but a small number of years, in the general associations of society, without being not un frequently concerned to notice the reverses of for tune and the changes of circumstance which await those, who but a few years preceding, were encom passed with all the blessings of opulence and worldly prosperity. Thus the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; and the uncer tainty of riches is proverbial from the melancholy experience how often and how unexpectedly they take to themselves wings and fly away!

V. I cannot avoid regretting the extraordinary in crease of institutions for the same charitable pur poses as have been already established, with perhaps one small shade of difference in the object which it embraces, except the distance of their local situations. I have great fear that in thus ramifying the works of benevolence, and in times not the most prosperous, the river may be as it were cut into

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. XXV so many outlets as to finally exhaust the parent stream. There are not a few of these institutions, which, if united together, with the aid of additional funds, would strengthen and render permanent the original foundation; this would obviate the continual draft upon the general purse, and protect it from the necessity of withdrawing part of its super fluous fruits from those which it has hitherto sanctioned with its support. Those who conduct the affairs of public societies of this nature, must, during many years past, have experienced the truth of this remark, exemplified in the difficulty of procuring stewards for festivals, annual contributions, and active committees. My design in this work is to present to the Public a brief record of such fruits of their benevolence as have been founded since the date of my former Publication of Pietas Londinensis, in the year 1810, or such as I may then have inadvertently omitted ; but in no case to interfere with that work, or to take up the numerous subjects of it again.

This resolution precludes me from the use I should otherwise have now made of many unpublished pages, which would have filled up the miscellaneous part of that work, the bulk of which it then became necessary to reduce. In endeavouring to present a concise view of each charitable institution to the reader's notice, or readily to satisfy the hasty search of the more desul tory inquirer, I have stated first its design and b object ;

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. object ; then its history and character ; and, lastly, its terms for contributions and its official conduc tors; in all which it has been my principal care to let each speak in its own language from the docu ments committed to my inspection, with such additional remarks or observations as they excited. The reader must not therefore be surprised to find the merits of some institutions which differ in their sys tem or principles well spoken of, he must conceive them all to be pleading for themselves, rather than to have adopted the Author to advocate their cause. I have also conceived, that as in my former Publi cation, so likewise in this, it will afford a satisfactory view of our liberal Metropolis, to see its many charitable establishments in a connected arrangement, which should present a correct delineation of their respective features and characters, and engage the attention of many a well-disposed and generous heart, to grant their patronage to those whose annual reports they might probably never have occasion either to seek or to examine.