G. A. WACHSEL."

T1he 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:

2"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.

3"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."

4On 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.

5The 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.

6One 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.

7The 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.

8James'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.

9Carr 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.

10The King gave 1000_l._ to the sufferers by a fire in Bishopsgate-street, London, in November 1765; and the Society of Quakers 500_l._

11During 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].

12Sir 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:

13"The worthy and ingenious Mr.

14Nelson, 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.

15The 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.

16The 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.

17"J. FIELDING.

18"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."

19This 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.

20The 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."

21An 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."

22One 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].

23Several 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.

24Impressed 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.

25"To the Publisher of the London Chronicle.

26_Cardington, March 6, 1774._

27"Mr. WILKIE,

28"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.

29"I am, Sir, &c.

30JOHN HOWARD.

31"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.

32"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._

33"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.

34"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.

35"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._"

36This true Patriot addressed the printer a second time, March 7, in the same year.