Was founded in 1798, to raise the means of clothing and educating the sons of deceased and indigent ancient freemasons.
In St. George's Fields, was instituted March 25, 1788, to clothe, maintain, and educate the female children and orphans of indigent brethren. It is well patronised.
Was established in 1792, for the general instruction and clothing of the sons of poor clergymen, naval and military officers, reduced tradesmen, and mechanics. Such children as discover particular talents or genius, have an opportunity of acquiring the rudiments of the Latin or French languages.
In St. George's in the East, is an individual's foundation. Henry Raine, Esq., having assisted his relations about 1719, built two schools in Fawdon Fields, near where he had lived and realized property. He made provision for the maintenance and instruction of fifty boys and fifty girls, and for the habitation of a master and mistress. By his will he added to his former donations, and made a singular provision for bestowing annually, on one girl of six who should in the course of the year leave the school, with proper certificate of regularity, and exact observance of religious duties, 100l. as a marriage-portion, to be paid on her wedding-day. The female to whom the donation is given, becomes entitled to it by drawing a lot, and on the day of wedding, which is always on the first of May, 5l. in addition to the portion is to be expended in a dinner.
The Royal Society of Musicians, the Choral Fund, the New Musical Fund, &c., were established for the support and advantage of sick and infirm musicians.
Mile End, Old Town, arose in 1795, from the benevolent exertions of the celebrated Benjamin and Abraham Goldsmid, Esqrs.
Established at Pentonville, in 1807, in consequence of more applications than could be complied with having been made at the Magdalen. Its object was, to afford prompt reception to all females who had fallen into vice, and were desirous of reforming. Industry uniformly prevails throughout the house.
Was instituted in 1806, for the purpose of providing for persons discharged from prison or the hulks, unfortunate and deserted females and others, who, from loss of character and extreme indigence, could not, though willing to work, obtain an honest maintenance.
In Bridewell Walk, Clerkenwell, was founded about 1692. There is a burial-ground of inconsiderable size, and near it stood the remains of the Quakers' Workhouse. The institution has been removed to a new and most commodious building in the Goswell street Road, near Islington. There is now a school also, conducted on most exemplary principles.
And besides these there are the Society of Schoolmasters, instituted in 1798, to protect the widows and orphans of schoolmasters; the Scottish Hospital, to relieve distressed natives of Scotland, the foundation of Charles II. and re-incorporated by his present majesty: the Society for the Relief of Foreigners, originating in 1807, to give money, legal and medical advice, &c.; the Artists' Benevolent, and the Artists' Joint Stock Funds, for decayed members, their widows and children, &c.
PREVIOUSLY to concluding this division of our labours, we ought to notice, that owing to the perseverance of the late Mr. GEORGE ROSE, the ideas of various writers, particularly of Mr. COLQUHOUN in his treatise on "Indigence," to establish banks in which the poor might deposit their savings, received the sanction of Parliament. The system has been very successful. Up to midsummer last the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt had received, on account of these banks, no less than 1,254,021l. 2s. 2d. with which had been purchased 1,569,424l. 3 per cents.; and the interest on the debentures is 4l. 11s. 3d. per cent. That amount was purchased with the one hundred and twenty-two banks for savings already in the metropolis, and different parts of ENGLAND.
The foundation of such an institution, under the patronage of the Queen, the Prince Regent, Princess Augusta and Prince Leopold, is proposed "for the friendless unprovided Daughters of Clergymen, and Naval and Military Officers, admissible at any age from fourteen to twenty-two years of age: as a memorial of her late royal highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales and Saxe Coburg; born January 7th, 1796—died November 6th, 1817, aged twenty-two." This institution is entirely new, and distinct in its intentions from any other in the kingdom: as it is not for the infant, but for the grown-up. it is to establish an ASYLUM, in which they can support and secure that respectability, which change of circumstances has rendered precarious. The institution, after its first establishment, would in part support itself, by the members of it spinning white flax for making lace; the price of spinning which, independent of the article, is from 16s. to 2l. 2s. per pound. The spinning of sewing thread could be adopted, an article always in demand, also embroidery, with various other works.
The PRINCESS CHARLOTTE being born in the year 96; it is proposed that the Institution should consist of that number of orphans. Her royal highness dying at the age of 22—the same number of adult orphans of each class to he admitted, making 66.—Twenty orphans of a younger age, from 10 to 14, to be likewise admissible, as contributory members; 10 of the navy, and 10 of the army, on paying 12l. per annum each, for education and board; but, if remaining until 16, from its being considered best for them, to pay for the last two years only 10l. per annum.
The servants to be orphans—five from the Military Asylum, and five from the Naval School at Greenwich : making 96.
This useful institution is for the relief of the afflicted poor, particularly the families of soldiers, and distressed married women, at the time of child-birth. Its patroness is Miss Vansittart. it was established in 1810. Since its commencement it has visited and relieved near three thousand cases, and expended 1,730l.—a proof how much good may be effected with small means, where the benevolent will bestow personal attention. The society grants the loan of a box of child-bed linen to each poor married woman during her confinement; and pecuniary aid to the amount of 10 or 20s. in the month. It attends to every person who is properly recommended, whether male or female, where sickness and poverty are united, from four to eight weeks, as the exigences of the case may require The society's concerns are conducted by two committees, male and female, who personally investigate every case.
Source: Leigh's New Picture of London. Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand;
by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819