The spring of 1725 was extremely wet, and serious apprehensions of a total failure of the crops very generally prevailed. Those fears fortunately proved fallacious; but the useful body
of labourers who resort to the neighbourhood of London as haymakers suffered dreadfully, and several actually died for want of food and lodging. One sentiment of compassion seems to have prevailed for these wretched people, and 20 and 30l. at a time was collected at the Exchange and in several parishes: the duke of Chandos gave 150 of them 2s. 6d. and a sixpenny loaf each, at his gate at Canons. Mr. Carey, vicar of Islington, went to every house in the parish soliciting for them; and, having received a handsome sum, he afterwards distributed it in the church.
The following January was very propitious to the funds of Bethlehem hospital, several gentlemen having subscribed towards the erection of the wings for incurables. One of these gifts was 500l. a second 200l. and another 100l. with a promise of the same sum annually for four years; they unanimously concealed their names.
M. Mahomet, a Turk, and a valet-de-chambre to George I. died in 1726, of whom it was said, "He wore the habit of a Turk, but had many Christian virtues, being profusely liberal to the poor; and is said to have discharged near 300 debtors from prison for small sums, since his coming into England."
A Mrs. Palmer died in 1727, who bequeathed the following large sums in charities: 4000l. for propagating the Gospel abroad; 4000l. for promoting Christian knowledge in the Highlands of
Scotland; 2000l. to queen Anne's bounty; 2000l. to Bethlehem hospital; 500l. to the charity school of St. Andrew's, Holborn; and 500l. to poor widows, who received no alms from the parish. She resided in the parish of St. Andrew; but was buried at St. Giles's, Cripplegate.
The King honoured the Corporation of London with his company to dinner, in October, 1727; when on his way, a person presented him a petition, beseeching relief for the various prisoners for debt in London; this he received in the most gracious manner, and immediately ordered 1000l. to be paid to the Sheriffs for that purpose.
A Committee of the House of Commons visited the various prisons of the Metropolis, by order of the House, in March, 1729, when they found 30 miserable wretches in the greatest extremity, through illness and want, at the Marshalsea; which operated so forcibly on their feelings, that they immediately contributed sufficient to procure them medical assistance, nurses, cloaths, and food.
Bloomsbury-market, built by the duke of Bedford, was opened in March, 1730, to the great satisfaction of the neighbourhood. On the following Monday, the Duke bought all the unsold meat at the market-price, and had it distributed to the reduced housekeepers, and other necessitous
persons, inhabitants of the parish of St. Giles's[31:A].