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.