"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.
"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."
On 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.
The 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.
One 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.
The 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. James'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. Carr 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.
The King gave 1000l. to the sufferers by a fire in Bishopsgate-street, London, in November 1765; and the Society of Quakers 500l.
During 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 400l.; 200l. was collected at Almack's; Daniel Giles, esq. distributed 20 chaldrons of coals; the Archbishop of Canterbury gave 5s. 3d. 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 500l. under a feigned name, through the hands of Dr. Hill[74:A].