He was naturally of a busy turn of mind, and could not sit still. He wrote about anything—it did not much matter what—of the paving, etc. of Westminster and its adjacent parishes; he even wrote a big book, beautifully illustrated, on a little trip he took, when travelling was not so common as now, ‘A Journal of Eight days’ Journey from Portsmouth to Kingston-on-Thames,’ (1756) a second edition of which was published in two volumes in 1757, with the addition of ‘An Essay on Tea, considered as pernicious to Health, obstructing Industry, and impoverishing the Nation.’ So we see he took strong views on things in general, which have since, by experience, been modified.
His scribbling propensities probably did some good, for in 1757 we find him taking up the cause of that very meritorious charity, the Marine Society, to which he was a subscriber to the extent of fifteen guineas. This society, whose house is in Bishopsgate Street, is still alive, and, what is more, flourishing. About this he wrote four or five pamphlets and books. This seems only to have served as a whet to his appetite for philanthropy, for in 1758 he paid £50 to qualify himself as a Life-Governor of the Foundling Hospital. This, naturally, led him to think upon the source whence the foundlings principally came: and he turned his attention towards the foundation of a Magdalen (?) Hospital, which was, with the cooperation of several gentlemen, established in London in 1758, in Great Prescott Street, Goodman’s Fields (the site of which is now, or used to be, called Magdalen Row).
Many more books and pamphlets on the above subjects, the Foundling Hospital, the Marine and Stepney Societies, the Encouragement of British Troops, etc., occupied his leisure until 1760, when he took in hand the social question of giving fees, or vails, to servants, and wrote two pamphlets on the subject. In one of them are some very humorous stories of this absurd custom, one, especially, which from its raciness has become somewhat hackneyed.[84] ‘It is a more humorous Story they tell of —— after he had dined with ——. The Servants with assiduous duty had taken the best care of his friend’s Hat, Sword, Cane, Cloak, and among the rest his Gloves also. When he came to demand them, every Servant, with the most submissive respect, brought his part of the Old Gentleman’s personal furniture, and so many Shillings were distributed with his usual liberality; but, as he was going away without his Gloves, one of the Servants reminded him of it, to which he answered, “No matter, friend, you may keep the Gloves, they are not worth a Shilling.”’
Hanway tried to do away with this social tax, which, however, remains to this day. But a very good story is told of Robert Hamilton of Kilbrachmont.[85] ‘After a party at Kellie Castle the guests were passing through the Hall where the servants were drawn up to receive their vails, in those days a customary exaction at great houses. The gifts of those who preceded “Robbie” (as the Laird was commonly called) drew forth no expression of gratitude, not even a smile, but when his turn came for performing the ceremony their features were at once lighted up with something even approaching to a laugh.
‘“What did you give the fellows, Robbie?” said his friends, when they got outside; “they looked as sour as vinegar till your turn came.”
‘“Deil a bawbee they got frae me,” said Robbie, “I just kittled their loof.”’[86]
This system of feeing servants received a crushing blow on the production (in 1759) of the Rev. James Townley’s farce of ‘High Life below Stairs,’ which probably led to Hanway’s writing his two pamphlets on the subject.
He used occasionally to go to Court—but never solicited any place for himself; still it was thought that his philanthropic exertions should be rewarded, more especially as he had by no means a large fortune. So a deputation of five prominent citizens of London, amongst whom was Hoare the banker, waited on Lord Bute (who was then Prime Minister), and asked that some substantial recognition of his services should made. Their representations had weight, and, in July, 1762, he was appointed one of the commissioners for victualling the Navy.
He was now in easy circumstances, and his official duties could not have been very heavy, for in that year he wrote four pamphlets on ‘Meditations on Life, &c.,’ ‘Registration of the Parish Poor, and Ventilation,’ his pet Magdalens, and a ‘Disquisition on Peace and War’ themes so diverse that they show the variety of subjects that occupied his serious attention. In fact, he scribbled on an infinity of things—all having for their aim the benefit of mankind. He had a financial scheme ‘for saving from Seventy Thousand Pounds to One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds to the Public;’ he wrote on the ‘Uses and Advantages of Music;’ the ‘Case of the Canadians at Montreal;’ ‘The Soldier’s Faithful Friend, being Moral and Religious Advice to private Men in the Army and Militia;’ the ‘Registration of the Children of the Poor;’ another pamphlet on the rising generation of the labouring poor; and, not content with addressing the private soldier, he must needs write ‘The Christian Officer, addressed to the Officers of his Majesty’s forces, &c.’
About this time he was evidently most goody-goody. He wrote ‘Moral and Religious Instruction to young Persons;’ ‘Moral and Religious Instructions, intended for Apprentices among the lower Classes of the People;’ ‘Letters to the Guardians of the Infant Poor;’ ‘Rules and Regulations of the Magdalene Hospital, with Prayers, &c.;’ ‘Advice to a Daughter, on her going to Service, &c.;’ ‘Advice from a Farmer to his Daughter;’ ‘Observations on the Causes of the Dissoluteness which reigns among the lower Classes of the People.’