Part 9
This is the plan of this noble charity; and though this work has subsisted but eighteen years, yet such has been the extraordinary encouragement given to it, that since the 3d of November 1740, to the 1st of January 1759, the sums generously contributed to its support amount to 79,153l. a great part of which is laid out in government securities. But what is still more extraordinary, 137,252 distressed objects have been relieved at this hospital; and from labouring under the oppression of some of the most malignant diseases, and unhappy accidents, have been reinstated in their honest and industrious capacities of working, and, so far as our observation reaches, their morals much amended, whereby the public again enjoy the benefit of their labour, and they, and their poor families, are preserved from perishing, and prevented from being an incumbrance to the community. And, notwithstanding the great number of objects relieved by this charity, it has not lessened the number of patients relieved by other hospitals.
The subscribers are desired to take notice, that if any patients do not conform to the rules of the house, or are guilty of any misbehaviour, they will be discharged, and never more relieved by this charity: and not to send any patient unable to walk, till they are first assured of room in the house; and when they recommend an in-patient, whose settlement is in the country, it is further requested, that they will satisfy the house committee, concerning the removal of such patient, when cured or judged incurable.
“No persons of known ability to pay for their cure, are allowed to partake of this charity; nor any with infectious distempers, or deemed incurable by the Physicians and Surgeons, or any in consumptive or asthmatic condition, are admitted into the house, being more capable, of relief as out-patients.”
The patients, being admitted without any expence, are required to be constant in their attendance on the Physicians, or Surgeons, at the hospital, before eleven o’clock; and, at nine o’clock, to return thanks at the chapel, and at the weekly committee next after their cure; and those only who attend their cure, and return thanks, will receive a certificate thereof, which will entitle them to future relief. _The Account published by order of the Governors in 1759._
LONDON LYING IN HOSPITAL, at Shaftesbury house, on the east side of Aldersgate street; an edifice built with brick and ornamented with stone, in a most noble and elegant taste. The front to the street is adorned with Ionic pilasters; the door is arched, and has a balcony supported by scrolls. This opens into a small area encompassed with buildings, within which are accommodations for the patients. This house, which was built by the masterly hand of Inigo Jones, was formerly the residence of the Earls of Shaftesbury, and deserves a much better situation. The polite part of the town is now so far removed from hence, that this edifice is neither known nor admired so much as it deserves. This structure, having been converted to several mechanic uses, was going to decay, but has, however, been thoroughly repaired, and happily applied to this noble charity; and in this house, support and every necessary accommodation and assistance are furnished for married women in the last stage of their pregnancy, time of labour, and month of lying-in.
This excellent charity was instituted on the 30th of March 1750, by several generous and humane persons; and has met with suitable encouragement from many of both sexes, who justly deserve that character. But so many distressed objects daily present themselves for the relief of this charity, which has been attended with a more than ordinary expence, by the reception of the wives of many seamen and soldiers in the public service, that its income, supported only by voluntary contributions, is not equal to its wants; and therefore the Governors find it still necessary to apply for the assistance of the charitable and humane. The conditions are,
I. Such persons as subscribe thirty guineas are Governors for life, and may recommend one pregnant woman to be upon the books at a time.
II. Those who subscribe five or three guineas _per annum_, are Governors so long as they continue their subscriptions, and intitled to recommend as in the first article.
III. Annual Governors may make up their subscriptions thirty guineas, within one year from their last payment, and thereupon become Governors for life.
IV. All ladies are at liberty in all elections of officers, to vote by proxy signified in writing.
_N. B._ All lesser benefactions are thankfully received. And for the satisfaction of the public, that the women are well and properly taken care of, ladies, though not Governesses, are permitted to go into the wards.
_Rules of the Hospital._
A general court of the Governors is held four times a year; namely, in the months of March, June, September, and December, to receive the report of the quarterly committees, elect a new committee, and transact such other business as may then be laid before them.
A house committee is appointed at every general quarterly court, consisting of thirteen Governors, three of whom are a _quorum_. This committee meets every Tuesday morning at eleven o’clock in the forenoon, at the hospital, to receive and discharge women, inspect the diet and provisions, order any furniture and conveniences that may from time to time be wanted, and to examine into and regulate the conduct of all the servants and patients of the house. These committees are to make their reports to the general quarterly courts.
The number of beds at present in the hospital is thirty-three.
A Physician, a Man-midwife, and a Surgeon in ordinary, attend daily at the hospital; besides whom the house is supplied with a Physician and Man-midwife extraordinary, a Surgeon extraordinary, and an apothecary, who supplies the patients with such medicines as shall be found necessary in their respective cases. And that the patients may not want necessary comfort under their afflictions, a Clergyman has undertaken the kind and charitable office of attending the house as Chaplain, baptizes the children born there, churches the women, and reads prayers publickly twice a week. All these gentlemen attend without fee or reward.
A matron, who is a skilful midwife, constantly resides in the hospital, and acts as such in all natural and easy labours.
There are a sufficient number of nurses and other servants to take care of the lying-in women, and do the common business of the house.
Also a beadle, who constantly resides at the hospital, to be ready to go on all messages, on sudden emergencies, and summon the Governors, &c.
Note, the servants of the house are forbid to take any fee or reward from the lying-in women, on any pretence whatsoever, on pain of being discharged.
Married women admitted into this hospital, must previously produce a certificate of their marriage from a lawful Minister, or in case they cannot, then an affidavit of their being married, and the time when and the place where, and also of the settlement of their husbands, and by what means such settlement was obtained. And no woman is to be taken into the house, who hath any contagious distemper, or has been accustomed to receive alms of a parish.
Such gentlemen and ladies as chuse to favour this laudable charity, are desired to send their subscriptions, with their names and places of abode, to the Treasurer, Charles Maynard, Esq; in Aldersgate street; to Messrs. Vere, Glyn, and Halifax, bankers, in Birchin lane; or to the weekly committee, on Tuesday in the forenoon, at the said hospital, where proper receipts will be given,
ACCOUNT _of_ WOMEN _delivered, from the institution of the hospital to the 17th Jan. 1758_.
Women delivered, 19 of whom had twins, and one delivered of three children 1914
Children born 1935
Males 961 Females 974 ———— 1935 ————
Monies received from the institution of the hospital to the 13th. Jan. 1758 7010 13 0¾
Monies expended from the institution of the hospital to 29th Sept. 1757 5774 3 6
£1000 Old South Sea annuities, which cost 1064 12 6
Cash in Treasurer’s hands 171 17 0¾ ——————— 7010 13 0¾
_The account published by order of the Governors._
See an account of the other hospitals of the same kind, under the articles LYING-IN HOSPITAL in Brownlow street, and LYING-IN HOSPITAL for unmarried as well as married women in Duke street.
LONDON ’PRENTICE _yard_, in the Minories.*
LONDON STONE, a very great piece of antiquity, that has been carefully preserved from age to age, and is mentioned by the same name so early as in the time of Ethelstan, King of the West Saxons.
This stone, which stands close under the south wall of St. Swithin’s church, was formerly a little nearer the channel facing the same place, and being fixed very deep in the ground was so strongly fastened by bars of iron, as to be in no danger from the carriages.
It seems very surprizing that so great a piece of antiquity has been constantly preserved with such care, and yet so little has been said of it, that the original cause of its erection, and the use for which it was intended, are entirely unknown. A very ingenious author observes, that as London appears to have been a Roman city, it will be no improbable conjecture, that this stone was the center, from whence they extended its dimensions, and might serve as the standard at which they began to compute their miles. Of this opinion was also Mr. Maitland, and the great Sir Christopher Wren, who grounded his conjecture upon proofs which are not every day to be obtained, for by rebuilding many of the churches after the fire of London, he had an opportunity of discovering and tracing the ancient boundaries of London, with a greater nicety than is ever to be expected again: on clearing the foundations of St. Mary le Bow in Cheapside, he found, upon opening the ground, the walls with the windows and pavement of a Roman temple, entirely buried under the level of the present street; this temple stood about forty feet backwards; but having occasion to bring the steeple of the new church to range with the high street, he again began to dig through the made ground, till having proceeded eighteen feet deep, to his surprize he discovered a Roman causeway of rough stone four feet thick, close and well rammed, with Roman brick and rubbish at the bottom, all firmly cemented; he was therefore of opinion, that this was the northern boundary of the Roman colony, and that the breadth from north to south was from this causeway, now Cheapside, to the Thames; the extent east and west from Tower hill to Ludgate: the principal or Prætorian Way, he supposed to be Watling street; whence London Stone appears to have been nearly in the center of the ancient city before it was destroyed by Boadicea, and when it was not encompassed with walls. _Curiosities of London and Westminster._ _Parentalia._
LONDON _street_, 1. A spacious, handsome, and well-built street, on the south side of Fenchurch street. 2. Mill street, Rotherhith. 3. Rose lane, Ratcliff.
LONDON WALL, the wall which formerly surrounded the city of London, as a defence against the attacks of an enemy. It was strengthened with lofty towers, and had originally only four gates, tho’ the making of new roads has increased the number to seven, which are now standing, viz. Aldgate, Bishopsgate, Moorgate, Cripplegate, Aldersgate, Newgate, and Ludgate. See each of these described in their proper places.
This wall, which is by some supposed to have been built by Constantine the Great, and by others by his mother Helena, was probably not erected till the time of Valentinian I. about the year 368. Britain had been reduced to very great misery, by the joint attacks of the Scots, Picts, Attacots, Saxons, and Franks; and the Romans, till the arrival of Theodosius the Elder, were defeated in several engagements: but that General having routed some parties of the enemy, entered the city of London in triumph. And we are told by _Am. Marcel, lib. 27._ that Theodosius, by repairing some cities and castles, and fortifying others, left every thing in so good a situation, that peace was preserved in Britain till the departure of the Romans in the reign of the Emperor Honorius.
Dr. Woodward, in the year 1707, had an opportunity of narrowly observing its fabrick and composition, by a part of the wall near Bishopsgate being pulled down, to make way for new buildings; and this learned antiquary observes, that “From the foundation, which lay eight feet below the present surface, quite up to the top of the oldest part, which was in all near ten feet, it was compiled alternately of layers of broad flat bricks and rag-stones. The bricks lay in double ranges, and each brick being but one inch and three tenths in thickness, the whole layer, with the mortar, exceeded not three inches. The layers of stone were not two feet thick of our measure. It is probable they were intended for two of the Roman, their rule being somewhat shorter than ours. To this height the workmanship was after the Roman manner, and these were the remains of the ancient wall. In this it was very observable, that the mortar was so very firm and hard, that the stone itself as easily broke. It was thus far, from the foundation upwards, nine feet in thickness. The above broad thin bricks were all of Roman make, and of the very sort we learn from Pliny, that were in common use among the Romans. Measuring some of these (says Mr. Woodward) I found them seventeen inches and four tenths in thickness, and eleven inches and six tenths in breadth.
“The old wall, on its being repaired, was carried up of the same thickness to eight or nine feet in height; or if higher, there was no more of that work now standing. All this was apparently additional, and of a make later than the other part underneath it, which was levelled and brought to a plane for the raising of this new work upon it. The outside, or that towards the suburbs, was faced with a coarse sort of stone, not compiled with any great care or skill, nor disposed into a regular method; but on the inside there appeared more marks of workmanship and art. At the bottom were five layers composed of flint and free stone; though they were not so in all parts, yet in some the squares were near equal, about five inches diameter, and ranged in a quincunx order. Over these were a layer of brick, then of hewn free stone, and so alternately brick and stone to the top. These bricks, of which there were four courses, were of the shape of those now in use, but much larger, being near eleven inches in length, five in breadth, and somewhat above two and a half in thickness. There was not one of the Roman bricks above mentioned in all this part, nor was the mortar here near so hard, as in that below; but from the description may be easily collected, that this part when first made, with so various and orderly a disposition of the materials, flint, stone, and brick, could not but carry a very handsome aspect. Whether this was done at the expence of the Barons in the reign of King John; or of the citizens in the reign of King Henry III. or of King Richard II. or at what other time, I cannot take upon me to ascertain, from accounts so defective and obscure as are those which at this day remain of this affair.
“Upon the additional work now described, was raised a wall wholly of brick, only that it terminating in battlements, these were topped with copings of stone. It was two feet four inches in thickness, and somewhat above eight feet in height. The bricks of these were of the same module and size with those of the part underneath, How long they have been in use is uncertain.” _Woodward’s Roman Antiquities, and Present State of London._
A tower of the same construction, twenty-six feet in height, is still remaining, and is situated almost opposite the end of Gravel lane, on the west side of Houndsditch, tho’ much decayed. There is a door within the wall of this tower, in Shoemaker row, fronting the passage into Duke’s Place. Mr. Maitland observes, that in searching for this tower, about eighty paces south east, towards Aldgate, he discovered another of the same construction, twenty-one feet high, perfectly found, and much more beautiful than the former; the bricks being as found as if but newly laid, while the stones in most parts are become a sacrifice to time. Mr. Maitland also observes, that on the south of Aldgate, at the lower end of a street denominated the Vineyard, is the basis of another Roman tower, about eight feet high, which supports a new building of three stories in height. He conjectures, that the wall, when first erected, was about twenty-two feet high, and the towers about forty feet; and adds, that the ancients thought it so necessary to preserve them from ruin and all incumbrances, that they made an act, that no tenement should be erected nearer the walls, than the distance of sixteen feet.
The remains of the walls are at present much more extensive than is generally imagined. They still subsist in part between the houses on the east side of Poor Jewry lane, and the Minories, almost all the way along the back of Houndsditch, from Aldgate to Bishopsgate. The ruins of the wall are from thence visible to every passenger in the street, from where Little Moorgate lately stood to the end of Aldermanbury, and from thence extending behind the houses, it reaches to Cripplegate; from whence it extends on the back of St. Giles’s church, and runs along the back of the houses in Crowder’s well alley, where several lofty towers are still to be seen, and is visible almost to Aldersgate; from thence it extends along the back of the houses in Bull and Mouth street; but from thence little of it is to be seen till we come to Newgate; after which it in some places rises to a considerable height, and extends in a pretty regular line on the back of the houses in the Old Bailey almost to Ludgate.
LONDON WALL, a long street, so called from its fronting the city wall; it having a range of houses on the south, and the ruins of the wall on the north. This street, which extends from Wormwood street to Cripplegate, is the only place where the wall is not concealed by buildings: but here the wall may be justly considered as a nuisance, it being little better than a disagreeable heap of rubbish, in which hardly any of the Roman structure is now to be seen.
LONDON WORKHOUSE, a large and commodious brick building, at the south east corner of Half Moon alley in Bishopsgate street, was founded by act of Parliament in the year 1649, for the relief and employment of the poor, and the punishing of vagrants and other disorderly persons, within the city and liberties of London. However, in the year 1662, the continual increase of the poor, and the defects in the laws relating to the settlement of them, occasioned another act, by which the Governors were constituted a body corporate with a common seal; the Lord Mayor for the time being was appointed President, and the President and Governors were allowed to purchase lands or tenements to the annual value of 300l. The Common Council were allowed to rate the several parishes of the city for the support of this workhouse, and on this account a considerable sum is paid by each parish, raised on the inhabitants by a regular assessment. Besides which, this charity has received many considerable benefactions.
However, it was agreed by the Governors, that no child should be received from any benefactor who gave a less sum than 50l. but whoever gave 70l. might put in a child from any place he thought fit. _Account of this Corporation published in 1713._
The several parishes, besides their assessments, formerly paid 1s. a week for parish children; but in 1751 the Governors came to a resolution, that no more children paid for by the parishes to which they belong, should be taken into the house; and since that time it has been resolved, that only such children should be taken in, as were committed by the Magistrates of the city, found begging in the streets, pilfering on the keys, or lying about in glass houses and uninhabited places: the receptacles of the wretched and the wicked.
These once poor abandoned children are educated according to the usage of the church of England, and meet at six in the morning and evening in a large room, which serves them both for a chapel and dining room, where they hear prayers: they are taught the Catechism; have a Minister who attends upon them; and on Sundays they all go to church at Great St. Helen’s. A part of the day is appropriated to their learning to read, write, and to their obtaining some knowledge of arithmetic; the rest of their time is spent in weaving nets for the British fishery; and the girls are employed in sewing, knitting, and other labour, by which they are qualified for service. The boys making twenty-five yards of netting a week, at 1s. 6d. for twenty yards; and, as an encouragement to industry, every boy who makes above twenty-four yards, receives a penny a week. There are here seldom less than four hundred children thus employed, all of whom are dressed in russet cloth, and wear a round badge upon their breasts, representing a poor boy and a sheep, with the motto, _God’s providence is our inheritance_.
These children thus saved from the miseries of vice and beggary; from becoming pick-pockets and house-breakers, and from ending their days at the gallows; after being thus instructed and inured to labour, are put out apprentice, the boys to the sea service or to trades, and the girls to service in honest families.
It will be no unpleasing amusement, if we here give the speech of John Trusty, one of these poor boys, to her Majesty Queen Anne, upon her coming to dine at Guildhall, on Thursday the 29th of October 1702, the Lord Mayor’s day; nor can we better conclude what we have said of these children.
“May it please your most excellent Majesty, to pardon this great presumption in us poor children, who throw ourselves at your royal feet, among the rest of your glad subjects, that here in crouds appear to behold your sacred Majesty.
“We, Madam, have no fathers, no mothers, no friends; or, which is next to none, those who, through their extreme poverty, cannot help us. God’s providence is our inheritance [_pointing to the motto on his breast_.] All the support we have is from the unexhausted charities of your loyal citizens of London, and others your good subjects, and the pious care of our Governors, who are now teaching our little hands to work, and our fingers to spin.
“These threads, Madam, [_holding out some yarn, which he held in his hand_] are some of the early fruits of our industry. We are all daily employed on the staple manufacture of England, learning betimes to be useful to the world. And there seemed nothing wanting to complete our happiness, but the opportunity which this day affords us, of being the objects of your tender pity and compassion. One gracious smile from your Majesty on this new foundation will make us live——and live to call you blessed.