here, and we found no less than thirty-nine of them afflicted with the itch to a miserable degree. Several had scrophulous disorders; others the opthalmia, some of whom were blind. All the servants were healthy; and the food used was of the best quality, the best bread, meat, cheese, &c. and the best Carolina rice. The beds were remarkably clean, as were the rooms, and all was creditable except the prevalence of the diseases alluded to." Subsequently, they enjoined more attention on the medical attendants, by which means health has been almost entirely restored to these distressed children, who, but for this humane interference, would have fallen a prey to neglect. The annual expense of this etablishment, (to which we shall again revert) is stated at about £3000. CHAPTER VII. Public Charities-Almshouses-Shelton's and other Schools-Parish Estates-Mal-appropriations-Strictures on Vestry Refutation, &c. &c. THE public institutions of charity and benevolence of the united parishes, come next under our notice, and in priority the almshouses claim our first attention. for ALMSHOUSES. The origin of these asylums poor widows is derived from a grant of land by the Earl of Southampton in 1656, on which they were built. This was in Broad Street, nearly at the north end of Monmouth and King Streets, where they stood until 1782, at which period they were pulled down to widen those avenues. Strype informs us of there being in his time, "an almshouse in St. Giles, not far from the church, in the middle of the street, which hath this inscription, • Saint Giles's Almshouse, anno domino 1656.' This ground was granted R to this parish by the right honourable the Earl of Southampton, for the term of 500 years, for the only sole use of Almshouses for aged widows, and for no other use, whereupon there was built these five Almshouses, and enclosed within the bounds of the same ground, which fabrick was erected at the costs of the said parrish the year above written." 66 Maitland, speaking of them, 1739, says, they seemed to have yielded but a small income, for each of the inmates have only an allowance of £2: 8:0, and twelve bushells of coals yearly; and at Christmas and Whitsuntide, out of Lady Dudley's gift, twenty shillings each." The whole expense in building them, &c. was £296: 12: 10. In 1782, when it was in contemplation to remove these Almshouses, some difficulties arose as to the tenure of them, which rendered it necessary to have the opinion of counsel. The case was submitted to the Attorney General of that day, who was Sir Lloyd Kenyon. It stated, that they were situate in the middle of the street, rendering the adjoining passages narrow and inconvenient, and that they were in a ruinous state of decay. That "the vestry, (which is select,) was desirous to take them down, and lay the ground into the highway for public accommodation." It then stated, that the Duke of Bedford, as heir to the late Lord Southamp ton, was lord of the manor, and that his trustees, he being a minor, would give their consent to the ground becoming part of the highway. That the vestry intended building the Almshouses in a suitable situation, and to continue the payments of the women, but they had doubts whether they could carry their intentions into effect without endangering the forfeiture of the bequests, unless by an act of parliament. The Attorney General answered, "I am of opinion that the vestry may carry their intention into execution without risking a reversion of the charitable donations. The gifts do not contain any condition as to the place where the Almshouses shall be situated; and therefore I have no doubt but the income of the several funds will be properly applicable to the almshouse people, although the Almshouses shall be removed to another situation." The vestry clerk, Robertson, had directions forthwith to purchase a piece of ground, and a most singular situation was selected on the north side of Lewknor's Lane, for which £500 was given. Here the new Almshouses were erected on a spot both close and unhealthy, surrounded with buildings of the lowest description; and it is a fact, that very few of the parishioners have any knowledge of the existence of this charity, such is the obscurity in which it is involved. The endowments to these Almshouses have increased, but they have been grossly mismanaged, as may be seen in a printed report (of 1827) circulated cautiously by the Almshouse and Audit Committee, appointed by the select vestry from their own body. We shall make a few extracts in a compressed form from that document, as illustrative of this fact, after stating the funds and their application to this charity, as set forth in the fourteenth report of the commissioners of charities. "ESTATES: Per Ann. £. S. d. Premises at Rainham, Essex, Danver's gift......... 20 0 0 Houses in Prince's-street, Drury-lane, Holford's gift...... 60 0 0 3 10 0 0 18 0 0 Bailey's rent-charge, Turnstile, Holborn .......... aid of the fund in 1815........... 2,850 0 0 Produce of unclaimed dividends on part of a soup fund in 1810 ...... Produce of William Wodden's gift, being an investment in lieu of a rent-charge on the Hampshire Hog 21 11 5 100 0 0 £6,053 5 8 Annual dividends or interest thereof 181 11 10 Total Annual Income...... £351 19 10 |