J827.] Public Chanties. 1 



20/. to different London hospitals ; 1 01. to release prisoners ; 8/. to the 

 parish of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey ; SI. to buy corn (for distribution to 

 the poor) ; and the remaining 4/., in compensation of the company's labour, 

 to the warden, clerk, and beadles. The estate now produces '225/., and 

 43/. only disbursed. The balance of 182 goes to the company's general 

 funds. For this appropriation, there is not the shade of a pretext ; every 

 farthing of the rent was assigned by the donor, and .the company's trouble 

 not forgotten. 



RAINTON'S CHARITY, 1646. A case of the same kind as the last pre- 

 cisely. The property consists of a large house and warehouse in Plough- 

 court, Lombard-street, now occupied by the well-known William Allen, 

 at a rent of 22 O/. ; and another, No. 97, Lombard-street, at 175/. At 

 the time of the bequest, the rents amounted to 87 L Js. kd. ; the whole of 

 which was specifically appropriated ; 321. Ws. to twenty-five poor men 

 and widows; 121. to St. Bartholomew's Hospital; 10/. for clothing poor 

 people and apprenticing children of Lincoln ; 1 01. for apprenticing chil- 

 dren of Enfield; JO/. 8s. for the poor of Washingborough and Heigh- 

 ington in Lincolnshire ; 27. to the poor of St. Edmund the King ; 21. to 

 the poor of St. Mary Woolchurch ; and the remainder, 8/. 8s. 4d., to the 

 company's officers. Supposing these sums to be still all paid they have 

 not always been so what becomes of the surplus more than 300/. 

 a-year ? And by what right do the company withhold it from those for 

 whose benefit the donor manifestly destined it? If justice or equity 

 were attainable at a cheaper rate, Lincoln, Enfield, and Washingborough 

 would soon find it worth while to assert their unquestionable rights. 



BARNES'S CHARITY, 1663. The devise of a house in Lombard-street. 

 The original rent was 60/., of which 61. were to go to the company, and 

 remaining 54 /. to be distributed to their poor. The house is now the Sea- 

 Policy Office, and brings in 1507. The poor, we may suppose, receive 

 54 L ; but the rest, 96/., the wealthier part of the company dispose of. 



CLEAVE' s CHARITY, 1605. Two houses, one in Oxford-court, and 

 the other in Cannon-street, left for the poor of the company and let in 

 1793, on lease, at 35/., which expired in 1824. Five pounds are given to 

 each of seven of the poor. The same gentleman gave 200/. in money for 

 the benefit of the poor of the company ; of the application of which, no 

 account at all is given. 



ARNOLD'S RENT CHARGE, 1669. Twenty-six pounds-, now secured, 

 under the authority of the chancery court, on the Angel Inn, Islington 

 distributed to the poor of the company. 



BOND'S RENT-CHARGE, 1671. Fifty pounds on No. 8, Bread-street, 

 of which the Haberdashers were to distribute 24 L to six poor single aged 

 men of the company, and the remainder to their poor generally. This 

 rent-charge appears eventually, for some cause or other, to have equalled 

 the rent, and possession was in consequence given to the company. Since 

 1809, the rent is 2151. In this case, the company have quite unaccount- 

 ably doubled the 50/., which they were bound to distribute; and do ac- 

 tually distribute to the poor 100/. out of 215/., when, judging by their very 

 steady practice, they believed themselves bound only to 50/. This is pure 

 generosity. By the way, are there any members of this company burden- 

 some to any parish in the kingdom ? If so, such parish might as well 

 1 after the company, and relieve itself. 



- JXTON ALMS-HOUSES, 1658. This is one of the most inexplicable 



