88 REPORT—1845. 
ladies, took upon themselves the same responsibility at Bath, The first savings 
bank regularly organized was formed at Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire ; its success led to 
many imitations, so that before any legislative provision had been made for their 
management, there were seventy savings banks in England, four in Wales, and four 
in Ireland. In 1817 an act was passed to encourage banks of savings in England and 
Ireland, but it was not extended to Scotland until 1835. Tabular statements of the 
progress of these banks illustrated their great success, but we shall only take for 
comparison the returns of two years, 1830 and 1844 :— 
ENGLAND. | WALES. IRELAND, | Unitep Kincpom. 
Years. 
Depositors. 
Amount. / Depositors. | Amount. 
Depositors. | Amount. || Depositors. ] Amount. 
1830 367,812 
1844 832,290 
412,217 113,507,565 
| 
12,287,606 | 10,204 314,903 34,201 905,056 
| 18,690 599,796 91,243 —_|2,749,017 | 1,012,047 |29,504,861 
25,112,865 
The deposits are found to be greatest in the years when provisions are cheap and 
abundant. Instead of giving the absolute numbers we shall quote the centesimal 
proportions of the different classes of contributors. 
England. | Wales. | Ireland. | Scotland. United 
Kingdom. 
Not exceeding £20 56°68 52°53 46°09 76°24 57°00 
8 50 25°46 31°01 36°94 17°82 26°08 
ne 100 11°28 11:10 11°76 4:72 10°86 
BS 150 3°94 “ii? 3°35 0°93 3°67 
3 200 2°28 1°63 1°75 0°29 2°08 
Exceeding... £200 0°36 0°21 0r11 es 0°31 
The average balances to the credit of each depositer in 1844 were, in England 301., 
Wales 32/., Ireland 301., Scotland 147., and United Kingdom 29/7. Tables were then 
given of the operations of the banks in the several counties. Next to Middlesex, 
Devonshire exhibited the greatest amount of deposits in proportion to the population, 
and this satisfactory result was attributed to the admirable management of the Exeter 
Savings Bank. Lancashire exhibited a very low amount of deposits, but this was 
explained by the fact that operatives find a more profitable investment for their 
money. Some fears were expressed of the effect of the reduction in the rate of in- 
terest ; and the tables of classification of depositors formed by the Exeter and. the 
Manchester Savings Banks were produced and recommended for imitation. 
Statistical and Historical Account of the Ancient System of Public Charities in 
London. By J. Fretcuer, Bart., F.R.S. 
He stated that the necessity of systematic provision for the relief of the poor began 
to be felt after the suppression of the monasteries and the hospitals governed by 
monastic rule. In 1544 the site of St. Bartholomew was granted to the Corporation 
of London, but no provision was made for its endowment and government until 1548 ; 
and thus some provision was made for the relief of the sick and infirm. _Christ’s 
Hospital, for the education of destitute children, was founded in 1553, and about the 
same time St. Thomas’s Hospital was established for the same purpose as that of 
St. Bartholomew. The next measure was to provide a place for vagrants and un- 
employed labourers. The petition sent by the Corporation to the King’s Council 
stated, “it was too evident to all men that beggary and thievery did abound, and we, 
remembering how many statutes from time to time have been made for the redress 
of the same, and little amendment hath hitherto followed, thought to search the cause 
hereof, and after due examination had we evidently perceived that the cause of all 
this misery and beggary was idleness; and the means and semedy to cure the same 
must be its contrary, which is labour ; and it hath been a speech used of all men to 
say unto the idle, Work! Work! even as though they would have said, the mean to 
reform beggary is to fall to work.” In consequence of this petition Bridewell was 
established, and thus public charity was organized for three great objects—the relief 
of the sick, the education of the young, and the employment of the able-bodied 
