CAPTAIN THOMAS CO RAM. 145 



trade, and Thomas Coram's tastes were probably for these reasons 

 led in that direction. It is only possible to mention two or three 

 incidents in his career to show that the Foundling Hospital was 

 not the only object which engrossed the sound sense and warm- 

 hearted philanthropy of Thomas Coram or which should make his 

 name illustrious in this his native birthplace. 



In the year 1694, then at the age of 26, we find him at Taunton, 

 Massachusetts, occupied as a shipwright. Here the uncivilised 

 condition of the inhabitants was brought prominently before him 

 from the absence of systematic religion, as exercised by the Church 

 of England. He, therefore, by a deed dated 8th of December, 1703, 

 granted to the governor and other authorities of Taunton 59 acres 

 of land for the purpose of erecting a church or schoolhouse thereon, 

 or upon suitable part of it, whenever the people through their 

 vestrymen should desire it. 



In 1704 he procured an Act of Parliament for encouraging the 

 making of tar in the colonies of British America by a bounty, 

 by which a livelihood was afforded to thousands of families, besides 

 the million sterling saved to the nation, which before was obliged 

 to bring all its tar from Sweden at an exorbitant price, besides 

 importing it in Swedish vessels. 



In 1732 he was appointed one of the trustees for the settlement 

 of the Province of Georgia by George II. 



In 1735 he addressed a project to King George II., relative to 

 Nova Scotia. This referred to the settlement of that country by 

 good Protestant families well affected to the King, who should 

 develop the cod fisheries, the best known in the world, as well as 

 the hemp industry. And for the salt required for fish curing he 

 recommended the islands of Exuma and Cat in the Bahama group 

 should be likewise settled for developing this industry. To this 

 petition he appended a list of one hundred handicraftsmen, whose 

 trades and callings were overstocked by reason of the great numbers 

 of artizans and workmen, who resort from all parts to the 

 Metropolis, whereby the petitioners were unable to procure 

 sufficient to maintain themselves and their families. Although 



