In the year following a person, unknown, sent a 50_l._ note to the treasurer and trustees of the Blue-coat school, near Tothill-fields, the receipt of which was acknowledged in an advertisement, stating the agreeable fact, that this sum enabled them to receive four additional scholars, whom they promised to cloath at the periods mentioned in the statutes of the institution. Another, or perhaps the same person, released 30 persons from Whitechapel prison, in August, 1717, cloathed them, gave them a dinner, and 2_s._ 6_d._ each; six months afterwards, the same benevolent unknown, repeated his charities at Whitechapel, and released all confined for small debts, one of whom was imprisoned near six months for 5_s._ 6_d._ which had been swelled by charges and fees to 40_s._ Jan. 1717-18, the King gave 1000_l._ for the discharge of insolvent debtors, in the gaols of London and the county of Middlesex. The King gave 1000_l. per annum_, towards the relief of poor housekeepers in London and Westminster[25:A]; that sum was increased to 1900_l._ in 1718, by collections under his Majesty's letters patent for the same purpose. The Prince appears to have given 250_l._ annually to the Charter-house. A repetition of the liberality of the unknown occurred again in September 1719, at Whitechapel, when he released 35 prisoners, besides giving them money. 1720, the earl of Thanet gave 1000_l._ to the widows and children of clergymen. The Society for the relief of the Widows and Children of Clergymen has been already noticed, in the first volume of "Londinium Redivivum;" it will therefore only be necessary to state their gifts in 1720, which amounted to 2645_l._ 10_s._ exclusive of a considerable sum expended in placing out apprentices. Mrs. Mary Turner, in the same year, commenced that noble foundation, which has since flourished with so much success, for the reception of incurable lunatics at Bethlehem hospital, by a handsome legacy. Shortly after an examination of the Marshalsea books took place, when it was found that upwards of eleven hundred persons confined for small debts had been discharged within three years, by the charitable contributions of Roman catholics. Amongst the charities of 1720, was that of lady Holford, who left 10_l._ each to 27 clergymen, on condition they attended her funeral; and eleven exhibitions of about 10_l._ each to as many boys, educated at the Charter-house upon the foundation. The collection for the Sons of the Clergy amounted to 239_l._ 10_s._ in 1720, which was distributed to 16 children, in sums from 10_l._ to 20_l._ each; the annual contributions generally average now at 1000_l._[27:A] The year closed with the unequalled donation of Thomas Guy, who then determined to found that hospital on the site of the antient St. Thomas's, in Southwark, which has immortalized his name.