This Dispensary, calculated for infants only, was accompanied by a plan (separately recommended by Mr. Daniel Sutton) for the _eradication_ of the Small-pox by inoculation, at receiving-houses in various parts of the Metropolis. The latter, however, appears to have been the most successful application to the feelings of the publick, as I believe amongst the numerous Dispensaries, which at present do honour to London, there is not one appropriated exclusively to children; nor is it necessary when relief is afforded at all to every description of disease in either infants or adults. The excellent Institution for the relief of persons confined for Small Debts, which originated from the active mind of the late unfortunate Dr. Dodd, and which has been continued to the present moment, principally through the exertions of Mr. Neild, gave the following flattering account of their success, even in the infancy of the undertaking, Jan. 1773: "535 persons discharged, together with 245 wives and 1496 children, amounting in all to 2276 souls relieved by means of the public humanity." An Act was passed in 1773, for the better regulation of Lying-in hospitals and other places of reception for pregnant women, and to provide for the safety of illegitimate children born within them; a clause of which enacts, "That from and after the first day of November, 1773, no hospital or place shall be established, used, or appropriated, or continue to be used or appropriated, for the public reception of pregnant women, under public or private support, regulation, and management, in any parish in England, unless a licence shall be first had and obtained, in manner therein-mentioned, from the Justices of the Peace at some one of their General Quarter Sessions to be held for the County, Riding, Division, City, or Corporation, wherein such hospital or place shall be situated." One of the most singular methods of obtaining charity perhaps ever adopted, occurred in January 1774. The severity of the weather had rendered navigable canals useless; and with others, those of Oxford and Coventry; consequently the persons employed on them were distressed for want of employment. Eighteen of the sufferers obtained a waggon, which a gentleman of Willoughby generously filled with the best coals; and thus furnished, they harnessed themselves to the vehicle, and set off from Bedworth in Warwickshire to draw it to St. James's, there to present the coals to the King. The oddity of their contrivance proved highly beneficial to them on their road; and when they arrived at the Palace, the Board of Green-cloth ordered them twenty guineas, but refused the coals, which were disposed of, and the produce greatly augmented by gifts from numbers of persons who witnessed the exertions of these human _drafts-men_[78:A].