The Magdalen Hospital : the Story of a Great Charity
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zs c: CCS = CD in- CD THE '//////i////t//t/i//n///////.'/ CO « m INCOKM<i%^2r mmammmm ^X^^^Km . T4 ROBERT DINGLEY, F. R. S. KINDLY LENT BY DINGLEY AFTER THE FROM AN ENGRAVING ( JOHN ESQ.) IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE HOSPITAL PAINTING BY W. HOARE ( I760) Frontispiece THE MAGDALEN HOSPITAL THE STORY OF A GREAT CHARITY BY THE REV. H. F. B. COMPSTON, M.A., ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OP HEBREW AT KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE, LONDON WITH FOREWORD BY THE MOST REVEREND THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY PRESIDENT OF THE MAGDALEN HOSPITAL WITH TWENTY ILLUSTRATIONS SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE LONDON: 68, HAYMARKET, S.W. 1917 AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM M\ FOREWORD It is a great satisfaction to me to be allowed to introduce with a word of commendation Mr. Compston's admirable history of the Magdalen Hospital. The interest with which I have read his pages will I am sure be shared by all who have at heart the well-being of an Institution which occupies a unique place in English history, although happily there is not anything unique nowadays in the endeavour which the Magdalen Hospital makes in face of a gigantic evil. The story Mr. Compston tells gives abundant evidence of the change for the better in public opinion regarding this crying wrong and its remedy. It shows too the growth of a sounder judg- ment as to the methods of dealing with it. For every reason it is right that this book should have been written, and Mr. Compston has risen worthily to the accomplish- ment of a not very easy task. I feel some confidence in expressing the hope that his volume will serve as a stimulus to new effort besides throwing fresh light upon much that has hitherto been obscure. I pray God that this hope may not be in vain. RANDALL CANTUAR : Lambeth Palace, zoth March, 1917. PREFACE No apology seems needed for the appearance of a first of the oldest in but a few history Penitentiary England ; words may be offered to explain why I have undertaken the work. For the last six years I have resided near the Hospital, and am one of its numerous Governors. Since the autumn of 19 14 I have taken regular duty in the Chapel, in succes- sion to my friend (and colleague at King's College, London) the Rev. W. R. Matthews, B.D. It was owing in part to a suggestion from Mr. Matthews that I began to think of narrating the Hospital's story. Close proximity to the Institution, respect for its good work, participation in its public worship, the facilities for research in London, and some measure of literary experience,—all seemed to give a call to the work and indeed I felt it a no less than a ; duty pleasure to undertake it. At King's College, London, the session 1915-1916 was shortened owing to the war, and I was able to give more time to continuous work for the Magdalen than would otherwise have been possible. The task of collecting material was begun in November, 191 5, the in 16 in of that the MS. May, 19 ; September year writing was completed. My aim has been to write not only for those more closely acquainted with the Hospital or its work, but for any who might care to trace the origin and progress of the earliest institution of its kind. The book is accordingly offered as some slight contribution to historical studies. I have many acknowledgments to make, and I do so very gratefully. To the Archbishop of Canterbury, President of the vi PREFACE Magdalen, I am very greatly indebted for his Grace's kind foreword. The Rev. Dr. Whitney, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at King's College, London, was so good as to read through the MS. and to recommend it to the General Literature Committee of the Society for Promoting Chris- tian Knowledge. The publication of a work unlikely, from its subject, to command a large circulation might have been impossible, especially at the present time, but for the generosity of that great Society. Whatever the merits or de- merits of this book, the Magdalen is under great obligations to the S.P.C.K. for enabling a history of the Charity to be published, and to so eminent an historian as Dr. Whitney for the helpful interest taken in its behalf. From the late Mr. A. C. Guthkelch, M.A., Senior Lecturer in English Literature at King's College, London, I received valuable guidance in the study of relevant eighteenth-century literature. On that subject Mr. Guth- kelch had already become an authority, and his sudden death in 1916 was a real loss to scholarship. Dr. E. A. Dingley, of Wednesbury, and Mr. John Dingley, of Launceston, have contributed useful information as to the founder of the and Mr. Magdalen ; John Dingley has kindly lent the engraving reproduced as the frontispiece. For new light on Dr. Dodd I am indebted to Mr. W. H. Green, of Earlscourt, who allowed me unrestricted use of the interesting MS. book written by his grandfather the Rev. Philip Stanhope Dodd. To the Warden (Rev. W. Watkins) and Head Matron (Miss Ling) I return hearty thanks,— to the former for full access to the archives, to the latter for her assistance during visits to the Board Room and Office and my frequent ; to both for information as to the present state of the Hospital. For similar helpfulness I wish also to thank Miss " " Fouracres, Chapel Matron and Head of Ward IX. Every student knows the value of the British Museum Reading Room, MS. Department, and Newspaper Room. I profited also by study at the Victoria and Albert Museum PREFACE vii (where the Library authorities kindlygranted special facilities for consulting a work stored away during the war), and at the National Portrait Gallery. I desire particularly to thank Mr. J. D. Milner, Director of the Nationa Portrait Gallery, and Mr. A. Van de Put, one of the Staff of the Victoria and Albert Museum, for the very considerable personal trouble they took in elucidating questions on which I consulted them. For information on various historical, legal and bio- graphical points I am indebted to Dr. Norman Moore, the Historian of Medicine the Rev. Dr. Pro- ; Watson, Regius fessor of at the Rev. History Oxford ; Claude Jenkins, M.A., Librarian at Lambeth Palace Mr. T. E. ; Sedgwick, to the Marine and also brother Secretary Society ; my Mr. J. A. Compston, K.C., Fellow Commoner of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. To the late Dr. Standert I owe the photograph of the " " Chair to Mr. to Bishop's ; Emery Walker, permission the of Dr. Dodd's and to reproduce photograph portrait ; Messrs. J. Russell and Sons, the use of the Warden's photograph. The work has involved a good many inquiries oral or written and I to the of all with ; beg acknowledge courtesy whom I have had such communication or who have volunteered information : the Master of Pembroke, Cam- the the bridge ; representatives of S. Bartholomew's and London Hospital, Hetherington's Charity, and the Bank of Christ's Mercers' Merchant England ; Hospital, School, and S. Paul's School the Rectors of Foots Taylors' School, ; and Penshurst Cray ; Lady Sophia Campbell, Lady Hawley, Miss Ridley (Magdalen Infirmary Matron), the Misses Standert Mr. H. H. Dr. Gordon ; Bothamley Campbell, Mr. J. Paul de Castro, M.A., Mr. Percivall Currey (Sur- veyor to the Magdalen), Dr. Holmes (Director of the National Gallery), Mr. G. J. Ince, Mr. C. H. Mabey (whose father's sculptures adorn the Chapel), Mr. N. T. Spriggs, Rev. Dr. H. J. White, Dr. G. C. Williamson, and several members of the Magdalen Committee, especially viii PREFACE Mr. H. W. Harris, Mr. A. R. Blanchett, and Mr. H. P. Molyneux. My task has been a very happy one, notwithstanding the sombre background of the whole subject. The faults in method or treatment, and errors in detail—correction of which I should gratefully accept—will be perhaps most leniently regarded by those who have essayed similar tasks. I offer the work, with any profits that might accrue to the author, as a small tribute to a great Charity. H. F. B. COMPSTON. 2, WOODFIELD AVENUE, STREATHAM, S.W. February, 19 17. CONTENTS PART I ORIGIN AND HISTORY CHAPTER PAGE I. The Eighteenth Century as an Era of Chari- table Enterprise and Social Reform ... 15 II. Robert Dingley, and "Mr. Dingley's Plan" ... 25 III. The Committee set to Work ... ... 37 IV. But why a "Magdalen" Hospital? ... ... 47 V. At Goodman's Fields, Whitechapel, 1758-1772 59 VI. At S. George's Fields [Blackfriars] : Chronicled to the End of the Eighteenth Century ... 72 VII. Into the Nineteenth Century, and onwards to the Centenary of Incorporation, 1801-1869— Changing London and the Call of Suburbia- Removal to Streatham ... ... ... 81 VIII. At Streatham ... ... ... ... 96 PART II BIOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE: PAST AND PRESENT IX. The Strange Case of Dr. Dodd ... ... 113 X. Jonas Hanway ... ,.. ... ... 139 XI. The Magdalen Chapel... ... ... ... 150 ix x CONTENTS CHAPTER PACE XII. The Care and Training of the Magdalens ... 170 XIII. Some Benefactions to the Hospital ... 187 8 XIV. Here endeth the Story—thus far ... ••• 19 APPENDIX I. Past and Present Officers and Staff ... ... 209 II. Anniversary Preachers ... ... ••• 215 ••• 222 III. Officers and Staff in 1917 ... ... 22 IV. Admissions and Discharges ... ... ••• 4 ••• 22 V. Statement of Accounts ... ... ... 5 ••• 22 Index ... ... ... ••• 7 ILLUSTRATIONS TO FACE PACK Robert Dingley ... ... ... Frontispiece Most Rev. The Archbishop of Canterbury, President 14 Jonas Hanway..