Page:Self-help with illustrations of conduct and perseverance (IA selfhelpwithillu00smiliala).pdf/332

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
292
JONAS HANWAY
[Chap. viii

care of guardians to be elected triennially. The poor people called this "the Act for keeping children alive"; and the registers for the years which followed its passing, as compared with those which preceded it, showed that thousands of lives had been preserved through the judicious interference of this good and sensible man.

Wherever a philanthropic work was to be done in London, be sure that Jonas Hanway's hand was in it. One of the first Acts for the protection of chimney-sweepers' boys was obtained through his influence. A destructive fire at Montreal, and another at Bridgetown, Barbadoes, afforded him the opportunity for raising a timely subscription for the relief of the sufferers. His name appeared in every list, and his disinterestedness and sincerity were universally recognized. But he was not suffered to waste his little fortune entirely in the service of others. Five leading citizens of London, headed by Mr. Hoare, the banker, without Mr. Hanway's knowledge, waited on Lord Bute, then Prime Minister, in a body, and in the names of their fellow-citizens requested that some, notice might be taken of this good man's disinterested services to his country. The result was, his appointment shortly after as one of the commissioners for victualling the navy.

Towards the close of his life Mr. Hanway's health became very feeble, and although he found it necessary to resign his office at the Victualling Board, he could not be idle; but laboured at the establishment of Sunday Schools,—a movement then in its infancy,—or in relieving poor blacks, many of whom wandered destitute about the streets of the metropolis,—or in alleviating the sufferings