Description

[003915] [Philanthropic Society for the Prevention of Crimes] First Report of the Philanthropic Society. Instituted in London, September, 1788, for the Prevention of Crimes WITH Proceedings of the Philanthropic Society, Relative to Mr. Robert Young. London: T. Becket and J. Johnson, 1789. First Edition. 8vo. Unbound. Pamphlet. Good. [2], iii-iv, [1], 2-56pp; 4p. Disbound

Title slightly soiled, with ?tea stain, final leaf also slightly soiled, text generally clean

Also included is a 4p leaflet, with a drop-head title, Proceedings of the Philanthropic Society, relative to Mr. Robert Young.

The Philanthropic Society was set up in 1788, seemingly at the house of Robert Young. It would “seek out in the ‘Augean stable of filth, disease and iniquity which disgraces the Metropolis’ and train-up to ‘virtue and usefulness in life, the children of vagrants and such who are in the paths of vice and infamy'” (Whitten, Protection, Prevention, Reformation: a history of the Philanthropic Society, 1788-1848, page 22)

However it seems that Young, who also started a variety of other schemes, ‘mishandled’ the funds raised, possibly diverting the money into other schemes, and by 1790 had been dismissed from the Society. The second leaflet here relates to the accounts of the Society and Mr. Young’s expenses and the charges of financial impropriety against him

Nine locations in ESTC, the second mentioned is not located (possibly not separately issued?)