![]() | Philanthropy and Police: London Charity in the Eighteenth Century Subjects: Charities -- England -- London -- History -- 18th century; Poor -- England -- London -- History -- 18th century; Social service -- England -- London -- History -- 18th century; London (England) -- Social policy; In this study of voluntary charities in eighteenth-century London, Donna Andrew reconsiders the adequacy of humanitarianism as an explanation for the wave of charitable theorizing and experimentation that characterized this period. Focusing on London, the most visible area of both destitution and social experimentation, this book examines the political as well as benevolent motives behind the great expansion of public institutions--nondenominational organizations seeking not only to relieve hardship, but to benefit the nation directly--funded and run by voluntary associations of citizens. The needs of police, the maintaining of civil order and the refining of society, were thought by many ordinary citizens to be central to the expansion of England's role in the world and to the upholding of the country's peace at home. |
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