A plan for establishing a charity-house, or charity-houses, for the reception of repenting prostitutes. To be called the Magdalen Charity / [Anon].

  • Jonas Hanway
Date:
[1758]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A plan for establishing a charity-house, or charity-houses, for the reception of repenting prostitutes. To be called the Magdalen Charity / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/80
    mofs! And if they are thus left to prey on the unwary] it is equally certain that they will propagate iniquity, and fpread difeafe through a great part of both the fexes, perhaps a much greater part than is ge¬ nerally imagined. The utility of this defign then mud be apparent. If we afford them the means of employment, We fball inflfudt fome in ufeful arts who never learn¬ ed any trade before j we fhall give others a habit of induftry, as well as an opportunity of reforming their morals: and thus we may refcue them from , * * • perdition. • : ; viv.\ ■ ;'. , 6 • • There is reafon to believe, that numbers of both fexes will promote an undertaking which mud at once prove a blefTing to the common wealth, and an honor to human nature. It will do more good, in proportion to the expence, than any other charity; for it mud be confidered, that the obje£ls are in the prime of life, capable of wcrlingy and when once this charity is eftablifhed, We may hope to maintain the houfe. Thefe women will not Want many officers, they will be their own fervants, and their expences will lie in a narrow compafs, being only fuch as will arife from clothing and plain food. Medicines indeed will be neceflfary to fome, but in general it is hoped, that temperance and fobriety will render them of little ufe. Indeed there is the utmod reafon to flatter ourfelves, that many motives will concur, to drike the heart, and obtain a liberal contribution for this charity. There is, I believe, no city in the world where fuch grofs enormities prevail as in this great metropolis. There is an elegancy in vice as well as in virtue, and though it is the more dangerous in fome refpe&s on this account.