INTRODUCTION

A central element in the more optimistic view of social relations in early modern London is an emphasis on the impressive ameliorative social policies pursued by the capital's rulers. In a seminal article published in 1979, Valerie Pearl argues for an imaginative, sensitive, and apparently successful programme of poor relief. She writes of enormous sums raised from legacies, rents, and rates even in the extramural parishes. It was a flexible system, as mechanisms existed for redistributing resources from wealthy to poorer parishes, and care was taken to adjust payments to needs. Thus pensions were increased in years of crisis and supplementary payments made to meet special needs. Parishes are found paying medical bills, helping with rent and clothing in times of difficulty, and even giving pensioners Christmas bonuses. The humanitarianism of parish administrators is shown by the high level of care provided for foundlings, including support for their education. A strong sense of communal responsibility is suggested by the innovative policies pursued by vestries in seeking solutions to the problems confronting them, for example in encouraging subscriptions from parishioners to buy up housing, the income from which might be used to support the poor. Poor relief, it is suggested, sustained demand, and allowed some measure of economic growth, contributing to the development of the consumer industries whose growth has been charted by Joan Thirsk.