ABSTRACT
The great gifts flowing out from London to every part of the realm had immensely important consequences. In three-fourths of all the English counties these great benefactions were of a size and quality which were to make them dominant in the shaping of the institutional life and the culture of the areas thus favoured. We have observed that these benefactions were with few exceptions large in amount, were concentrated on useful purposes, and were made relatively early in the social development of each county. They tended to mould the institutions of a favoured county into a pattern of aspirations in keeping with the vision these enlightened men had of a new age and a new society. We have dealt with at least the larger and more significant of these great and decisive charities, but we should now attempt a somewhat more general comment on them and their distribution, as well as seeking some explanation for the extraordinary want of parochialism on the part of these great London donors.
