He strongly disapproved of making charitable bequests by will, which he observed in many cases to have been the foundation of enormous abuses, but held it to be the duty of each man to do all the possible good that he could during his lifetime.

Many were the instances of his princely, though at the time unknown, munificence.

Unwilling to be recognised as the giver of large sums, he employed agents to dispense his anonymous benefactions.

He thus sent 20,000L.

to London to be distributed during the distress of 1795.