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inauguration of Howard in his new function. Towards the close of the year 1773 he began his tours of inspection, and was gradually led on to extend them into the nearer counties, then into the neighbouring kingdoms of the British empire-then over the greater part of Europe, and, finally to other portions of the globe. We will not stay here to describe the fearful state of the prisons in England at the commencement of his career. Let it suffice to say, that prisoners were confined in the most loathsome places, and treated with horrible cruelty. A man might be left to die of starvation in a goal for not being guilty of his crime-if unable to pay certain exorbitant fees. The criminal code was written in blood. A man might be hanged for stealing a hop-band in a garden at Kent, or purloining an old coat of the value of five shillings in Middlesex. And this was in the age of Pitt and Fox, of Burke and Sheridan and Paley!

On the conclusion of Howard's rapid survey of the prisons of his country, the House of Commons resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, to cite him to its bar, to hear his report, and examine him thereupon. On the House resuming, the chairman, at the instance of the committee, moved," That John Howard, Esq., be called to the bar, and that Mr. Speaker do acquaint him that the House are very sensible of the humanity and zeal which have led him to visit the several gaols of this kingdom, and to communicate to the House the interesting observations which he has made upon that subject." He was accordingly called for, and in the name of the supreme Legislature of his country, thanked for his philanthropic exertions" an honour seldom accorded by that body to other than the ministers of war and conquest. One of the members, surprised at the extent and minuteness of his inspections, requested to be informed at whose expense he travelled." "A question to which," Dr. Aikin says, "he could hardly reply, without expressing some indignant emotion."

His hand had now been put to the plough, and his life was

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devoted evermore to the alleviation of human woe. He penetrated into every dark nook and corner of the kingdom. Nothing was too obscure to escape his vigilance. Every prison, compter, or spunging-house, every hole into which unfortunate beings could be thrust, he considered worthy of his attention. At length in 1774, Parliament, roused by his remonstrance to some sense of its duty, passed two bills "for the better Regulation of Prisons," one of which abolished all fees, and gave the prisoner his discharge directly he was acquitted; and another which provided for the whitewashing, cleansing and ventilation of prisons, for the establishment of infirmaries, and for the erection of dungeons in which even offenders might live. Howard was ill in bed when these bills were passed; on his recovery, he revisited the goals to see that the acts were duly enforced. In the following year he proceeded to the continent. He found such of the prisons in France as he was allowed to enter, in a much better condition than those of his own country. He visited successively, Belgium, Holland, and Germany; in many respects he found "correctional science," as Dixon calls it, more advanced than in England. The prisoners were mostly employed, while ours were simply confined and starved. On returning home he revisited many of the English prisons, and then left for Switzerland, where also he found prison discipline somewhat understood. After proceeding to Germany and Holland, he came back to his own country, still more profoundly impressed with the superiority of the continental nations generally, over our own, in this important matter. He had now collected such a mass of materials as no human being had ever gathered on the same subject, and he gave to the world his great work on the "State of Prisons"-The work, previous to its publication, was submitted to the criticism of the author's dearest friends, Dr. Price and Dr. Aikin. When it first appeared, it created an extraordinary sensation

"The fame of its author's labours—his disinterestedness-the

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purity of his motives in undertaking such a missionaryshipthe courage and devotion with which he had executed it-the sublime confidence in which he had penetrated dark and pestilential dungeons, in order to carry thereinto light and hope, and to bring the fearful secrets of the prison-house before the world -also, some intimation of the sterling worth and originality of his private character, had reached, through various channels, the knowledge of his countrymen; and there was consequently a strong desire on the part of the public to follow his fortunes. more minutely, and to trace the lines of his apostleship from his own hand. The interest here indicated was, however, chiefly of a personal or biographical nature, and such as would have attached to the record of any other series of striking adventures. Many others, though not so large a multitude perhaps, felt a deep interest in the subjects of his inquiries; and there would necessarily be many whose curiosity would be excited by the Philanthropist's examination before the House of Commons, and the vote of thanks which that body had so publicly and honourably offered him for his valuable communications to it. Expectation was then generally and highly raised; nor, on the publication of the work, was it at all disappointed. The critical reviews of the day received it with great favour, and welcomed it with that most flattering of all receptions from such authorities-an ample share of notice, comment, and criticism. One and all, they bore the highest testimony to its author's commanding merits. The reading world—it was rather a limited one then compared with what it is now-appears also to have perused its contents with universal satisfaction and admiration. The meed of praise, of acknowledgment, was without stint or reservation -was free and full, as it was richly merited."

We can only indicate the course of his future career. His reputation rapidly spread over Europe; and on his third tour he was received in Holland, Prussia, and Austria, with the most distinguished honours. On reaching home after this tour, he

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undertook his longest and most laborious home-journey, traver◄ sing almost every county in England, Ireland, and Scotland. His inspection satisfied him as to the utility of his labours. Some of the more flagrant abuses which he had formerly noted had been removed, the gaols were almost universally cleaner, more orderly, and healthier. His thoughts again turned to the continent; there were yet vast regions unexplored: Denmark, Norway, Russia, Poland, Turkey, Egypt, Spain, and Portugal, "beckoned him to their cities ;" and in 1781 he departed for the extreme North. On his return, he gave the entire results of his inspection to the public, in a second Appendix to his work. Twelve years had now passed since he had commenced, in the cell of John Bunyan, that gigantic labour that has rendered his name immortal. During these twelve years he had traversed every country on the continent, with the exception of Turkey; had visited, and minutely inspected, the gaols of all their capitals and principal cities; had travelled upwards of forty thousand miles, and had expended upon these travels, or in relieving the sick and giving freedom to the captive, more than £30,000. While resting at his favourite estate of Cardington, that terrible destroyer, the plague, was perpetually in his thoughts. In 1785, although sixty years of age, he again quitted his native shores, with a view to discover some remedy for this foe of humanity. He visited the Lazaretto at Marseilles, and while the plague was raging, took his passage from Smyrna to the Adriatic in an infected vessel, with a foul bill of health, in order to be subjected to the strictest quarantine! His sufferings were fearful; and to add to his pangs, news came to him while in this horrible plague-ship, that his son, after a wild career of dissipation, had become insane! When the father returned, he found his son an incurable maniac.

Thus bereft of every tie which could bind him to his home, on the 5th of July, 1779, he took another, his last journey, feeling convinced that it would be his last. His intention was to visit

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Russia, Turkey, and other countries, for the purpose of extending his inquiries respecting the plague. At Cherson, he caught a virulent fever, taken while visiting a lady on the point of death; and here, far from home and friends, as calm and dignified as the heathen sage, and with a more blessed assurance and support, this faithful and devoted labourer departed from the scene of his labours, with a goodly sheaf of noble deeds to present to the Lord of the Harvest.-" There is a spot," said he to one at his bedside, "near the village of Dauphiney, that would suit me nicely. You know it well, for I have often said that I should like to be buried there; and let me beg of you, as you value your old friend, not to suffer any pomp to be used at my funeral, nor let any monument nor monumental inscription whatsoever be made, to mark where I am laid; but lay me quietly in the earth, place a sun-dial over my grave, and let me be forgotten."

While wavering between life and death, a letter from England was put in his hands, giving a favourable account of the health of his son. Like an angel of mercy sent from Heaven, this came to the dying man; giving the letter to a friend, he said, tenderly, "Is not this a comfort for a dying father?" and in a few seconds the Christian patriach was with his God. "He lived an apostle," said Bentham " and died a martyr."

THE FUNERAL OF HOWARD.

His death fell on the mind of Europe like an ominous shadow : the melancholy wail of grief which arose on the Dnieper, was echoed from the Thames, and soon re-echoed from the Tagus, and the Neva, and the Dardanelles. Everywhere Howard had friends -more than could be thought till death cut off restraint, and threw the flood-gates of sympathy wide open. Then the affluent tide rolled in like the dawn of a summer day. into deep mourning for the illustrious stranger;

Cherson went and there was

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