CHAPTER VII.

Publication of Howard's first work on prisons-Death of his sister-Renewal of his philanthropic labours— Visits the hulks at Woolwich-Gives evidence at the bar of the House of Commons, on the subject of the Convict Laws-Embarks for Holland-Providential escape from danger-Severe attack of illness-State of his mind under it-Renewal of his work-Revisits the prisons at Rotterdam, Gouda, Amsterdam, Deventer, Middleburg-Passes into Germany-Enters Silicia-Visits Prague, Vienna- Anecdote of his fidelity-Simple means he took to preserve himself from infection-Visits Venice, Padua, Ferrara, Bologna, Florence, Leghorn, Loretto, Rome.

IN April 1777, inscribed to the House of Commons, "The State of the Prisons in England and Wales, with Preliminary Observations, and some Account of Foreign Prisons, by John Howard, F. RS.," was published. It was a large quarto volume of more than five hundred pages, and was embellished with four engravings. Lest it should be said that he had been influenced by interested motives in the publication, he determined to fix the price so low, that had every copy been sold, he must have lost a considerable sum. The number of copies, too, that he distributed gratis among his friends in London, whither he repaired immediately on the work being completed, was very considerable. Besides his own per

sonal friends, he sent a copy to almost every publicspirited and influential individual in the kingdom.

In the preface Howard explains his motives for composing the work; and in his masterly and very important preliminary observations, after exposing the evils which then existed, he points out, in a manner which evinced a profound knowledge of the subject, the remedies which ought to be applied for their removal. He first proves that distress of a severe and aggravated character, from want of food and air, want of water and cleanliness, want of attention to the sick, and from legalized extortion in the shape of fees, as well as from various other causes, existed to a lamentable extent; and then, in a strain of Christian benevolence, appeals feelingly to those who commiserate not the cases of unhappy prisoners, but who are ready, as he says, to remark, "Let them take care to keep out; " reminding them "that we are to imitate our gracious and heavenly Parent, who is kind to the unthankful and to the evil; and how apt we are to forget, that in the vicissitudes of human affairs, and the unexpected changes to which all men are liable-the affluent may be reduced to indigence, and become debtors, and then prisoners."

In the course of these observations, which are written with great simplicity, and breathe throughout a spirit of genuine philanthropy, Howard exposes the evil tendency of the pernicious customs which obtained in almost all prisons, and then gives some admirable directions for their management and construction." The first object," he justly remarks, "must be to find a good, honest, and humane man for a gaoler, taking care not to admit to that office either an innkeeper or a sheriff's officer." Equally important did he conceive it to be, that a chaplain should be appointed to every prison, who should be of a truly Christian spirit, and who would not con

tent himself with barely officiating in public, but would converse daily with the prisoners; admonish the profligate, exhort the thoughtless, comfort the sick, and make known to the condemned that mercy which is revealed in the gospel. For promoting cleanliness in prisons, so essential to the health of the prisoners, he lays down some excellent rules. He shows the great importance of keeping the prisoners constantly employed, and points out the indispensable necessity of having separate apartments for the sexes. In fact, the whole drift of his observations proved that he was most anxious to make the imprisonment of debtors and felons the means of correction, as well as of punishment.

It was scarcely possible that a volume on so singular a subject should fail to excite considerable interest: the fund of information it contained was so new and important that it immediately came under the notice of the periodical press. All the reviewers pronounced it to be a work of sterling excellence, containing a mass of most valuable intelligence. By his Majesty's government, and by many members of the British Parliament, its importance was soon duly appreciated. All were filled with admiration at the benevolence that had prompted an individual of an elevated rank, to quit the comforts of his own fireside, and the intercourse of his friends, and at his own expense, as well as at the risk of his health, and even life, to endure the toil of travelling so many hundreds of miles, and of visiting so many abodes of disease and suffering, to relieve those whose crimes or negligence had, in most, if not in all cases, been the cause of their distress. Every one looked upon his achievement as unparalleled in the records of benevolence.

After distributing a considerable number of copies of his work to his friends in London, he returned to Cardington and distributed copies among his friends

there with equal liberality. The individuals who had the happiness of his acquaintance before his benevolent exertions had been extended beyond his own neighbourhood, by all of whom he was most sincerely beloved, and who had always hailed his return among them with great delight, now that the fame of his extraordinary labours in the cause of suffering humanity had extended throughout England, and indeed through the greater part of Europe, felt the highest gratification in being permitted again to enjoy his company in the domestic circle. His public labours had not impaired his regard for the enjoyments of social intercourse, to which he was by no means insensible, though an erroneous idea has existed that such was the case. All who knew him best would cheerfully affirm, with a lady who had frequent opportunities of seeing him, that " no man ever enjoyed domestic life more than Howard."

A life of such extraordinary exertion as that which Howard had lived for the last three years, travelling from place to place, was far from being favourable to the cultivation of piety; much more likely was it to have had an injurious rather than a beneficial effect. Aware of this, he took especial care to guard against it, narrowly watching his heart, and daily cultivating a devotional spirit. From a private memoranda which he was accustomed to keep, it appears evident that his mind was habitually serious. It contained many such devout aspirations as the following: "Let me not forget that time is always on the wing; and that the period when I shall have to give up my final account is every moment hastening on! God grant that I may not only live, but die in the faith; approving and heartily embracing the gospel! What will riches and honours avail? Will they give me a hope through grace? Give me, Lord, a new heart, and that firm faith in Jesus which will not permit me to be ashamed of his religion!

O my soul, seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; consider well thy sacred obligations; be not conformed to the world, but die unto sin and live unto righteousness. Think constantly on the things which belong to thy everlasting peace; as one that is dead, but whose life is hid with Christ in God. Let every darling lust be mortified. Let me put off every evil desire, and put on bowels of mercy, as the servant of Christ. Bring home to my heart, O God, the sacred truths of the gospel; and after the great things thou hast done in me, and by me, let not the poor, weak, helpless, and useless instrument be lost and cast into the fire but for thy name's sake, and for the sake of the Redeemer, let me be an everlasting monument of thy free and sovereign grace. May I not only see the wisdom and power of God in the gospel, but feel it too! And never let me grow weary in welldoing, for in due season I shall reap if I faint not."

The depth of Howard's piety, and his invariable consistency of conduct was such, that he never closed the day, in whatever circumstances he might be placed, without family prayer at an appointed hour, even if there were only himself and the servant who travelled with him present. Thomason was required to enter his room in all places, and under all circumstances, at a certain hour; when Howard, having barred the door, in a strain of devout gratitude would acknowledge his obligations to God for his favours, and earnestly implore a continuance of his merciful interposition; and no one was admitted till this devout exercise was over. This practice he observed in all his travels on the continent, as well as in England.

In August, 1777, Howard sustained a painful bereavement in the death of his sister, between whom and himself there existed an attachment mutually warm and affectionate. By this event he