geon always attend when the torture is applied; and, on a signal given by a bell, the gaoler brings in wine, vinegar, and water, to prevent the sufferers from expiring. 'The tender mercies of Thus in the Spanish

the wicked are cruel.' Inquisition, a physician and a surgeon atfend to determine the utmost extremity of suffering which can be borne without expiring under the torture."

Mr. Howard makes frequent mention of the torture in all his tours of inspection; which shows that it was in common use throughout most of the countries of Europe, and that those nations which had abolished it, were exceptions to the general rule. As this cruelty was inflicted by order of magistrates, as well as of higher powers, there must have been a very numerous class of persons, in each country, who were in the habit of condemning prisoners to the torture, and seeing it applied. Among this number, there must have been some who possessed good feelings and exercised benevolence in the other relations of life, though so unfeeling in this; which shows how the mind may be blinded and the heart hardened by the force of custom and of public opinion; how it may be led into practices, not only contrary to the spirit of Chris

tianity, but at variance with other parts of the character.

We, who have never lived under a government that considered torture the proper means of procuring the confession of a criminal, can hardly imagine a respectable citizen, who performs all the duties of a kind neighbour, a good husband, and an affectionate father, rising from the table where he had been enjoying the smiles of his wife and children, and indulging all the kind feelings of his nature, to go to the torture-chamber of a prison, and seat himself at a table covered with black cloth, strewed with instruments ingeniously contrived to produce agony, and smeared perhaps with the blood of former victims, there deliberately to order and to see inflicted on a fellow being the utmost suffering that human nature can endure. Yet such cases must have frequently occurred in countries where the practice of torture has prevailed.

Nothing can insure any one from being thus made the slave of the customs and manners of the age and country in which he happens to be born, but taking for his standard of right the precepts of Jesus, and faithfully following the law of love which he taught.

In passing through France, on his way home, the philanthropist met with no hindrance to his progress, though that country was then at war with England; and he made use of his freedom and his influence to ameliorate the condition of the prisoners of war. Remembering his own sufferings when in that condition twenty-two years before, he paid particular attention to the subject, and had reason to believe that some good effects were still visible from his exertions at that period. He found no captives quite so badly situated as he had then been; and some grievances which he had pointed out on entering France this time, he had the satisfaction of finding had been done away when he returned again to the same place. In conversing with prisoners of war, he always took occasion to exhort them to be true to their country, and never to enlist with the enemy, as they were often persuaded to do. This proceeding on his part gave great offence to the French government. It was not believed that he was acting in a private capacity; on the contrary he was regarded as a British spy, and became an object of suspicion to the French ever after.

At Calais he found several crews of English vessels, who had become prisoners of war in con

sequence of being wrecked on the French coast, and were in a most destitute condition, having scarcely any clothes to cover them. Their generous countryman supplied them with comfortable suits at his own expense. Having closed his foreign labors with this deed of charity, he crossed the channel and landed once more on his native shores.

WHEN Mr. Howard landed at Dover, from his third philanthropic tour, he had travelled four thousand six hundred and sixty miles, and had devoted his whole time and strength for nine months to his benevolent labors. He had passed from place to place with the greatest diligence, and had occupied himself with those objects. only which were connected with his great purpose, that of reforming prison discipline, converting the punishments inflicted by law into the means of correcting the offender, and thus making him a better and happier member of society.

In reviewing the life of this devoted man, ever since he was made High Sheriff, and considering how large a portion of those six years had been spent in scenes of misery and wretchedness, the bare recital of which makes one sick at heart, some may be ready to ask, "How could