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interest and abilities, like Jonas Hanway, in preventing the employment of babes in a work under which the hardened veteran might sink with pain, terror, and fatigue. There was indeed no species of misery which this indefatigable philanthropist did not endeavor to relieve. Happy, had his abilities, as a writer equalled his zeal, as a man. But his excellent plans were sometimes neglected, or contemned, through a deficiency of proper eloquence to recommend them. Yet for what he intended, and what he performed, his name shall be handed down to late posterity, while his bust stands erected by gratitude among the tombs of kings, and greater than kings, those who, though private persons, enlightened the understanding and alleviated the miseries of their fellow

creatures.

Of Mr. Howard's heroic philanthropy the world wants no monument more honorable than the loud plaudits of his own countrymen. By a strange forgetfulness, the state of prisons in this and other countries was deplorably neglected, and a degree of punishment was inflicted by the cold, the dampness, the filthiness, the wretched diet and accommodation, and the consequent diseases of the dungeon, far greater than the most rigorous severity of the most sanguinary laws ever intended. Mr. Howard, by visiting the prisons, by suggesting improvements in them, by causing a sense of shame in the conductors of them, and by raising a general attention to the subject, has already diffused a gleam of comfort through the dark mansion, where misery unutterable sat and pined in hopeless agony. The prisoner breathed contagion; and whether he deserved death or not for his crime, he was likely to incur it in the loathsome prison, with all the aggravation of lingering languor. Great as was his misery, few gave themselves the trouble to notice it. Many feared infection if they approached to examine, and many, disgusted with the infamy of the guilty, scarcely acknowledged that the wretch in chains, though unconvicted, deserved compassion. But Mr. Howard, regardless of ease and life, incurred every danger, and almost forgot their failings in their woe.

But it is unnecessary to dwell on Mr. Howard's praise. Fortunately the public have taken it up; and there is some danger lest panegyric should be carried to

an excess which frustrates its own intent, by creating a sense of excessive plenitude. I must, however, unite in reproving those who malignantly stigmatise his noble attempts with the name of Quixotism.

The Society for the relief of prisoners confined for Small Debts deserves to participate Mr. Howard's fame.

Many were the prejudices formed against the society instituted for the recovery of drowned persons; but let any one place himself a moment in the situation of a parent suddenly bereaved of his child, and, if he is not unfeeling in his nature, he will want no argument to induce him to give it every encouragement. Doubts were once entertained of its success, but they may be now removed by ocular demonstration. It is indeed a most affecting sight to behold those who were snatched from the jaws of death walking on the public days in solemn procession, and paying a grateful obedience to their restorers.

The Dispensaries established, and liberally supported in various parts of the metropolis, are an additional proof of the indefatigable beneficence of the present age. But many will be ready to detract from the institutors and benefactors, and to say, that these plausible charities are begun and supported by those who mean no more than to gratify their vanity, or promote their interest. There is reason to suspect that this may, in some instances, be true, but not in all; and while so much good is produced, it is narrow and invidious to derogate from the promoters of it, by attributing their activity to selfish incitements.

What can be said of the thousands of unambitious and disinterested persons who eagerly crowd to present their guineas in contribution to every useful mode of beneficence for which their assistance is publicly solicited? It would be no less unreasonable than mean to attribute their bounty to vanity, or any other sinister consideration. To avoid the very suspicion, many give most ample donations and conceal their names; but those who do not, ought in candor to be supposed desirous of diffusing the influence of their example and authority, rather than of seeking the applause of the world, and the reputation of generosity.

Of the various hospitals which surround the great city,

and form a better defence for it than the strongest fortification, I have said little, because they were chiefly founded in preceding times; and I wished on the present occasion, to be confined to recent instances, and to such as have occurred within the memory of the rising generation.

From all of them I am led to conclude, that the benevolent virtues are by no means diminished among us, but that they flourish more and more under the guidance of judgment and experience; and may they still flourish, and may every one be anxious to possess a share in them, that he may have something to veil the multitude of his transgressions when he shall be summoned to give up his account at the tribunal of an omniscient and almighty Judge!

EVENING II.

ON THE EXTENT OF LITERATURE, AND THE SHORTNESS OF TIME FOR ITS CULTIVATION.

HILE the objects of learning are increased, the

tracted, by the modes of modern life. Every year produces some valuable work in some department of science or polite letters, and the accomplished scholar is expected, and cannot but wish to give it some attention. The art of printing has multiplied books to such a degree, that it is a vain attempt either to collect or to read all that is excellent, much more all that has been published. It becomes necessary, therefore, to read in the classical sense of the word, LEGERE, that is, to pick out, to select the most valuable and worthiest objects, not only the best parts of books, but previously to that se lection, to chuse out of an infinite number, the best books, or at least those which are best adapted to the particular pursuit or employment in life. Without this care there is danger of confusion and distraction, of a vain labor, and of that poverty which arises from superfluity*.

The surface of the globe becomes every day more * Inopem me copia fecit.

Ovid.

known, enlarges the field of modern history, geography, botany, and furnishes new opportunities for the study of human nature. At the revival of learning, voyages and travels constituted a very small part of the scholar's and philosopher's library; but at present, in England only, the books of this class are sufficiently numerous to fill a large musæum. He who would understand human nature must inspect them, and will also find it necessary to have recourse to the Dutch and the French travellers. A man might find employment for his life in reading itineraries alone.

The late great improvements in science have multiplied books necessary to be read by the general scholar to a wonderful extent. The volumes of scientifical and literary societies or academies are infinite. The mineral, the vegetable, and the animal kingdoms have been accurately examined, and the result brought to public view, in crowded and bulky tomes. The minutest productions of nature have been described with prolixity; from the hyssop on the wall to the cedar of Lebanon, from the atom to the mountain, from the mite to man, the whale, and the elephant.

The study of antiquities has added greatly to the number of books. Politics, history, and law, have also crowded the library.

The field of divinity has been most industriously cultivated, and the harvest has been great. The age of Methusalem would be too short to read all the theological works of English divines; to which must be added the excellent productions of France, Holland, and other neighboring nations. Biblical learning alone, so pregnant is the sacred volume, would occupy a long life, exclusive of all attention to practical theology.

Moral philosophy, both systematical and miscellaneous, is so far extended, that if it is all necessary to the conduct of life, every man must die without knowing how to live; for the longest life would not afford op portunities for its study.

Philology and criticism have appeared in books which equal, or exceed in number and size, all those original works united, which it was their primary intention to elucidate.

A species of books, unknown to the ancients, and

such as are found to attract more readers than any others, has risen in the last century; I mean romances and fictitious histories of private and familiar life, under the name of Novels.

Add to all this a vast quantity of poetry or verse of all kinds, and on all subjects; add tragedies and comedies; add pamphlets in all their variety, fugitive papers, publications of diurnal intelligence; and the sum becomes so great as to lead the general student to a degree of despair.

I have already said, that not only the work to be done has increased upon us, but the time of doing it has decreased, according to the modes of living which now prevail.

Early rising is not in vogue. Breakfast, with all the apparatus of tea-drinking, occupies a long time. The hair must be dressed with taste, or the student will find his learning will not give him admission into the company of people of condition and fashion, nor indeed into any company where decorum is regarded.

The newspapers must be read; or conversation may lose one of its most abundant sources. The coffee-house perhaps claims an hour. Morning calls must be made, and engraved cards left with servants, or friendship and patronage may be irrecoverably lost. A morning walk or ride will conduce to an appetite, and the person must be dressed from head to foot, before a genteel student can think of meeting company at dinner. Very little time it is evident, can be found in the midst of all these necessary occupations for poring over folios. To neglect any of them for his book may cause a man to be called an odd fellow and dismissed to Coventry.

But the morning loss, you will say, may be recovered by the diligence of the afternoon. Impossible; for the hour of dining is the same which in the days of that polite scholar and fine gentleman, sir Philip Sidney, used to be the supper time: and convivial pleasures are so great, as to render him who should relinquish them for musty books obnoxious to the imputation of an ascetic or a book-worm. Indeed the mind is unfit for contemplation after a full meal and a generous glass. Various amusements intervene to employ the time till the hour of repose closes the season both of action and contemplation.

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