has proved incalculably beneficial to thousands, continued, till the close of his mortal existence, to to reach out the hand of pity to a very large number of miserable sufferers in confinement; and early in May, 1773, within fifteen months from the commencement of the undertaking, the following was published as their GENERAL ACCOUNT: £. Benefactions to this day...... ....2922 Disbursements to discharge 986 prisoners.... 2892 19 S. d. 11 10 Leaving in their hands a balance of 29 12 4 6 In the earliest infancy of their plan, the Committee were hardly sanguine enough to expect so liberal an encouragement; and, therefore, did not at first take an accurate account of the wives and children of the prisoners released. However, from an inspection of their books, it appears, that at the period in question, to the 986 prisoners above-mentioned as discharged, there belonged 566 wives, and 2389 children; making in all 3941 souls, essentially relieved by means of the public humanity. Far the greater number of objects released were manufacturers, seamen, and labourers, whose usefulness, long cut off from exercise by confinement, was thus restored to the community. The Charity, of course, was found to claim a serious attention, not merely from the avowed humanity of its purpose, but also from the advantages which it afforded to society at large; and which, in a commercial country, like ours, could not fail of striking conviction upon every judicious mind. It likewise appeared, on a review of the Committee's books, that various considerable debts, to the amount of twelve thousand pounds and upwards, had been so compounded and reduced, as to bring the objects relieved in those instances, within the scope of their first intention-and to which they have ever since invariably adhered; namely, to include " such prisoners only whose respective debts, or the composition for whose debts, should not exceed the sum of TEN POUNDS." By this means a two-fold benefit was secured : for, at the time of compounding such larger debts, the Committee constantly paid an equal attention to the peculiar circumstances, both of the Creditor, and of his helpless Debtor. A progress so rapid and animating, naturally gave ardour to the zeal of its conductors. It was considered, indeed, and owned, as one of those GREAT EVENTS from LITTLE CAUSES, which lift the eye to Heaven in admiration, and expand the human heart. The rich cordial of benevolence was now largely flowing out, as upon a once barren soil; and the desert became a fruitful field! Thus encouraged to persevere in the good work, the gentlemen originally concerned, determined to omit no means of giving it dignity, stability, and success: application was accordingly made for that purpose; and, on the 5th of May, 1773, at a General Meeting of Benefactors, the SOCIETY was constituted. animate his exertions; and to give expansion to his endeavours to seek out misery in the dark recesses.of. confinement, in order to succour it, by feeding the hungry, and restoring liberty to the captive. In 1786 Mr. Neild was a zealous Promoter of the Statue intended to have been erected in honour of Mr. Howard*, his Precursor in the labour of love. At the same Meeting the Rules and Orders were settled; and the following Officers were appointed : The Right Hon. Lord Romney, President; Right Hon. Lord Chief Baron Smythe, Right Hon. Lord Viscount Beauchamp †, Right Hon. Mr. Justice Nares, John Thornton, Esq. VicePresidents; Mr. Neild, Treasurer; Mr. Nelme, Secretary. Such were the singular triumphs of philanthropy at a very early period of the Institution: the little spark was now roused and animated into a genial flame and it is pleasing to remark, that an experience of now more than seven and twenty years hath fully evinced its justice and propriety; while it hath also superadded many other arguments of a most cogent nature, to encourage and support the benevolent design. * Of this, one proof appears in a Letter to Dr. Lettsom: "SIR, Craven Street, Strand, Sept. 20, 1786. "As Governors of the Society for the Relief and Discharge of Persons imprisoned for small Debts,' we request you to forward the inclosed twelve guineas, in approbation of your excellent proposal, for erecting a Statue to the honour of Mr. HOWARD, and to promote a permanent fund for the comfort of poor prisoners. To your heart it may afford a peculiar satisfaction, to have this small addition of our names to your list of subscribers. We readily embrace this opportunity to assure you, that, having frequently been eye-witnesses of complicated distress, on visiting not only the prisons in and about the Metropolis, but also many of the far distant county gaols, where misery still more abounds ; and having, in consequence, felt very much for the unhappy sufferers, we are fully impressed with the propriety of the design, and wish to see it so executed, as to perpetuate in the most respectable manner the memory of a truly honest man; whom we cannot but consider as a Patriot in the noblest sense of the word, and a Philanthropist of the highest order. Were the free, the rich, and the happy, of our countrymen, to have heard but half the tales of woe which have come to our ears, or to have beheld a few of those scenes of misery to which our situation has often painfully introduced us, no farther argument could be needed, to stimulate their pity; they would be eager to encourage a plan, which must always reflect a dignity on the public gratitude and humanity of Great Britain. Indeed, Sir, such trials of compasThe present Marquis of Hertford. 2Y2 sion In 1800 Mr. Neild, after having for nearly 30 years been the happy witness of the increasing benefits resulting from his favourite Institution, which had now arrived at some maturity, undertook the task of being its Historian, by publishing "An Account of Persons confined for Debt in the various Prisons of England and Wales; together with their provisionary Allowance during Confinement, as reported to the Society for the Discharge and Relief of Small Debtors, in April, May, June, &c. 1800."* sionas result from the actual survey of sorrow in imprisonment are alone wanting to affect the most thoughtless voluptuary, or to melt down the hardest heart.-From our own experience, therefore, of Mr. HOWARD's peculiar merits, no less than as a just tribute to his praise, we sincerely hope that all who can will chearfully contribute their share, both towards the erection of the Statue proposed, and to establish a continual Fund of Charity for the benefit of friendless prisoners; which latter good work, to the mind of HOWARD, will certainly be received as the highest of gratifications. 'To honour our country,—do honour to him." We are, Sir, with great esteem, your much obliged, and obedient humble servants, Sir Robert Taylor, Bart. Rev. Richard Harrison Robert Mangles, Esq. Mr. Dawes Spontaneous [Rev. Weeden Butler †] Dr. LETTSOM's Answer: L. s. d. 400000000 20 220 220 "Your pathetic Letter, inclosing a generous subscription of twelve guineas toward the Howardian Fund, afforded me singular satisfaction, in experiencing the approbation of gentlemen of such distinguished characters. At the same time, the interest which you take in every thing that may contribute to lessen the distresses of our fellow creatures, and the feeling manner in which you have related them, moves me to sympathize with you over the scenes of misery to which your situation has often painfully introduced you; and, wishing to unite with you in your humane endeavours, accept my draft of ten guineas, and consider me as an annual subscriber of two guineas, for the relief and discharge of persons imprisoned for small debts. J. C. LETTSOM." * In an Advertisement to this Work, Mr. Neild observes, "To the considerate reader of the following statement, a few observations must naturally occur :-He will feel for their pitiable See pp. 689. 703. situation, The more immediately active Members of the Society were so impressed with a sense of the utility of this publication, that they unanimously resolved, Feb. 17, 1801, "That the Thanks of this Society be given to James Neild, Esq. our worthy Treasurer, for his very laudable, humane, and useful exertions, in promoting the benefits of this Institution; particularly by his late publication." About the same time Dr. Lettsom, having returned his thanks for a copy of this interesting performance, received the following answer: "I have the honour of yours; and feel myself extremely gratified by the approbation you are trate. situation, who, though confined in prison, have, in some instances, no support at all provided for them: in many, scarcely bread to eat sufficient to sustain life; and whose case, therefore, very powerfully calls for the humane interposition of the magisHe will find, with painful astonishment, that, after eight and twenty years since the institution of the Society for the Relief and Discharge of Debtors, no less than twenty-five prisons in England and Wales, some of them in large populous towns, and others very near the Metropolis, never heard of' so amiable and excellent a charity! The fact is on record, from the avowal of the respective Gaolers; and it must have considerably lessened the intended benefit deducible from the Society's plan. The Committee have now distributed their painted boards of instruction throughout the various gaols; and sincerely hope, that the Magistracy, in every district of the kingdom, will kindly further the views of this Society, by an occasional inquiry into the state of imprisoned debtors; and by an inspection, now and then, into the manner of their treatment and accommodation in the dreary abodes of human wretchedness. "Ah! little think the gay, licentious proud, Ah! little think they, while they dance along, THOMSON. pleased pleased to express of my humble endeavours to alleviate the sorrows of the afflicted. The book which is published is an abridgement of a folio MS. in which the names, dates of commitment, and sums for which each individual is confined, are inserted; the publication of it would be too voluminous for perusal, and cruel to their relatives. I have endeavoured to shew the wretched state of some prisons, and the great inequality of provision for the debtor, with as much brevity as possible, that it may be read by the Great. Where I have found the Gaoler humane and merciful, I have mentioned it, to encourage the same disposition in the others. Having, during a period of 28 years, visited most of the Prisons in England, I know fully how much a Gaoler has it in his power to forward or retard the works of mercy. "I have just begun inquiries of each, to know which of the persons (arranging their names alphabetically) are discharged, or yet in their custody; by this means no person can remain very long in prison without my knowing the reason. "The separation of debtors and vagrants from felons has often excited the attention of your most obliged and faithful humble servant, JAMES NEILD.”* * In another Letter to Dr. Lettsom, written about the same time, Mr. Neild says, "When I acknowledge the receipt of your polite Letter, I cannot accompany it with any thing which I am sure will be so grateful to your feelings, as the statement of those debtors who remain in prison, out of the number included in my published Report. Some of these are under particular, and others very distressing circumstances †. I trust the wisdom of Parliament will interpose its authority, and regulate the laws betwixt Debtor and Creditor. To proportion the time of imprisonment to the magnitude of the debt, would frequently prevent its wanton increase. I have known many instances, where a debtor has offered eight, nine, and ten shillings in the pound to his creditor; which not being accepted, he has (very naturally) expended it for his support in prison. Fees and lodgings abolished, and a salary from the county allowed to the gaoler, would have the most salutary effects. Where a gaoler has not + See Dr. Lettsom's "Hints," &c. vol. I. p. 228. only |