THE EULOGIES OF HOWARD.

IT was my chance to be converſing with a Friend of the benevolent and indefatigable HOWARD, when our coun⯑try was firſt afflicted with the public in⯑telligence of his death. After our firſt expreſſion of ſurprize and ſorrow, we naturally fell into ſerious and affectionate reflections on the gentle character and ſublime purſuits of the deceaſed. On theſe articles we had no difference of opinion; but in the courſe of our con⯑verſation a point aroſe, on which our [2] ſentiments were directly oppoſite, though we were equally ſincere and ardent in our regret and veneration for the de⯑parted Worthy, to whom it related. I happened to ſpeak of the public ho⯑nours that, I hoped, a grateful, a ge⯑nerous, a magnificent Nation would ren⯑der to his memory. My companion im⯑mediately exclaimed, "that every os⯑tentatious memorial, to commemorate the virtues of his friend, would be in⯑conſiſtent with the meekneſs and ſim⯑plicity of the man; that all, who had the happineſs of knowing HOWARD, muſt recollect with what genuine mo⯑deſty he had ever retired from the en⯑thuſiaſtic admiration of thoſe, who had hoped to gratify his ambition by unde⯑ſerved applauſe; that he had really ſought no reward but in the approbation [3] of his conſcience and his GOD; that the Britiſh Nation, however eminent for ge⯑nius and munificence, could not deviſe any poſthumous honours, or raiſe any monument, truly worthy of HOWARD, except in adopting and accompliſhing thoſe benevolent projects which his phi⯑lanthropy and experience had recom⯑mended to public attention for the be⯑nefit of mankind."

I readily admitted the ſingular and unqueſtionable modeſty of the deceaſed. —I allowed that the nobleſt tribute of reſpect, which the world could render to ſo pure a ſpirit, would be to realize his ideas; but I contended, that other ho⯑nours are ſtill due to his name; that it is the duty and the intereſt of mankind to commemorate his character with the fondeſt veneration. I reminded my com⯑panion, [4] that although we were ſincerely convinced that no human mind, engaged in great deſigns, could be more truly modeſt than that of HOWARD; yet we had particular reaſon to recollect, that he was not inſenſible to praiſe. He had once imparted to us his feelings on that ſubject with a frank and tender ſimpli⯑city, highly graceful in an upright and magnanimous being, conſcious of no ſen⯑timent that he could wiſh to conceal. Indeed, a ſincere and ardent paſſion for virtue could hardly ſubſiſt with a diſdain of true glory, which is nothing more than the proper teſtimony of intelligent and honeſt admiration to the exiſtence of merit: nor is it reaſonable to ſuppoſe that the fondeſt expreſſions of remem⯑brance from a world, which he has ſerved and enlightened, can be diſ⯑pleaſing [5] to the ſpirit of "a juſt man made perfect;" ſince we are taught by Religion, that the gratitude of mankind is acceptable even to GOD. I endeavoured to convince my companion, that, as the Publick had ſeen in HOWARD a perſon who reflected more genuine honour on our country than any of her Philoſo⯑phers, her Poets, her Orators, her He⯑roes, or Divines, it is incumbent on the Nation to conſult her own glory by com⯑memorating, in the fulleſt manner, his beneficent exertions, and by eſtabliſhing the dignity of his unrivaled virtue.

My arguments, and my zeal, made ſome impreſſion on the mind of my an⯑tagoniſt; and ſunk ſo deeply into my own, that on my retiring to reſt they gave riſe to the following viſion.

I was ſuddenly tranſported to the con⯑fines of a region, which aſtoniſhed me [6] by its lovelineſs and extent; it was called, The Paradiſe of true Glory. As I ap⯑proached the entrance, my eyes were delightfully faſcinated by two beings of human form, who preſided over the por⯑tal. Their names were Genius and Senſibility:—it was their office to gratify with a view of this Paradiſe every mor⯑tal that revered them ſincerely; and to reject only ſuch intruders as preſumed to treat either the one or the other with the inſolence of diſdain, or the coldneſs of contempt: an incident that I ſhould have thought impoſſible, from the tran⯑ſcendent beauty which is viſible in each; but, to my ſurprize, they informed me it very frequently happened.

As I readily paid them the unſuſpect⯑ed homage of my ſoul, I was graciouſly permitted to paſs the gate.—Immediately [7] as I entered, I was ſaluted with a ſe⯑raphic ſmile, by two benignant and inſe⯑parable Spirits: theſe were Gratitude and Admiration, the joint rulers of the do⯑minion —"You are welcome," ſaid the firſt, in a tone of angelic tenderneſs— "You are welcome to a ſcene utterly new to your ſenſes, and in harmony with your heart: you delight in the praiſes of the deſerving: and you are now wafted to a ſpot, where thoſe who have merited highly of mankind are praiſed in pro⯑portion to their deſert, and where the praiſe of exalted merit is fondly liſtened to by an extenſive human audience, here purified by our ſupernatural agency from all the low and little jealouſies of the earth."

I had hardly anſwered this pleaſing information by a grateful obeiſance to [8] my radiant informer, when I perceived, in a gorgeous proſpect that now opened before us, three ſtructures of ſtupendous ſize and ſuperior magnificence. The firſt was ſituated in a grove of olives, and appeared to me like an ancient tem⯑ple of Attica, remarkable for maſſive ſtrength, and a ſober dignity—the ſecond was leſs ſolid, but richer in decoration; and ſeemed to be almoſt ſurrounded by every tree and plant on which Nature has beſtowed any ſalutary virtue: the third was ſhaded only by palms; the form of it was ſo wonderfully grand and aweful, that it ſtruck me as a ſanctuary for every pure and devout ſpirit from all the nations of the globe.

"Theſe ſtructures, that you ſurvey with aſtoniſhment," ſaid one of my be⯑nevolent conductors, "are devoted to [9] what you mortals denominate the three liberal profeſſions, Law, Medicine, and Theology. Whoever has a claim to diſtin⯑guiſhed honour from any one of the three, has a juſt encomium pronounced upon his ſervices by the temporary Preſident of that particular fabrick, in which he is entitled to ſuch grateful remembrance." "Alas!" I replied, with a murmur that I could not ſuppreſs, "the Man whoſe well-deſerved praiſes I moſt anxiouſly expected to hear in this region, be⯑longed not to any one of theſe eminent claſſes in human life—he had no pro⯑feſſion but that of Humanity."

"Be patient," ſaid the ſweeteſt of my aetherial guides, with a rebuke that was ſoftened by a ſmile of indulgence! "Let not your zeal for the honour of an indi⯑vidual, however meritorious, make you [10] unjuſt, or inſenſible, to the merit of others! Aſſume the temper of this re⯑gion, where praiſe is diſtributed by equity and affection, but where prejudice and partiality are not allowed to intrude!— Let us advance," continued my monitor, with an encouraging movement of her hand; "it is time that I ſhould lead you to the neareſt aſſembly."

I obeyed with reverential ſilence; and as I paſſed the veſtibule of the majeſtic edifice, my heart panted with an aweful expectation of beholding the ſhades of Solon, Lycurgus, and other departed Legiſlators, from the various nations of the world. I was chearfully ſurprized by a very different ſpectacle.

The capacious ſtructure was filled with a concourſe of living mortals, live⯑ly, yet reſpectable in their appearance, [11] evidently belonging to many countries; but all, as I perceived by their habits, connected with the Law. Throughout all the multitude I heard no ſound of diſſention or debate: but over all there reigned an air of intelligence and ſym⯑pathy, while all were huſhed in ſilent ex⯑pectance, and eager attention, with their eyes directed to an elevated tribunal:— On this a perſonage was ſitting, whoſe majeſtic figure I immediately recollect⯑ed. His countenance is marked with that auſterity and grandeur, which are the external characteriſticks of Law her⯑ſelf. His heart, as thoſe who know it intimately declare, expreſſes the tender and beneficent influence of that Power, who is the acknowledged parent of ſe⯑curity and comfort. With a voice that pervaded the moſt diſtant receſſes of the [12] extenſive dome, and in tones that ſunk deep into the boſom of every auditor, he pronounced the following oration:

"After paſſing many years of life in the painful inveſtigation of human of⯑fences, it is with peculiar ſatisfaction that I find myſelf commiſſioned to com⯑memorate, in this Aſſembly, a character of virtue without example—a character, at once ſo meek and ſo ſublime, that, if a feeling ſpirit had been poiſoned with miſanthropy from too cloſe a contem⯑plation of mortal crimes, this character alone might ſerve as an antidote to the worſt of mental diſtempers, and awaken the moſt callous and ſarcaſtic mind to confeſs the dignity of our Nature, and the beneficence of our God. In ſtating to you the merits of HOWARD, I might expatiate with delight on the various [13] qualities of this incomparable man; I might trace his progreſs through the different periods of a life always ſingu⯑lar and always inſtructive. I could not be checked by any fear of overſtepping the modeſty of Truth in the celebration of Virtue, ſo ſolid and ſo extenſive, that the malevolence of Envy could not di⯑miniſh its weight, the fondneſs of Enthu⯑ſiam could not amplify its effects. But I muſt not forget that there are pro⯑feſſional limits to my diſcourſe. It is incumbent on me to confine myſelf to a ſingle object, and to dwell only on thoſe public ſervices, that peculiarly endear the name of HOWARD to the liberal and enlightened community in which I have the honour to preſide.

"It was in the capacity of a Miniſter to Juſtice, that the pure ſpirit, whom it [14] is my glory to praiſe, firſt conceived the idea of thoſe unrivaled labours that have rendered his memory a treaſure to man⯑kind. In diſcharging a temporary office, that expoſed to him the condition of criminals, he was led to meditate on the evils which had grievouſly contamina⯑ted the operations of Juſtice. He per⯑ceived that Law herſelf, like one of her moſt illuſtrious Delegates (I mean the immortal Bacon), was groſsly injured by the ſecret and ſordid enormities of her menial ſervants: that Captivity and Co⯑ercion, thoſe neceſſary ſupporters of her power, inſtead of producing good, often gave birth to miſchiefs more flagrant, and more fatal, than thoſe which they were employed to correct. He found, even in the priſons of his own humane and enlightened country, an accumula⯑tion [15] of the moſt hideous abuſes: he found them not nurſeries of penitence and amendment, but ſchools of vice and impiety; or dens of filth, famine, and diſeaſe: not the ſeats of juſt and ſalu⯑tary correction and puniſhment, but the ſtrong holds of cruelty and extortion. The irons of the priſoner, which he only beheld, entered into his ſoul, and awakened unextinguiſhable energy in a ſpirit, of which compaſſion and fortitude were the divine characteriſticks. In the noble emotions of pity for the oppreſſed, and of zeal for the honour and intereſt of civilized ſociety, he conceived per⯑haps the ſublimeſt deſign that ever oc⯑cupied and exalted the mind of man, the deſign to ſearch and to purify the polluted ſtream of Penal Juſtice, not only throughout his own country, but through [16] the various nations of the world. How low, how little, are the grandeſt enter⯑prizes of Heroic Ambition, when com⯑pared with this magnanimous purſuit! How frivolous and vain are the higheſt aims of Fancy and Science, when con⯑traſted with a purpoſe ſo beneficently great! But, marvellous as the magnitude of HOWARD's enterpriſe appears, on the ſlighteſt view that magnitude be⯑comes doubly ſtriking, when we con⯑template at the ſame time the many circumſtances that might either allure or deter him from the proſecution of his idea. Conſider him as a private gentle⯑man, poſſeſſed of eaſe and independence, accuſtomed to employ and amuſe his mind in retired ſtudy and philoſophical ſpeculation; arrived at that period of life, when the ſprings of activity and [17] enterprize in the human frame have be⯑gun to loſe their force! conſider that his health, even in youth, had appeared un⯑equal to common fatigue! his ſtature low! his deportment humble! his voice almoſt effeminate! Such was the won⯑derful being, who relinquiſhed the re⯑tirement, the tranquillity, the comforts, that he loved and enjoyed, to embark in labours at which the moſt hardy might tremble; to plunge in perils from which the moſt reſolute might recede without a diminution of honour. Under all theſe apparent diſadvantages, unſum⯑moned, unauthorized by any Prince, un⯑excited by any popular invitation, he re⯑ſolved to inveſtigate all the abuſes of im⯑priſonment; to viſit the abodes of wretchedneſs and infection; and to prove himſelf the friend of the friendleſs, in [18] every country that the limits of his ad⯑vanced life would allow him to examine. Againſt ſuch an enterprize, projected by ſuch an individual, what forcible argu⯑ments might be urged, not only by eve⯑ry ſelfiſh paſſion, but even by that pru⯑dence, and that reaſon, which are allow⯑ed to regulate an elevated mind! How plauſibly did Friendſhip exclaim to HOWARD, 'Your projects are unqueſ⯑tionably noble; but they are above the execution of any individual: you are unarmed with authority; you have the wiſh to do great good, but the power of doing little! Conſider the probable iſſue of the undertaking!—You will ſee a few hapleſs wretches, and tell their condition to the inattentive world; per⯑haps periſh yourſelf from contagion, be⯑fore you have time to tell it; and leave [19] your afflicted friends to lament your un⯑timely fate, and the ungrateful Publick to deride your temerity!' What force of intellect, what dignity of ſoul were required to prevent a mortal from yield⯑ing to remonſtrances ſo engaging! The divine energy of Genius and of Virtue enabled HOWARD to foreſee, that the ſanctity of his purſuit would ſupply him with ſtrength and powers far ſuperior to all human authority:—His piercing mind comprehended that there are enormities of ſuch a nature, that to ſurvey and to reveal them is to effect their correction. —He felt that his ſincere compaſſion for the oppreſſed, and his ardent deſire to promote perfect juſtice, would ſerve him as a perpetual antidote againſt the poi⯑ſon of fear.—He felt that in the dark⯑neſs of dungeons he ſhould want no aſ⯑ſociates, [20] no guards to defend him againſt the outrages of detected extortion, or ſuſpicious brutality.—He felt, that as his purpoſe was heavenly, the powers of Heaven would be diſplayed in his ſup⯑port; that iniquity and oppreſſion would not dare to lift a hand againſt him, though they knew it was the buſineſs of his life to annihilate their ſway in their moſt ſecret dominion. How admirably did the progreſs of his travels evince and juſtify the pure and enlightened confidence of his ſpirit! All dangers, all difficul⯑ties, vaniſh before his gentleneſs, his re⯑gularity, his perſeverance. Inſolence and ferocity ſeem to turn, at his ap⯑proach, into docility and reſpect. Every hardſhip he endures, every ſtep he ad⯑vances, in his wide and laborious career of Beneficence, inſtead of impairing his [21] ſtrength, invigorates his frame; inſtead of diminiſhing his influence, increaſes the utility of his conduct, by making the world acquainted with the ſanctity of his character. Witneſs, ye various regions of the earth! with what ſurprize, delight, and veneration, ye beheld an un⯑armed, and unaſſuming traveller inſtruct⯑ing you in the ſublime ſcience of miti⯑gating human miſery, and giving you a matchleſs example of tenderneſs and magnanimity! O, England! thou ge⯑nerous country! ever enamoured of glory, contemplate in this, the moſt perfect of thy illuſtrious ſons; contem⯑plate thoſe virtues, and that honour, in which thy parental ſpirit may moſt hap⯑pily exult!—What ſpectacle can be more flattering to thy native, thy honeſt pride, than to behold the proudeſt potentates [22] of diſtant nations liſtening with plea⯑ſure to a private Engliſhman; and learn⯑ing, from his reſearches, how to relieve the moſt injured of their ſubjects! how to aboliſh the enormities of perverted Juſtice! To form a complete account of the good ariſing to the world from the life and labours of HOWARD, would be a taſk beyond the limits of any hu⯑man mind: an exact ſtatement of the benefits he has conferred upon ſociety, could be rendered only by the attendant Spirit whom Providence commiſſioned to watch over him, and who might diſ⯑cern, by the powers of ſupernatural vi⯑ſion, what pregnant ſources of public calamity he cruſhed in the ſeed, and what future virtues, in various indivi⯑duals, he may draw into the ſervice of mankind by the attraction of his exam⯑ple. [23] Of good, more immediately viſi⯑ble, which his exertions produced, there is abundant evidence in his own coun⯑try. In the wide circle of his foreign excurſion, what nation, what city, does not bear ſome conſpicuous traces of his intrepid and indefatigable beneficence! Of the aſtoniſhing length to which his zeal and perſeverance extended, we have the moſt ingenuous and ſatisfactory nar⯑ration in thoſe ſingularly meritorious volumes which he has given to the world. In theſe we behold the minute detail of labours to which there is no⯑thing ſimilar, or ſecond, in the hiſtory of public virtue; and for which there could be no adequate reward but in the beatitude of Heaven. An eloquent En⯑thuſiaſt, whoſe genius was nearly allied to frenzy, has expreſſed a deſire to pre⯑ſent [24] himſelf before the tribunal of the Almighty Judge, with a volume in his hand, in which he had recorded his own thoughts and actions: if ſuch an idea could be ſuitable to the littleneſs of man, if it could become any mortal of facul⯑ties ſo limited to make ſuch an offering to the great Fountain of all intelligence, that mortal muſt aſſuredly be HOWARD: for where could we find another indi⯑vidual, not profeſſedly inſpired, who might preſent to his Maker a record of labours ſo eminently directed by Piety and Virtue! a book, addreſſed to man⯑kind, without inſulting their weakneſs, or flattering their paſſions! a book, whoſe great object was to benefit the world, without ſeeking from it any kind of reward! a book, in which the ge⯑nuine modeſty of the Writer is equal to [25] his unexampled beneficence! The mind of HOWARD was ſingularly and ſub⯑limely free from the common and dan⯑gerous paſſion for applauſe: that paſſion which, though taken altogether, it is cer⯑tainly beneficial to the intereſts of man⯑kind, yet frequently communicates in⯑quietude and unſteadineſs to the purſuits of Genius and Virtue. As human praiſe was never the object of his ambition, ſo he has nobly ſoared above it. There ap⯑pear, in different ages upon the Earth, certain elevated ſpirits, who, by the ſub⯑limity of their conceptions, and the mag⯑nanimity of their conduct, attain a de⯑gree of glory which can never be reach⯑ed by the keeneſt followers of Fame.— They ſeek not panegyricks; and pane⯑gyricks can add nothing to their honour. The Eulogies have periſhed which were [26] devoted by the luxuriant genius of Tul⯑ly, and by the laconic ſpirit of Brutus, to the public virtue of CATO; yet the name of that illuſtrious Roman is ſtill power⯑ful in the world, and excites in every cultivated mind, an animating idea of independent integrity. The name of HOWARD has ſuperior force, and a hap⯑pier effect. It is a ſound, at which the ſtrings of humanity will vibrate with exultation in many millions of hearts. Through the various nations that he viſited, the mere echo of his name will be ſufficient to awaken that nobleſt ſen⯑ſibility, which at once ſoftens and ele⯑vates the ſoul. Every warm-hearted and worthy individual who mentions HOW⯑ARD will glow with an honeſt, a ge⯑nerous ſatisfaction, in feeling himſelf the fellow-creature of ſuch a man. Where⯑ever [27] the elegant arts are eſtabliſhed, they will contend in raiſing memorials to his honour. Indeed, the globe itſelf may be conſidered as his Mauſoleum; and the inhabitants of every priſon it con⯑tains, as groups of living ſtatues that commemorate his virtue. There is no claſs of mankind by whom his memory ought not to be cheriſhed, becauſe all are intereſted in thoſe evils (ſo perni⯑cious to ſociety! ſo dangerous to life!) which he was ever labouring to leſ⯑ſen or exterminate. It might be wiſhed, that different communities ſhould ſepa⯑rately deviſe ſome different tribute of reſ⯑pect to him whoſe character and conduct is ſo intereſting to all: not for the ſake of multiplying vain and uſeleſs offerings to the dead, but to impreſs with more energy and extent his ennobling remembrance on [28] the heart and ſoul of the living. It is hardly poſſible to preſent too frequently to the human mind the image of a man who lived only to do good. I mean not merely ſuch a reſemblance of his form as Art may execute with materials al⯑moſt as periſhable as the image of hu⯑man clay, but ſuch an impreſſion of his ſoul as may have a more laſting influence on the life and conduct of his admirers, ſuch as, diffuſing among them a portion of his ſpirit, may in ſome meaſure per⯑petuate his exiſtence.

"By this community, I am confident, ſuch public honours will be paid to HOWARD, as may be moſt ſuitable to the peculiar intereſt which it becomes us to take in his glory. What theſe honours ſhall be is a point to be ſettled by this liberal and enlightened Aſſembly, [29] which aſſuredly will not fail to remember that he ſuggeſted to Legal Authority her omiſſions and defects with the mo⯑deſt and endearing tenderneſs of a Friend; that he laboured in the ſervice of Juſ⯑tice with that intelligence, fortitude, and zeal, which her votaries cannot too warmly admire, or too gratefully ac⯑knowledge."

The Preſident aroſe as he thus ended his ſpeech; and the members of the Aſſembly ſeemed beginning to confer among themſelves; but what debates enſued, or what meaſure was adopted, I am unable to tell, as my viſionary Guides immediately hurried me to the adjoining Temple.

This ſecond ſtructure, though leſs ex⯑tenſive and leſs ſolid that the firſt, was more attractive to the eye, as it abounded [30] with ſcientifical and diverſified decora⯑tions. The Aſſembly conſiſted of men, who appeared to me equally remarkable for keenneſs of intellect and elegance of manners. The ſeat of pre eminence among them was filled by a perſon who poſſeſſed in a very uncommon degree theſe two valuable qualities, ſo happily conducive to medical utility and medical diſtinction. Though left a young orphan, without patrimony, and obliged to ſtrug⯑gle with early diſadvantages, he raiſed himſelf by meritorious exertion to the head of a profeſſion in which opulence is generally the juſt attendant on know⯑ledge and reputation. But neither opu⯑lence, nor his long intercourſe with ſickneſs and death, have hardened the native tenderneſs of his heart; and I had lately known him ſhed tears of regret [31] on the untimely fate of an amiable pa⯑tient, whom his conſummate ſkill and attention were unable to ſave.

Thus ſtrongly prepoſſeſſed in his fa⯑vour, I was delighted to obſerve that he was preparing to addreſs the Aſſembly in the moment we entered. My celeſtial Guides ſmiled on each other in perceiv⯑ing my ſatisfaction; and being placed by them inſtantaneouſly in a commodious ſituation, I heard the following diſcourſe, which the character I have deſcribed delivered with an eaſe and refined acute⯑neſs peculiar to himſelf, never raiſing his voice above the pitch of polite and ſpirited converſation:

"I am perſuaded, that every indivi⯑dual to whom I have now the happineſs of ſpeaking, will readily agree with me in this ſentiment, that we cannot poſſibly [32] do ourſelves more honour as a Fraternity than by conſidering HOWARD as an Aſſociate: aſſuredly, there is no claſs of men who may more juſtly preſume to cheriſh his name and character with a fraternal affection. In proportion as we are accuſtomed to contemplate, to pity, and to counteract, the ſufferings of Nature, the more are we enabled and inclined to eſtimate, to love, and to re⯑vere, a being ſo compaſſionate and bene⯑ficent. If Phyſicians are, what I once heard them called by a lively friend, the Soldiers of Humanity, engaged in a per⯑petual, and too often, alas! unſucceſsful conflict againſt the enemies of life; HOWARD is not only entitled to high rank in our corps, but he is the very Caeſar of this hard, this perilous, and, let me add, this moſt honourable war⯑fare. [33] Perhaps the ambition of the great Roman Commander, inſatiate and ſan⯑guinary as it was, did not contribute more to the torment and deſtruction of the human race, than the charity of the Engliſh Philanthropiſt has contributed to its relief and preſervation. Of this we are very certain, the ſplendid and inde⯑fatigable Hero of Slaughter and Vain⯑glory did not traverſe a more extenſive field, nor expoſe himſelf more cou⯑rageouſly to perſonal danger, than our meek and unoſtentatious Hero of Medical Benevolence. In point of true magnanimity, I apprehend the ſpirit of Caeſar would very willingly confeſs, that his own celebrated attempts to reduce Gaul and Britain were low and little atchievements, when compared to the unexampled efforts by which HOWARD [34] endeavoured to exterminate or ſubdue (thoſe enemies more terrific) the Gaol Fever, and the Plague.

"But leaving it to more able and elo⯑quent panegyriſts to celebrate the ori⯑ginality, the boldneſs, and all the various merit of his philanthropic exertions, I ſhall confine myſelf to a few remarks, and chiefly profeſſional ones, on his in⯑valuable character. It appears to me highly worthy of obſervation, that HOW⯑ARD, before he entered on his grand pro⯑jects of Public Benevolence, was ſub⯑ject to thoſe little, but depreſſive varia⯑tions of health which have betrayed many a valetudinarian into habits of inaction and inutility. Happily for him⯑ſelf, and for mankind, this excellent perſon ſurmounted a conſtitutional bias to indolence and retirement. The con⯑ſequence [35] was, he became a ſingular ex⯑ample of activity and vigour. His powers, and enjoyments of bodily and mental health, augmented in proportion to the extenſive utility of his purſuits.

"Beneficial as his life has been to the world, his memory may be ſtill more ſo. It may prove a perpetual bleſſing to mankind, if it diſſipates, as it ought to do, a weak and common prejudice, which often operates as a palſy upon the firſt idea of a great and generous under⯑taking. The prejudice I mean is a haſty perſuaſion, frequently found in the moſt amiable minds, that ſome peculiar ſtrength of nerve, ſome rare mechaniſm of frame, and extraordinary aſſemblage of mental powers, are abſolutely requi⯑ſite for the execution of any noble de⯑ſign. How greatly does it redound to [36] the true glory of HOWARD to have given in his ſucceſsful labours the fulleſt refu⯑tation of a prejudice, ſo inimical to the intereſt and the honour of human-na⯑ture! a prejudice, by whoſe influence, to uſe the words of our great Poet,

"The life and character of HOWARD, if they are juſtly conſidered, may not only annihilate this pernicious prejudice, but tend to eſtabliſh an oppoſite and con⯑ſolatory truth. His example may ſhew us, that ſome degrees of bodily weak⯑neſs and mental depreſſion may be moſt happily cured by active exertion in the [37] ſervice of mankind. Perhaps there ne⯑ver exiſted a more ſtriking proof how far a noble impulſe, communicated to the mind by a project of ex⯑tenſive Benevolence, may invigorate a frame not equal in health, ſtrength, and ſtature, to the common ſtandard of men. It is a prudential maxim of the celebra⯑ted Raleigh, that "Whoſoever will live altogether out of himſelf, and ſtudy other men's humours, ſhall never be un⯑fortunate;" a maxim, which the ex⯑ample of HOWARD might almoſt teach us to convert into a medical aphoriſm, by ſaying, "Whoſoever will live alto⯑gether out of himſelf, and conſult other men's wants, and calamities, ſhall never be unhealthy." It is delightful to thoſe, who deteſt the debaſing tenets of a ſelf⯑iſh philoſophy, to ſee the happy influence [38] of oppoſite ideas; to obſerve (what Phy⯑ſicians have frequent opportunities of obſerving), that as a ſelfiſh turn of mind often attracts and encreaſes the malig⯑nity of ſickneſs, ſo an unſelfiſh, a com⯑paſſionate ſpirit has a natural tendency to eſcape or ſubdue it. What can be more pleaſing to thoſe, who aſſert and eſteem the dignity of human-nature, than to ſee, that the having loſt all thoughts of ſelf, and having acted in direct oppoſition to ſelfiſh principles, has promoted even the perſonal advantage of a generous individual? From ſuch a ſeries of philanthropic labour and pe⯑ril, as a ſelfiſh and timid mind might eſteem it frenzy to encounter, HOWARD derived not only his unrivalled and im⯑mortal reputation, but the perfect reſ⯑toration of enfeebled health; not to [39] mention thoſe high gratifications of the heart and conſcience, which are ſuperior to all the enjoyments both of health and glory. With ſuch temperance in diet, that his daily food would appear to moſt people not ſufficient to ſupport the com⯑mon functions of life, he chearfully ſuſ⯑tained the hardſhips of long travel, through regions where travelling is moſt difficult and dangerous. With a figure, voice, and deportment, that ſeemed to preclude him from all perſonal influence and authority; and with no mental ac⯑quiſitions, except thoſe which are com⯑mon to every cultivated mind, he ſe⯑cured to himſelf not only univerſal ad⯑miration, but, I may venture to ſay, the juſt and moral idolatry of the world. So invigorating are projects of extenſive Beneficence! ſo powerful is the energy of Public Virtue!

[40]"Never, indeed, was the aſtoniſhing influence of plain and ſimple goodneſs more ſtrikingly diſplayed, than in the deference and reſpect which this private and meek individual received, not only from foreign and imperious Rulers of the Earth, but from hardened and atrocious wretches, on whom Juſtice herſelf could hardly make any mental impreſſion, though armed with all the ſplendour, and all the violence of power. Two particular examples of the influence I am ſpeaking of, I ſhall mention here, not only as honourable to the prime object of our regard, but as they may ſuggeſt to contemplative minds ſome uſeful ideas, by ſhewing how far the mere weight of an upright and benevolent character alone may give to the moſt callous nerves a trembling ſenſibility, and awaken the [41] moſt ferocious ſpirit to ſelf-correction.

"When our indefatigable Viſitor of priſons was in Ruſſia, he beheld, in pub⯑lic, the puniſhment of the knoot ſeverely adminiſtered by a ſtrong and ſtern execu⯑tioner.

"On the following day he waited on this man, to requeſt from him various information. The executioner attended him obſequiouſly; but this athletic ſa⯑vage, though trained to acts of cruelty, and conſcious he had a legal ſanction for the barbarous violence he had exerted, could not behold without ſhuddering the meek and gentle Miſſionary of Com⯑paſſion.

"The ſecond and more memorable example of his ſingular influence occur⯑red in a priſon of his own country, and relates to an outrageous female delin⯑quent. [42] A corrupt and ferocious woman is, perhaps, the moſt intractable fiend that human benevolence can attempt to reform; but even this difficulty the mild and and powerful character of HOWARD accompliſhed.

"In one of our Weſtern gaols, he found an unhappy female loaded with heavy irons: on his appearance ſhe en⯑treated him to obtain for her the re⯑moval of theſe galling fetters. Upon enquiry, he found that many endeavours had been made to keep this turbulent offender in proper ſubjection without the ſeverity of chains; but, after repeated promiſes of amendment on milder treat⯑ment, ſhe had obliged the keeper to have recourſe to this extreme by re⯑lapſing into the moſt flagrant and in⯑ſufferable contempt of decency and or⯑der. [43] Upon this information, HOWARD ſaid mildly to the unhappy criminal, "I wiſh to relieve you, but you put it out of my power; for I ſhould loſe all the little credit I have, if I exerted it for offenders ſo hardened and ſo turbu⯑lent." "I know," replied the intracta⯑ble delinquent, "I know that I have a proud and rebellious ſpirit; but if I give a promiſe to ſo good a man as you are, I can and I will command it." On this firm aſſurance of reformation, the benevolent HOWARD became a kind of furety for her future peaceable conduct on the removal of her irons; and he had the inexpreſſible delight to find, on his next viſit to the priſoners of this gaol, that the outrageous and ungovernable culprit, for whom he had ventured to anſwer, was become the moſt orderly among them.

[44]"I could wiſh, for the moral intereſt of mankind, that it were poſſible to ob⯑tain a minute account of the ſervices rendered to the calamitous ſpirit of ma⯑ny a forſaken individual by the ſingular charity of HOWARD. What could be more inſtructive than to obſerve how his Beneficence encreaſed by its exertion and ſucceſs; while his deſire of befriending the wretched became, as it were, the vital ſpirit that gave ſtrength and dura⯑tion to his own exiſtence!

"If we contemplate with pleaſure the ſingular re-eſtabliſhment of bodily health, which HOWARD derived from his active philanthropy; it may be ſtill more pleaſing to recollect, that it alſo afforded him an efficacious medicine for an afflicted mind. Perhaps it was to ſhew the full efficacy of this virtue in [45] all its luſtre, that Heaven allotted to this excellent perſonage a domeſtic calamity, which appears (to borrow an expreſſion from a great writer) 'of an unconſcion⯑able ſize to human ſtrength.'

"That capricious and deteſtable ſpi⯑rit of Detraction, which on Earth never fails to perſecute ſuperior Virtue, has not ſcrupled to aſſert that the affliction, to which I allude, was the mere conſe⯑quence of paternal auſterity. The Earth itſelf, though frequently accuſed of be⯑ing eager to receive ideas that may a baſe the eminent, could hardly admit a ca⯑lumny ſo groundleſs and irrational. In this purer ſpot it is utterly needleſs to prove the innocence of an exalted being, to whom we are only ſolicitous to pay that ſincere tribute of praiſe and vene⯑ration which we are conſcious he de⯑ſerves. [46] In truth, this admirable Cha⯑racter ſeemed to illuſtrate the philoſo⯑phical maxim, that mildneſs is the proper companion of true magnanimity. He had a gentleneſs of manners, that was peculiar to himſelf; and, inſtead of poſ⯑ſeſſing ſuch imperious ſeverity of ſpirit as might produce the calamity I allude to, he was really endued with ſuch native tenderneſs of heart as muſt have ſunk under it, had he not found in the un⯑exampled ſervices that he rendered to the world, an antidote to the poiſon of domeſtic infelicity. It is among the moſt gracious ordinances of Providence, that man is ſure to find the moſt power⯑ful relief for his own particular afflic⯑tions, in his endeavours to alleviate the ſufferings of others. And permit me to add, it is this beneficent law of our na⯑ture, [47] that gives a peculiar charm and dignity to the Medical Profeſſion; a profeſſion ſingularly endeared to the af⯑fectionate HOWARD! not only as its compaſſionate and active ſpirit was the guide of his purſuits, but as one of its prime ornaments was his favourite aſſo⯑ciate and his boſom-friend. If different claſſes of men are to vie with each other, as it may certainly become them to do, in rendering various honours to this their matchleſs Benefactor; I hope we ſhall diſplay, with the moſt affectionate ſpirit, the deep intereſt that we ought to take in his glory. I think it very de⯑ſirable that every Phyſician ſhould poſ⯑ſeſs a Medal of HOWARD, not only to ſhew his veneration for the great Philan⯑thropiſt, but to derive perſonal advantage from ſuch a mental Amulet, if I may [48] hazard the expreſſion. Moſt of us, in the exerciſe of Medicine, feel at particu⯑lar moments that our ſpirits are too ſen⯑ſibly affected by the objects we ſurvey; that ſcenes of miſery and infection de⯑preſs and alarm: at ſuch a time how might it rekindle the energy of our minds to contemplate a little effigy of HOW⯑ARD! to recollect, that all the trouble and danger that we encounter, in the practice of a lucrative profeſſion, are trifling in the extreme, when compared to the labour and the peril, which this wonderful man moſt willingly took upon himſelf, without looking forward to any reward but the approbation of Heaven!

"I mention not a Medal as a new idea—it has been already in contempla⯑tion; and a motto for it ſuggeſted, which applies with ſuch ſingular force and pro⯑priety [49] to the perſon whom it is deſign⯑ed to commemorate, that perhaps the wide range of claſſical literature could not afford another paſſage ſo ſtrikingly appoſite to a character ſo extraordinary—

"I muſt confeſs, however, that I wiſh for another, which may ſeem to bind him more cloſely to us in a medical point of view. But it is time to leave the different members of our Fraternity at full liberty to propoſe any marks of diſtinction that they wiſh to ſuggeſt.— It is ſufficient for me to have reminded you of a truth, which I am confident we all equally feel, that, while we juſtly conſider ourſelves as ſtudents in the ex⯑tenſive [50] ſchool of Humanity, it becomes us to look up to HOWARD, with a laud⯑able veneration, as the Prince and Patron of our Order."

On the concluſion of this diſcourſe, my Guides immediately conducted me, with their former celerity and kindneſs, to the only remaining Structure. It was the moſt extenſive, and, from the hal⯑lowed majeſty of its appearance, the moſt admirable of the three. In ap⯑proaching it, I pauſed a moment in awe⯑ful ſurpriſe at the ſolemnity of the fa⯑brick: the moſt lovely and communica⯑tive of my two aetherial conductors ſmiled upon me, and ſaid, "You will find here Miniſters of GOD from every Chriſtian country; but only thoſe who conſider Evangelical Charity as the eſ⯑ſence [51] of true Religion, and who are diſ⯑poſed to honour, in the favourite object of your veneration, the moſt ſignal ex⯑ample of that virtue, which the preſent age has beheld." "I hope then," I eagerly replied, "I ſhall have the de⯑light of hearing, on this occaſion, the moſt eloquent of our Engliſh Biſhops." On this exclamation, my kind informer regarded me with that lively and ſooth⯑ing air with which intelligent Benevo⯑lence corrects miſtaken ſimplicity, and thus continued to inſtruct me with uni⯑ted vivacity and tenderneſs.

"Earthly diſtinctions, you know, are of little moment in the ſight of Heaven. You will hear no Prelate; and perhaps you may feel ſurpriſed and indignant, when you obſerve how very few of your Mitred Countrymen are to be ſeen in this [52] Aſſembly; but you will not retain in this hallowed ſpot that moſt common of human infirmities, a tendency to cen⯑ſure or to ſuſpicion. You will recollect that this Convocation contains only thoſe charitable men, who are peculiarly diſ⯑poſed to honour your recent model of this Chriſtian virtue. Other good men may exiſt, who, from motives of innocent miſtake, or of mere inadvertency, may fail to exhibit that animated regard to his exemplary character, which aſſuredly it has merited from all men, and which the Miniſters of Religion may moſt properly diſplay.

"One of theſe," continued my Di⯑rector, "you are now going to hear; not, indeed, a Dignitary of your Church, yet a Divine of Talents, Learning, and Charity. He was led, by a laudable [53] warmth of heart, to ſuggeſt to your Country the firſt idea of paying a pub⯑lic tribute of veneration to the ſignal virtue of HOWARD; and has acquired from this circumſtance a title to com⯑memorate here the merit, to which he was eager to render ſuch early juſtice on earth. But it is time for us to attend him."

We immediately entered the temple; and I beheld an Eccleſiaſtic riſing at that moment to addreſs a very numerous Aſ⯑ſembly of his order, that ſeemed to con⯑tain Chriſtians of every ſect, and Mi⯑niſters of every degree. The perſon preparing to ſpeak was diſtinguiſhed by a majeſtic comelineſs of perſon, though he appeared to have paſſed the middle age of life; and with a powerful elocu⯑tion he delivered the following diſcourſe.

[74]IN the moment that this benevolent Divine concluded his addreſs to his at⯑tentive brethren, my kind and vigilant Guides removed me from the temple.— I was now led into a ſcene entirely dif⯑ferent from thoſe we left. It was an open and verdant plain, with a few ele⯑vations in the ground, that afforded ad⯑vantageous views of the whole extenſive ſpot. Here, inſtead of beholding the Miniſters of Peace, I found myſelf en⯑circled by the multitudinous votaries of War. It appeared to me that all the military and all the naval ſervants of our country were collected together, and each different diviſion of theſe well-ap⯑pointed and well-looking men, that formed a pleaſing ſpectacle alone, was [75] attended by a crowd of miſcellaneous ſpectators, more numerous than itſelf: yet in all this immenſe multitude there was no ſign of tumult or confuſion. They were ranged in ſuch a manner as to form a wide circular area in the midſt of them. I was ſtationed on a little eminence within this area; and in the ſame vacant ſpace I beheld a party of veteran Commanders, both Military and Naval, who ſeemed to have been conferring together, but ſeparated by the direction of my aetherial Conductors, to addreſs, in different parts of this ex⯑tenſive field, the different companies aſ⯑ſigned to their care. What they re⯑ſpectively ſaid in their ſeparate depart⯑ments I was unable to diſcover, as I only heard diſtinctly one gallant Veteran, whoſe character was particularly dear to [76] me. This conſummate officer has raiſed himſelf by merit alone from the hum⯑bleſt rank of military life to a ſtation of the higheſt honour and truſt. His mo⯑deſty is as ſingular as his fortune: paſſing cloſe to me, with a gracious ſalutation, he approached a very fine orderly corps of foot, who looked up to him with a ſort of filial reſpect, while he ſpoke to them the few following words:

"As bravery and compaſſion are the characteriſtics of good Soldiers, you cannot want, my friends, any long ex⯑hortation from me to honour the me⯑mory of HOWARD; the moſt reſolute and the moſt compaſſionate man that has lived in our time. Though he was not of our profeſſion, as his life was de⯑voted to mitigate the united horrors of [77] captivity and ſickneſs, thoſe worſt of ene⯑mies to the ſpirit of a ſoldier, you will undoubtedly feel that he has a peculiar claim to our moſt grateful and generous regard."

This ſpeech was followed by a burſt of acclamation from thoſe to whom it was particularly addreſſed. Similar ſhouts of applauſe reſounded from dif⯑ferent quarters of the ſpacious field, while our aetherial attendants, Gratitude and Admiration, who followed each ſpeaker at the cloſe of each addreſs to different diviſions of this innumerable aſſembly, diſplayed, to each diviſion in its turn, an extenſive ſketch of a ſimple but magnificent mauſoleum to the me⯑mory of HOWARD, in the form of an Engliſh lazaretto. On the firſt diſplay [78] of this ſtriking and worthy monument, the applauding multitude ſeemed to ex⯑ult in the proſpect of its completion. But I ſoon obſerved, to my inexpreſſible concern, that while Gratitude and Admi⯑ration were buſy in exciting the various ranks of the vaſt aſſembly, to accom⯑pliſh this favourite deſign, they were fol⯑lowed by two earthy fiends of a dark and malignant influence: theſe were De⯑traction and Indifference, who ſhed ſuch a chill and depreſſive miſt around them, that all the ardour of the Aſſembly ſeemed to ſink. Among the miſcella⯑neous crowds that were viſible between the diviſions of the martial hoſt, there ran a murmur of obloquy and deriſion againſt the pure object of public ve⯑neration. He was reviled as a whimſical Reformer, and a raſh Enthuſiaſt, who [79] had abſurdly ſacrificed his life in a vain and fantaſtic purſuit. This baſe ſpirit of calumnious malignity was not com⯑municated to any one diviſion of the martial multitude; but the univerſal zeal for the glory of HOWARD ſeemed to be almoſt annihilated; even Gratitude and Admiration appeared to grow faint in their darling purpoſe. During their lan⯑guor, they ſuffered their ſketch of the Mauſoleum to be gradually ſtolen from their hands, and to drop upon the ground. At this moment a ſudden and violent earthquake was felt through all the ex⯑tenſive ſcene. The centre of the vacant area opened—it threw forth a phantom terrific and enormous—its magnitude ſeemed to grow upon the ſight; its li⯑neaments were ſhrouded from our view by an immenſe mantle, on which were [80] repreſented a thouſand different and hi⯑deous images of Death. Its name was Contagion—it ruſhed forward with an indeſcribable movement. Diſmay and confuſion overwhelmed all that quarter of the crowded ſcene, that was particu⯑larly threatened by its firſt advance. The affrighted multitude rolled back like a tumultuous ſea. The horrid ſpectre ſtopt; and left a wide interval between itſelf and the retiring hoſt. A ray of heavenly light illumined the vacant ſpace. I fixed my eye on the brilliant ſpot, and ſoon beheld the meek and gentle form of HOWARD advancing, without fear or arrogance, towards the terrific Phantom. With an untrembling hand he ſeized the dark folds of its ex⯑tenſive mantle, and ſeemed animated with the hope of annihilating the Mon⯑ſter. [81] In the inſtant, a burſt of celeſtial ſplendor was ſpread over the gloomy plain. The Angel of Retribution de⯑ſcended; and ſnatching the conſummate Philanthropiſt to his boſom, he roſe again; while all the aſtoniſhed multi⯑tude, now reviving from their terror, gazed only on the celeſtial apparition; and heard the reaſcending Seraph thus addreſs the beneficent ſpirit now com⯑mitted to his care:

"Thou faithful ſervant of Heaven! thy hour of recompence is come. Juſtly haſt thou cautioned mankind not to im⯑pute thy conduct to raſhneſs or enthu⯑ſiaſm. Weak and wavering in their own purſuits of felicity, thou wilt not won⯑der to ſee them ſo in their ſenſe of thy [82] merit, and their zeal for thy honour: but I am commiſſioned to bear thee to that All-ſeeing Power, who can alone truly eſtimates and perfectly reward thy deſert. I know that the praiſe of beings, inferior to thy GOD, never influ⯑enced thy life; but the homage of good minds is grateful to the pureſt inhabit⯑ants of Heaven; and in departing from a world ſo much indebted to thy vir⯑tue, let it gratify thy perfect ſpirit to foreſee, that as long as the earth endures, the moſt enlightened of her ſons will remember and revere thee as one of her ſublimeſt benefactors."

As ſoon as the divine meſſenger had ceaſed to ſpeak, every voice in the re⯑animated multitude, that heard him, [83] raiſed a ſhout of benediction on the name of HOWARD. I ſtarted in tranſ⯑port at the ſound; and the effort that I made to join the univerſal acclamation terminated my viſion.

[84]PARDON me, thou gentleſt and moſt indulgent of Friends! that, con⯑ſcious as I am of the ſincerity with which thy pure mind ever wiſhed to avoid all exuberance of praiſe, I yet preſume to ſend into the world ſuch a tribute to thy virtues as thy humility might reject. Let the motives of the publication atone for all its defects!

This little work is made public, not from a vain expectation, or deſire, in the Writer to obtain any degree of literary diſtinction; for, if his wiſhes and en⯑deavours are ſucceſsful, the world will not know from what hand it proceeds.

Thou moſt revered object of my re⯑gard, who art loooking down, perhaps, with compaſſion on the petty labours of [85] various mortals, now trying to com⯑memorate thy merit, thou ſeeſt that I am influenced by no arrogant conceit of having praiſed with peculiar felicity the perfections that I ſo ardently admire. No! I am perfectly senſible, that the moſt worthy memorial of thy virtues will be found in thoſe pure records of thy pub⯑lic ſervices which thy own hand has given to the world with all the amiable and affecting ſimplicity that diſtinguiſhed thy character, and in the more compre⯑henſive compoſition of ſome accom⯑pliſhed Biographer, who may have op⯑portunities and ability to do juſtice to thy life.

The chief aim of theſe few and haſty pages is to recall, at this particular time, to the liberal ſpirits of our countrymen that generous ardour with which they [86] embraced the firſt idea of a public mo⯑nument to HOWARD. While the ex⯑pence and dignity of that monument are yet unſettled, a Writer may conſider himſelf as a friend to national honour, who endeavours to animate his country to the moſt extenſive diſplay of her mu⯑nificence, and her gratitude towards the pureſt public virtue. May the juſtly remember, that, to teſtify a fond mater⯑nal pride in ſuch a departed ſon, to manifeſt and perpetuate eſteem for ſuch a character, is, in truth, to promote the intereſt of genuine Patriotiſm, of ſublime Morality, and of perfect Religion!