Several instances have been already given of individuals endeavouring to alleviate the calamities arising from the resentment of inexorable creditors, by the discharge of the debts which excited it. Every possible praise is certainly due to those philanthropists; nor is the Society just mentioned less deserving of the thanks of the community; but their's is an Herculean labour, and a sum equal to the revenues of a state would be little more than sufficient to accomplish the release of all entitled to commiseration. Impressed with similar sentiments, John Howard, esq. determined to explore the various prisons in England, and indeed throughout Europe, not so much with a view to discharge captives, as to render them the most essential service while such, by exposing their unwarranted sufferings, inflicted in defiance of the dictates of humanity, and even contrary to law. His labours in this pursuit, his disregard of opposition, his manly reprobation of oppression to the oppressor, disdain of personal danger from vindictive revenge and disease, his death, and the honours decreed him by public bodies and public gratitude, are all fresh in the memories of my readers: I shall therefore merely quote his own words in explanation of his intentions, when they were perhaps not fully developed to himself. "To the Publisher of the London Chronicle. _Cardington, March 6, 1774._ "Mr. WILKIE, "The account I gave before the House of the state of Gaols being somewhat misrepresented in the papers, I must beg the favour in your next to set it right. "I am, Sir, &c. JOHN HOWARD. "I informed the House that I had travelled and seen 38 out of the 42 gaols in the Lent circuit, besides others, as Bristol, Ely, Litchfield, &c.: that those I had not seen in the circuit, in a few days I should set out to visit them: that I released a person out of Norwich City gaol, who had been confined five weeks for the gaoler's fee of 13_s._ 4_d._: that at Launceston the keeper, deputy keeper, and ten out of eleven prisoners, lay ill of the gaol distemper; at Monmouth, last Wednesday se'night, the keeper lay dangerously ill, and three of the prisoners were ill; at Oxford, eleven died last year of the small-pox. "That as to fees, those in the Western counties were highest, as at Dorchester, 1_l._ 3_s._ 9_d._ Winchester, 1_l._ 7_s._ 4_d._ Salisbury, 1_l._ 6_s._ 4_d._: but in the county of York only 9_s._