The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-12-08
John Howo,pk.

Aefew~of HOward's characteristics nav
be mentioned. He was naturally some
wat ola naughty temperament, plain
/, and shj0pt in his manners, often appa-
.rentlySharsh,-bu under this exterior was
sAsheart as tender as a child's-like the
eider-doSn on the eagles breast. With
-hpsecond and darling wife ne stipulated,
previous 20 marriage, that in all matters in
which there should be difference of opin-
SION between them, his voice should be the
rule. Peiiy tyrants quaiied before an eye
as stern as it was mild. He spoke out as
as boldly TO the king under the giIded roof
OF the palace as to the goaler in the loalh-
some cell. The imperious Catherine Of
Russia invited him, when in St. Peters
burg, TO Court: He told the courtiers who
waited on him thar he had devoted him.
self to the task of visiting the dungeon Of
the captive and the abode of the wretched,
not the palaces and courts OF kings and
expresses, and that that the limited time at
his disposal would not permit his calling
on her imperial majesty He peremtorily
refused to meet the Austrian Emperor un-
less the seryile custom of approaching the
sovereign on Bonded knees was, in dis case,
Z. ,d,spsssssa with. The unfortunate Pope
Plus vi. earnestly requested an interview,
o. which the stern Puritan and Republican
would only consent to, on the condition
that the absurd mark of homage, kissing
the foot, and, indeed every other species Of
ceremony, should be dispensed with. At
parting, the venerable pontif' laid his hand
upon the head Of The hereto, saying, good
humoredIy, | know you Englishmen care
nothing for these Things, but The blessing OF
an old man can do you no HARM His coun-
tenanee inspired respect and awe. la one
Of the military prisons in London, an alarm
ing riot took place; the infatuated prisoners,
two hundred in number, broke loose, killed
two Of their keepers, and committed other
excuses. Having obtained possession of
the building, no one dared to approach
them. Unarmed and alone, Howard en-
tered the prison, charmed the savage pas
sions OF the furious mutineers into sUbmis-
sion, and they suffered themselves TO be
quietly conducted back to their cells
Cleanliness and temperance, he was wont
to say, were his preservadves against con.
tagious diseases. He ate no flesh, drank
no wine or spirits, bathed in cold water
daily-ate little, and that at fixed intervals;
retired to bed early, and was an early riser.
Trusting in Divine Providence he says,
and believing myself in the way Of my
duty, visit the most noxious cells, and
while thus employed | fear no evil
Mr.. Dixon is practised writer, and
despite few blemishes, there are few who
could have accomplished his task with
greater satisfaction to those who are interes-
ted in prison reform. He has made prison
discipline his study, and though an advo.
cate Of some of what are called benevolent
cTotches' Of the DAY, the results OF his re-
searches are valuable TO all. The chief
defect Of the work is an appearance in GER
tain portions Of afectation and egotism,-
a strsining to make mountains out Of mole
hills. All, however, who revere the mem.
ory OF Howard, should either read or be-
come possessed Of the volume, for valuable
as is DR.. Atkins sketch, it is incomplete,
and affords but scanty information on many
important points. The remainder of Our
space We devote to extracts:
MARsHALsEA PRISON AT THE BIRTH OF
HOWARD.
"In the Marshalsea, debtors and pirates
were confined; the former generally OF the
poorer classes--many of them common
sailors. The goal was under the charge Of
the Deputy-marshsl Of the Malshalsea Of
the Kings household-an officer, who, in
defiance of the express prohibition Of the
deed constituting him governor, farmed out
the fees. victualing and lodgings Of his
prisoners to various parties, from whom he
received ample considerations. Thus the
corruption began at the very source. The
inferior officers were only too ready TO fol-
low the example set before them. When
q person was sent in-and bis commit
ment might be for debt OF single shil.
ling increased to forty by legal expenses
be had first Of all to pay garn.sh, in the
shape Of bowl Of punch for his compan-
ions. II, as was often the case, the new
conner had no money wherewith to buy his
freedom of the goal, he was stripped. in a
riotous and disgraceful manner, OF the great. |
er part Of his scanty clothes, which were
sold or pledged to pay for the bumper
Next, he had TO make his selection of a |
side OF the goal-namely, the masters side,
where he would have to pay the most exor. |
bitant prices for his bedding, food and drink, |
or the common side, where he would have
to- fare as he could, on the occasional and
utterly inadequate supplies Of such charity
ss the copidity Of the officials might suffer
TO be applied to their legitimate purposes.
Out Of the persons confined on the masters
side the profits Of the establishment were
chiefly made; but il is not to be supposed
that they were we'll treated on that account.
On the contrary, the fact of their being
eble 70 pay for socommodstion, pointed |
hem out to the wardens a. the best sub
- f. - sksscissr their peculiar arts. |,