Character of Mr. Howard *, froma 
View of the Character and Putilic 
Service of John Howard, Esq. 
LE. D. iF. RS. Fc. by John 
‘ Aikin, M.D. 
WAR. HOWARD possessed the 
rare quality of being able, for 
any length of ‘time, to bend all the 
~powers and faculties of his mind ‘to 
-one puint, unseduced by every al- 
durement’ which curiosity or any 
other affection ‘might throw in his 
‘way, and unsusceptible of that sa- 
itiety and disgust which are so apt 
to steal upon a protracted pursuit. 
Though by his early travels he had 
sshewu himself not indifferent to 
-those objects of tasteand information 
‘which strike the cultivated mind in 
va foreign country, yet in the tours 
expressly for the purpose of examin- 
‘ing prisons and hospitals, he appears 
‘to have had eyes and ears for no- 
thing else; at least he suffered no 
other object .to detain ‘him or draw 
thim aside}. Impressed with the 
‘idea of the importance of his designs, 
and the uncertainty of human life, 
-he was impatient to get as much 
~done as possible within the allotted 
limits:—and in this disposition con- 
sisted that enthusiasm by which the 
CHARACTERS.” 
ti Gaobters 
+ 2athaeys 
rviethit 
| 3 ' Tai Osi 
‘public supposed him actuated; «for 
otherwise, his cool and steady temper 
gave no idea of the character usually 
distinguished by that appellation. 
He followed his plans, indeed, with 
wonderful vigour and constancy, but 
by no means with that heat and éa- 
gerness, that inflamed and exalted 
dmagination, which denote the én- 
thusiast.. Hence he was not liableto 
catch at partial representations, ito. 
‘view facts through. fallacious medi- 
ums, and to fall into those: mistakes 
which are so ‘frequent in there- 
isearches ofthe man of fancy»and 
warm feeling. Some persons, who 
only knew him. by his extraordinary 
actions, were ready enough’to bestow 
‘upon him that sneer of contempt, 
which men of cold beartsand selfish 
dispositions are so apt ‘to ‘apply to 
whatever has the shew of high sen- 
sibility; while: others, who had a 
sslight acquaintance with him, and 
saw occasional features of phlegm, 
and perhaps harshness, were dispos- 
‘ed to question his feeling altogether, 
and to attribute his exertions either 
merely to a sense of duty, or tov-ha- 
bit and humour. But both these 
were efroneous conclusions. He 
felt'as a man should feel; but not so 
as to mislead him, either in the esti- 
ve 
* For an account of his life and death, we must refer our readers to our Register 
for 1790, vol. xxxii. p. 12. 
+ He mentioned being once prevailed upon in Italy to go and hear some extra- 
ordinary fine music; but finding his thoughts too much occupied by it, he would 
never repeat the indulgence. 
mate 
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