JOHN IIOWARb, ESQ. 
409 
a more constant attendance of clergymen. The jailors, likewise, have 
by act of parliament been rendered incapable of selling strong liquors, 
•which had been the source of much drunkenness and disorder. But 
for a minute detail of particulars^ the reader is referred to Mr. How- 
ard’s publications, which shew that much is yet wanting. 
With a view to a more general and happy regulation, and the refor- 
mation of criminals, he resolved to visit other countries, in hopes of 
collecting some information which might be useful in his own. For 
this purpose he travelled into France, Flanders, Holland, Germany, 
Switzerland, Prussia, and Austria, and visited Copenhagen, Stock- 
holm, Petersburg, Warsaw, and some cities in Portugal and Spain. 
In all these expensive and hazardous journeys, he denied himself the 
usual gratifications of travellers, and declined the honours offered him 
by persons of the first distinction, applying himself solely to his grand 
object. To him the inspection of a jail or hospital was more grateful 
than all the entertainments of a palace. With what astonishment and 
gratitude he was received by their miserable inhabitants, might be 
easily imagined, since, while he made observations on their situations, 
he meditated their relief; and many distressed prisoners abroad, as 
well as at home, partook of his bounty, and some were liberated by 
it ; for he considered all, of every nation, and people, and tongue, as 
brethren. Nor was he sparing of advice, or of reproof, as he saw 
occasion, to persons of rank and influence, whereby the miseries of 
their countrymen might be relieved. As he courted the favour of 
none, neither did he fear the frowns of any ; but, with a manly free- 
dom, and a Christian fortitude, spoke his mind to crowned heads, 
particularly to the emperor Joseph H. in a manner to which they were 
not accustomed ; which, however, in a person of disinterested views, 
procured him esteem, and in some instances proved effectual in reliev- 
ing the miserable and oppressed. 
On his return, he published in 1777, “The State of Prisons in 
England and Wales, with Preliminary Observations, and an Account 
of some Foreign Prisons,” 4to. ; and in 1778, he took a third journey 
through the Prussian and Austrian dominions, and the free cities of 
Germany and Italy. The observations made in this tour were pub- 
lished in 1780, with remarks respecting the management of prisoners 
of war, and the hulks on the Thames. In 1781 he again revisited 
Holland, some cities in Germany, and the capitals of Denmark, Swe- 
den, Russia, and Poland ; and in 1783 some cities in Portugal 
and Spain, and returned through France, Flanders, and Holland. The 
substance of all these travels were afterwards thrown into one narra- 
tive, published in 1784. He also published a curious account of the 
nfamous Bastile, 8vo. (so soon afterwards levelled to the ground.) He 
next visited the lazarettos of France and Italy, to obtain information con- 
cerning the best methods to prevent the spreading of the plggucr He 
then proceeded to Smyrnaand Constantinople, where that most dreadful 
of human distempers prevailed, pleasing himself with the ideaof not only 
, lea.rning, hut being able to communicate, somewhat to the inhabitants of 
those distant regions. “ In the execution of this design, though he 
was so much exposed to danger, and actually caught the plague, 
that merciful Providence,” he remarks, “which had hitherto preserved 
F 
