1797-4 
To the Editor of ithe Monthly Magazine, 
. $IR, 
T TRUST it will not be long before a fe- 
cond edition is called for, of that truly 
valuable and interefting publication, Dr. 
Aikin’s Life of the ApMIRABLE How- 
ARD. Inthe mean time, I beg leave to 
commit to your Monthly Repofitory the 
following particulars, relative to a cha- 
raéter whofe ardent philanthropy has . 
juftly placed him in the firft rank of 
thofe worthies, celebrated as the benc- 
factors of mankind. In the winter pre- 
ceding the clofe of the American war, 
this exalted man vifited Shrewfbury, 
where at that time the crews of feveral 
Dutch privateers were confined, as pri- 
foners of war. Upon infpecting their 
prifon, he found thefe men fuffering fe- 
verely in extreme cold weather, for want 
of comfortable clothing. My having at 
that time the conduét of a fubfcription 
fet on foot for their relief, procured me 
the honour of a vifit from Mr. Howard, 
whofe fpirited interpofition removed 
fome difficulties that occurred, refpeéling 
accefs to the prifon, for the purpofe of dif- 
tributing the clothing provided. His hu- 
manity was not of that {purious kind 
which evaporates in fentimental emo- 
tions. With that confiftency that mark- 
ed his charaéter, he requefted that he 
might be allowed to depofit ten guineas 
' in aid of the fubfcription for the relief 
of thefe prifoners, and that if a fecond 
colieétion was found wanting, I would 
apply to him again. Among thofe men to 
whom his liberality was thus extended, 
was an individual of a very fingular cha- 
yaéter for a common failor. He was ex- 
tremely tender and attentive to thofe of 
his fellow captives who were ill; fat up 
with them, adminiftered their medicines, 
prayed by them, and in a very rational 
manner performed the office of a fpiritual 
phyfician. It will not be thought fur- 
prizing, that Mr. Howard fhould be much 
ftruck with the conduét and converfation 
ef fuch a—kindred foul; nor that he 
fhould feel a particular inclination to ad- 
minifter to his comfort during his tem- 
porary confinement. And the mannerin 
~which he did this, furnifhed a ftriking 
“trait of that minute and delicate atten- 
tion, which, to the feeling mind, is even 
more valuable than the relief itfelf. The 
-modeft prifoner, in anfwer to his en- 
Rent? told him, that when the necef- 
ities of his fellow-fufferers were provided 
for, he fhould feel no want, nor regret 
the deprivation of thofe little indulgen- 
Monrury Mac. XXIV. 
Anecdotes of Mr. foward. | 339 
cies he could not expe in his prefent 
fituation. rat 
Mr. Howard, however, at length drew 
from him, that when he was at home, 
his greateft enjoyment was to partake of 
a comfortable difh of tea with his wife 
and children. About a week after this 
vifit, I received a letter from Mr. How- 
ard, to inform me that he had configned 
a fmall parcel to my care, which he re- 
quefted I would deliver to this prifoner, 
That parcel contained a fmall fugar-loaf, 
a pound of tea; and, that nothing might 
be wanting, a tin tea-kettle, with the 
other neceflary apparatus. 
But my principal object in this com- 
munication, is to do away a moft abfurd 
and groundlefs calumny, which the pen 
of malice has attempted to faften upon 
this excellent man :—He has been accufed 
of churlifh ill-nature to his family, and 
particularly of wanton feverity to his only 
-fon. Introduced to him in the favour- 
able light of an almoner to thefe poor 
prifoners, I was honoured witha peculiar 
manifeftation of attachment; and, in the 
courfe of an evening’s converfation 
(which I fhall never forget) he entered 
into a detail of that part of his hiftory, 
which included the circumftances that 
led him to that purfuit which he never 
afterwards abandoned ; but perfevered in, 
with godlike ardour, to the laft period of 
his glorious career. He informed me, 
that.ic was the death of a wife, whom he 
tenderly loved—and when he told me 
this, his gufhing tears manifefted the 
pang which the recolleétion gave him— 
that induced him to devote himfelf fo 
entirely to this employment as, a relief 
under fo fevere a domeftic affli€tion. He 
faid, fhe had left him a fon, whom he'ten- 
derly loved, as the only remaining pledge 
of her affetion ; and who was farther en~ 
deared to,him by his perfonal refemblance 
to the amiabie companion he had loft. 
He {poke of this fon with an ardour of 
parental affection, oppofite in the ex-’ 
treme to that cold, unfeeling feverity, of 
which he has been moft falfely and moft 
foully accufed. It was in thefe moments 
of unreferved confidence, that the foul of 
Howard fhone forth in all her native 
luftre. . To have feen him at fueh a fea- 
fon, and to have heard him on fuch a 
fubjeét, would have convinced the moft 
incredulous, that this calumny is the 
offspring of that deteftable malignity, 
which delights in traducing the noblett 
charaéters, and degrading human nature 
itfelf, as unequal to thofe exalted feelings, 
Yoy and 

