granted to him in the spring of 1765. But his happiness was soon dashed to the ground, for four days later Mrs. Howard, who till then had seemed to be going on well, suddenly passed away in her husband's arms. In the family register Howard himself has recorded his sad loss as follows:

"John, my son, was born about four o'clock, March 27, 1765. Sabbath evening, March 31, 1765, died the dear mother. Unaffected piety, meekness, and goodness ran through her whole life. O God, sanctify the dear memorial! Thy grace imparting the same temper and mind; that we both, by Thine unbounded goodness, in and through Jesus Christ, may be followers of her faith and patience, and be for ever with the Lord. O glorious day!" 1

CHAPTER III

LIFE, FROM THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE TO HOWARD'S

APPOINTMENT AS HIGH SHERIFF OF BEDFORD

Life at Cardington-A wholesome Despotism-Kindly Relations with his Tenants-Foreign Travel-Letters from Abroad Ascent of Vesuvius-Return Home-Trouble among the Congregationalists-Howard's SundaysHis Treatment of his Son.

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FTER the death of his wife, Howard, whose health was not robust, continued to reside quietly at Cardington, finding his recreation in his meteorological observations, and in registering the temperature; and his serious occupation in the improvement of his estate, and earnest endeavours to better the condition of his tenants. He was a sanitary reformer and an educationalist, in days when neither sanitary reform nor education were of much account. The village of Cardington lies low, and many of the cottages on his estate were damp and unhealthy. Accordingly, new and improved ones erected, each with a small garden attached; and these were still let at the original low rent. Schools of a somewhat primitive character were started, and maintained by his liberality till the end of his life. The greatest pains were taken to find employment for the tenants; and stringent rules were laid down for their conduct. They must avoid the public-house, and eschew all such amusements as their landlord disapproved of. They must attend public worship either at Church or at Chapel; and in order to facilitate matters, one of his own cottages was fitted up as a meeting-house, where from time to time dissenting ministers would conduct service. Whig though he was in politics, Howard was a believer in a wholesome despotism; and in order to secure full power to remove any who failed to conform to his regulations, he only admitted persons to his cottages as tenants at will.

In all his efforts for the benefit of the poor, Howard had the warm support of his neighbour, Mr. Samuel Whitbread, lord of the manor at Cardington, and owner of a considerable property there. Mr. Whitbread was a connection of the Leeds family, and, through his wife, Howard claimed to be his cousin. A close friendship sprang up, not only between the two men, but also between Howard and Lady Mary Whitbread, a daughter of Lord Cornwallis, who was

married to his friend in 1769. Happily a considerable number of his letters to them both have been preserved, which materially add to our knowledge of his life and character. His correspondence with Mr. Whitbread is largely concerned with business details, which show the happy relations existing between the two neighbours, and their earnest solicitude for the welfare of their tenants, so that we can easily believe the statement of a contemporary, that, as the result of their efforts, "Cardington, which seemed at one time to contain the abodes of poverty and wretchedness, soon became one of the neatest villages in the kingdom"; and the following description of Howard's kindly relations with his tenants is worth citing:

"He would visit the farmers, his own tenants especially, and converse with them in the most affable manner. He also visited the poor, sat down in their cottages, and generally ate an apple while he talked with them. Even the schoolboys, whenever they had an opportunity, would place themselves in his way; for he never failed to speak kindly to them, and to give each of them a halfpenny, if he had enough in his pocket to supply them, invariably concluding his advice by telling them to be good children, and to wash their hands and faces. To the cottagers he was also very particular, in requesting them to keep their houses clean; especially recommending that the rooms should be swilled, and he had sinks made in them for that purpose. He not only gave away the milk of his dairy, which was not used in his house; but sent it round to the poor, that they might not lose their time in coming for it." 1

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This quiet life of unassuming benevolence lasted for some years, residence at Cardington being broken from time to time by visits to various watering-places, such as Bath or Bristol Hot wells a favourite resort of Howard's-and by two or three tours abroad, undertaken partly for pleasure, and partly for the benefit of his health. In 1767 he made short tour in Holland with his brother-in-law, Edward Leeds; and two years later a longer journey was undertaken, and the best part of two years was spent by him upon the Continent. The course of his travels was somewhat erratic. Starting through France he visited Geneva, where he spent some weeks. From thence he proceeded to Milan and Turin, with the intention of spending the winter at Rome and Naples. Conscientious scruples, however, arose in his mind, which he thus records in his journal.

"My return without seeing the southern parts of Italy was after much deliberation. I feared 1 Brown's Life, p. 107.