boy was never allowed to run wild. Careful vision was made for his training and educa■; and a review of the dates of the father's eral journeys suggests that he often timed m so as to be at home for the holidays, and

he was anxious, when possible, to remain Cardington, until his son was safely despatched in to school.

Ve can well believe that the childhood of ng Howard, like that of many another motherboy, with a father immersed in occupations ch perpetually took him away from home, st have been a lonely one. But there is no = of reason to imagine that it was rendered happy by any lack of natural affection, or at of proper care on the part of the surviving

CHAPTER IV

HOWARD'S EARLY INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE

CONDITION OF PRISONS

Appointed High Sheriff of Bedford-Discoveries as to Trea ment of Prisoners-Practical Efforts to remove Har ships-A New Career-Burke's Panegyric - Cowpe Lines on Howard-Method of Travelling-Proceedings Parliament-Howard before the House of CommonsA new Subject of Inquiry-Howard a Candidate f Parliament-Foreign Tours-Attempts to gain Admi sion to the Bastile-Letter from Abroad-Further Tou -Howard at Warrington-Publication of The State Prisons-Description of the Work.

S

O far there has been nothing remarkable
Howard's life. His desire has been to

"S

down at home in peace," and to lead a "comfor able, useful, and honourable life." He realise his duty as a landlord far better than the grea majority of country squires of his day, but tha was all. He was now in his forty-sixth year, an there seemed every prospect that he would sett down permanently to a quiet life at Cardingto

al discipline over his tenants, chatting with n and eating apples at their doors, with no her ambition, and no desire to make himself ul on a larger scale. That which completely nged the character of his life was his experience High Sheriff of the County of Bedford. To this e he was appointed in 1773. It will be rembered that he was a dissenter, and thus, by provisions of the Test Act, was liable to severe alties if he failed to qualify by receiving Holy amunion, according to the order of the Church ngland. He had regularly attended his parish rch during his wife's lifetime, and his relas with the Vicar of Cardington were always the most friendly character, but there is no lence that he had ever received the Holy mmunion; and he was certainly the last man 'eceive it merely as a qualification for a civil e. Happily the law was not very vigorously orced. No notice was taken of his failure comply with its provisions, and he served his r of office without any objection being raised im.

Jp till this time Howard had never shown any cial interest in the condition of prisoners cond in gaol, nor was he more familiar with the