ministering generally to the comfort and convenience of life. How comprehensive and sublime is the rich imagery of some of the original tongues in the earlier ages of the world! Dear Sir, LETTER CLX. From the same. Portland-place, Oct. 8, 1811. I thank you for your last letter. One of the good offices, or rather duties of humanity, which least comes within the compass of the powers of your correspondent W. is that of personally visiting the interior of places of confined foul air, such as is too often the semi-infectious state of such dungeons, called prisons, as Castle Rushen. To encounter such super-patriotic and extra-philanthropic toils, is within the powers of a meritorious few, Howards and Neilds, whose physical systems have either originally been nerved for it by the Great Creative Author of life and breath, and all things,or who have by an eminent degree of self-government brought themselves to bear the trying task. To a marvellous and meritorious Neild must be yielded the palm of victory, over perils which would appal ordinary minds, and that higher victory over himself. I know not a more exalted instance of a selfdenying philanthropist. I rank Neild higher in my estimation than Howard; though where each are valuable, comparative estimate should give place to united panegyric. You would not, dear Sir, prescribe to our estimable friend Neild a voyage and visit to Castle Rushen in the winter; perhaps you would rather recommend it as a summer attempt; but of this Mr. Neild himself is the best judge; his own health, feelings, avocations. But though I cannot accompany (and in truth it would be with me almost a question in my present immersion in a sea of business, whether I should not abandon a greater duty by going, than acquit a duty in the enterprise), I can contribute my aid to the relief of any destitute prisoner in Castle Rushen, should there be another such fellow mortal incarcerated there, without food or friend, or even hope, as the poor forgotten famished victim whom you described with so much impression. I hope the intention of awakening the Manks to this subject, through the medium of their own Insular newspaper, will not be declined or delayed. Dear Sir, Did Post: I am, Your obedient humble servant, you read this joke in yesterday's Morning "A well known miser, not having given an entertainment during a summer, and his ice-house remaining still quite full in the month of January, his steward asked him what he should do with all 6 the ice? Why,' replied Mr. B, let it be given to the poor'!" Dear Sir, LETTER CLXI. From the same. Portland-place, Feb. 16, 1814. It is to be deplored that the new charities have a tendency, in some respects, to impair the interests of the old ones; so that there is peril of pulling down with one hand, while we build up with the other. This is an age favourable to novelties, from the eager curiosity and quick intelligence of the times. Experiment itself is the road to science and to knowledge; and there is an active thirst for experiment. This eager zeal for discovery, and especially for endeavours to do good to mankind, is apt to stimulate the more ardent friends of humanity to begin without looking forward to the end; to incur debt, and draw largely upon Hope, which, however laudable in its speculative trust, is not in plain fact and in practice always permanently safe. Thus new and generous founders leave to their successors a laborious toil, to raise resources for perpetuating their institutions; while the conflicting candidates for public patronage interrupt each other's progress, and weaken each other's powers of doing good. Your good correspondent, the late Mr. James Neild, is no more; I read of his death in the Daily Papers. Should so exemplary a disciple of the exemplary Howard be only mourned in silence? In very truth, without diminishing the merit of Howard, Neild may be said to have been "in labours more abundant." But you know the genius, the perseverance, the toils of the late James Neild, "the Visitor of Prisons." If a memorial of him is not placed near his predecessor Howard in the Cathedral of St. Paul's, some durable testimony of his services in the cause of the imprisoned, is probably in your contemplation, with his other intimate friends. I am, Dear Sir, Your faithful humble servant, D. P. WATTS. P. S. There has been recently at Christ's Hospital a case of confluent small-pox after variolous inoculation. LETTER CLXIII. Dear Sir, From the same. Portland Place, April 4, 1814. Your letter is admirable, your labours almost incredible. I hope the respective editions will reward your very diligent and useful toils. I marvel how you persevere through all your varied works. On the subject of the late James Neild's obituary, I have just heard that there is something in the Edinburgh Review. I do not read it in succession; but shall search for this single number, for the sake of the excellent man now no more. On the Sunday preceding his death he was at Chelsea church, and a poor elderly woman was standing in the aisle. He opened his pew-door, and |