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His Imperial Majesty

ALEXANDER,

EMPEROR AND AUTOCRAT OF ALL THE RUSSIAS,

THE FOLLOWING PAGES

Are most respectfully Inscribed :

RECORDING, AS THEY DO, THE EXERTIONS, AND DELINEATING THE
CHARACTER,

OF

THE CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPIST,

WHOSE CAREER OF EXTRAORDINARY BENEVOLENCE WAS SUDDENLY
TERMINATED, BY THE EXCESS OF ITS OWN EXERTIONS,

IN A REMOTE PART OF HIS MAJESTY'S DOMINIONS;

WHERE STILL HIS ASHES REST, BUT NOT IN OBLIVION,-ANIMATING,
AS HIS BRIGHT EXAMPLE HAS DONE,

TO AN ACTIVE PURSUIT OF THOSE OBJECTS OF UNIVERSAL

PHILANTHROPY,

TO WHICH A HOWARD DEVOTED TIME, FORTUNE, TALENTS,

STRENGTH, AND LIFE ITSELF,

THAT BENIGNANT MONARCH OF ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST

POWERFUL EMPIRES OF THE EARTH,

TO WHOSE PROTECTION THIS MEMORIAL OF HIS DEEDS

IS SUBMISSIVELY COMMENDED.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

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THESE Memoirs would long since have appeared in their present form, but for the unfortunate failure of their original publisher, a few months after they first issued from the press; and a Chancery suit arising out of that failure, and withdrawing from circulation, for nearly three years, the few remaining copies of the quarto edition. Some of these may still be obtained by those who wish to possess the Memoirs of Mr. HowARD'S Life in the same size with his own publications, or accurately to trace his progress, from prison to prison, in his laborious endeavours to ameliorate their structure and arrangements, and the condition of their hapless inmates, the only point in which the present edition is materially abridged from the first. On this, however, it is but fair to state, that, a very considerable difference does exist, though it has been thought that the general reader will consider the alteration an improvement; whilst those to whom the subject of prison discipline is attractive, even in its minutia, may still possess themselves of a narrative of our great Philanthropist's exertions for its improvement, in regular detail. Some few additions and corrections have been made, chiefly from the communications of Mr. BARNARDISTON; the Rev. Mr. PLUMPTRE; the Rev. Mr. MOYLE, Baptist Minister at Bedford; and the recovery of two of Mr. Howard's memorandum-books, now the property of Mr. KAYE, of Liver

pool, by whom they had been mislaid when these Memoirs were originally preparing for the press. Since their first publication, I have to add to the list of contributors of the materials for their compilation, who have been removed by death to another, and, I trust, a better world, Mrs. PALMER, widow of the late Rev. SAMUEL PALMER, of Hackney: Dr. EDWARD DANIEL CLARKE, the celebrated traveller; JOHN HOWARD CHANNING, Esq.; Mrs. HURRY, of Liverpool, a lady whose worth will long be remembered by all who had the advantage of knowing her; and the Rev. J. ANTHONY, of Bedford; making in the whole twelve individuals, with whom I have corresponded, or conversed, on the character of Mr. HOWARD whilst preparing these Memoirs, but with whom now no converse nor correspondence can be held again upon this side the grave. His friends, his cotemporaries, indeed, are passing rapidly away; but the memorials of his benevolence will have a longer duration, and "his imperishable record is on high."

3, HARE-COURT, TEMPLE,

December 26, 1822.

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