DEBTORS, AND PRISONERS. PHILANTHROPY has not been forgetful to furnish relief for the miseries of those unfortunate persons, who are secluded from Society by Imprisonment for inconsiderable Debts, and are thus rendered useless members of the Community by a deprivation of their Liberty,-and who, under the heavy afflictions of poverty and want, are without the cheering hope of friends to undertake their release, except such as spring from those humane and spontaneous acts of pure Benevolence. The Donations for the discharge of poor Debtors will testify the interest which the Public have taken in their misfortunes,nor have "the sorrows of the Sufferers been viewed with indifference, as may be seen from the various and bountiful Charities to the Prisoners, in food, raiment, and coals. And one Nobleman, with a large and enlightened discernment, has added his benefaction to meritorious Criminals at the time of their discharge, when relief must be most wanted and desirable.1 But Benevolence has no limits,-we find it exploring, succouring, and providing for every species of Calamity, charitably forgetting the cause of the distress or the character of the unhappy sufferer, seeking only to do good,— and even in the dreary and shunned recess of the Felon's cell, collecting and administering consolation and relief to his dismal wants.2 A singular donation occurs of Robert Dowe, who in his life-time, in 1705, gave 50%., to the end that the Vicar and Churchwardens of St. Sepulchre, in London, should for ever, previously to every execution at Newgate, cause a bell to be tolled, and certain words to be delivered to the Prisoners who are ordered for execution, in the form and manner specified in the terms of his gift. An annual sum 1 1 Rep. vi. p. 403. * Rep. xii. p. 603. of 11. 6s. 8d. is now paid to the Sexton, who employs a person to go to Newgate on the night previous to every execution, where he offers to perform the prescribed duty, which is always declined, as all needful services of that kind are administered within the Prison.3 The words of this remarkable exhorta tion are, "You prisoners that are within, "Who for wickedness and sin, "after many mercies shown you, are now appointed "to die tomorrow in the forenoon, give ear, and un"derstand, that tomorrow morning the greatest Bell of "St. Sepulchre's shall toll for you in form and manner "of a Passing Bell, as used to be tolled for those that are at the point of death,—to the end that all godly "people, hearing that Bell, and knowing it is for your going to your deaths, may be stirred up heartily to pray to God to bestow his Grace and Mercy upon you, whilst you live," &c. 166 .66 86 Nay, even when the last sad office of execution has been performed, Charity still watches over the wretched corpse, and by the Will of Mr. AMERIDETH, in 3 Rep. xiv. p. 150. • Maitland's Hist: of London, vol. i. p. 26. 1556, the profits of certain lands are to be appropriated to the purchase of Shrouds for Criminals, who should suffer at Ringswell.5 Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all. * Rep. vi. p. 118. EARLY NOTICE OF BREAD. An early notice of Bread, in the nature of Charity, occurs in The Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, in Ripon, which was founded by THURSTON, Archbishop of York, in the early part of the Twelfth century, where every year, on St. Mary Magdalen's day, a farthing loaf (the Quarter of Wheat being worth 5s.) and a herring, were to be given to every poor person that came, but by an Inquisition on the state of the Hospital, taken in the 10th year of EDWARD the Second, 1317, it appears that that Charity, during the time of NICHOLAS de MOLYNS, the Master, was withdrawn, and in place of it he gave poor people who came on that day, a Salt cellar of beans or meal, but the greater part of the poor got nothing,— and, that the minor acts of charity which ought to proceed from such an Hospital, and particularly from that Hospital, were |