class of sufferers. Thus does Divine Providence render the temporary distress of one individual, a means of relief to thousands.
It was not this event, however, which was the direct inducement to him to enter upon his remarkable career of benevolence. It was not till many years after this, that that course was begun; nor but for another circumstance, plainly providential, would it in all probability ever have been undertaken at all. He quietly resided for many years on his estate at Cardington, exercising his benevolent disposition in doing good to the poor of the neighborhood, till losing by death the affectionate partner of his heart and sharer in his good deeds, he went abroad for relief in his affliction. Returning again to England, he retired once more to his estate at Cardington, where he continued to reside, till, in the year 1773, at the age of forty-six, he was appointed to the office of High Sheriff of the County of Bedford. It was in the performance of the duties of this office, that his attention first became drawn to the state of prisons and the condition of prisoners. His own account of the circumstances which led to the commencement of his noble career of beneficence, is thus given, in the preface to his work on the State of Prisons: "The distress of prisoners," he says, "came more immediately under my notice, when I was sheriff of the county of Bedford; and the circumstance which excited me to activity on their behalf, was seeing some, who, by the verdict of juries, were declared not guilty, and some on whom the grand jury did not find such an appearance of guilt as subjected them to trial, and some whose prosecutors did not appear against them (all of whom ought instantly to have been discharged), dragged
