it honor, admitted that England had derived more real benefit from the contributions of the United States than from those of any other country." Mr. Peabody was, so long as he lived, as simple and unaffected as in the days of his poverty, followed his methodical, exact business practices with the same rigid system which was never changed. He gave away millions of dollars without a second thought, but insisted upon receiving a penny if it was his due. He several times visited America, going back to England always more pleased with his native land, more proud of his birthplace. He marked each visit with a magnificent gift. Education and Religion, public and private charities were the recipients of his bounty, and rich and poor alike blessed him. His own relatives, some of whom he never saw, received from one to three hundred thousand dollars apiece; friends of his boyhood who were in poor or straightened circumstances, were handsomely provided for. London, more than any American city, seems to be the gathering place of Christ's legacy to his disciples, as if he had been there when he said, "The poor ye have always with you." And to the squalor-stricken multitudes George Peabody has been a friend steadfast and true. He has made them his care from year to year, never wearying of well-doing, satisfied if he might smooth an otherwise rugged path, or sweeten a bitter draught from whence pallid lips might not turn away, or bring hope and comfort, love and peace into the home where poverty and suffering had set their seal. So marked was his benevolence and thoughtful care for this class, that Victoria presented him with her portrait painted expressly for him, costing nearly $50,000, in token of her grateful appreciation of it. When Mr. Peabody last visited America he was in ill health and suffering severely, and believing that he might improve more rapidly in London, returned thither, but received no benefit from the change, and died there November 4, 1869. The news of his death was received with the strongest demonstrations of sorrow, and grief was in every household. The world will never know how much it owes this good man, since such was his unostentatious kindness-often his right hand knew not what his left hand gave. The following list includes all his public donations, of which a record has been preserved : To the State of Maryland, for negotiating the loan of $8,000,000- To the Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Md., including ac crued interest... To the Southern Educational Fund. To Harvard College.. -$60,000 To Phillips' Academy, Massachusetts.. 25,000 To Peabody Academy, Massachusetts.. 25,000 To Peabody Institute, etc., at Peabody, Mass.. 250,000 WOHN HOWARD, the philanthropist, was born at Hackney, London, in 1726. His father was immensely rich, but from an impression which he entertained that his son, then about eighteen years of age, had not quite done sowing his wild oats, made a will by which the young heir of the Howard estate was prohibited from controlling his property until he was twenty five. His guardian apprenticed him to a grocer, but the disgusted representative of a long line of independent gentlemen scorned. the idea of serving his time, and accordingly purchased his indenture and set out on a continental tour; but was not absent long, and on his return to London, married his landlady, who was nearly double his own age, out of pure gratitude to her for care received during sickness. The gratitude was beautiful, no doubt, and perhaps commendable, but the lady did not long survive her new honors, but died ere their honeymoon began to wane. The spirit of adventure drove our hero out into the world again, and he started for Portugal with a view to explore the ruins of Lisbon, after the earthquake. The vessel in which he sailed was attacked by a French Privateer, the crew and passengers were made prisoners, and for some months he not only suffered the loss of his personal liberty, but all the horrors of prison life,, and so vivid were his recollections of that dreary and horrible confinement, that upon regaining his liberty by exchange of prisoners, his first and earnest efforts were to bring the subject before the public and the parliament of Great Britain. He now married a second time, but this marriage also unhappily terminated soon, his wife dying, and leaving him an infant son. He resided on one of his estates near Coddington, and gave his time to the management of his property and the education of his child. But a terrible misfortune, the saddest, perhaps, that could have come to him, came in the hopeless insanity of his boy, upon whom he had set his heart, and in whom centered all his pride, his ambition and his hopes. He was obliged to place him in an asylum, and then, every tie broken which bound him to a domestic life, gave up his entire time to benevolence, and using liberally his immense fortune in the amelioration of the sufferings of prisoners, convicts, the insane, the blind, and idiots. He inspected every public prison in the United Kindom, also in France, Switzerland, Germany and Holland. His attention was attracted to infectious diseases, and he entered into an inquiry as to the cause and cure of the plague, on account of the terrible ravages of that disease in the south of Europe, and in the countries of the Levant. He visited those countries, passing through the plague-stricken districts, and giving it his own personal attention, and on his return to England he published an account of his travels, with a description of the Lazarettos of Europe, to which the attention of scientific men was attracted, and the public mind was very much excited over the, until then, unknown wrongs of so large a class of people, and the terrible sufferings of many more. Again he quitted England's shores; again for the sake of humanity he exiled himself from people and kindred, hurrying through Holland and Germany, to Petersburg and Moscow, on, to the shores of the Black sea,-on, still on, through pestilence, famine, cholera and, more dreaded than all else, the plague, until at last he was himself stricken down almost before his life had reached its noontide, and died as he had lived, strong in the Christian's faith and the rude people of those half-barbarous lands, recognizing the holy purpose, the noble zeal, the lofty impulses. which gave his years and his wealth to a cause that was so little in favor, yet so much in need of friends, raised over his lonely grave, in a quiet spot eight miles from Kherson, an obelisk on which was the inscription, "He lived for the good of others." He died Jan. 20, 1790. WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. HIS distinguished philanthropist was born in 1759, at Hull. From the grammar school in his native town he was sent to Cambridge, and as soon as he reached his majority was chosen to represent Hull in Parliament. His extreme youth prevented him from taking an active part in the proceedings of the legislative body. But though silent, he was a most observant and deeply thoughtful member, and not an act escaped his eye, or a speech his mind. His first strong effort was in favor of abolishing the traffic in human beings as slaves, and a speech which he made on this subject, when in his second term, was considered a most powerful argument, and from that time forward he labored Even in that steadily and faithfully until his object was effected. first appearance, he won the name of being one of the most brilliant, effective and eloquent of English orators. A violent opposition to his measures at once sprung into existence, and the whole array of British talent was against him; but at the next session he again introduced the subject, despite its unpopularity. The public mind was not yet sufficiently enlightened to demand the passage of his bill, and it was overruled and put down by a large vote, and it was not until 1806 that it passed both Houses and his bill abolishing slavery became a law. Mr. Wilberforce was looked upon as the champion of the cause of humanity; and testimonials and expressions of gratitude poured in upon him from all parts of the country. At that time it was much more. difficult for a man in Mr. Wilberforce's circumstances to be a Christian than now, and peculiarly difficult for a young and popular man to declare to the world that it was only in accordance with the high principles of Christian morality that he had acted, not from desire for, or love of public approbation. The publication of his "Practical View of Christianity," a work in which he rigidly and carefully compared the defective religion of that day with the standard of the New Testament, formed an era in the religious history of the country. His life and character was a beautiful commentary on the principles laid down and developed in his book. Through all his life he bore the reputation of a consistent Christian, in whom was no blame, and though such characters may not be rare now, in that day they were, amongst those who mingled in high life, and were subject to the temptations of court life. He was esteemed and respected by all parties; and while the poor looked to him as a benefactor and protector, the rich and great felt honored by his friendship. He died July 28 1833. |