cated to him the distressing situation of a considerable number of persons confined in a certain prison for small debts. What did this humane and generous philanthropist do on this representation? He cleared the whole of their debts; he swept this direful mansion of all its miserable tenants; he opened the prison doors, proclaimed deliverance to the captives, and let the oppressed go free."

Dr Stock said that he had heard, from what he considered good authority, the particulars of an act of princely liberality:—" Mr Reynolds, in 1796, resided at Coalbrook Dale. He addressed a letter to some friends in London, stating the impression made upon his mind by the distresses of the community, and desiring that they would draw upon him for such sum as they might think proper. They complied with his request, and drew, in a very short time, to the extent of eleven thousand pounds. It appeared, however, that they had not yet taken due measure of his liberality: for in the course of a few months he again wrote, stating, that his mind was not easy, and his coffers were still too full. In consequence of which they drew for nine thousand pounds more!"

Mr Stephen Prust told this characteristic anecdote:— "Mr Reynolds having applied to a gentleman whom he thought rich, but who was really only in circumstances of mediocrity, to stimulate him to give, made use of the following argument:—' When gold encircles the heart, it contracts it to such a degree that no good can issue from it; but when the pure gold of faith and love gets into the heart, it expands it so that the last drop of life-blood will flow into any channel of benevolence.'"

The following pleasing circumstance comes from the same authority:—" A lady applied to him on behalf of an orphan. After he had given liberally, she said, 'When he is old enough, I will teach him to name and thank his benefactor.' 'Stop (said the good man), thou art mistaken; we do not thank the clouds for the rain. Teach him to look higher, and thank Him who giveth both the clouds and the rain.'"

The Rev. William Thorpe, in the course of a most impressive speech, related a circumstance which strikingly exemplifies the humility ot this excellent man:—" So far was he from being inflated with the pride of wealth, that he spoke the genuine sentiments of his heart when he said to a friend who applied to him in a case of distress, 'My talent is the meanest of all talents—a little sordid dust but the man in the parable, who had but one talent, was accountable; and for the talent that I possess, humble as it is, I am also accountable to the great Lord of all.'"

A simple but noble monument, from the association of illustrious names, was erected to the honour of Richard Reynolds, during his lifetime, by one of his most favoured friends, who entered into rest long before him. On hearing of Lord Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, the late worthy Mr John Birtill, of Bristol, placed a marble tablet in a private chapel in his dwelling-house, bearing this inscription;—

"JOHN HOWARD.
JONAS HANWAT.
JOHN FOTHERGILL, M.D.
RICHARD REYNOLDS.

"Beneath some ample hallow'd dome,

The warrior's bones are laid.
And blazon'd on the stately tomb,

His martial deeds display'd.

•' Beneath an humbler roof we place

This monumental stone,
To names the poor shall ever bless,

And Charity shall own:

"To soften human woe their care,
To feel its sighs, to aid its prayer.
Their work on earth,—not to destroy;
And their reward—their Master's Joy."

The following extract of a letter, from a benevolent friend of the deceased, introduces a most interesting document, written some years since by the departed philanthropist:—"A short time before the last illness of our late venerable friend Mr Reynolds, I had a pleasing conversation with him on the subject of the various charities in this city which he had so liberally patronised. He informed me, that he thought it right to be his own executor, as it respected these and other charities; and, in confirmation that this had long been his opinion, put into my hands the following copy of a letter ho had written twelve years ago an the subject.

J 'A. T.

"Bristol, Oct. 11,1816."

"Bkidgewateb, 11th of 6th month, 1804.

"The sentiment to which thy brother alludes, though

I know not that I expressed it to him, was in consequence of a reference to some post-mortuary charities, if thou wilt allow of the expression, when, adverting to the sayings of the Apostles, that we were to receive hereafter according to the things done in the body, I contended that these were not deeds done in the body; and I do not think the assertion need be qualified by the alteration thou suggestest, of being best done while we are in the body; for in the case under consideration, we keep what we have as long as we are in the body, and would keep it longer if we could. All that we do is to prevent our heirs from doing as we have done; and the deed is not done, either by them or by us, while we are in the body. If we should admit there is any merit in the deed, it certainly cannot belong to us who do it not; and that which we do, by enjoining what others shall do, is lessening, as much as we can, everything like merit in them, by depriving them of a free agency, especially if they are the persons to whom the money would have gone if we had died intestate; these, if any, have a right to take credit on account of the act. Perhaps those, if any such there be, who prevent others from having that which the law would give them, would do well to consider whether the account is properly adjusted by their obliging those, to whom they do give it, to apply it to charitable purposes which can do them no credit; the testator certainly can claim none as fai as a deed done in the body, which, as I said before, neither was then done, nor would have been done had he continued in the body. I am pleased to find the reflection warmed thy heart. I hope it will move thy hands also upon an occasion of which the same post that brought me thy letter brought me an account, styled a case of distress, relating

that , of , was drowned near , leaving a wife

and nine children, without any provision for their support; that contributions would be received at the banks there till the 5th instant, after which time the inhabitants would be applied to personally. I suppose thou art not a stranger to the case—most likely not to the individuals; and, as a neighbour, still more as a parent of a numerous offspring, I conclude thy assistance will be proportionably liberal, nor the less for its being a deed done in the body. I know not who sent me the case, which I did not receive till the time was expired for public contributions; nevertheless, if thou wilt inform me what thou and others have done, and ye

havo left room for more, though a stranger to the. persons and remote from the plaee, my mite shall not he .withdrawn by

"Thy affectionate friend,

"RlCHARD EEYNOLDS."

Finally, " mark the perfect man, and behold the upright,: for the end of that man is peace," as the annexed authentic document will testify:—

Memorandum respecting the late Richard Reynolds.—
September 14, 1816.

"In the spring of this year, his anxious friends thought
they saw in his countenance indications of declining health;
he was indeed, about this time, frequently complaining of
weakness and loss of appetite. In May he was very unwell
from a cold; but had nearly recovered it, when a bilious
attack reduced him considerably, and did not permanently
yield to medical skill. Seeing this, he was urged to try the
waters of Cheltenham : to which he submitted, evidently to
satisfy his friends; for his mind was fixed on the probability
that the complaint would terminate his earthly pilgrimage:
and with this view he frequently expressed himself quite
satisfied, having brought his mind to a dependence only on
the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. He went to Chelten
ham the 7th August; and continued, with but little varia-
tion as to his disorder, till Friday the 6th September—
walking and riding out every day, and even driving tht
carriage himself, accompanied by his daughter or cousin onlj
—on which day he walked out before breakfast; but soon
after become much weaker, and toward evening declined
rapidly. On Sunday, however, he revived so much as to
give hope that it would be possible to remove him to Bristol
the next day,—the prospect of which had before appeared
to be agreeable to him. But these hopes were disappointed;
he sunk again in the course of that night, never to revive.
. For many years, he had not been confined to his bed a whole
day; and, during this illness he got up and sat at table
with the family at all their meals, till Monday, his last day.
when he was induced by his friends to lie in bed till the
afternoon; then he arose, drank tea with them in another
room, and went to bed at his usual time. At five o'clock
next morning, an alteration for the worse appearing in his
breathing, some of his relatives, who had retired for a while,
were called to him; but none of them thought his end st

V"