from a fondness of money, nor of lavishing means from any unfortunate ostentation.

There are more men who know how to acquire wealth than there are who know how to use it. Experience in these things teaches; and the more experience the greater the judgment in the charity, which is as often injured by lavish liberality as by close-handed withholdings. Well directed judgment, in these cases, is worth more than sudden sympathy; and, perhaps, it may be added also, that in the uses of that true philanthropy which meliorates the mental condition of the prisoner, a sound judgment often suggests a special devotion to an individual case rather than a diffusive use of time and advice upon a multitude.

Dr. Shippen had a word of monition and encouragement for all prisoners, but he had a happy art of discovering in the young offender the remains of goodness, and to these he sometimes applied himself with a zeal that ensured success. The smoking flax was not quenched; the little of home affection discernable was cherished and cultivated, and the possibility of surmounting the difficulties which detected fraud throws in the way of the would-be penitent, was dwelt on till the young inmate of the convict cell seemed to rise above the impediments of his condition, and cherish a hope that virtue would fully restore him to the path of life from which he had wandered; and in more than one instance that hope has been fully realized.

Dr. Shippen's character, his talents and education, placed him in prominent positions among those who associated for benevolent purposes, and the qualities that

placed him there reflected honor on the places, and he was justly reckoned among those who promote public good by the devotion of valuable time, mind, talents and liberal education to the works of good, in channels where the highest talents and the best of education find useful employment.

But it was in the cell of the convict that Dr. Shippen earned the affectionate respect of those whom similar pursuits made followers, at long intervals, of his most useful example. There, with the world shut out, he persuaded the erring to comprehend that their errors had made them prisoners; there he made them understand, that however those errors might injure them with the many, there were those who regarded them as brothers-brothers erring, brothers justly suffering-but still brothers, enjoying the good wishes of a few, and placed in a situation where their improvement would be encouraged and noticed by those who had the will and the means to aid them to put in practice good resolutions, to sustain themselves abroad while they were earning that confidence which is so necessary to success. Great as have been the benefits resulting from those twenty years persistent visitations of Dr. Shippen to the cells of the convicts, and patent as are some of the instances, it is, perhaps, not in this world that the amount of his success will be known. Many, indeed, have gone forth and triumphed over difficulties, and regained position. These are known here, but it is probable that still more have profited by Dr. Shippen's ministrations, and yet have failed to achieve wealth or position, and have sunk down, amid their failing hopes in

this life, and rested content, and died happy, in the sanctified assurance of that "life which is to come," and to a knowledge of which, their prison teacher had raised their aspirations.

The well maintained classical education of Dr. Shippen made him an interesting associate with those whose minds had received similar advantages from study. The freshness of his recollections of the past made him ever an instructive companion of those who delight in the pleasant exhibition of rich experience. The tenacity with which he held the dogmas of the religion which he professed, showed his confidence in what he regarded as truth, while the willingness with which he bore testimony to good developments and extended charities in others, showed how beneficially operative in him was that Christian courtesy which chastens self esteem and leads to a respect for goodness wherever found. He was .fond of judging the tree by its fruits, and hence, when he discovered what he considered good qualities connected with the religious profession of an associate, he was willing to believe that those good qualities and benevolent works were the fruits of that profession, as he was earnest in referring to his own faith the credit of what the world admitted were good acts.

"The Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons" comprehended all the qualities which made Dr. Shippen so useful to the condemned prisoners, and by the exercise of which he reflected so much honor on the Association. In conferring on such a member the office of Vice President, the Society felt that it was appropriating to its benefit the distinction which a long

life of practical philanthropy had secured, and attracting to itself the credit which its Vice President was acquiring by his faithful, unfailing services in the cells of the convicts.

The death of the Vice-President Shippen was, by the President, J. J. Barclay, Esq., formally announced at a meeting of the Acting Committee of the Society on the 20th of June, 1867, and the following action was had:

At a stated meeting of the "Acting Committee of The Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons," held Sixth Month (June) 20th, 1867, the President announced, in feeling terms, the death of our late Vice-President, Dr. William Shippen; whereupon the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Whereas, the Supreme Disposer of all things has, in His wise providence, removed from our midst our valued associate, William Shippen, M. D., a Vice President of the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons; and whereas, the Members of the Acting Committee of the Society, justly appreciating the worth of their departed colleague, and desiring to express their sense of his merit and services, and to have the same recorded, do therefore

Resolve, That in the death of William Shippen, M. D., the members of "The Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons," have lost an efficient officer, and a beloved friend, who for many years zealously exerted himself to promote a judicious and enlightened system of Prison Discipline, and the reformation and welfare of the prisoner, and the community a virtuous and excellent citizen.

Resolved, That the members of the Society unfeignedly condole with the family of the deceased in their affliction.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to communicate the above resolutions to the family of Dr. Shippen.

JOHN J. LYTLE, Secretary.

And at a quarterly meeting of the Society on the 25th of July, the proceedings of the Acting Committee, in respect to the memory of Dr. Shippen, were unanimously approved.

For nearly two years Dr. Shippen had, by a painful accident, been deprived of the pleasure of visiting the prison cell; but his beautiful example influenced others, and it was gratifying to hear the recipients of his instruction express their gratitude for his faithful services-faithful in monition as in encouragement; for all that time the Society and the Committee were deprived of the approving presence and encouraging language of the Vice-President. And now that he has gone, it is to be claimed as the credit of the Society that it appreciated the excellence of its working member, and hereby does honor to his memory as one who illustrated by word and example the principles of humanity by which he and his fellow laborers were "united in word and work."

FREDERICK A. PACKARD.

In the last year died FREDERICK A. PACKARD, Esq., long and advantageously known in Philadelphia for his labors in the cause of morality and humanity, and recollected with grateful respect by many of the senior members of this Society as one who loved the cause in which we are engaged, and contributed the use of his talents and education to the promotion of the plans for alleviat