He disguised himself as a doctor, and after some narrow escapes arrived at Marseilles and visited the Lazaretto (or place of detention for the infected), though even Frenchmen were forbidden to do so.  He took drawings of the place, and then went on a tour to many southern cities.  He was at Smyrna while fever was raging with fury, and went amongst the sick and fever-stricken, fearless of the consequences.

In the course of his travels the ship in which he was a passenger was attacked by pirates, and John Howard showed himself as brave in actual battle as he was in fighting abuses; for he loaded the big gun with which the ship was armed nearly up to the muzzle with nails and spikes, and fired it into the pirate crew just in time to save himself and his companions from destruction.  The books in which he gave an account of his experiences were eagerly read by the public, and produced a profound effect.

His last journey was to Russia.  At Cherson he received an urgent request to visit a lady who had the fever.  The place where she lived was many miles off, and no good horses were to be obtained.  But he was determined not to disappoint her; so he procured a dray horse and started for his destination on a wintry night, with rain falling in torrents.  As a result of this journey he was stricken down by the fever, and died 20th January, 1790.

Howard was a very hard worker, and a man of most frugal habits.  He was often up by two o’clock in the morning writing and doing business till seven, when he breakfasted.  He ate no flesh food, and drank no wine or spirits.  He had a great dislike to any fuss being made about him personally; and, though L1500 was subscribed during his life to erect a memorial, it was, at his earnest desire, either returned to the subscribers or spent in assisting poor debtors.

But after his death a memorial was put up in St. Paul’s, and quite recently a monument has been erected at Bedford, where he first began his labours on behalf of the prisoners.

A HERO OF THE VICTORIA CROSS.

THE STORY OF KAVANAGH.

It was the time of the Indian Mutiny.  Lucknow was in the hands of the rebels.  Within the Residency Sir James Outram, Sir Henry Havelock, and their troops, were fast shut up, around them a vast multitude of mutineers.  But now near at hand was Sir Colin Campbell with the army of relief.

It was difficult, nay, almost impossible, to get a trusty messenger through that multitude of fierce and bloodthirsty foes; and yet it was of the utmost importance that Sir Colin should have some one to tell him what was passing within the Residency, and show him the best route by which his troops could approach.

If any man tried to get through and failed, death—­or perhaps worse still, horrible torture—­was his certain fate.  But there was one man who determined to do it, or die in the attempt.  His name was Kavanagh.  It was so dangerous a matter that when Sir James Outram heard of his proposal he declared he would not have asked one of his officers to attempt the passage.  But in the end he accepted the offer, and Kavanagh prepared for the journey.