His liberality in
supporting charitable institutions, and relieving private cases of
distress, knew hardly any bounds; but, at a fair computation, it has
been estimated at about L.2000 a year.
Observing one of his men looking for some time very melancholy, he
called him up, and inquired into the cause. 'The sickness of his wife
had entangled him in debt; he could not eat, he could not sleep; his
life was a misery to him, and he had exclaimed with a pathos that sunk
deep into my dear relative's tender heart: "Master, I am in debt;
every time I go near the river, something bids me fling myself into
it, telling me there's water enough to rid me of all my troubles; and
that if I don't, I shall be sent into the prison there for debt!"
'Deeply affected, he inquired of the poor man the names of his
creditors, the amount of their respective claims, and the peculiar
circumstances which had led to the contraction of each liability.
Having ascertained these particulars, and perfectly satisfied himself
that the man had not forgotten the precept of the society of which he
was a member--"Not to contract debt without at least a reasonable
prospect of discharging it"--he asked him whether freedom from these
liabilities would restore to him peace of mind.
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