Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe | Page 8

touched on
finding a gentleman, whom he went to visit in the Fleet prison, loaded
with irons, and otherwise cruelly used.[1] Shocked by the scenes he
witnessed, he determined to expose such injustice; and, if possible, to
prevent such abuse of power. With this view, he brought forward a
motion in the House of Commons, "that an inquiry should be instituted
into the state of the gaols in the metropolis." This met with such
attention, that in February, 1728, the House of Commons assigned the
subject to a Committee, of which he was chosen Chairman.[2] The
investigation led to the discovery of many corrupt practices, and much
oppressive treatment of the prisoners; and was followed by the
enactment of measures for the correction of such shameful
mismanagement and inhuman neglect in some cases, and for the
prevention of severity of infliction in others.[3]
[Footnote 1: Sir William Rich, Baronet.]
[Footnote 2: Appendix IV.]
[Footnote 3: Appendix V.]
A writer, whose opinion was founded on the best means of knowledge,
has declared that "the effects of this interposition have been felt ever
since by the unhappy prisoners."[1]
[Footnote 1: Gentleman's Magazine for 1785, page 572.]

Oglethorpe thus became the precursor of HOWARD, the philanthropist,
in the cause of humanity, as it regards the amelioration of prison
discipline in general, especially the rigors of close confinement for debt
or petty offences, and that among felons and convicts. The impression
then made on his mind and heart, led him, afterwards, to other and
more extensive and efficacious measures for the relief of poor debtors
from the extortions and oppressions to which they were subjected by
gaolers, and from the humiliation and distress in which they were often
involved without any fault of their own, or by some conduct which
deserved pity rather than punishment.
At the opening of the session of Parliament on the 12th of January,
1731, the King's speech was the subject of debate in the House of
Commons. A motion was made for an address of thanks, in which they
should declare their entire approbation of his Majesty's conduct,
express their confidence in the wisdom of his counsels, and announce
their readiness to grant the necessary supplies. There were some who
opposed the motion. They did not argue against a general vote of
thanks, but intimated the impropriety, and, indeed, ill tendency of
expressions which implied an unquestioning approbation of the
measures of the ministry. In referring to this, Smollet[1] says, "Mr.
Oglethorpe, a gentleman of unblemished character, brave, generous,
and humane, affirmed that many other things related more immediately
to the honor and interest of the nation, than did the guarantee of the
Pragmatic sanction. He said that he wished to have heard that the new
works at Dunkirk had been entirely razed and destroyed; that the nation
had received full and complete satisfaction for the depradation
committed by the natives of Spain; that more care was taken in the
disciplining of the militia, on whose valor the nation must chiefly
depend in case of an invasion; and that some regard had been shown to
the oppressed Protestants in Germany. He expressed his satisfaction,
however, to find that the English were not so closely united to France
as formerly, for he had generally observed that when two dogs were in
a leash together, the stronger generally ran away with the weaker; and
this, he feared, had been the case between France and Great Britain."
[Footnote 1: History of England, Book II. chap. iv. Section xxx.]

The motion, however, was carried, and the address presented.
Possessing a vein of wit, Oglethorpe was apt to introduce piquant
illustrations and comparisons into his narratives, and sometimes with
the view of their giving force to his statements; but, though they might
serve to enliven conversation, they were not dignified enough for a
speech in so august an assembly as that he was now addressing. They
are, however, atoned for, on this occasion, by the grave tenor of his
preceding remarks, which were the dictates of good sense, the
suggestions of sound policy, and, especially, by the reference to the
distressed situation of the persecuted German Protestants which was
evincive of a compassionate consideration, truly honorable to him as a
man and a Christian. And we shall find, that, in behalf of these, he
afterwards exerted a personal and availing influence.
In 1732 he made a spirited and patriotic effort in Parliament to restore a
constitutional militia; and to abolish arbitrary impressment for the
sea-service; and, on this subject, he published a pamphlet entitled "The
Sailor's Advocate," for which Mr. Sharpe obliged him with a sarcastic
preface.
In the debate on the bill for encouraging the trade of the British sugar
colonies, Oglethorpe took an active part, and manifested those liberal
and patriotic views, and that