he old
Pennsylvania Abolition Society, and labored zealously with Dr. Benjamin
Rush, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Wistar, and other distinguished philanthropists of
the time. No man at that day, not even eminent judges and advocates, was
better acquainted with the intricacies of law questions connected with
slavery. His accurate legal knowledge, his natural acuteness, his ready
tact in avoiding dangerous corners and slipping through unseen
loop-holes, often gave him the victory in cases that seemed hopeless to
other minds. In many of these cases, physical courage was needed as much
as moral firmness; and he possessed these qualities in a very unusual
degree.

Being for many years an inspector of the public prisons, his practical
sagacity and benevolence were used with marked results. His enlarged
sympathies had always embraced the criminal and the imprisoned, as well
as the oppressed; and the last years of his life were especially devoted
to the improvement of prisons and prisoners. In this department of
benevolence he manifested the same zealous kindness and untiring
diligence that had so long been exerted for the colored people, for
whose welfare he labored to the end of his days.

He possessed a wonderful wisdom in furnishing relief to all who were in
difficulty and embarrassment. This caused a very extensive demand upon
his time and talents, which were rarely withheld when honestly sought,
and seldom applied in vain.

Mrs. Kirkland prepared, under the title of "The Helping Hand," a small
volume, for the benefit of "The Home" for discharged female convicts,
containing a brief description of the institution, and a detail of facts
illustrating the happy results of its operation. Its closing chapter is
appropriately devoted to the following well-deserved tribute to the
veteran philanthropist, to whose zeal and discretion that and so many
other similar institutions owe their existence, or to a large degree
their prosperity.

"Not to inform the public what it knows very well already, nor
to forestall the volume now preparing by Mrs. Child, a kindred
spirit, but to gratify my own feelings, and to give grace and
sanctity to this little book, I wish to say a few words of Mr.
Hopper, the devoted friend of the prisoner as of the slave; one
whose long life, and whose last thoughts, were given to the care
and succor of human weakness, error, and suffering. To make even
the most unpretending book for the