He procured the appointment of a special committee to investigate the condition of the debtors' prisons; and the shocking revelations that ensued led to a beginning of reformation of the cruel and barbarous laws of England concerning imprisonment for debt.

But being of the higher type of reformers, he was not content with such negative work.

He cherished and elaborated a scheme that should open a new career for those whose ill success in life had subjected them to the pains and the ignominy due to criminals.

It was primarily for such as these that he projected the colony of Georgia.
But to a mind like his the victims of injustice in every land were objects of practical sympathy.

His colony should be an asylum for sufferers from religious persecution from whatever quarter.