1828.] SOUNDINGS IN THE RIVER DELAWARE. From the east point of Petty's island to Jersey 19, 38, 23, 16, 18, 10. Across the mouth of Cooper's creek from west to east, 1, 3, 5, 8, 5. From the wharf at the Glass-house to Petty's island, 16, 28, 33, 32, 25, 22, 21, 14. From the south point of Petty's island to Pennsylvania, 4, 12, 18, 25, 34, 38, 26, 12, 3. From the south point of Petty's island to Jersey, 1, 3, 5, 7, 20, 22, 21, 18, 15, 12, 11, 8, 10. From Nagle's wharf, at the mouth of Cohocksink creek, to Cooper's Point, 29, 40, 34, 26, 20, 18, 18, 16, 16, 18, 19, 19, 13, 14, 11. In the direction of Callowhill street, from Pennsylvania to Jersey, 37, 46, 44, 33, 22, 17, 11, 6, 4-bar-2, 8, 10, 12, 10, 6, 5. In the direction of High street, from Pennsylvania to Jersey, 42, 42, 37, 28, 10, 2, 13—bar—14, 2, 5, 7, 11, 12, 12, 11, 7, 7, 7, 4. | 259 3, 6, 10, 16, 18, 20, 29, 29, 30, 30, 29, 29, 21, 20, 15, 9. From the wharf at Thompson's Point to Tinnicum island, 5, 8, 14, 20, 20, 23, 26, 29, 29, 29, 30, 31, 31, 28, 17. From the north end of Monnis's island to Jersey, 1, 2, 4, 5, 4, 3. From the south end of Tinnicum island to Jersey, 4, 14, 20, 24, 28, 29, 28, 26, 26, 24, 22, 18, 19, 17, 9. From the Lazaretto wharf to Tinnicum island, 20, 11, a shoal-16, 16, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 19, 15, 13, 8, From the south point of Tinnicum island to Pennsylvania, 11, 23, 26, 25, 25, 22, 19, 11. From the north end of Chester island to Jersey, 6, 15, 20, 18, 9, 2. From the north end of Chester island to Pennsylvania, 1, 4, 10, 19, 26, 30, 33, 18-lower end of the bar from Tinnicum-24, 26, 20, 10, 5. From the south point of Chester island to Jersey, 10, In the direction of Walnut street from Windmill island 17, 20, 19, 15, 13, 10, 9, 6. to Jersey, 2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 12, 12, 9, 8, 10, 9. From the north wharf at Chester to the south point of From the first wharf above Pine street to the wharf Chester island, 20, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 31, 31, 28, 25, 23, on Windmill island, 43, 44, 39, 29, 18. From the south end of Windmill island to Pennsylvania, 12, 32, 35, 20, 19, 20. From the south end of Windmill island to Jersey, 6, 10, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18, 18, 10. From Kaighn's Point to the piers at M'Leod's ropewalks, 8, 18, 24, 26, 24, 14-bar—13, 19, 27, 28, 26, 24, 22, 17, 13, 10, 10. From Jersey to Pennsylvania, at a point about half way between Kaighn's and Gloucester Points, 13, 22, 31, 28, 32, 21, 19, 17—bar—17, 17, 19, 22, 24, 20, 16, 12. From the wharf at the Point to Jersey, 23, 25, 29, 33, 27, 26, 25, 23, 14, 6, 4. From Gloucester wharf to Pennsylvania, 9, 14, 18, 24, 26, 33, 38, 31, 25, 17, 5. From the north end of League island to the Windmill, Jersey, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 12, 12, 13-shoal called the Horse Shoe-20, 29, 36, 30, 18, 15, 13, 9, 7, 5. From a white house on League island, commonly called Buttermilk tavern, to a point two hundred yards below Eagle Point, 6, 11, 19, 22, 23, 26, 25, 24, 25, 26, 28 29, 29, 29, 28, 19, 10, 5, 4, From the south end of League island to Jersey, 1, 3, 7, 12, 15, 19, 24, 24, 29, 37, 25, 24, 21, 18, 15, 10, 8, 1, -bar-4, 11, 21, 19. Across the mouth of Schuylkill, from east to west, 10, 15, 20, 28, 30, 23, 15, 10. Schuylkill brings out over the flats from 8 to 10 feet. From Red Bank, near the Telegraph, towards the old Lazaretto, 10, 22, 12, 2-bar-1, 1, 2, 4, 8, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 26, 28, 29, 29, 28, 23, 22, 18, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2. From the first pier below the fort, to Davis's pier, or fort Gaines, 23, 23, 26, 29, 30, 29, 31, 27, 24, 24. From fort Gaines to Jersey, 3, 4, 6, 9, 14, 14, 13, 11, 10, 10, 14, 19, 20, 14, 7, 3, 1. From Boom or Diamond piers to Jersey, 42, 33, 30, 31, 29, 25, 23, 16, 8, 5-bar-4, 5, 4, 4, 14, 13, 12, 17, 19, 20, 16, 10, 7, 0-bar-0, 2, 1, 1. From a point near the middle of Hog island to Jersey, 9, 18, 23, 28, 28, 26, 24, 17, 11, 8, 12, 14, 31, 29, 16, 14, 11, 13, 12, 9, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3. From the south point of Hog island to Jersey, 6, 7, 8, 12, 15, 15, 11, 11, 9, 6, 4-bar-4, 14, 19, 24, 28, 33, 30, 28, 27, 21, 23, 24, 24, 22. From the north point of Maiden island to Billingsport wharf, Jersey, 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 23, 30, 34, 30, 28, 26, 23, 22, 21, 18, 10. From the north point of Maiden island to Martin's bar 2, 8, 11, 13, 12, 15, 16, 7. From the north point of Tinnicum island to Pennsylvania, 1, 3, 7, 12, 12, 14. 12, 10, 9, 9, 9, 10, 11, 13, 12. From the north point of Tinnicum island to Jersey, 9, 18, 28, 29, 32, 37, 37, 40, 42, 41, 35, 18, 6. From the mouth of Clemell creek to Tinicum island, 21, 19, 18, 15, 12, 4, 4, 3, 7, 10, 7, 8. From Pennsylvania to Jersey, half way between Chester and Schiver's island, 8, 19, 23, 28, 29, 22, 17, 12, 13 16, 14, 8, 13, 13, 15, 17, 10, 4, 1. From the north point of Schiver's island to Jersey, 4, 5, 6, 5, 4. From the north point of Schiver's island to Pennsylvania, 18, 20, 20, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 30, 27, 23, 20, 15, 11. Across the bar, below fort Mifflin, there is, in the deepest part of the channel, about 12 feet, The channel is narrow, and liable to many changes. The following are the soundings, taken at low water, on the 29th of July, 1820, four days after the full moon, at the ends of all the principal wharves in Philadelphia, beginning at Kensington, and descending the river. 1 Seguin's wharf 11 Callowhill St. do Feet. 35 Morris's wharf Feet. 16 20 do 16 36 Hamilton's do 20 do 16 37 Drawbridge wood 4 Stiles's do 16 wharf 26 5 Warder's do 19 6 Walter's do 19 39 Spruce St. wharf 7 Hubble's do 13 R. Waln's 19 8 Hains's do 6 40 Sims's wharf 31 9 Randolph's wharf 10 Britton's 25 41 Pine St. do 7 do 26 42 Willing & Francis' 28 upper wharf 25 43 Willing & Francis' lower wharf 15 19 44 Cuthbert's wharf 14 do 15 46 W. Waln's do 32 do 27 48 Almond St. wood 37 20 do 50 Huddle's do 8 do 51 Alberson's do 14 52 Catharine St. do 20 53 Queen St. do up per side 18 54 Queen St. do low er side 12 55 Christian St. whf. 17 56 Delevau's do 15 57 Ware's do 15 do 15 14 Vine st. upper do 24 Arch St. wood do 28 Market St, do lower 20 18 wharf do 6 14 11 59 Humphreys' do 14 60 Prime St. 61 Navy yard do up per side 62 Navy yard ditto lower side The end of Smith's Humphreys' wharf, Various alterations in the penal laws were made in compliance with this constitutional injunction. Hard labour in the public streets and within the prison was substituted for death in many cases and efforts were made to encourage criminals to industry, by rewarding them for their labour. Much interest was excited in the public mind, and some of the most respectable citizens and philanthropists of that day, exerted their talents and influence in aid of the reformation of the penal system. wharf, on the island, is at the low water mark. The wharf, nearly opposite Pine St. on The lower wharf, on the island, is ten the island, is 12 ft. feet above the low above the low wawater mark. ter mark. The wharves from Callowhill street to Chesnut street have the deepest water. This may be accounted for, from the circumstance, that the water, descending the channel east of Petty's island, spends its whole force against the wharves in that vicinity. Shortly after the water leaves Chesnut street wharf, it takes a direction over towards the south end of Windmill island, leaving the wharves in Southwark considerably to the west of the bed of the river, and consequently in shoaler wa-ly restrained within the places of confinement; and it is ter. In the year 1790 an act to reform the penal laws of the state was passed, in the preamble of which, it is declared that the laws made for the purpose of carrying the provisions of the constitution of 1776 into effect have in some degree, failed of success; from the exposure of the offenders employed at hard labour to public view and from the communication with each other, not being sufficient. hoped that the addition of unremitted solitude to labo rious employment as far as it could be effected will con: tribute as much to reform as to deter. The legislature by this act, while they enjoined hard labour as a punishment, declared that during said labour offenders shall be kept separate and apart from each other, if the nature nature of such employment requires two or more of their employment will admit thereof and where the to work together, the keeper or one of his deputies shall if possible, be constantly present." Having concluded the Report of the Commissioners exhibiting their objections to solitary confinement; we (agreeably to promise) commence the report of the commissioners appointed to superintend the erection of the eastern penitentiary. The arguments on both sides will then be before the public. We fear the length of these documents will render them tedious to some of our Cells were to be constructed in the yard of the gaol of readers; but their insertion at full length appeared to being therein the more hardened and atrocious offenders. the county of Philadelphia, in Walnut street, for confinnecessary, as they could not well be condensed. As the legislature has closed its session, and we have inserted most of the important documents, we hope hereafter to afford to our readers a greater variety of matter. REPORT The design of this law was solitary confinement connected with hard labour. In accordance with the leading features of this system, capital punishments were abrogated (except for one particular offence, viz. murder in the first degree,) by the memorable act of the 22d April 1794, which completed the present penal system, Of the Commissioners appointed to Superintend the Hard labour and solitary confinement were thus made THE PENAL CODE. The commissioners appointed under the authority of the act of the 20th of March, 1821, entitled "An act to provide for the erection of a penitentiary within the city and county of Philadelphia," in compliance with a resolution of the senate of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed April 14, 1827, respectfully present to that honorable body a statement of their views on the revision of the penal code of the commonwealth, in which they have endeavoured to adopt and model the present system of punishment to the system of solitary confinement contemplated by the legislature, in the erection of the western and eastern penitentiaries; a system of internal police for said penitentiaries is also pre sented. The history of the penal code of Pennsylvania, since the period of the revolution, exhibits a constant effort on the part of the legislature to accommodate the punishment of prisoners, to the principles of humanity, so far as it was consistent with the safety of the public and the prevention of crime. The framers of the first constitution of the state declared "that punishment ought, in some cases, to be made less sanguinary and in general more proportionate to the crimes" and directed the legislature to reform the penal laws. At that period no less than fourteen species of offences were punishable with death." the punishments of all crimes, heretofore capital, except the one above mentioned. The state The prison at the corner of Walnut and Sixth streets, in this city, in which the reformed system was first put into operation, was not properly constructed for the experiment. It is a well built county prison, but was never designed for solitary confinement. The friends of the reform were however obliged to use it, as the erection of a suitable prison at the expense of the state was deemed impracticable ancient opinion and deep rooted prejudice were arrayed against the new system and its patrons had many difficulties to overcome. of the prison under the old order of things, had been so bad, that when the change took place, the effect was most powerful and apparent. Industry was encouraged among the prisoners, employment was abundant, and in consequence of the number of prisoners being small, classification to a certain extent was observed. The consequence was that the interior of the building ap peared to a visiter, more like a well regulated manufactory than a prison. Instances of reformation, in the ear. ly period of this system, occurred among those who were subjected to solitary confinement, and among all the prisoners order and good discipline were maintained. Hence Pennsylvania acquired a reputation among her sister states as well as in Europe, for her mild penal code and her well regulated penitentiary. But this fame was short lived. With the increase of population and luxury, there was an increase of crime, and the state neglected to provide by suitable buildings for this increase. Europe then involved in wars, continued from time to time to pour in upon us a population to a considerable degree ignorant and vicious, thereby adding to the quantum of crime. The late war in this country also contributed to fill our prison with criminals of a bold and desperate character. In the year 1795, the number of prisoners in the Philadelphia prison was 119 of whom 98 were males and 21 females. In • † Section 13 of act of 5th April, 1790. 1814 there were 270, of whom 226 were males and 44 females and in 1817 the number was 449, of whom 392 were males and 57 females. In 1827 the number was 606 of whom 519 are males and 87 females. In the year 1817, the inspectors of the prison represented to the legislature the wretched state of the institution under their care, by a memorial in which they state "that they view with regret the extensive increase of abandoned characters, lost to every principle of virtue and hardened in the commission of crimes by the frequent and daring repetition of offences against the wholesome laws of the commonwealth; that in the present state of the prison, they look in vain for a radical change in the characters of the prisoners-an instance may occasionally occur, but it is rare-crowded to a degree at times alarming to the health of the prisoners, the space occupied being altogether insufficient even to class them according to their merits, much less to accomplish the necessary and desired end, solitary confine ment." To effectuate this subject, they recommended the erection of another prison or prisons in such parts of the State, as the Legislature should select, wherein the principle of solitary confinement, in a manner consistent with the health and safe keeping of the prisoners, should be regularly observed, and they transmitted with their memorial a plan of a prison. The act of 1817, which adopts this plan, and provides for the erection of the Western Penitentiary and of a penitentiary in the East, was the result of this application. The evils however of the Philadelphia prison still continued to increase, and no efficient measures having been taken to erect the Eastern Penitentiary, the inspectors of the prison on the 8th of January, 1821, again addressed the Legislature, through the chairman of the committee of the House of Representatives on the state of the penitentiary; to which address, and also a memorial of the Philadelphia Society for the alleviation of the miseries of public prisons presented at the same session, we refer, as they exhibit an accurate description of the evils of the prison, under the present system. We particularly notice here, as worthy of attention, the able report made to the Senate at that session by a committee of their own body. The act to erect the Eastern Penitentiary was passed April, 1821. The Inspectors in their memorial last mentioned, call the prison "a College for Instruction in Vice," and well may it be so called. Here, the petty thief becomes the pupil of the old and skilful offender and plans of villainy are formed, to be executed when they are set at liberty. The counterfeiter can here find recruits, to pass off his spurious paper; and the burglar and robber can easily obtain from this mass of offenders fit associates for future operations. Many instances have occurred of persons falsely accused, convicted and sent to this prison, who have been so corrupted by association, as to become adepts in crime, and who have been convicted subsequently again and again. In one word we attri * Vide Vaux's notices of the original and successive efforts to improve the discipline of the prison at Philadelphia, and to reform the penal laws of Pennsylva nia. † One instance out of many is here stated, as illustrative of this remark. A young female convict, when apparently on the bed of death, was interrogated as to her past life. She declared, that she was innocent when first brought to prison. Her tale was simple and artless. In early life she was left to the care of a relative, who brought her up, but used her so harshly, as to induce her to leave her home and come to the city to seek employment. She was hired as a domestic, and soon became acquainted with a female who lived in the neighbourhood. This female persuaded the country girl to accompany her to a dance, but she objected at first because she had not suitable clothing-clothes were furnished, and she went to the dance. After a short time 261 bute the increase of crime, and the repeated convictions which take place in this and the other cities in the United States, where the principle of association in prisons exists, almost entirely to that principle; and until it is destroyed and the separate confinement of prisoners introduced, the evil will continue, although there are some instances of persons who have never returned to the Philadelphia prison after the first conviction, and who have spent the remainder of their lives respectably.— Yet these instances are to be attributed to other causes, than to any good derived from this system of punishment. Some were no doubt innocent, and were able to resist the temptations of the prison; others had commit. ted offences through the violence of passion, as those committed for murder in the second degree and manslaughter; most of whom never returned, and some have been so much benefitted by the religious instruction afforded them, as to have abstained from further depredations. As a proof of the evils above mentioned, we state, that numerous reconvictions take place. During the year 1825, there were admitted to the Philadelphia. prison 385 convicts, of these, 67 were on second convictions, 15 on the third, 4 on the fourth, and 2 on the fifth conviction. During the year 1826, there were 296 admitted; of whom 43 were on the second, 17 on the third, 5 on the fourth and one on the fifth conviction. The principal offences are, larceny, forgery, passing counterfeit money, and burglary. But these evils do not belong exclusively to the prison of Philadelphia; they exist wherever the principle of association exists. The state prison in the city of N, York, is thus described by a convict who had formerly been confined in it, and who was recently discharged from the Auburn prison. "It is, said he, a complete school of vice. The more hardened offenders make it a business to instruct the juvenile convicts in every species of villainy, and encourage them to make the first use of liberty in the perpetration of crime, and unrestrained intercourse and conversation afford every facility to the furtherance of their views-old offenders make it a point to ridicule and suppress every appearance of contrition in others who are less hardened, and to combine against those who evince any thing like sorrow or penitence, until such feelings are entirely eradicated and their victims become as hardened and desperate as themselves."* The state prison of Massachusetts, which is a prison lucrative to the state beyond all parallel, and in which the principle of association exists, is thus described, in the second annual report of the Massachusetts prison discipline society: "The vices of the prisoners in which they have been detected, are, bribing persons to bring them prohibited articles, by a most mischievous and demoralizing use of their own work money. It has been used to purchase cards, spirits, digitalis, bank bills to be altered, and materials to alter them. It is difficult to con ceive in what way four thousand dollars annually, could be the procuring cause of more moral evil, than this account of over work, subject to the orders of convicts in a state prison." a scene of uproar took place; some fled one way and some another-All fled, but the stranger, who, ignorant of the cause of this disturbance, remained;-she was arrested by the Officers of Justice as a thief, having in her possession clothes, which had been stolen. In vain she told her story; she was put in prison on Monday night, on Tuesday the indictment was found against her; on Wednesday she was tried, convicted and sentenced for two years. But said the interrogator, how came you here the second time? Ah! Sir, she replied, "I learned to be a thief in this prison. I had skilful teachers among my own sex in this place, and I am guilty of the offence for which I now suffer." * Report of Inspectors of Auburn prison to the Legislature of New York, 1827, page 30 of Appendix. "The other vices detected in this prison, besides those for which over-work money has prepared the way, are counterfeiting bills and coin, teaching the art of picking pockets, and actually picking the pockets of strangers; preparing false keys and other instruments for breaking houses and stores, combinations against the lives and property of individuals in society, insurrections terminated only in blood and death; inveterate enmity against prisoners and others who reveal plots; combined and powerful and systematic effort in favour of vice and unnatural crime; and these evils, in buildings so constructed, that all attempts to prevent evil communication effectually, must be fruitless." "The recommitments have corresponded with what might be expected from such a school of vice. In 1817, out of three hundred then in prison, ninety were for the second, third, or fourth time; and in 1827, the proportion was about the same. It is apparent from the records that the young men and boys who have been sent from the country, for their first offence, in numerous instances after remaining several years in the prison at Charlestown, have been discharged, to engage immediately in Boston, in the practice of those arts with which they had been familiar in prison."* The evils of the present system of association in prison as we have shown, are alarming, and such as ought to be remedied effectually; solitary confinement of the prisoner, in such a manner as is consistent with public security, economy and the health of the prisoner, is in our opinion, the only effectual remedy. The commissioners hope for the indulgence of the senate, while they express their sentiments respecting this all important principle, a principle held forth in the first enactments of the legislature on the subject of penal laws, and more recently maintained in the acts which have authorised the erection of the penitentiaries at Pittsburg and Philadelphia. The first great object of penal law, is the security of the public. Obedience to the laws must be enforced, and the penalties should be such, as to deter men from the commission of crime. If this desirable end can be attained by a mode of punishment, which shall be consistent with the dictates of humanity and the future good of the offender, that mode of punishment is the grand desideratum, and is to be preferred to all others. Man is a social being, deriving from society the protection of his social rights, and if he vioJates the laws and peace of that society, he merits the loss of his social comforts. There is no punishment which affects the mind so powerfully, as solitary confinement; none so much dreaded even by the most hardened.The offender is compelled to think. Every effort is made by a guilty mind to escape from reflection. Business, company, pleasure, and vice in all its varied forms usually are resorted to by wicked men to drown the busy workings of conscience, and therefore it is that so much vice and immorality exist in the world. In the solitary cell, the unhappy victim of crime is not only saved from further contamination arising from corrupt society, but is constrained to reflect. Many, particularly young offenders, are brought to a proper sense of their guilt, and led to seek relief, where alone it can be found, in the consolations of religion. A convict who was discharged from the Auburn prison, in the state of New York, in February, 1826, thus testifies as to the effects of solitary confinement, on his own mind. "The silence and solitude to which he has been subjected, have been a very fruitful source of suffering and particularly as they lead the mind to reflection upon past follies and offences, the sufferings, and disgrace of family and friends. He wept many and many a night, from having his feelings harrowed up by these and similar considerations. He states, that before he came to prison, he was very thoughtless on the subject * Second annual report of the Massachusetts prison discipline society, Boston, June 1st, 1827. page 100-1. of religion, and for some time after he came there, his feelings were so engrossed by his own suffering and disgrace, and the thoughts of his family, that the subject was but little thought of, but that after a season, his attention was very seriously drawn to the word of God, which he had in his cell, and that its truths and sanctions made a much stronger impression on his mind, than at any former period. He says, he feels confident that his sufferings have had a very salutary influence upon his mind and that he is fully determined to conduct himself as he ought." He was convicted for passing counterfeit money, aged 61 years, was sentenced for seven years, served 19 months and was pardoned. He attributed his misfortunes to intemperance, as the primary cause.* Another of these convicts said, "that no tongue can tell what he has suffered in his mind since his confinement." Indeed the testimony of all, who have experienced in any degree the effects of solitary confinement, is to the same point. Some writers have supposed that solitary confinement is too severe a species of punishment, and that insanity or idiocy will be the result. Experience has not warranted this conclusion. Men have been confined in cells and dungeons for months and years, and retained their reason and their health. The Marquis De La Fayette was confined in the dungeon of Olmutz for four years. Calet, a French protestant was confined in the Bastile for more than twenty years, upon bad bread and water, in total silence and solitude. The Marquis D' Aremburg was confined in the same prison for twelve years, during the reign of Louis 14th, yet neither of these men sickened or lost their reason.* Numerous other instances of like sufferings, and with similar results, might be extracted from the pages of history. We are aware, that it is alledged by those opposed to solitary confinement by day and by night, that instances have occurred in some of the prisons of this country, where such results have taken place. These instances will be noticed hereafter, and the causes explained. It is proper here to remark, that the solitary confinement we recommend, is absolute, without any employment, except the study of the holy scriptures, connected with affectionate religious instruction; we say, without any employment, because less time will be requi site, to produce a beneficial result on the mind of the prisoner unemployed than when employed. This must be obvious to all who are acquainted with the effect which constant employment has in diverting the mind and causing time to pass away rapidly. A convict who had experienced both systems, declared that he would rather suffer nine years imprisonment with labour, associated with other convicts, than three years of solitary confinement without labour; and it is apprehended, that even a less period will suffice, if connected with moral and religious instruction. The expediency of adopting solitary confinement without labour, as an efficient mode of punishment, is further enforced by a consideration of the great causes of crime, These are ascertained to be, ignorance, intemperance and misfortune, idleness, gambling and lewdness also, are to some extent causes of crime in themselves, but they are generally the result of those already mentioned. Some of the commissioners have acted as Inspectors of the public prison in this city, and others have been conversant with its details and its inhabitants, as members of the prison society for many years, and have thus by frequent conversations with prisoners, become acquainted with the characters of those unhappy beings and the causes of their crime. * Report of Inspectors of Auburn prison, 1827.-page 29 of Appendix. † Dr. Mease's letter to William Roscoe of Liverpool, March 18th, 1827. The above statement is the result of their observation. In a recent report to the legislature of New York, by the Inspectors of the Auburn prison, brief biographical sketches are given, as taken from convicts, when discharged from that prison, commencing February 4th, 1826, and ending December 21st, 1826, from which it appears, that of 94 prisoners, the number discharged, twenty-nine attributed their misfortunes to intemperance and most of the others to lewdness, gambling, the profanation of the Sabbath and bad company. Of the young who are the subjects of imprisonment for crime, it may be said in general, that they were deprived in early life of the benefit of those restraints which parental care and a good education, particularly if it be a religious one, usually produce. The cure of these diseases of the mind, the source of so much crime, is most readily effected by punishment, which causes reflection on the past, and which is calculated when duly administered; to produce, under the divine blessing, a change of moral character, the only sure preventive of crime. It is always to be kept in view, that great stress is laid on the advantages of constant religious instruction, in the system we recommend. The cells are to be visited only by the officers of the prison and such special visitors as may be designated by the Legislature, in the proposed act. The officers should be men of prudence and morality, temperate and kind in their behaviour and manners, and as far as practicable, pious. 263 In a recent report of the society for the improvement of prison discipline in England, it is stated, "that the progress of religious instruction in prisons has been such as to prove beyond the possibility of doubt, that the most serious benefits and blessings to society are to be hoped, from the encouragement of this truly benevolent and interesting branch of modern prison improvement."* The superintendant of the prison in the state of Maine, in his last report to the legislature of that state, says, "it is very desirable that some further means for the moral and literary instruction of the convicts, should be adopted so that they may leave the prison, better prepared to become useful citizens." The former superintendant of the prison in New Hampshire was so well convinced of the necessity of religious instruction in prisons, as to offer a sum of money, from his own purse, in addition to what the legislature appropriated, if he could obtain a person, who would devote a considerable part of his time, to the moral and religious instruction of the convicts. The keeper of the Auburn prison, Gershom Powers, Esq. in a recent work published by him, entitled,-Brief Notices, &c." says, "I feel it a duty to state, that the views of the institution until lately, had been unfavourable to the services of a resident chaplain, from the belief that they might have had a bad effect upon the discipline of the prison." "In November, 1825, the Rev. Jared Curtis was employed and sent here, as a resident chaplain, by the has continued with ability and zeal to discharge the duMassachusetts prison discipline society, since which he ties of his office; and although strong prejudices were to be encountered, his knowledge of human nature, correct views of public policy, the penitentiary system and his duties, has not only enabled him to overcome those prison discipline, with a steady and uniform devǝtion to prejudices, but the favourable result of his labours fully justifies our expectations." The religious instructor especially, should be a man well acquainted with human nature, affectionate and firm, possessed of a meek and quiet spirit, and actuated by a desire to do good to the prisoners whom he instructs. He should visit their cheerless abodes, as their counsellor, guide, and friend: and thus obtain their confidence and attachment, especially those of the young. They would unbosom their souls with freedom; he would learn their history and character, and be enabled to suit his addresses to their dispositions and to their New York, Messrs Hopkins and Tibbetts, in their last The commissioners of the legislature of the state of circumstances. He should constantly and patiently instruct them in the principles and doctrines of the chris-report to the legislature use this language: "We betian religion, and in humble dependence on the divine had a most happy effect on the minds of the prisoners. lieve the labours of the present excellent chaplain have blessing exert all his influence in fanning the feeble He at once enjoys the good will of the prisoners, as we flame of virtue, and discouraging every appearance of vice; thus convincing them, he seeks their present and find by their almost unanimous declarations, and at the everlasting good. Who that is acquainted with the hu- same time strengthens the hands of the keepers. It man heart and the blessings which usually flow from a seems to be the effect of truth, plain dealing, and sinfaithful and humble use of the means of grace, can hesi- cere desire for the good of the convict." tate to believe, that many of the inhabitants of these cells will be brought to entertain the hope that their own moral characters have been radically changed, and that thus their punishment will result in the prevention of crime. The keeper of the Virginia penitentiary says, "I am clearly of opinion that every advantage should be given to convicts for their improvement in morality and religion." The keeper of the penitentiary in Ohio says, "I am convinced, that a proper system of religious instruction The necessity and importance of the religious instruc-is necessary, in aid of the discipline now enforced, to tion of prisoners, as the best and only sure mode of re- produce any good degree that reformation which the formation, is much insisted on by practical men, who friends of the system had in view, at its first organizaare conversant with prisons, both in England and in this tion, and which should be the primary object of all puncountry. ishment." An excellent writer on prisons, Joseph J. Gurney of We further state as a fact which has recently come to London, who has published notes on a visit made to our knowledge, that in the Walnut street prison of this some of the prisons in Scotland and the north of Eng- city, a bible class, consisting usually of from 15 to 20 land, in company with the female philanthropist, Eliz. males has been conducted for about 3 years past on the Fry, thus expresses himself in relation to the religious in- Sabbath day, by a pious and respectable gentleman of struction of prisoners. "It is the most effectual in- this city, assisted by some of his friends. It was a vostrument which Providence has placed within our reach, luntary association on the part of the conviets, and we for softening and improving the human mind, and pre- are happy to learn, that in the course of 3 years, 17 paring it for the work of the Divine Spirit; for eradicat-persons members of this class, who have left the prison ing from it the principles of falsehood, cruelty and injustice, and implanting in it those of honesty, sobriety and charity. And although, through the influence of counteracting causes, these efforts may sometimes be foiled, yet we may well be encouraged by the conspicuous and important fact, that we find amongst the ignorant, not only the most numerous, but by far the most hardened and atrocious criminals." either by pardon or expiration of their sentences, are doing well, and not one has retnrned. And so far as information has been obtained not one has been since sentenced to any other prison. • Fifth report of society for the improvement of prison discipline, London, 1823. Report of prison society of Boston, No. 2-1827. |