Windham County Temperance Society. ORGANIZED APRIL 20, 1829. DARIUS MATTHEWSON, Esq. President. Rev. AMBROSE EDSON, Secretary. Number of Members, 2,706.-19 Auxiliaries, viz. Middlesex County Temperance Society. ORGANIZED SEPT. 21, 1828. CHARLES GRISWOLD, Esq. President. CLARK NOTT, Esq. JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, Esq. Vice-Presidents. Ict. RICHARD WARNER, Rev. P. BROCKET, Rev. WILLIAM CASE, Secretary. CLARK NOTT, Esq. Treasurer. Number of Members, 3,593.-20 Auxiliaries, viz.: Tolland County Temperance Society. ORGANIZED MAY, 1829. ELISHA STEARNS, Esq. President. J. H. BROCKWAY, Esq. Secretary. Number of Members, 1,583.-14 Auxiliaries, viz. : Fairfield County Temperance Society. ORGANIZED OCT. 21, 1829. His Excellency GIDEON TOMLINSON, President. Hon. ROGER M. SHERMAN, Rev. THOMAS PUNDERSON, 4 Vice-Presidents. Rev. JOHN HUNTER, Secretary. Mr. SAMUEL A. NICHOLS, Treasurer. Number of Members, 574.-7 Auxiliaries, viz. : Letter from Capt. Pillsbury, Warden of the Connecticut State Prison, to the Secretary of the State Temperance Society. CONNECTICUT STATE PRISON, WETHERSFIELD, April 3, 1830. REV. AND DEAR SIR: In answering the several questions proposed in your note left on my table, permit me just to observe, that I can spare no more time at the present, than a mere glance, compared with the great object of inquiry, on account of the pressure of business, not only the common press, which is constantly attached to my official station, but I am just closing the books and making up a statement of the affairs of the year ending March 31,1830. The first question is, the number of prisoners; answer 167, of which number 13 are females-the next question is, the number as far as I can judge, who have been led to crime, through the intemperate use of ardent spirit; and in answering the question, I have almost been ready to say the whole without an exception, and they will generally admit this to be the case. I do very believe that more than three-quarters of them were acknowledged by themselves to be intemperate. It is now almost eleven years that I have had charge of a State Prison, and I have never known a single instance of having under my care, during the whole of that period, one who did not make use of that soul-destroying stuff, and some have acknowledged to me with tears, that they had never felt the temptation so strong as to be Induced to commit crime, (thus punishable,) except when under the influ ence of liquor. (3d.) Effect of entire abstinence on the health, strength, activity, temper and morals of the prisoners. As it regards their health there cannot be the least shadow of doubt, that the use of ardent spirit even in the smallest degree is injurious, from the fact that notwithstanding these men came diseased, and many very much enfeebled, and as it were tottering over the grave; yet no community, with the same number, can be found enjoying the same health as prisoners after a period of entire abstistince, who have no spirit to drink, but labor regularly and constantly with wholesome, yet plain and simple diet, and regular rest at night, (the latter probably not generally enjoyed by drinkers at large ;) strength, activity and temper are consequently improved, nature teaches; but if evidence is necessary, it is abundantly proved here, as is acknowledged almost every day by those who are admitted as visitors, many of whom seem to be astonished at the industry and manifest spirit of ambition. With respect to the morals, it must be here as every where else; with the use of it the morals must be debased, until all sense of moral obligation is annihilated if persisted in; I would as soon think of taming the tiger as to attempt the amelioration of the condition of these our fellow men, if ardent spirit was allowed; neither should I consider my life or the life of those who are associated with me safe; but now they are not only obedient and industrious, but kind and affectionate, and the door is opened for the reception of the Gospel. I Much has been said and much fear excited, with respect to breaking off all at once from its use, especially when they had become confirmed drunkards; but experience has taught me that there is no danger, and also that it is the only course in which we may hope to meet with success. have had, it seems to me, as desperate cases as can be found, in which the visage was dreadfully disfigured and the whole frame as it were palsiedand an increase of age in appearance, over what it should be, of twenty and sometimes thirty years, and nothing serious ever occurred, except a debility which has been restored by nursing and nourishing food, given very frequently, as the loss of appetite is the general consequence. The next question. What reason have you to suppose that any are so weaned from the love of ardent spirit here, that they will abstain from it when released? I can have no reason to hope that any one will abstain when released, merely because he has been restrained by force for a few years, unless his heart is affected and made to feel the weight of moral obligation and his accountability, except what arises from the p'easing prospects of the cause of temperance in our lant. I know this pernicious habit gets such strong hold, where it has been indulged for any length of time, that it rises above the resolution, strength or power of the individual. He must have the assistance of others, or the grace of God in his heart, else he will return to his bottle, like the dog to his vomiting, and the sow to wallowing in the mire. With this view of the subject then, how can any one who makes any pretensions to be the friends of Christ, or the friends of man, keep back from espousing the cause of entire abstinence-engage with all their might |