ed for the purpose, and in which these prisoners work. They are, therefore, properly sheltered while at their la bours; and, I have no reason to believe that more work is required of them, than they can easily perform. An immediate beneficial effect of regular employment, and of restraint from the use of spirituous liquors, is indeed most obvious, in the greatly improved health of these prisoners, after a month or two of confinement. But this,

I believe, is the only good influence, which is fairly to be ascribed to this prison. There is, I know, a temporary security, in regard to the individuals who are sent here, that they who have been annoyed, or injured by them, will not again suffer this annoyance or injury, during the time for which the offenders are committed. But not only is all security respecting them limited to this term; but I believe, and doubt not, that the increased disposition, and capacity for evil, which are acquired dur ing a confinement of three, four, or six months,—and some, be it known, are confined here for one and two years, produce afterwards an insecurity, and an actual amount of injury and suffering, which are in many cases more than a balance for the temporary good which was experienced. I admit of individual exceptions to this remark. But it is true to an alarming extent, and it ought to arouse to serious consideration all who are interested in the moral well being of our city.

Here are from sixty, to ninety men. From the time of sunset, to sunrise through the year, they are in their rooms. Here are 'common drunkards,' 'pilferers,'' vagabonds,'' thieves ;' and, one or more of those who are confined for the other various offences, for which men are sent to this prison. Sometimes there are also those here, who

room.

have passed through a term of confinement in the State Prison, and who have had all the advantages of that prison, to qualify them to be instructers in this. One would think the evil, then, to be great enough, if there was no communication but between the inmates of the same But here, as in the prison for females, the convicts can, with the greatest ease, converse with those who are in the rooms which are near to them; and, where the voice cannot be extended, letters may, without any difficulty, be transmitted from room to room. Suppose, then, a young pilferer, or a young drunkard, to be sent to this prison; and such are always to be found there. He is locked up, at this season, from five o'clock in the afternoon, to eight in the morning, with the adroit thief; or, with him who has for years been abandoned to intemperance, and perhaps to all profligacy; or, it may be, with three, or four, who have been committed for different offences, each of whom is glad to impart all that he knows of the ways of transgression; and, quite as glad to be taught by the advice, and the experience, of his companions. In the rooms of the prisoners may be found a Bible, and a few tracts. But, if one should be inclined to read his Bible with seriousness, he may soon be laughed out of this, and of every other good disposition. From sunset, to sunrise, with the exception of the hours given to sleep, the employment of the prisoners here is,-conversation. Each gives his own history, and the history of all his friends. Each dwells, or has the opportunity of dwelling, upon his exploits; of repeating the thrice told, and untiring tale, of his successes, and his disappointments; and of forming his plans, and strengthening his resolutions, for the time to come. Can it be supposed to be

otherwise in a prison, where seventy, or eighty men, are shut up for fourteen or fifteen hours of every day, in nine contiguous rooms under the same roof; and who are debarred from unnecessarily speaking to each other, during their hours of labor? What topics have they for conversation, except the circumstances of their own, and of the lives of their acquaintances? Besides, they are, almost to a man, exasperated against those who have been the instruments of their conviction. And each so strongly sympathizes with the other, in the expression of this feeling, that if a confession of guilt should be obtained from any one, the intercourse of a few hours with his companions would entirely efface any sentiment of contrition, and make him as hardy as the rest in maintaining his innocence. Does any one suspect that this may be an exaggerated statement? I have not asked the Overseers of this prison to permit me to appeal to them, for the truth of my statements. But I do refer any one to them, who has a doubt upon the subject.

After speaking with so much freedom of these prisoners, I feel that it is due to them to say, that, at least of a large number of them, there would be ground for very strong hope of their restoration to virtue, usefulness and happiness, in any circumstances which should be favourable to the exertion of a moral influence upon them. Here great numbers are sent, who are otherwise virtuous, in the common acceptation of the term,-than as they are intemperate; and, some thus confined for intemperance, are under twentyone years of age. And here are others, whose crime was some small theft; and who were never guilty of a greater legal offence, than that for which they are committed. But, the best, and the worst

are here brought together; and, during about half the number of their waking hours, they are left with all possible freedom to act upon one another. They are almost as little inclined to reading, as they are to solitary thinking, for they have been equally unaccustomed to either. They would, therefore, converse together, if it were but to wear away the time. And of what shall they converse? Will it be strange, if here should be some,— perhaps but a few,-who are disposed to set at nought all moral restraint, and with whom religion, in every form, is but a jest? Here, it is known, are some, who have been long practised in wrong doing; and who, however dull in other respects, are very shrewd, and even skilful, in making the wrong, with respect to themselves and their companions, appear the better reason. Ought we to be surprised, then, if even he who entered this prison in tears for the offence which sent him there, should go from it with self-congratulation in a conviction of his innocence; and with a mind prepared for any offence, which he could believe he might commit with safety? I should as soon think of sending a diseased man, for the recovery of his health, into a Lazaretto infected with the plague, as of sending a convict to this prison for reformation.

It is not easy, upon a subject like this, to state many facts from personal observation. A convict does not intentionally, or willingly, discover much of his character to one, who but occasionally visits him. I have conversed much with the prisoners, with an earnest desire to be useful to them; and I have received from many a confession of their faults, and apparently very sincere promises of amendment. But when I have followed any of these prisoners to their homes, after their discharge I,

son.

have found, in every instance, that this confession, and these promises, were of little worth. And I have found, too, I believe in every such case, that he who has been imprisoned there, has felt himself to have been essentially injured in a moral view, by the intercourse of the pri And the wives, and parents, whose children and husbands have been so returned to them, agree in the tes timony, that the evil which they had hoped would have been cured, or at least checked, has rather been increased, or perhaps incurably established, by their imprisonment. These, in my view, are far greater evils in a prison, than the want of light, or of a free and healthy atmosphere, or of sufficient and wholesome food. They are far greater evils to the individuals who are the subjects of them; and, in proportion as they may be obviated, they are just causes of far greater reproach to the society which sanctions, and supports them.

I feel bound here also to say, that the classification of these prisoners, as of the females in the other house, is altogether impracticable. The very character of the buildings forbids it. No one, I believe, can be more desirous, than are the Overseers of the House of Correction, in every possible way to promote the moral and religious good of those, who are there committed to their charge. They are careful to secure a religious service for the men, as well as for the women, on every Sunday; and, when a clergyman cannot be found, who can perform this service, it is performed by one of these Overseers. But if any one should thus be brought to repentance, the effect might well be deemed miraculous.

Here we leave the House of Correction, and proceed to the debtors' prison in the Common Jail. Here, I have