Tthis Society, not only as reHE increasing importance of spects this country, but the whole civilized world, induces us to lay before our readers a somewhat copious analysis of the interesting contents of its last Report.

The Committee remark, that "at the commencement of their labours they felt assured that the subject of prison discipline had not obtained that share of public attention to which it was justly entitled. The enlightened zeal of the philanthropic Howard had indeed laid open the secrets of the prison-house, and the disclosure had exhibited many affecting scenes of human misery; but the researches of that eminent man had been chiefly directed to the removal of disease, and the alleviation of bodily suffering: the moral evils of imprisonment its unavoidable tendency to corrupt, and the means by which it might be rendered instrumental to reclaim—were views which had not become the subject of direct investigation, and in which public feeling had been but partially interested. The general attention, however, which subjects connected with criminal jurisprudence have of late secured in this country, is very striking. The actual tendency of punishments, CHRIST. OBSERV. APP.

the true ends to which they ought alone to be directed, and the most efficacious plans of salutary restraint and moral discipline, have been ably examined. Facts have been collected, and opinions submitted to their test. The claims of humanity, even in her most debased and guilty forms, have been investigated and allowed. Principles, heretofore unthought of, or disputed, have been recognised and incorporated with the public institutions of the country. Erroneous systems, which time had sanctioned, and custom reconciled, have yielded to the force of discussion, and the power of truth; and few are now disposed to deny, that the reformation of criminals is a duty dictated by humanity, enjoined by religion, and urged by every motive which regard for the public welfare can suggest."

In reply to some objections which have been urged against the objects of the institution, the Committee remark, "that the practicability of reclaiming criminals is proved, not by fanciful theories, founded, as is alleged, on mistaken notions of benevolence, but by the evidence of facts. Whether, indeed, the mind of the offender be really impressed with the turpitude of his guilt; whether he avoid the further per

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petration of crime, from hatred of vice, or from dread of punishment, the Committee pretend not to determine; but one thing is perfect ly clear, that, in a great number of instances, offenders, even the most hardened, who have for a reasonable time been subjected to a wellregulated system of discipline, do abstain from the further violation of the law, and have, in a variety of cases, been known to abandon their criminal pursuits. To this important truth, the testimony of the most experienced magistrates affords abundant evidence. Numbers who, on entering confinement, were debased by nearly every vice that can degrade human nature, whose repeated offences had formerly occasioned their frequent committal to the same gaol, have not, since the establishment of a strict and improved discipline, been found again within its walls; and, on inquiry, it has been ascertained that they have applied themselves to habits of honest industry."

They add A good prison is a school of moral discipline, where incentives to vice are removed; where drunkenness, gambling, and dissipation are superseded by abstiuence, order, and restraint; where, by seclusion and classification, the evils resulting from contamination are prevented; where the refractory are subdued by punishment, and the idle compelled to labour until industry becomes a habit." In consequence, few prisoners, after their discharge from a good gaol, return to it, while the number of re-committals to an illconducted one is generally considerable; and the number invariably diminishes in proportion to the good management of the prison.

During the last year, the improvement in the construction and management of gaols has been progressive; and the magistrates throughout the kingdom evince an earnest desire to amend those within their jurisdiction. The great

advantages of inspection become better understood; and in most of the gaols about to be erected, that important object has obtained consideration: provision has also been made for suitable classification, and for the introduction of various branches of labour.

Great exertions have been made to introduce occupation into prisons; and in the manufacturing counties, where there are fewer difficulties in this respect than in other districts, the employment of the prisoners has been attended with considerable profit. The Committee state, that experience has fully confirmed the hopes entertained of the salutary effect of the Stepping Mill, which affords the means of providing active labour for the prisoners. The mill may be used for grinding corn, turning machinery, or almost any other purpose for which power is required. To shew the benefits of this description of labour on the moral conduct of the prisoners, the Committee quote the following extract of a letter received from an active and intelligent magistrate of the county of Hertford:

"I feel the greatest satisfaction in being able to assure you, from my own observation, that very considerable improvement has already taken place. Formerly, persons of all descriptions, and of all ages, were indiscriminately mixed together, there being but one yard and one day-room. Not having labour of any kind, the time of the pri soners was by necessity spent in idleness, no resource being left them but the miserable one of forming plans for future mischief, and instructing the less depraved though unhappily willing learners in the ways of wickedness and vice. Quarrels also among them were very frequent. All is now changed. The prisoners are divided into four classes. Each class works by itself, nor can any communication take place between the classes. The men, instead of being riotous

and noisy, are (generally speaking) well-behaved, orderly, and quiet. That they go to their daily labour with reluctance must be confessed; for they have a horror of the mill, and would sooner undergo, as they all declare, any fatigue, or suffer any deprivation, than return to the house of correction when once released. As a proof of the truth of this, I have known only one in stance of a re-commitment since the first of August, 1820, when the mill was set to work. Previously to this, the re-commitment of vagrants, as well as of others, was a common thing. Hard labour has, however, effected the cure; and I shall be grievously mistaken if more than a very few ever return, after one month's trial in our present Bridewell."

This gentleman adds-" It is gratifying to me to be able to report two cases of notorious poachers, as well as bad men, who were committed for three months for not paying the penalty after couviction; but who, in consequence of extreme contrition and good conduct, were, at the intercession of the clergyman of the parish, released before the expiration of their term of punishment; and upon leaving the house of correction they declared that they had been completely brought to their senses, spoke with gratitude of the benefit they had derived from the advice of the chaplain, and promised, upon their return to their parish, that they would go to their minister to express their thanks for his interceding for them; and, moreover, that they would for the future attend their duty regularly at church." It is pleasing to add, that these promises have been faithfully performed.

But classification and employment cannot of themselves be expected to reclaim the guilty, True reforma tion of character must be grounded on religious principle; and no system of prison discipline, therefore, can be fully efficacious, in which religious instruction does not form

a prominent part. At present our gaols are very defective in this particular. In some prisons, particularly those under corporate jurisdictions, no Divine service whatever is performed; in many, the labours of the clergyman are confined to the performance of service once on the Sunday; and even in the best regulated prisons, with few exceptions, prayers are read only occasionally during the week. The Committee justly ask, "Can such limited services be expected. to make a deep impression on characters, many of whom are of the most hardened dispositions, and devoid of all previous instruction?"

In France, this subject has excited much attention among the friends to prison discipline. The Report of the Prison Society of Paris observes, that it is contrary to common sense that the chaplain to a gaol should only perform the offices of religion two or three times a week; and that, if the prisoner has no private opportunities of learning and valuing the character of his minister, he can scarcely be expected to regard casual instruction with interest, or to respect the observance of religious duties. The Report mentions, in illustration, the conduct of the excellent Père Joussony, who being sent, by the Consul at Algiers, to minister to the slaves, fixed his residence in their prison; and, during a period of thirty years, never quitted his post. Being compelled to repair to France for a short period, he returned again to the prison, and at length resigned his breath in the midst of those for whose interests he had laboured, and who were, dearer to him than life. In our own gaols, under the present system, the remuneration authorised by law is so inadequate to maintain a chaplain, as to render it necessary that he should undertake other profession. al engagements The Prison Bill, lately introduced into Parliament, has, however, provided, in some degree, a remedy, by granting such

allowances as will enable a chaplain to devote his whole time and attention to his prison duties.

We are happy to find, that in many prisons, the instruction of the prisoners in reading and writing has been attended with excellent effects. Prison schools have been formed at Bedford, Durham, Chelmsford, Winchester, Hereford, Maidstone, the Leicester House of Correction, Shrewsbury, Warwick, Worcester, &c. Much valuable assistance has been derived in this department from the labours of respectable individuals, especially females, acting under the sanction of the magistrates, and the direction of the chaplain.

The Ladies' Committees visiting Newgate and the Borough Compter, have continued to devote them selves to the improvement of the female prisoners; and the beneficial effects of their exertions have been evinced by the gradual decrease in the number of female prisoners recommitted,amounting to no less than forty per cent. Female convicts embarking for New South Wales, are furnished by the Ladies' Association with the means of employment, and of moral and religious instruction on the voyage; and a system has been established well calculated to promote good order during the passage. Not a vessel now departs for New South Wales, with female convicts, without carrying to that distant shore abundant marks of 1be unwearied efforts of these ladies to reform the character, and alle viate the miseries, of the female criminal. Females also who are discharged from Newgate, destitute, but disposed to return to the paths of virtue, are suitably assisted. The admirable example of this Association has been success. fully followed, not in this country only, but on the Continent. At Bedford, Plymouth, Lancaster, Chester and York, similar Associations have been formed; and at Paris, St. Petersburg, Geneva, Berne, and Turin, ladies of distin

guished rank have engaged with ardour in this truly useful and commendable work.

In Wales, the subject of prison discipline has attracted much attention, and active measures are adopting for the amendment of the prisons. In Scotland, also, there is reason to hope, that a society will be formed for diffusing infor mation on the subject. In Ireland, likewise, the Dublin Association for the improvement of prisons, formed in the year 1818, under the patronage of the Right Hon. Charles Grant, has awakened a very general desire to promote the objects of the institution, and even already accounts have been procured of the condition of nearly every prison in Ireland. This investigation has given publicity to many scenes of suffering. Of one gaol the Committee write-" We found some of the prisoners lying on straw. In one cell, 73 feet by 7 feet, three men slept every night. In every part the dirt was most disgusting. The want of classification is horrible in its effects. The worst felons are mixed with those guilty, and even accused only, of petty misdemea. nours. Great numbers must have passed through this gaol within the last few years; each man forced into temporary contact with vice, in its most abandoned form, and then sent home to spread the pol lution through his family and neighbourhood."

Adverting to another Irish gaol, it is remarked-"Beyond locking up the prisoners in their sleeping cells, no means of separation are afforded for either males or females, debtors or felons, old or young, tried or untried; and the melancholy consequences are daily visible in corrupting the innocent, and hardening the criminal. Instances are by no means rare, of persons committed for venial misdemeanours, when turned out, becoming confirmed offenders." To these accounts might be added others equally revolting: we are happy, however, to