,transcribers' notes are placed after the text4 ,,vol4 ,,viii4 ,,terms3--,,one ,,dollar ,a ,,year ,,in ,,advance4 ,,no4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,pennsylvania ,,journal ,,of ,,prison ,,discipline ,,and ,,philanthropy4 ,,published ,,quarterly ,,under ,,the ,,direction ,,of ,,the ,,philadelphia ,,society ,,for ,,alleviating ,,the ,,miseries ,,of ,,public ,,prisons1 ,,instituted #aghg4 ,the separation of one prisoner from another is the only sound basis on which a reformatory 7prison7 discipline can be established with any reasonable hope of success4--,fifth ,report of ,inspectors of ,english ,prisons4 ,,april1 #ahec4 ,,philadelphia3 ,e4 ,c4 ,,and ,j4 ,,biddle1 ,,southwest ,,corner ,,of ,,fifth ,,and ,,minor ,,streets4 ,,london3 ,,charles ,,gilpin4 #ahec4 ,isaac ,ashmead1 ,printer4 ,,contents ,,of ,,no4 ,,ii4 ,art4 ,i4--,moral and ,religious ,instruction of ,convicts1 #ec ,,ii4--,report of the ,discipline and ,management of the #fa ,convict-,prisons1 and ,disposal of ,convicts1 7,england17 ,,iii4--,sources and ,checks of ,juvenile ,delinquency1 #gj ,,iv4--,pennsylvania ,penitentiaries1 #gh ,v4--,should ,convicts be ,received into the ,state ,lunatic #hb ,hospital at ,harrisburg8 ,,vi4--,report of the ,condition of the ,new ,jersey ,state ,prison1 #hi ,,vii4--,an ,extraordinary ,document1 #ic ,,viii4--,a ,philanthropic ,perplexity1 #if ,,miscellaneous ,,notices4 ,vagrant ,children of ,new ,york1 #ih-ii ,street ,begging in ,new ,york1 #ii ,new ,york ,prison ,association1 #ajj ,new ,york ,state ,prisons1 #ajj ,be beforehand with the ,tempter1 #aja ,new ,penitentiary in ,massachusetts1 #aja ,state ,prison at ,charlestown 7,mass417 #aja ,illinois ,penitentiary1 #ajb ,new ,state ,reform ,school1 #ajb ,juvenile ,offenders1 #ajb ,singular ,avocation and ,mode of ,life in ,london1 #ajc ,death from ,separation1 #ajc ,murders in ,philadelphia1 #ajd ,missouri ,insane ,asylum1 #ajd ,missouri ,penitentiary1 #ajd ,items of general ,information1 #aje-ajg ,acknowledgments1 #ajg ,premium for an ,essay on ,juvenile ,delinquency1 #ajh ,,notice ,,of ,,this ,,journal4 ,it embodies more information on the subject of prisons1 arranged and expressed in the spirit of literature and science1 than any other publication of our country and will compare with any ,journal devoted to this department of knowledge in ,europe4--,hon4 ,charles ,sumner's ,speech1 in debate on prison question in ,boston1 ,may1 #ahdg4 ,,recent ,,notices4 ,from the ,north ,american and ,united ,states' ,gazette4 ,we have received from ,messrs4 ,e4 ,c4 ,j4 ,biddle the last number of the ,pennsylvania ,journal of ,prison ,discipline1 which is published quarterly1 under the direction of the ,philadelphia ,society for alleviating the ,miseries of ,public ,prisons4 ,a glance through its pages shows what is well understood--that it is a highly valuable periodical1 communicating much and various important information upon the subject of which it treats4 ,it is the only publication of the kind in the country1 is certainly a very much needed one1 and ought1 therefore1 to be well sustained by the public4 7,see #c;d page of ,cover47 ,,the ,,pennsylvania ,,journal ,,of ,,prison ,,discipline4 ,,vol4 ,,viii4--,,april1 #ahec--,no4 #b4 ,,art4 ,i4--,,moral ,,and ,,religious ,,instruction ,,of ,,convicts4 ,the readers of this ,journal need not be told that we are not very sanguine in our expectations of the permanent reformation of the mass of convicts4 ,there are doubtless instances enough of success in such efforts to warrant and encourage them1 and we are not to suppose that they are ever wholly useless4 ,the true position for us to take is this4 ,the earlier we address ourselves to the cultivation of right principles and habits in a human being1 the more hopeful is the prospect of success2 but there is a power in truth and love1 which has not seldom overcome the most sturdy depravity2 and while we have the precept and example of ,him who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance1 to prompt and stimulate our efforts in that direction1 we have ,his promise too1 that whatever is done in ,his name1 and out of love to ,him1 shall in no wise lose its reward4 ,it is under the influence of these views that we have looked with interest and anxiety to the religious and moral influences which enter into the discipline of our penitentiaries4 ,to no section of their annual reports1 do we turn with more eagerness than to that from the chaplain or moral instructor2 and though now and then a well-digested and satisfactory account is furnished1 we are often compelled to be content with very vague generalities4 ,a specimen of the religious discourses addressed to these unhappy congregations2 a true sketch of a dialogue on some religious or moral topic held with one of them in his cell2 a synopsis of a month's labors1 showing the various methods employed1 direct and incidental1 to reach the sympathies1 and awaken better motives and desires of the heart1 or a brief analysis of those obstacles to moral and religious influences1 which may be properly regarded as peculiar to prison life1--all these1 or any of them would greatly relieve the monotony of the reports of chaplains and moral instructors1 and would add materially to our means of judging of the fitness of their labors to the character and circumstances of those on whom they are bestowed4 ,we are often favored with such specimens of the various methods in which instruction in secular knowledge is conveyed to the ignorant1 and enabled to choose between them according to their apparent appropriateness4 ,why should not the like opportunity be afforded in respect to the more difficult and perplexing task of enlightening adult ignorance1 counteracting deeply-depraved tendencies1 and up-rooting established habits of evil8 ,it was with the hope of bringing this important department of our penitentiary discipline more distinctly to view1 and of making its principles more practical and definite1 that the ,prison ,society recently took the subject up1 and referred it to a committee for consideration and report4 ,at the meeting in ,january last a full report was submitted1 from which we make the following extracts3 ,it will be conceded on all hands1 we presume1 that moral instruction is an important element of every system of ,prison ,discipline4 ,we are aware that in some of the largest prisons of ,europe little1 if any1 importance is attached to it2 but whenever there is any hope of reforming the character of a convict1 or of establishing a permanent restraining principle1 it must be founded on some improvement in his moral feelings and habits4 ,that peculiar difficulties and embarrassments should attend any approach to this unhappy class of our fellow beings1 with a view to mould moral character1 would seem very natural2 but is it not possible that we exaggerate the difference between them and the mass of the world1 in respect to their susceptibilities of good impressions8 ,may we not easily forget that between a score of men in our prison cells1 and twenty score of men that may be selected from society at large1 the only difference is that the former are detected rogues1 and the latter are 7perhaps greater7 rogues undetected8 ,the ins and the outs are equally open to moral influences1 and yet we should be very likely to think of the ins as almost hopelessly beyond their reach1 while the outs might be esteemed fair subjects of them4 ,it is moreover surprising how much farther a conviction of crime goes to exclude men from the pale of sympathy and the offer of assistance1 than crime itself4 ,the guilt of hundreds of men at large is as fully established in the public mind1 as that of any convict in our penitentiary2 yet we do not regard it as at all impracticable to reach them with appropriate moral influences4 ,we should not hesitate to commend books to their attention1 to invite and urge them to attend some place of worship1 nor to counsel them to abandon all evil courses4 ,why should we have less faith in the like means when employed upon no worse men1 after their character has been defined by a judicial sentence8 ,for though true it is that the presumption of innocence is only taken away by the proof of guilt1 yet when looking at men as the subjects of moral influences and sympathies1 the fact that one is in prison and another at large really makes much less difference than is generally supposed4 ,thus much it seemed needful to say1 by way of answer to those who distrust all efforts for the reformation of convicts1 regarding them as visionary1 if not ,quixotic4 ,it is to be regretted that such incredulity sometimes possesses the minds of those who have the chief oversight and direction of the discipline of our penal institutions4 ,the deception1 hypocrisy and treachery of convicts1 which they so often witness1 naturally confirms their distrust and may very easily excite prejudices against any attempt to improve their moral condition4 ,we are far from representing the moral and religious instruction of convicts as an easy task4 ,it requires much patience1 simplicity1 tact and earnestness1 a rare knowledge of human nature1 and a combination of adjunct influences which are not always at command4 ,we only mean to affirm that whatever force lies in the argument against efforts for the moral reformation of convicts1 may be used against such efforts for any other class of men4 ,it would be a happy thing for our prisons1 if the spirit of ,christian benevolence were sufficiently awakened and active to ensure the needful measure of sympathy1 instruction and moral culture from voluntary and unpaid service4 ,but necessity seems to be laid upon us to provide a more permanent and reliable system of agencies and influences4 ,one or more officers appointed to this specific work of giving instruction to the ignorant1 and presenting motives and encouragements to a better life to those who are accustomed to do evil1 seems to be indispensable to secure any thing like a proper attention to this important department4 ,hence the call for a chaplain or moral instructor4 ,in looking at the condition of our two ,philadelphia prisons in respect to the provision for moral instruction1 we are constrained to say1 that it is not such either in efficiency or success1 as we think desirable1 attainable1 and indeed absolutely necessary4 ,instead of bringing to view1 however1 what some of us might regard as grave defects in the present incumbents of the moral instructor's office1 we will suggest what we cannot but regard as indispensable requisites in such a functionary1 and leave those who have the appointing and removing power to exercise it at their discretion4 ,i4 ,a moral instructor should exemplify in the minutest particulars the moral principles he inculcates4--,any obvious neglect or evasion of duty1 any appearance of hypocrisy or inconsistency1 any sallies of ill-humour or fretfulness1 any impatience of contradiction and unteachableness in his pupils1 the most trivial breach of promise1 or in a word1 any departure from an upright1 open and ingenuous deportment1 will detract sensibly from his power to do good4 ,,ii4 ,he should possess the faculty of adapting himself to the various characters and temperaments of convicts4--,we do not mean by this that he should have any other faculty than such as shrewd men of common sense ordinarily possess1 and on which they depend for much of their success in business4 ,but it is by no means a rare thing to find a prison chaplain1 or moral instructor peculiarly deficient in this point1 and there is nothing which is likely to strike the class of people with whom he has to deal more quickly or more unhappily than a weakness of this kind1 especially in one who is set to be their teacher and guide4 ,,iii4 ,in such an office1 the motive of benevolence and sympathy should be seen to have the predominance over the motive of self-interest4--,the laborer in this department1 as well as in all others1 is worthy of his hire1 but if those he would influence discover in the manner of doing his work1 or in his general intercourse1 that he acts the part of a mere functionary1 having his beat like a police officer1 and fulfilling an appointed task like a delver or ditcher1 his usefulness will be greatly circumscribed4 ,and this suggests ,,iv4 ,a fourth quality in a chaplain or moral instructor1 viz43 a warm1 glowing1 personal1 enthusiastic sympathy with the population of the prison4--,he is a physician among a company of diseased and dying patients4 ,they are bidden to look to him for direction and to confide in his prescriptions1 7though not in his power or skill17 for a cure of their maladies4 ,if he has felt in his own person the presence of the same disease1 7though perhaps in a less offensive and aggravated form17 and has known the value of a remedy1 he will not look with indifference on their symptoms1 nor hear unmoved their sighs and groans4 ,he will have a tear of sympathy for the suffering2 a helping hand for the weak and trembling1 and will deal honestly but gently with the impatient and froward4 ,they are guilty1 and is he without sin8 ,they are suffering the penalty of a wholesome law1 and what but an unseen hand has restrained him from violating it8 ,while therefore1 he sets before them1 honestly and faithfully1 the evil of their ways1 he will give power and persuasiveness to his words by the tender and sympathizing tones in which they are uttered4 ,while he points them to a merciful and faithful high priest that has past into the heavens1 and ever lives to make intercession for guilty1 penitent men1 he shows that1 like that same high priest1 he is touched with the feeling of their infirmities and sympathizes in their bondage4 ,v4 ,a chaplain or moral instructor should have good judgment in the selection of subjects of conversation and instruction1 and in his methods of illustration4--,it is not unfrequently the case1 that the most harsh and repulsive views of moral and religious truth are presented to those whose minds are already filled with prejudice and hostility1 as if it were needful 7as it is said to be in some bodily diseases7 to make them worse before attempting to make them better4 ,a man of ferocious temper is the last person to tame a wild beast2 nor will a severe and offensive presentation of the most precious truth be likely to win an already alienated mind4 ,to charge home their guilt on convicts1 and make them feel that they have as good as they deserve1 even if their situation were much worse than it is1 will never pave the way for moral influences4 ,it requires good judgment to select topics for the moral and religious instruction of convicts1 and much skill and tact to illustrate them4 ,a false position on a moral subject will be quite as likely to strike a congregation of rogues as a congregation of honest men2 and it is wonderful how the faith of a disciple is weakened by a single material error in a teacher4 ,the moral instructor of prisoners1 having nothing to do with points of polemic theology or subtle casuistry1 has a plain and easy path if he is only willing to keep it4 ,the elementary truths of religion and morality1 which lie within the comprehension alike of a child and of an angel1 and which are recognized by all sober-minded men as the basis and stamina of all true moral reformation1 are to be explained and enforced1 and their influence in promoting happiness1 respectability and prosperity in this life and in preparing us for the future1 is to be clearly exhibited4 ,in illustrating these truths1 much depends on a seasonable reference to those things within the knowledge or present consciousness of the convicts4 ,incidents of daily observation--the familiar phenomena of nature1 their own history in its social and moral relations1 7with which the teacher is supposed to have made himself acquainted7 will furnish topics appropriate in character and abundant in variety4 ,,vi4 ,it is very important that a moral instructor should possess the faculty of casual teaching4--,it is an easy thing to occupy ten or fifteen minutes in talking with a convict1 but if he would leave something behind him for the man to ponder and reflect on when the cell-door closes again1 the visitor or instructor must weigh well what he says1 and seize the opportunity to drop a casual word of admonition1 or encouragement1 or intimidation1 as the condition and habits of each individual may warrant4 ,these casual suggestions often have far more weight than a studied sermon1 or an elaborate and earnest exhortation4 ,the methods of exerting an influence over others1 and especially over thoughtless and perverse persons1 would be much more appropriate and effective were they governed less by the teacher's own state of mind1 and more by the state of the mind which he wishes to change4 ,moral instructors of all grades are oftentimes in the dark respecting the mental condition and habits of their catechumens2 and prison chaplains or instructors not unfrequently err in occupying so much of their interviews in expostulation1 reproof and entreaty1 as to leave no proper opportunity to hear1 much less to draw out1 an expression of the convict's own feelings4 ,in such a case their labors1 however well meant1 lose much of their value1 and are sometimes worse than wasted4 ,,vii4 ,it is highly desirable that instruction in sound learning should be combined with instruction in religious and moral duties4--,he who opens our minds to the apprehension of new and valuable ideas1 gains an important ascendancy over us4 ,the labors of a faithful and skilful teacher are always remembered with gratitude4 ,now there are a thousand opportunities in the course of ordinary instruction1 even in the simple branches of reading and writing1 to throw out suggestions of duty and interest1 which a watchful teacher will eagerly improve4 ,in the setting of a copy1 in the reading of a paragraph1 and even in the spelling of a word1 such an opportunity may present itself4 ,powerful and lasting associations are often established in this way4 ,the familiar sentence-- ,evil communications corrupt good manners1 which has for a century perhaps1 been used as a copy in writing-schools and classes1 and which was originally selected1 probably1 because there is so large a proportion of letters of the simplest formation1 has doubtless been fixed in the minds of thousands by the use of it in such a connection4 ,when it is remembered how transient1 uncertain and unfavorable is the opportunity to impress at all the minds of convicts1 we may well insist upon the strictest economy in the use of such as we have4 ,,viii4 ,as a library has become an almost indispensable appendage to our prisons1 the moral instructor should be competent1 not only to select the most appropriate book for the use of the convicts1 but also to distribute them with judgment when under his care4--,the most preposterous errors are often detected in some of our prisons on both these points4 ,where books are kindly given for such a purpose1 reference is seldom had to the appropriateness of them4 ,they are not wanted by the donor1 and are therefore given to the prison4 ,the moral instructor should be held responsible for every book that goes upon the shelves of the prison library1 and he should be so familiar with the general character and design of each volume1 as to determine as to its appropriateness to the condition1 capacity and present habit of each prisoner's mind4 ,,ix4 ,we are clear that the moral instructor should reside within the prison walls1 and be expected to have the same constancy in duties and responsibilities as the warden1 or any other resident officer4 ,there is no hour of the day in which he may not find or make an opportunity of doing good1 and it is only by identifying himself with the daily routine of prison-duties1 and with the interests of all concerned in their administration1 that he can properly execute his work4 ,x4 ,the character and position of the moral instructor should be such as to command the respect and confidence of the officers and inspectors4--,there is no such thing as hood-winking prisoners on such a subject as this4 ,they soon discover how much respect the executive authorities feel for the man who is appointed to such an office1 and it is vain to suppose their estimation of him by those within the cells will be any higher4 ,the moral thermometer on the outside and the inside of the partition wall1 will indicate a similar temperature on this1 and on most other subjects4 ,there are prison chaplains and moral instructors in the world1 whose characters and opinions challenge the regard and respect not only of prison officers and visitors1 but of the public at large2 and such have uniformly exerted a most sensible and happy influence on the wretched congregations committed to their charge4 ,if the moral instructors in our ,state and ,county prisons are of this stamp1 we may well congratulate ourselves that so important a post is adequately filled4 ,if they are not possessed1 in some good degree1 of the qualities which have been enumerated1 the sooner they are removed the better shall we regard it for the prison and for the public1 for we are clear that an incompetent incumbent of such an office is an instrument of more evil than good4 ,,art4 ,,ii4--,,report ,,of ,,the ,,discipline ,,and ,,management ,,of ,,the ,,convict ,,prisons ,,and ,,disposal ,,of ,,convicts1 #ahea-b1 with notes on the ,construction of ,prisons1 ,treatment and ,disposal of ,juvenile ,offenders1 c4 ,by ,lieutenant ,colonel ,jebb1 ,surveyor ,general of prisons of ,england1 c41 pp4 #bah1 with numerous plates4 ,this document is dated in ,june last1 and came to hand since our ,january number was issued4 ,in a cursory reading of it1 we have noted several points of general interest1 and without attempting a classification of the topics1 we will imagine our readers to be looking over our shoulder as we rapidly turn the leaves1 making now and then a brief comment or two4 ,in the ten prisons for separate confinement in ,england proper1 there is room for #b1dei convicts1 and #b1aic were in prison1 leaving unoccupied accommodations for #bff4 ,in the three prisons for labor on the public works there were #a1ica confined1 and only #ag more could have been received4 ,in the hulks1 there were #a1ghj and only two vacancies2 and in the ,juvenile ,prison at ,parkhurst1 there were #egg tenants and #bi vacancies4 ,the total convict population of the year was #i1jcc1 and there were #cee more on hand ,december #ca1 #ahea1 than at the same date in the previous year4 ,of the whole number1 #ac were removed to ,lunatic ,asylums during the year1 #adg were pardoned1 7of whom #gf were on medical grounds17 and #aaa died4 ,in the report of the ,millbank prison1 we have an incidental testimony from the chaplain to the moral advantages of separation1 which we think valuable4 ,of moral improvement1 however1 as regards the many1 embracing change of principle and real amendment of character1 he feels 7he says7 considerable diffidence4 ,bearing in mind the circumstances of the prison1--the period of separate confinement1 rarely exceeding six months1 being somewhat brief to be permanently effective for reformatory purposes--the danger of any good impressions made during that period 7the seed-time of reformation7 being effaced when prisoners are transferred to the large rooms and general ward1 where the opportunity is withdrawn from those under incipient convictions of being ever left alone with their conscience1 and the spiritual exercises of the more advanced in religion1 both meditation and prayer1 are subject to disturbance4 ,if this opinion is the result of intelligent and long continued observation1 7as we suppose it to be17 it is certainly very conclusive as to the value and indispensableness of convict-separation as a means of reform4 ,the italic words are all found of the same character in the original document4 ,they form1 when read by themselves1 a memorable sentence1 and one which we respectfully commend to all those who stand in doubt on the subject4 ,moral improvement or real amendment of character1 to be permanently effective among the many1 is not to be expected in large rooms and general wards4 ,they require to be left alone with their conscience4 ,from ,pentonville1 we have a very favorable report1 especially as it regards the health1 physical and mental4 ,only two cases of insanity have occurred during the year among #efa prisoners1 and of these one had low intellectual development1 which made him incapable of learning a trade2 and the other1 though only #bf years of age1 had been previously convicted and imprisoned three times4 ,he was suddenly seized with mania three weeks only after commitment1 and cerebral disease was presumed by the physician to have been upon him when received4 ,concerning both of the cases the physician remarks1 that the insanity was not traceable to the operation of separation on the minds of the prisoners4--p4 #aa4 ,we venture to say that no prison on any plan or system can show cleaner papers respecting the health of an equal number of convicts4 ,it seems that immediately succeeding this year of remarkable health1 in the course of the first half of the year #aheb1 an unusually large number of cases of mental affection occurred1 which led to the substitution of brisk walking in concentric rings for exercise in separate airing yards--the abolition of the mask or peak which was found useless as a preventive of recognition1 and the doing away of the chapel stalls4 ,it is well known that these three features of the ,pentonville system were designed to carry out the principle of strict separation4 ,if they were found ineffectual for this purpose1 their abandonment is a matter of no moment2 and as the term of imprisonment in this penitentiary is regarded as probationary1 and is moreover restricted to twelve months1 we can scarcely suppose that such changes were required by way of relaxing the discipline4 ,colonel ,jebb gives us to understand that the prejudices of the public against separate confinement are gradually subsiding1 and he thinks it of greater importance to the more general introduction of the system that every effort should be made to secure its great advantages without again raising the question of its safety4 ,is there no danger1 however1 that its efficacy may be so far diminished by needless relaxation1 as to make it scarcely worth the trouble of introducing it8 ,we have not a shadow of evidence1 nor even an intimation that the supposed increase of insanity was in the slightest degree the result of severe discipline2 nor have we any report from the medical officer1 visiting or resident1 as to the existence of such an unusually large number of cases of mental affection4 ,but whether they existed or not1 they were believed to exist1 and the ,board of ,commissioners directed the changes to which we have above adverted4 ,in the progress of the inquiries on the subject1 it was suggested to the visiting director1 that he should obtain the joint opinion of the ,governor1 ,chaplain and ,medical ,officer on sundry points1 among which were the following3 #a4 ,whether it appears necessary to reject any particular description of prisoners as being unfit subjects for separate confinement1 such1 for instance1 as those of dull intellect1 or others who do not speak the language1 and are1 therefore1 less capable of instruction4 #b4 ,whether the arrangements at ,wakefield and ,leicester1 with regard to assembling for public worship1 school instruction1 exercise in association1 c41 are likely to be the cause of a more favorable effect of separate 787 confinement on apparently the same class of prisoners4 #c4 ,whether a greater stimulus or a greater degree of vigor cannot be imparted to the trades and occupations in the cells4 #d4 ,whether it will be necessary and desirable1 after a certain period of confinement1 to exercise all prisoners in association1 and whether the removal of both the long ranges of exercising-yards will be sufficient for such purpose4 #e4 ,whether the garden at the back of the prison might not be advantageously cultivated by prisoners selected from those who may have been a certain period in confinement4 #f4 ,whether dispensing with the mask would be likely to be attended with a beneficial effect4 ,we should have been gratified to know the answers which were returned to these pertinent and important inquiries4 ,we think the second question would puzzle the wisest commissioner that could be found1 whether association will be the cause of a more favorable effect of separate confinement on apparently the same class of prisoners6 ,or to vary the phraseology1 what is likely to be the effect of association upon separation6 ,in the absence of any report from the medical officer1 and with the health report of the preceding twelvemonth before us1 we cannot doubt that some misapprehension has arisen from exaggerated and possibly fictitious representations4 ,a new chapter of observations and conclusions is opened to us at ,millbank by ,dr4 ,baly1 the visiting physician4 ,it will be remembered that no little discrepancy of opinion occurred a short time since between the resident and visiting physician of the penitentiary at ,pentonville1,a and hence we should feel disposed to suspend full confidence in the present statement1 till we know what the other doctor has to say4 ,but one or two facts may be safely cited1 which will serve to show how entirely irreconcilable some theories on this subject are with each other1 and with the actual phenomena4 ,of eight insane convicts transferred during the year #ahea from ,millbank to the ,lunatic ,hospital1 five were decidedly insane when received into the prison4 ,the aggregate of eight years gives us sixty-five cases of insanity among #g1cic convicts1 of whom thirty-five were insane when received1 and nine of the remainder were of very low intellect1 and only twenty-one were of sound mind2 of these twenty-one1 thirteen recovered in the prison1 leaving only eight all told1 or about one in #a1jjj as sufferers1 in this form1 from their incarceration6 ,what prison or what mode of discipline can show a better result than this8 ,a ,see ,journal of ,prison ,discipline for ,april1 #aheb4 ,among the very remarkable things disclosed in this report of ,dr4 ,baly1 we find that during the first four years of the period of time embraced in it1 when the average term of imprisonment was less than one hundred days1 the cases of insanity were #aa or #c4bh per #a1jjj prisoners1 and that in the last four years1 in which fifty-six days were added to the average length of confinement1 the cases of insanity rose to #ai or #d4gj per #a1jjj6 ,so that1 omitting those who recovered in prison1 the ratio in the first four years was #a4di per #a1jjj1 and1 the last #b4gb1 or nearly double6 ,it has been generally conceded even by the most zealous opponents of separation1 that its tendencies are quite harmless and even wholesome1 when not extended much beyond twelve months2 but ,dr4 ,baly's report presents an entirely new view of the case4 ,he tells us that the ratio of insanity is twice as high in the second three months of confinement1 and more than three times as high in the third1 as it is in the first4 ,his table is as follows3 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,approximative ,number ,annual ,number of ,cases of ratio per #a1jjj ,periods of ,imprisonment4 of ,prisoners ,insanity of ,cases of who passed occurring in ,insanity for through each ,period4 each ,period4 each ,period4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,first ,three ,months #af1jjj #i #b4be ,second ,three ,months #h1djj #i #d4bh ,third ,three ,months #d1bjj #h #g4fa ,fourth ,three ,months1 or later #a1bjj #d -- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,but it unfortunately happens that the reasons assigned for these results would go to disprove them4 ,the various feelings of remorse1 shame and despondency1 and the withdrawal of the external sources of excitement1 would be much more likely to work upon convicts' spirits during the first three months1 than during the third three months1 especially when the termination of the sentence is so near at hand4 ,but the whole statement is so extravagant1 and so contrary to the received opinions of even anti-separatists themselves1 that we are disposed to give it very little weight4 ,dr4 ,given1 late resident physician of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 whom we must all regard as at least an uncommitted party1 expresses his conviction of the entire safety of separation for the term of twelve months1 even in the case of minors2 but beyond that1 in their case1 he would seldom extend it4 ,see his ,report for #aheb4 ,we have yet to be informed of the first case of the loss or serious impairment of a convict's mental or bodily health from the judicious and faithful administration of the separate system of discipline2 but whatever real or fancied dangers to body or mind attend it1 one thing is made clear by the report before us1 viz41 that it is wonderfully efficacious4 ,we infer from several passages in this document1 what we have not seen more specifically stated elsewhere1 that the principle of the discipline now established in the ,english prisons1 contemplates a confinement of the convict in strict separation twelve months1 to prepare him for a term of labor in association2 and this latter stage1 from its exposing prisoners to many temptations1 which they would have to encounter on their final release from penal restrictions in ,england1 is to prepare them for that event4 ,so that we have three grades or stages in the process2 separation follows conviction and introduces to association1 which is preparatory to transportation4 ,the convict1 having passed the appointed term in separate confinement1 is removed to the establishment in ,portland ,island 7or1 it may be1 when suitable arrangements are made1 to one of our ,dockyards71 to labor in the formation of the harbor of refuge1 or on some public work4 ,there1 although he is still under religious instruction and very judicious superintendence1 his principles and the reality of his reformation are subjected to a severe test4 ,he is associated with other convicts1 and1 as it cannot be supposed that all have been reclaimed1 he meets with many temptations4 ,the officer in charge of the ,portland ,island establishment1 says3 ,the subdued1 improved1 and disciplined state in which the convicts generally arrive at ,portland1 from the stage of separate confinement1 appears to be an admirable preparative for their transfer to the greater degree of freedom unavoidable on public works4 ,those convicts who have been for a considerable time at ,portland1 have not usually indicated any falling off in morals or conduct1 but1 on the contrary1 several instances have occurred in which men1 on whose conduct the comparative degree of liberty here alluded to1 appeared to have at first an unfavorable effect1 have afterwards become orderly and industrious1 and content to work their way cheerfully to the prospective advantages held out to convicts of that character4 ,such strong testimony to the efficiency and powerful reformatory influence of separation1 is of great value4 ,some interesting items are furnished on the extent and expenses of transportation4 ,the number of convicts sent to the ,australian colonies from ,great ,britain in #ahdg1 was #ich1 in #ahea1 #aefh4 ,the average number transported annually from ,great ,britain1 is given at #agej--acjj males1 and #dej females4 ,the estimates for #aheb-ec for services connected with the transportation of convicts amount to the gross sum of #aja1jdal41 which provides for the removal of #c1ajj males and #hjj females from ,great ,britain and ,ireland to ,australia1 and of #hjj to ,bermuda and ,gibraltar4 ,deducting the probable expense devoted to the latter service1 there might remain about #ie1jjjl41 as the amount required for the removal of #c1ijj convicts1 or #bdl4 per head4 ,from various movements in the present parliament1 we are led to infer that transportation will soon be abandoned4 ,this event is more than intimated in the report before us4 ,it is inferred from the tenor of a brief discussion of the scheme of the select committee of the ,house of ,commons1 announced two years since1 in the form of three specific propositions1 viz43 ,i4 ,that after prisoners under long sentences have undergone a period of separate confinement1 the remainder of their sentences ought to be passed under a system of combined labor1 with effectual precautions against intercourse4 ,,ii4 ,that this object would be greatly facilitated by the erection of district prisons1 at the national cost1 for the reception of prisoners under long sentences after they have undergone such previous separate confinement4 ,,iii4 ,that such district prisons should be maintained at the national cost1 and the government of such prisons1 and all appointments and salaries of officers1 ought to be under the control of ,her ,majesty's ,government4 ,col4 ,jebb regards these plans with unqualified favor4 ,if it were only to avoid the inconvenience and expense of transportation1 he says1 it is well deserving of attention1 especially in an economical point of view4 ,it seems that lengthened periods of imprisonment have not hitherto been resorted to1 partly from there being no existing prison where sentences exceeding twelve months could be properly carried into effect1 and partly1 from a sentence of transportation in former times affording so easy a solution of all difficulty both as regarded expense and final disposal4 ,and ,col4 ,jebb expresses the opinion1 that if facilities existed for carrying into effect sentences of imprisonment extending from eighteen months to three years without expense to the counties and boroughs1 a large proportion of the present sentences to seven years' transportation would be changed to imprisonment4 ,allowing the average sentences to be from two and a half to three years1 nine months would be past under the discipline of separation1 and from twenty-one to twenty-seven months in the district prison4 ,as a general conclusion of the whole matter1 ,col4 ,jebb copies and adopts the opinion of the ,parliamentary committee1 that if conducted under proper regulations and control1 separate confinement is more efficient than any other system which has yet been tried1 both in deterring from crime and in promoting reformation4 ,it is quite evident that he is no convert to ,dr4 ,baly's views1 for he does not propose to reduce the average term of separation below nine months1 within which all the mischiefs of it1 7according to the ,dr4's theory or statement17 are experienced4 ,indeed1 if we are not under great misapprehension1 ,col4 ,jebb has over and over again expressed his confidence in the principle of separation1 when applied to periods varying from twelve to eighteen months4 ,so far from yielding to a suggestion of relaxation1 the present report urges a uniform system of discipline in all prisons1 and the enforcing of separate confinement alike to the tried and the untried4 ,it endorses the declaration of a committee of the ,house of ,commons1 that the combination of hard labor with individual separation1 has been remarkable in its effect to decrease the number of committals4 ,the prison of ,leicester is cited as an example4 ,in one section of the report1 the subject of enforcing hard labor is discussed2 ,lord ,denman's remarks are cited1 in which he speaks of the only legitimate end of punishment being to deter from crime2 but ,i think ,i perceive1 he says1 in some of the theories of benevolent men1 such a mode of administering the criminal law as to encourage instead of deterring4 ,i greatly dread the effect of giving convicts benefits and privileges which they never could have hoped for but from the commission of crime4 ,in allusion to this subject ,col4 ,jebb1 in his report for the preceding year1 suggests whether among the means of increasing the stringency of the discipline1 and bringing it to bear with greater effect on the lowest class of prisoners1 and on such as prove to be incorrigible1 also on prisoners re-committed to prison1 giving them a less comfortable bed for certain periods1 or on alternate nights1--might not be desirable4 ,the physical comforts of a prison are of necessity greater than the majority of prisoners enjoy when at liberty2 and if1 without injury to health1 these can be abridged1 a more deterring effect will be produced by the discipline1 both on the individual himself and the criminal population generally4 ,we have often and earnestly contended for a more liberal use of those methods of discipline which apply to the sources or organs of criminal indulgence4 ,moral diseases have corresponding remedies4 ,no more suitable remedy can be prescribed for idleness and indolence than hard work4 ,nothing is more irksome to a man given to depraved appetite1 than short commons4 ,the difference between a good dinner on corned beef and potatoes1 and a ration of bread and water1 is felt at points which reproof and the shower-bath1 and even the cat-o'-nine-tails1 will none of them reach4 ,the former1 by itself1 will subdue a spirit which the three latter combined will only rouse to indomitable stubbornness4 ,on the whole1 we regard this document as decidedly confirmatory of the views which have been uniformly advocated by the ,philadelphia ,society for the ,alleviation of the ,miseries of ,public ,prisons1 and in the pages of this ,journal4 ,it contains not a statement nor a tittle of evidence that impairs in the slightest degree our confidence in the safety1 efficacy and humanity of convict-separation4 ,that it has been1 and may be abused or ill-administered1 and that it requires judgment and discrimination to adapt its provisions to the various classes of persons who are subjected to it1 is not more true of this than it is of the gregarious or any other system4 ,the only substantial fault that we have ever known to be found with it1 is that it costs more than association1 and the only answer to be made to this is1 that 7admitting the statement to be true7 it is worth as much more as it costs4 ,,art4 ,,iii4--,,sources ,,and ,,checks ,,of ,,juvenile ,,delinquency4 ,when the farmer finds his fruit trees exposed to the ravages of the caterpillar1 he makes but slow and unsatisfactory work1 if he takes the worms one by one as they are feasting on the leaf1 or crawling along the stem1 or dangling in the air4 ,there is a period of the day1 however1 when they are all in their nest1 and if he can apply a torch to their curious fabric and consume it1 or riddle it with shot1 or wind it and its wriggling population upon a brush or broom well besmeared with pitch or tar1 to be forthwith put into the fire or under the foot1 the work is thorough and the tree safe4 ,not inaptly does this illustrate1 or serve to point out the true process for the diminution of crime4 ,the arrest1 conviction and punishment of here and there a rogue1 is scarcely felt4 ,it is but a unit subtracted from the appalling aggregate of crime4 ,if we would have the ratio of our criminal population palpably and permanently lessened1 we must lay hold of the young ones in the nest1 and whatever the trouble or cost1 we may rest assured it is by all odds the cheapest and only effectual way of dealing with the pest4 ,among the prominent causes of1 or excitements to a criminal life which are operative upon childhood1 especially in cities and populous towns1 have been reckoned #a1 and chiefly drunkenness4 #b4 ,the absence of education and industrial training4 #c4 ,the inadequacy of home-accommodation to secure the ordinary decencies of life4 #d4 ,the demoralizing influences of cheap theatres1 and other low places of amusement1 association with fire companies1 and the liberty to dispose of the whole or a considerable portion of their own earnings4 #e4 ,the example1 instruction or orders of parents constraining them to vicious acts1 and #f1 the connivance or co-operation of receivers of stolen goods to prompt them4 ,we might indefinitely enlarge this catalogue1 but these causes are adequate to account for the greater part of juvenile crime4 ,the readers of our ,journal cannot fail to be aware of the unusual interest which has recently been awakened on this subject4 ,our present number contains sundry evidences of it1 and by referring to the cover1 a notice will be found1 the design of which is to provoke inquiry and discussion1 with a view to reformatory measures4 ,as human nature is substantially the same all the world over1 and as like causes produce like effects1 we have transferred to our pages several interesting and important passages from the last report of the inspector general of ,english prisons1 bearing particularly on this subject4 ,in respect to the first cause of juvenile depravity1 which we just commented on1 drunkenness-- ,statistical returns show that the amount of money expended in intoxicating drinks of one kind or another in ,great ,britain1 is between fifty and sixty millions of pounds sterling per annum1--a sum fully equal to the whole national revenue4 ,now such an enormous expenditure on any one object must produce a noticeable effect upon our social condition4 ,were such a sum annually expended on the reclaiming of waste land and the improvement of what is but partially cultivated1 and the erection of comfortable dwellings1 in a few years our whole island would be a garden of beauty and fertility4 ,but what are the results produced8 ,the physicians of our lunatic asylums tell us that intemperance is the cause of a large proportion of the cases of insanity4 ,the medical officers of our infirmaries and dispensaries tell us that many diseases are caused1 and more are made fatal1 by habits of intemperance4 ,the masters of our poor houses tell us that they can trace the pauperism of most of their inmates to their own intemperance1 or to that of their parents4 ,the governors and chaplains of our prisons tell us that most of the crime in our gaols is directly or indirectly caused by strong drink4 ,if the offences to which habitual drinking has ultimately led could be ascertained1 ,i believe we should find that four-fifths of the recorded offences have sprung from it4 ,although the remedy for this enormous evil is justly regarded as lying to a considerable degree in the hands of educators1 it is maintained that much may be done to abate the evil by reducing the number of licensed public houses both in town and country1 and by greatly raising the expense of strong drink4 ,as an evidence of the effects of cheapening strong drink1 it is stated that in #ahbe1 the duty on whiskey was greatly reduced in ,scotland1 and that as a consequence1 intemperance began to increase1 so that in the twenty-seven years which have since elapsed1 the consumption has become nearly five-fold greater2 crime1 disease1 and death have increased in similar proportion2 and the sober1 religious ,scotland of other days is now proved1 by its consumption of spirits1 to be1 without exception1 the most drunken nation in ,europe4 ,as to the connection between intemperance and the other causes of juvenile depravity1 the records of the prison-house1 if fully analyzed1 would show that the first penny or the first pound taken by a son from his parents1 or abstracted by the young man from his master's desk1 is for the theatre1 not for the public-house4 ,but youth1 being corrupted by the pleasures of sin1 drunkenness follows1 and becomes the associate or the substitute of licentiousness1 and completes the ruin4 ,money becomes indispensable1 and it is gotten by some desperate and wicked means1 at the possibility of which a few months before1 the mind would have recoiled with indignation1 like that of ,hazael1 when reproached by the prophet3 ',is thy servant a dog1 that he should do this great thing8' ,in the great majority of instances1 it is believed1 the only means by which the reformation of such can be rationally expected is by their thorough and permanent severance from those scenes and associations in which their evil habits were formed4 ,although suffering from hunger and misery1 it must not be supposed that the lives led by these delinquent children are void of pleasurable sensations2 the very alternation from one extreme to another keeps the mind in a state of feverish excitement2 the want of a penny to buy food on one day1 is more than compensated by the reckless profusion of the next2 and the despondency created by privation and long suffering is speedily supplanted by exultation on the success of some criminal feat of daring and dexterity4 ,none will deny another position of the report1 viz43 ,that it is impossible for children to be brought up as ,christian children ought to be1 when huddled together1 male and female1 old and young1 like pigs in a stye2 and yet this revolting expression is not too strong to designate the dwellings of tens of thousands in our land4 ,how many of our honest industrious artisans have only one apartment1 or1 at most1 a room and a closet for father and mother1 and grown up sons and daughters6 ,the physical condition of the poor cannot be viewed as separated from the moral4 ,the want of a proper dwelling place for the working man is one of his greatest trials1 and is as injurious to his spiritual as to his bodily health4 ,the crowding together of a whole family in one room weakens domestic virtue1 destroys all self-respect1 modesty1 and delicacy of feeling1 and utterly removes all opportunities for self-improvement4 ,a home which is miserable from physical or moral causes is the half-way house to the gin-palace or beer-shop4 ,the inquiry might be opportunely raised1 whether the habits of life which constitute such a social state as is here described1 are not formed long before the state itself is entered4 ,a girl or boy accustomed to street-associations either in the pursuit of some trading employment1 as selling papers1 matches1 c41 c41 or from mere neglect and idleness1 will soon fall into habits which no degree of loathsome infamy or social degradation will shock4 ,the origin of the evil1 in such cases1 lies far back of its present stage and locality4 ,it dates from the childhood of those who now act as the head of this filthy and brutalized little community4 ,of the penny theatres1 it is truly remarked1 that they present almost irresistible attractions2 and the annals of juvenile delinquents are full of cases of petty thefts committed in order to procure the penny or twopence required for admission4 ,even if the price of admission be honestly obtained1 as one of the reports says1 the scenes to which the youthful spectator is there introduced are understood to be of the most flagitious and depraving nature1 calculated only to inflame the passions1 and deaden every virtuous feeling4 ,singing-rooms and dancing-rooms1 too1 are represented as training up boys and girls to familiarity with vice in every shape4 ,a magistrate sent two of his officers to visit one of them4 ,their report describes seven hundred boys and girls collected together to have their bodies poisoned with smoke and drink1 and their minds with ribaldry and obscenity6 ,can any one have a doubt that the evil wrought in such a singing-room in a single night1 outweighs all the good that can be effected by a dozen ,sunday-schools in a whole year8 ,and finally the part played by the receivers of stolen goods is described as a profession4 ,so much for causes1 and now as to remedies4 ,these are emphatically preventive in their nature1 lying at the very foundation of our social arrangements1 and until very recently1 wholly disregarded and uncared for1 viz41 'organized and adequate means for ,,education and ,,industrial ,,training4' ,it is remarkable how many of the prominent features of some of our modern schemes of juvenile reform here1 have been long ago presented to the public eye4 ,more than half a century ago1 7#agif7 the renowned ,earl of ,chatham introduced to the ,british ,parliament a bill1 which had for its object the establishment of a school for work in every parish or incorporated district1 for the purpose of instructing the children in different trades and manufactures4 ,the parishes were to be at liberty to maintain their poor children in the working schools1 or to lodge them there or keep them only during the hours of labor1 and then feed them there or give them work to do at home4 ,the overseers were to be charged with the direction of these schools1 and were required to supply them with materials and utensils1 c4 ,parents burdened with infant children1 and in the receipt of out-door relief1 were required to send their children to the working school as soon as they were five years old1 to be instructed and maintained there4 ,it was provided that those fathers who might prefer to keep their children at home1 should bring them up and employ them1 receiving some direction and assistance from the local authorities until the children were in a condition to gain their livelihood4 ,upon leaving the working school1 those children who could not return to their families were to have been apprenticed at the expense of the parishes1 or provided with some means of service4 ,it has long been our conviction1 as the volumes of this ,journal will show1 that no very radical reform of the vicious children and youth of the land will be accomplished1 so long as the government is so reluctant to enforce parental obligations1 or to take upon itself all due attention to such obligations in those points where the welfare and safety of society are put in jeopardy by the disregard of them4 ,though our institutions are based on a principle of the utmost liberty1 they are1 for that very reason1 peculiarly dependent on the proper education and training of children for their preservation4 ,no country on the face of the globe has so much staked on the intelligence1 industry and virtue of each succeeding generation as ours4 ,we are fully satisfied that the timidity which our government manifests in laying fast and earnest hold of this great evil1 ,,parental ,,neglect1 exposes us to the loss of all that is worth preserving4 ,society has surely the right to guard itself against the evil practices of those neglected children2 and1 having the right1 it ought also to have the power2 but if such power exist1 it seems very difficult to tell in whose hands it is vested4 ,the child convicted of theft is whipped or imprisoned1 but if he stole to appease the cravings of hunger which his worthless parent failed to satisfy1 it is clear that chastisement has not fallen upon the proper party1 and that the really guilty has profited by the vices prompted by his culpable neglect1 while the whole cost has been defrayed by the public4 ,power must be given1 says our report1 to send to school all neglected children--all found loitering in streets and lanes--whose parents take no charge of them1 but leave them to grow up as they may1 untutored and untaught1 save in the practice of crime4 ,if the parents neglect to perform their bounden duty1 then the ,state may properly step in1 loco parentis1 and do the needful work2 and surely this is no unjustifiable interference with the parental authority--it is only saying to the parent1 'if you will not discharge the duty you owe to your child1 both in the sight of ,god and of man1 we1 the public1 will do it for you2 we will not suffer your child to grow up a torment to himself and to all around him2 we would much rather you did your duty yourself1 but if you will not1 then we must4' ,by law1 the burden of uncared-for pauper children falls at present on the workhouse1 but the poor-law authorities are not entitled to expend their money1 unless under their own immediate control2 and power must be given to them to do so1 through the medium of industrial school managers4 ,this will be as advantageous as it is economical4 ,better for the public1 who must eventually pay in one form or other1 to maintain the child in an industrial school at #dl4 a year1 than in a poor house at #ajl4 or #abl41 especially as the smaller expenditure gives every prospect of making him a useful member of the community1 and the larger gives little hope of ever raising him above the pauper class4 ,a good education1 says one of the inspectors of the ,english ,national ,schools1 so infallibly dispauperises1 and raises its recipient above the necessity of ever again applying for relief1 that except under gross mismanagement of the guardians in other points1 we may be tolerably certain that vicious habits1 easily eradicable by sound early training1 have brought the great majority of those who burden the parochial rates to their state of dependence4 ,could this truth be more universally impressed on the managers of the poor1 the difficulties in the way of forming industrial schools would vanish6 ,it was said by the late stipendiary magistrate at ,liverpool1 that he had ascertained that ten such children1 under fourteen years of age had cost1 in apprehension and imprisonment1 upwards of six hundred pounds2 and1 with so little effect1 that all of them were then in prison1 and one1 only about ten years of age1 lay under sentence of transportation for seven years4 ,the remedy for these enormous evils appears simple and obvious4 ,let the committee or the magistrate be empowered to send all such mendicant children to the schools of industry at the expense of the parent or the parish1 and let the worthless parent be punished if he neglects the sacred duty of maintaining his child1 which at present he is allowed to do with impunity4 ,we think the friends of our ,houses of ,refuge could scarcely ask a more sensible and cogent argument in support of such establishments1 than is furnished in these brief extracts2 and yet cogent and sensible as it may be1 it fails to convince gainsayers1 or at least1 to constrain them to prompt and liberal action4 ,within a twelvemonth a project for such an establishment was lost in a neighboring ,state1 7as it was alleged17 in some political whirlpool2 and the public prints tell us1 that a like wholesome measure was lately defeated in ,st4 ,louis by the jealousy or arrogance of a religious party4 ,we do not vouch for the truth of either of these statements1 but we hazard nothing in saying1 that the problem1 how to restrain and suppress crime1 will never be solved1 till politicians and religionists lose their selfishness and their bigotry in an earnest and efficient effort to provide for vicious and neglected children4 ,the following good old ,saxon principle is adverted to in a report on ,parochial ,union ,schools for #ahea4 ,guardians are not always so open to considerations of ultimate as of immediate economy2 and many a pauper who now1 before his death1 costs his parish one or two hundred pounds1 might have lived without relief1 had a different education1 represented perhaps by the additional expense of a single pound1 been bestowed upon him in his youth6 ,this is strictly retributive justice2 and ,i think it would be good policy to increase its effect1 and it would give a prodigious stimulus to the diffusion of education1 if the expense of every criminal1 while in prison1 were reimbursed to the country by the parish in which he had a settlement4 ,what a stir would be created in any parish by the receipt of a demand from the ,secretary of ,state for the ,home ,department for #hjl4 for the support of two criminals during the past year6 ,i cannot but think that the locality where they had been brought up would be immediately investigated1 perhaps some wretched hovels1 before unregarded1 made known1 and means taken to educate and civilize families that had brought such grievous taxation on the parish4 ,the expense of keeping criminals1 as of paupers1 must be borne somewhere2 and it seems more just that it should fall on those parishes whose neglect has probably caused the crime than on the general purse4 ,we would gladly pursue the discussion of these interesting topics did our limits allow1 but we have indicated one important1 and as it seems to us indispensable preliminary inquiry1 viz43 ,can we effectually carry out any general scheme of reform1 except we withdraw neglected and vicious children from the associations and habits of their miserable and degraded homes1 and put them upon a course of involuntary moral and industrial training1 before they become what are technically called juvenile delinquents8 ,is not a compulsory process 7much earlier in its application than the discipline of a ,house of ,refuge7 essential to the accomplishment of any general or comprehensive reform8 ,will such a process be authorized by any popular legislature in our country8 ,if the question implies an answer1 is the answer true8 ,,art4 ,,iv4--,,pennsylvania ,,penitentiaries4-- ,twenty-,fourth ,annual ,report of the ,inspectors of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary of ,pennsylvania1 dated ,january #a1 #ahec1 pp4 #cf4 ,report of the ,inspectors of the ,western ,penitentiary of ,pennsylvania1 dated ,january #aj1 #ahec1 pp4 #bd4 ,these two documents embrace the details of the convict-discipline of the ,state of ,pennsylvania for the year #aheb4 ,it is well known that both the institutions are established on one and the same principle1 and are administered1 so far as the discipline is concerned1 under one and the same law4 ,it may not be uninteresting to review them briefly in connection4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ,e4 ,state ,penitentiary4 -------------------------------- ,whites4 ,blacks4 ------------------------ ,male4,female4,male4,female4,total4 ------------------------------ ,on hand ,january #a1 #aheb1 #caj ,received during the year1 #aji #d #ab #a #abf ,in custody at date of report1 #bai #ab #dh #d #bhc ,disch'd by exp4 of sentence1 #ef #e #bh #h #ib by pardon1 #dj #b #b #a #de by death1 #b #b ,removed1 #ab #b #ad ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ,w4 ,state ,penitentiary4 -------------------------------- ,whites4 ,blacks4 ------------------------ ,grand ,male4,female4,male4,female4,total4,tota l4 ------------------------------------ ,on hand ,january #a1 #aheb1 #agd #dhd ,received during the year1 #hd #a #aj #a #if #bbb ,in custody at date of report1 #afe #c #ah #a #aha #dgj ,disch'd by exp4 of sentence1 #ef #adh by pardon1 #bd #fi by death1 #c #e ,removed1 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,in the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 the labor of the prisoners has nearly defrayed the expense of their subsistence2 while in the ,western ,state ,penitentiary1 the labor of the convicts has not only earned their support1 but has paid four-fifths the salaries of the officers4 ,the number of commitments to the ,western ,state ,penitentiary has increased so much1 as to require the erection of a new range of cells--for want of which in the crowded state of the prison1 the required separation has been in some cases impracticable4 ,but no departure from the strict observance of the discipline has been allowed1 except where a necessity which knows no law1 required it4 ,if it should be supposed that the apparent increase of crime betokens the inefficiency of the discipline1 it would be an unwarranted inference4 ,the increased number of convictions might tend to show the increase of crime1 or of sagacity and thoroughness in detecting and prosecuting it2 but there is another and abundantly adequate cause to account for the increase in the present case1 and it is the one assigned by the inspectors1 viz4--the intemperate use of intoxicating drinks4 ,of the ninety-six received during the year1 eighty-nine are regarded as having been brought to the felon's home by such indulgence6 ,of one hundred and twenty-six received into the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary during the year1 only thirty-two are registered as temperate1 leaving ninety-four on the list of drinkers1 moderate or immoderate4 ,of the one hundred and twenty-six admissions to the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 ninety-eight were never apprenticed to a trade2 and of one hundred and eighty-seven in custody at the ,western ,state ,penitentiary at the date of the report1 forty-one were never bound2 and of the one hundred and forty-six that were bound1 ninety-seven 7or two-thirds7 ran away from their masters6 ,among the #abf admissions to the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 there were fifty-six different trades or occupations1 and of thirty-eight of these only one representative4 ,the largest of any class were laborers1 #bg2 the next1 boatmen1 #aj2 shoemakers1 #g2 and store-keepers1 and farmers1 and butchers1 #e each4 ,of the #ahg in custody at the ,western ,state ,penitentiary at date of report1 #fg were laborers1 #ah shoemakers1 #ab boatmen1 of farmers and blacksmiths #f each1 cooks1 #e4 ,the ,warden of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary gives us1 as the result of another year's experience1 an increased conviction of the unabated confidence and regard to which the system of separate confinement is entitled2 and the ,warden of the ,western ,state ,penitentiary speaks of the success of the past year as having proved the separate system to be what its earliest friends desired4 ,in the report of the medical officer of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary we have the following testimony3 ,i think ,i may state without hesitation1 that there has never been1 during the history of the institution1 so great an exemption from disease for so long a time1 as during the period for which ,i now report4 ,there are but four men in the ,infirmary who are not at work4 ,it is true1 there are some others in delicate or infirm health1 but the greater part of these were received in that state1 of whom again the majority are greatly improved4 ,and from the medical officer of the ,western ,state ,penitentiary we have a similar report of the uniform prevalence of good health4 ,there has been less indisposition within the prison during the year just terminated1 he says1 than during any similar period of time since my professional connection with this institution1 and yet the number of prisoners has never been so great4 ,as to the mental health of the convicts in the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 the physician reports it to be no less satisfactory than their physical condition2 and of the ,western ,state ,penitentiary the medical report is1 that no case of insanity has originated within the prison during the year4 ,of the sentences of the one hundred and twenty-six admitted1 ninety-one were for three years or less4 ,and of ninety-six received into the ,western ,state ,penitentiary1 seventy-five were sentenced for three years or less4 ,of the one hundred and twenty-six commitments to the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 ninety-six were for offences against property1 only seven of which were accompanied with violence2 twenty-five were for offences against the person1 and five for violation of marriage laws4 ,while of the ninety-six admissions to the ,western ,state ,penitentiary1 eighty were for offences against property with and without violence1 and sixteen were for offences against the person4 ,the general summary of the two ,institutions is as follows3 ,east4 ,west4 ,state ,peni4 ,state ,peni4 #bc years4 #bf years4 ,of the whole number received1 there were disch'd by expira'n of sentence1 #bjje #ajfa ,pardoned1 #dbb #cje ,deaths1 #bcj #ha ,removed1 #ca #d ,escaped1 #a #aj ,remaining ,december #ca1 #bhc #ahg ---- ---- ,total1 #bigb #afdh ,a very slight examination of this statement reveals some singular differences1 especially in the items of pardons and deaths1 which an analysis of the annual returns would doubtless satisfactorily explain4 ,the moral instructor in the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary adverts to the circumstance that only nineteen of the one hundred and twenty-six commitments were over thirty-five years of age1 and that twenty-eight were under twenty4 ,he very justly regards the ignorant1 vicious and depraved ,,youth of the land as the reservoir of convicts4 ,the moral instructor of the ,western ,state ,penitentiary says1 there is a larger proportion of mere youths in the prison than at any former time4 ,more than three-fourths of the prisoners confined within these walls have confessed to me that their early youth was passed almost entirely without moral teachings4 ,the records of our ,courts bear ample testimony to the fearful and distressing increase of crime among our youth4 ,there are in this prison1 received within the past year1 nineteen convicts not over twenty-one years of age6 ,these considerations show the seasonableness and importance of a proposition from the ,managers of our ,house of ,refuge1 which will be found on our last page4 ,a large section of the report of the inspectors of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary is occupied by a discussion of the provisions of the ,act of ,assembly of ,may #d1 #aheb1 and the proceedings under it1 to which we shall make more particular reference in a separate article4 ,,art4 ,v4--,,should ,,convicts ,,be ,,received ,,into ,,the ,,state ,,lunatic ,,hospital ,,at ,,harrisburg8 ,the ,general ,appropriation ,act of #aheb1 provides #be1jjj to complete the unfinished range of cells of the ,western ,state ,penitentiary1 and for the payment of gratuities to convicts discharged from the two penitentiaries1 #adag1 viz43 #ffg to the ,eastern1 and the remainder 7#gej7 to the ,western4 ,then follows #db4 ,that the further sum of ten thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated to the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 for the purpose of grading1 curbing and paving the street adjoining1 preserving the buildings from decay1 and altering and repairing a part of them for the suitable accommodation of prisoners whose mental or physical condition requires1 in the opinion of the inspectors1 a temporary relaxation of the separate confinement system4 ,provided1 ,that whenever in the opinion of the inspectors of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 any of the prisoners therein confined shall develope such marked insanity as to render their continued confinement in said ,penitentiary improper1 and their removal to the ,state ,lunatic ,hospital necessary to their restoration1 it shall be the duty of the said ,inspectors to submit such cases to a ,board1 composed of the ,district ,attorney of the ,county of ,philadelphia1 the principal physician of the ,pennsylvania ,hospital for the ,insane at ,philadelphia1 and the principal physician of the ,friends' ,insane ,asylum at ,frankford in ,philadelphia ,county2 and in case a majority of them cannot1 at any time when required1 attend1 a competent physician or physicians1 to be appointed by the ,court of ,quarter ,sessions of the ,county of ,philadelphia1 in the place of such as cannot attend1 upon whose certificate of insanity1 or the certificate of any two of them transmitted to the ,governor1 and if by him approved1 he shall direct that said insane prisoner shall be by said ,inspectors removed to the ,state ,lunatic ,hospital1 there to be received1 safely kept and properly provided for1 at the cost and charge of the county1 from which they were sent to the ,penitentiary1 and if at any time during the period for which any such insane prisoners shall have been sentenced to confinement in the ,eastern ,penitentiary1 they shall1 in the opinion of the trustees of said ,lunatic ,hospital1 be so far restored as to render their return to said ,penitentiary safe and proper1 then the said trustees shall cause the said prisoner to be returned to said ,eastern ,penitentiary1 due notice being given to the clerk of the ,court of ,quarter ,sessions of the ,county1 from which such prisoners were sent to the ,penitentiary1 of all such removals or transfers4 ,in pursuance of the authority enforced by this law1 the commissioners met at the ,penitentiary on the #bjth of ,october last1 and at various times thereafter1 and examined eighteen cases presented for their investigation--eight of whom they regard as proper subjects of hospital treatment2 two1 they think1 will be as well or better off where they are2 the sentence of one expired during the pendency of the proceedings1 and he was discharged1 four are not suitable inmates of an ,insane ,hospital1 and three1 who were committed for safe keeping1 are regarded on all hands as unfit to be placed in any hospital1 or elsewhere where the means of close custody are less efficient than in the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary4 ,in the course of their report to the executive1 the ,commissioners very properly speak of it as a grave question1 how far it is justifiable to mingle convicted criminals 7however afflicted7 amongst the meanest whom the hand of ,god has visited with mental derangement1 or how many insane criminals can be sent there without seriously jeopardizing the best interests of that institution1 and risking the safety and well being of its inmates4 ,they add1 that no wards can be specially appropriated to the class particularly under notice1 and as a consequence the insane criminal must be in contact directly with the insane innocent4 ,in the absence of a hospital constructed with exclusive reference to the custody and treatment of convicts deprived of their reason1 and considering the great security afforded by the penitentiary and the character of its arrangements1 the ,commissioners are of the opinion1 that it will be quite possible1 inside its enclosure1 to make the limited number of this class now confined there1 more comfortable than they could be in any ordinary hospital1 for the reason1 where a just regard to the safety of others would require a much closer degree of confinement1 in which opinion we cordially coincide4 ,as this is the first proceeding under the provision of the law1 it has received particular attention in the report of the ,inspectors1 and may claim a brief notice in our pages4 ,and we must in the first place take exception to the phraseology in a clause of the ,act of ,assembly1 which is open to misconstruction4 ,a certain class of prisoners is mentioned1 whose mental and physical condition may require1 in the opinion of the ,inspectors1 a temporary relaxation of the separate confinement system4 ,the framers of this paragraph were probably unaware that all the provision which any body ever considered necessary for the class of prisoners alluded to1 may be enjoyed without any relaxation 7temporary or permanent7 of the separate confinement system4 ,it is the unbroken solitude which1 by an existing law1 should be relieved two or three times a day1 but in some past periods has not been relieved for days together2 it is the confinement to an unwholesome or stultifying trade2 it is the brooding over a seven or ten years' sentence1 a ruined and helpless family1 and a blasted reputation1--these are the causes1 and not separation from other convicts that threaten to undermine the health and derange the reason of convicts of a peculiar temperament4 ,now1 if the money appropriated could be expended in a few extra lodges1 with ample exercising yards1 and perhaps one-tenth of it for an additional attendant or two1 to have charge of enfeebled prisoners 7whether they were so when admitted1 or became so as a natural effect of prison-life7 this provision of the section would be very reasonable4 ,the separation1 however1 may safely and should certainly remain intact4 ,but there is another class of convicts whose case is embraced by a proviso4 ,it is those who develope such marked insanity as to render their continuance in the penitentiary improper1 and their removal to the ,state hospital necessary to their restoration4 ,in order to determine whether a convict answers to this description1 a competent ,board is appointed to examine and report4 ,now we will suppose a case is presented of a prisoner who was committed for safe keeping merely4 ,this is certainly not a case within the proviso4 ,no matter how marked the insanity is1 it was developed before commitment1 and his continued confinement is1 therefore1 in no sense improper4 ,competent authorities disposed of him with due reference to all the circumstances of the case1 and the ,act of the ,legislature is not designed to disturb the acts judiciary4 ,another case is presented to the ,board1 and they are satisfied that it is a manifest development of insanity1 but that with proper medical treatment1 and such out-of-door exercise as is quite compatible with the discipline of the institution1 the party may be restored4 ,this is clearly not within the proviso1 for it is only such cases as make a removal to the ,state ,hospital necessary to their restoration1 that are to be transferred4 ,it is evident1 therefore1 that the medical ,board are not to be restricted to the inquiry1 whether there is or is not a development of insanity1 but whether the case presented is one which the proviso meant to include4 ,the medical ,board are presumed to know the provisions of the act from which they derive their authority1 and they cannot read it without perceiving that they are to decide not only whether a prisoner is insane1 but also whether his insanity is of such a type or character as to render his continuance in the prison improper1 and a removal to the ,state hospital indispensable to his recovery4 ,now1 suppose they are satisfied of the insanity1 and also that his removal to the ,state hospital or elsewhere would not be likely to restore him4 ,this is the very point for which their professional knowledge and experience is required--quite as much as 7if not more than7 to determine the naked question of insanity4 ,surely a wise ,legislature could not have meant to ask a medical ,board to determine the question of insanity1 and leave it to the ,inspectors to say whether the insanity might be safely and properly treated in the prison1 or whether a removal to the ,state ,hospital would be likely to issue in restoration6 ,on the whole therefore it must be obvious1 we think1 to any candid mind1 that the ,legislature designed to give the ,inspectors the benefit of the official judgment of a competent ,board1 as to the manner in which they should treat or dispose of insane convicts4 ,upon the general question of the removal of any insane convicts to the ,state ,asylum1 we indicated an opinion in our number for ,july1 #aheb1 and farther inquiry and reflection confirms the doubt then expressed1 whether a general ,state ,lunatic ,hospital should receive convicts of any class4 ,if an offender has been convicted and sentenced according to law1 he must be regarded and received into the cell as a suitable subject of convict-discipline4 ,a process of law so terminated1 is tantamount to incontrovertible evidence1 that the party is in all respects amenable to the penal sanctions of the law4 ,otherwise he is not a convict1 but an oppressed and abused sufferer4 ,having thus been committed1 he must abide the life of a convict4 ,if his health fails1 humane provision should be made for him in a proper apartment1 called an infirmary or hospital1 with proper attendance1 medicine1 nourishment1 c41 but why should he be pardoned1 removed or discharged8 ,sickness in prison is one of the risks he voluntarily takes in committing the offence4 ,if he breaks a limb or loses an eye1 it is what happens to honest men as well as convicts1 and he can claim no exemption from such calamities1 and must be satisfied with prison fare when they overtake him as a convict4 ,why should the failure or loss of mental soundness be a cause of discharging a prisoner1 any more than the weakness or maiming of the body8 ,why should not provision be made within the prison-bounds for the proper care and treatment of this class of ailments1 as well as any other8 ,certainly not because it is not practicable to do it1 for the medical records show that the recoveries among convict-lunatics here and in ,england1 bear quite as high a proportion to the cases1 as in our best ,insane ,asylums4 ,if it should be maintained that the proper room and attendance cannot be obtained1 the same reason might be urged for discharging the sick and lame1 that there was no room for an infirmary1 nor for surgical operations1 nor for nurses1 c4 ,we do not see what reasonable ground can be urged for the removal of the former1 which might not be quite as tenable in relation to the latter4 ,it seems to us that when the ,commonwealth1 whose peace and dignity have been violated by a breach of the law1 seizes on the offender1 and separates him from honest citizens1 clearly proves his guilt1 and commits him for punishment to hard labor in the penitentiary for a term of months or years1 nothing should avail to discharge him from that sentence1 except the discovery of some evidence of its injustice4 ,it is assumed1 of course1 that he has been legally and fairly dealt with in the whole process of the prosecution1 and that the sentence is as light as the law or the circumstances of the case will justify2 and this being conceded1 we confidently maintain that the ,state takes him into her custody as a convict1 and that1 as a convict she is bound to provide for him whatever he needs1 whether in health or sickness1 in strength or weakness1 in life or death1 until he has accomplished his full term4 ,we venture to make these suggestions the more plainly1 because we perceive not a little confusion in the views which are gaining ground on the subject4 ,in the recent report of the ,inspectors of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 cases are mentioned of prisoners who were clearly insane when first sentenced to the ,penitentiary4 ,how this fact was proved in any case1 does not appear4 ,the question would be relieved of much embarrassment if it did4 ,but the report hazards another and much graver remark1 viz3 that the experience and observation 7of the ,inspectors7 have convinced them that the commission of crime is more frequently connected with mental disease than courts or juries suspect4 ,we had supposed that the danger1 if any1 was in the opposite direction4 ,it must be very rare1 we apprehend1 that the plea of insanity is not urged where there is the slightest pretence to sustain it4 ,and courts and juries1 in our country at least1 have been regarded as quite sufficiently indulgent towards it whenever it is urged4 ,it is scarcely safe1 as it seems to us1 after conviction by due course of law1 to go behind the proceedings and attempt to avert their legitimate consequences by alleging the existence of a fact which should have stayed them entirely4 ,that property is taken1 mischief committed1 and violent deeds done by persons of insane mind and of course irresponsible for their acts1 we all know2 but these acts are not offences1 nor are the perpetrators of them offenders1 nor can they1 by any process of law1 be turned into convicts4 ,yet the time to show this 7if it is not plainly apparent7 is when they are arrested for such acts1 and their state of mind is relied on to exempt them from any responsibility4 ,if it is not shown then1 it is our duty 7in ordinary circumstances7 forever after to hold our peace4 ,it is not our province to vindicate the established tribunals of the country from the charge of presumption or inhumanity1 when they direct a maniac1 who1 in a paroxysm of his malady1 has taken the life of his wife or his friend1 to be confined within the cells of a penitentiary as one dangerous to society4 ,but we suppose the community has a claim to be protected against the violence of the lawless1 whether they are rendered so by the visitation of ,god or by the indulgence of depraved and malevolent passions4 ,that this protection can be made sure by existing arrangements in our ,state ,hospital1 or that adequate provision can be made therein without injuriously affecting the interests of third parties1 we are not prepared to say4 ,but we are well persuaded that proper provision for all classes of convicts1 whatever their physical or mental condition1 can be made in either of our ,state ,penitentiaries2 and we shall not cease to consider those institutions very imperfectly constructed or organized1 so long as such provision is not made within their walls4 ,before our readers pronounce judgment on these views1 we trust they will take sober thought and established facts into their counsels4 ,while these sheets were passing through the press1 we were favored with the report of the ,new ,york ,state ,lunatic ,asylum at ,utica1 for the current year1 in which the most emphatic remonstrance is made to sending thither persons acquitted of crime1 on the ground of insanity1 or convicts who become insane4 ,the reasons are plainly stated3 ,these unfortunate persons are discharged from punishment and committed to the asylum4 ,the buildings not having been designed for the custody of this class of the insane1 they cause much extra expense1 watchfulness and care2 and as experience shows1 with but little prospect of benefit4 ,the number is constantly increasing and encroaching upon space which might be more usefully devoted to patients who are likely to be improved1 and for whom the institution was originally designed4 ,many of the class referred to are of the most depraved character1 and quite unfit associates for the other inmates1 who1 for the most part1 are persons of worth and respectability1 and entitled to be protected against dangerous associations4 ,the mischiefs which are so clearly exposed by the ,managers1 are still farther exhibited in the report of the principal physician1 who regards convict-lunatics as requiring more secure fixtures and stricter surveillance than ordinary patients1 and for these and the worst class of drunkards1 he recommends the erection of a hospital for two hundred and fifty patients of the male sex only1 to be carefully constructed1 and fitted for the ultimate occupancy of lunatic criminals only2 but to be used1 until needed exclusively for this purpose1 by criminal and homicidal lunatics and drunkards4 ,we think these views and suggestions must commend themselves to all reflecting minds1 and we hope to see them carried out4 ,we offer no apology for occupying so much of our limited space with this subject1 inasmuch as the interests of philanthropy are involved in protecting our ,state ,lunatic ,hospitals from being prejudiced by the introduction of patients who do not properly fall under their care1 and the interests of prison discipline require that the convict should not be released from any measure of retribution for his offence1 which a lawful sentence imposes4 ,,art4 ,,vi4--,,report ,,of ,,the ,,condition ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,jersey ,,state ,,prison4--,embracing the reports of the ,joint ,committee1 ,inspectors1 ,keeper1 ,moral ,instructor and ,physician4 ,january #ai1 #ahec4 pp4 #dh4 ,we have been favored with the report of this institution for the year #aheb-c4 ,there were in confinement1 at the beginning of the year1 two hundred and seven4 ,received during the year one hundred and twenty-one1 and in custody in the course of the year three hundred and twenty-nine different individuals4 ,of these1 sixty-eight were discharged by expiration of sentence1 and nearly the same number 7viz4 #fc7 by pardon6 ,one death occurred1 leaving one hundred and ninety-seven prisoners on hand at the close of the year4 ,the average monthly population of the prison was two hundred and ten1 which is a large increase on the previous year4 ,of the one hundred and ninety-seven on hand1 seventy-two are in on a sentence of five years or upwards2 thirty-four for three years and upwards1 forty-eight for between one and three years1 and forty-three for one year or less4 ,of the whole number thirty-eight were under twenty2 eighty-one between twenty and thirty1 and forty-nine between thirty and forty2 showing that one hundred and sixty-eight out of the one hundred and ninety-seven1 or ,,four-,,fifths1 were under middle life4 ,the offences are divided about equally between those against property and those against the person4 ,of the latter the extraordinary number of fourteen are for rape1 and five for an assault with intent to commit that crime1 and fourteen were counterfeiters4 ,eighty-nine1 or nearly half the convicts1 are natives of ,new ,jersey2 sixty-three are of foreign birth4 ,only eight females are in the prison1 four white and four colored2 and of the one hundred and eighty-nine males1 forty-nine are colored4 ,it is worthy of observation1 that of one hundred and twenty-two commitments last year1 sixty1 or about one half1 had no trade6 ,in respect to the physical health of the convicts1 we are informed that only one death occurred during the year1 and this was by suicide4 ,it was a young ,german1 who had been in prison only five days1 and whose sentence was only six months4 ,we do not learn that any one at ,trenton ascribes this melancholy event to the effect of convict-separation1 but it would be in keeping with the spirit which has sometimes manifested itself in discussions of this subject1 to set it down as one of the fruits of the separate system6 ,the ,state ,prison of ,new ,jersey is established on the principle of individual separation4 ,the law provides1 that every convict shall be confined in one of the cells of the prison1 separate and alone1 except in such cases of sickness as are by the act provided for4 ,that is1 if the physician reports to the keeper that a prisoner requires a nurse1 the keeper1 with the approbation of the acting ,inspectors1 may employ one of the prisoners2 and whenever1 in the opinion of the physician1 the enlargement of any prisoner shall be absolutely necessary to the preservation of life1 he may be removed from his cell1 but the prisoner shall in every such case be kept from the society of other prisoners1 except such as may attend as nurses4 ,no language could more clearly express the will of the ,legislature that convict-separation should be the basis of the discipline4 ,in addition to these positive requirements1 the ,inspectors are to embrace1 in their annual report to the ,legislature1 such remarks and statements respecting the system of separate confinement and the efficiency of the same1 as shall be the result of their own observation4 ,the same act authorizes them to make rules and regulations for the prison as they may deem necessary and proper1 consistent with the principle of separate confinement and the laws of the ,state4 ,now we might naturally suppose that a body of law-makers1 receiving such a report of the condition of a body of convicted law-breakers1 from those who are appointed to take care of them1 would be slow to countenance any direct and palpable breach of the law by themselves2 and yet it must have been known to the ,legislature of ,new ,jersey that the provisions of the law establishing the ,state prison1 are rendered entirely nugatory by their neglect to provide means for executing them4 ,they are supposed to know that the prison contains but one hundred and ninety-two cells1 and that ten of these are occupied for workshops and store-rooms4 ,a brisk walk of five minutes would supply the honorable the ,legislature with demonstrative evidence that one hundred and eighty-two cells would not suffice for the separate confinement of two hundred and thirty-two prisoners1 and hence they would see fifty cells 7#g-a_/b by #af feet7 occupied by two tenants each1 against the peace and dignity of the ,commonwealth 7which has forbidden such association7 and of course against the form of the statute in such case made and provided4 ,in such an emergency1 we might further suppose that measures would be adopted at once to enlarge the accommodations and to obviate the alleged necessity for thus openly violating the law1 as early as possible4 ,with this impression1 we are surprised that the ,executive of the ,state1 whose particular function it is to see that the laws are duly executed1 does not urge prompt action in the premises4 ,so far from any intimation of this sort1 he speaks of the administration and management of the prison throughout1 as eminently successful and commendable2 of the keeper and officers as having sustained their reputation for ability and efficiency--of five thousand dollars of surplus earnings as having been paid into the ,state treasury during the year--and of about two thousand dollars paid to discharged convicts for overwork1 all which he thinks exhibits unexampled prosperity in the affairs of the prison4 ,he even goes so far as to say1 that the discipline has been well maintained1 adding 7rather paradoxically we think17 that the large number of prisoners renders it impracticable to observe the law in relation to solitary 7separate7 confinement1 and the necessity of association impairs to some extent the corrective regulations of the institution4 ,we humbly submit that it is not the necessity of association1 but the association itself that does the mischief1 and farther that ,jerseymen would better understand the case if it were said in plain ,english1 that until cells enough are built to give each convict a cell by himself1 the occupants will be more likely to become worse than better1 at the expense of the ,state1 and in deliberate violation of its positive laws4 ,this view of the case becomes quite imposing1 when it is considered that of the one hundred and ninety-seven convicts1 one hundred and sixty-eight are1 or about four-fifths1 are in on a first conviction4 ,of course1 every precaution is essential to give the discipline of the prison its most benign and efficient influence4 ,it is passing strange that an enlightened ,state should pocket five thousand dollars of the surplus earnings of her convict-population1 while the accommodations for accomplishing the only legitimate objects of the prison are so narrow as to require a constant violation of the law1 and a constant defeat of its wholesome ends4 ,it may be1 however1 that to violate laws has become the rule1 and to obey them the exception4 ,as an illustration1 it may suffice to say1 in respect to this same ,new ,jersey ,state ,prison1 that the use of tobacco in any form is peremptorily forbidden by law2 yet we are informed1 on indisputable authority1 that the prisoners both chew and smoke1 and that some of them have taken their first lessons in these arts after their admission to the prison6 ,we have made these suggestions with much freedom1 and we hope without offence4 ,we have hearty1 intelligent co-adjutors in ,jersey1 who are aiming with us to establish the convict-discipline of the country on a truly humane1 efficient1 philosophical and ,christian basis4 ,to this end1 we maintain that every prison or place of confinement for persons charged with or convicted of crime1 should furnish a suitable apartment for each individual1 separate from every other individual suspected or convicted of crime4 ,we have often cited the ,state prison at ,trenton as one of this class1 and have uniformly espoused the views of the ,inspectors and principal officers1 at times when they were opposed by crotchety speculators within or without the prison2 and we shall be greatly disappointed1 if means are not promptly used to conform the discipline to the provisions of law4 ,,art4 ,,vii4--,,an ,,extraordinary ,,document4 ,we have before us a stitched pamphlet1 entitled ,report on the ,subject of ,prisons1 by ,rev4 ,alexander ,l4 ,hamilton1 ,state ,commissioner1 to ,hon4 ,austin ,king1 ,governor of ,missouri--,referred to the ,committee on the ,penitentiary1 and three thousand copies ordered to be printed1 ,january #e1 #ahec1 pp4 #bd4 ,the author of this report is1 we doubt not1 a very worthy and intelligent gentleman1 or he would not have been appointed by the ,executive of ,missouri on so important an agency4 ,that he has fulfilled his mission to the best of his ability1 we may also admit2 but that his report contains such information as is necessary to present the subject of ,prison ,discipline fully to the consideration of the next general assembly of ,missouri1 we cannot believe4 ,indeed we do not hesitate to say that it is entirely deficient in every point that a report on such a subject1 for such a purpose1 should embrace4 ,statements are made1 which have been disproved over and over again1 until the repetition of them is loathsome to those who have been familiar with the subject4 ,principles are set forth as of present validity1 which have been long ago abandoned even by those who once advocated them4 ,the most ultra partisan opinions and doctrines are revived1 with such an air of sincerity and confidence1 as leads us to believe that the ,rev4 ,commissioner never saw or heard of the oft-repeated refutation of them4 ,he refers to those whose minds are steeped in prejudice1 as the most reliable and responsible sources of information2 and perhaps we cannot better describe the document1 as a whole1 than by saying that it is a synopsis of the reports of the ,boston ,prison ,discipline ,society and ,mr4 ,gray's book1 prepared and printed at the expense of the ,state of ,missouri4 ,we owe it to ourselves to cite a passage or two from the report1 to serve as an indication of the qualities we have mentioned4 ,as to its rhetoric and logic let the following suffice3 ,the conviction forces itself upon my mind1 that1 if the numerous weighty objections already given be correct--this 7the separate7 system is not only wrong per se1 but will soon be deserted by its remaining followers4 ,for if it be true1 when alluding to it in the least objectionable manner1 that this system is only suited to short sentences1 as many of its friends and advocates aver1 then1 to all intents and purposes1 it must soon be subject to one of two consequences2 either the penal code of the laws of the land must be so altered as to suit the demand of the system1 or the system must be so altered as to fully come within the demands of the law4 ,as to its facts let the following suffice3 ,upon the separate and solitary principle1 the prisoner--good1 bad1 or indifferent as he may be1 surrounded by his ,bible1 and such other good books as are given him from time to time1 remains all alone in his cell1 from the first of ,january to the last of ,december1 until his term of imprisonment expires2 and is thus left to his own reflections by day1 and by night--unless paid an occasional visit by some kind officer of the prison1 or by the chaplain4 ,and hence it is1 that in too many instances to justify the means employed1 insanity precedes the work of reformation4 ,were we to cite but a single passage from the report to include the logic1 the rhetoric1 the philosophy1 the facts1 and the reliability of the statements in a single view1 it would be the following3 ,upon my arrival in the city of ,boston1 ,massachusetts1 so soon as ,i had visited the ,state prison at ,charlestown1 and the ,boston new jail1 under the guidance of ,hon4 ,louis ,dwight1 ,i was convinced in my own mind that said jail1 for the purposes for which it was designed1 was decidedly the model prison of the age4 ,the commissioner was so fortunate as not only to see the model prison of the age1 but to obtain from the same source a design of a model prison for the ,state of ,missouri2 and so comprehensive and clear were the conceptions of the commissioner upon the view of these model edifices and plans1 that he made up his mind when he first saw the design1 7and his views remained unchanged after his return17 that it has no superior either in the ,united ,states or in ,europe4 ,among the inexplicable mis-statements which we find scattered through the report1 we may cite the following3 ,as has been proven1 beyond all successful contradiction1 this system 7the congregate7 is not only more humane1 but it is also far less expensive than the separate system4 ,nothing is more obvious than that from the very nature of the discipline1 the administration of a prison on the separate plan must be the least expensive4 ,the first cost of the structure will probably be greater2 but we have supposed it to be conceded on all hands1 that a prison on this plan once erected1 the expenses of maintaining it were much less than those of a congregate prison with equal accommodations4 ,while we admit that the first cost of a prison for convict-separation is greater than that of a congregate prison1 we must demur to the ,rev4 ,commissioner's broad assertion on this point3 ,i speak not unadvisedly1 he says1 when ,i assert1 that the erection of a prison for associate purposes1 is not half so expensive1 as the erection of a prison for the separate and solitary confinement of its inmates--all things considered4 ,the most zealous opposers of the separate system have not pushed this objection to any such extreme1 and to any considerate mind it carries its refutation with it4 ,as an inducement to proceed on the plan submitted by the commissioner1 he assures the executive that the prison once completed and properly officered1 unless in case of some unforeseen accident1 will demand of the ,state treasury nothing more for at least fifty years6 ,and more than that1 he says1 after paying for itself during the first few years of its existence1 it will thenceforth yield annually a handsome revenue to the ,state4 ,the cost of the ,missouri ,model ,prison is set down at #bej1jjj1 and as a sort of guaranty against any new expense for improvement in after times1 the commissioner has the assurance of one gentleman1 7which another promptly endorses17 that the principles of the main building are such as will last for one hundred years6 ,this gives a chance for a long nap to our ,boston friends4 ,we are not without hope that some of the good citizens of ,missouri will get a glimpse of this report of the ,rev4 ,alexander ,l4 ,hamilton1 and will insist upon a more intelligent and impartial inquiry1 before they commit themselves1 or suffer the ,legislature to commit itself to so large an expenditure1 for an institution so permanent1 and involving so many interests of humanity and public economy4 ,,art4 ,,viii4--,a ,,philanthropic ,,perplexity4 ,will the publishers of the ,prison ,journal1 or some one who has access to its columns enlighten an honest inquirer after the path of duty8 ,it is presumed that the combined wisdom and philanthropy of the ,prison ,society can furnish all needed direction in the case ,i have at heart and in hand4 ,of the grave and multiplied evils that spring from street begging1 ,i have no doubt4 ,indeed ,i have done all ,i could in a private way to discountenance it4 ,i have never encouraged a second call by a liberal donation1 and perhaps have sometimes seemed harsh and unfeeling4 ,but ,i am so well satisfied that it is the most inhuman thing we can do for the honest poor1 and that it favors the arts and schemes of the dishonest1 that ,i feel constrained to avoid every thing that should look like countenancing it4 ,my neighbor's gate and door are daily besieged by women and children with boys and baskets1 and they seldom leave without some token of approval4 ,but ,i must hasten to a statement of my case4 ,i was going to my place of business on ,saturday afternoon1 after dining heartily and happily upon a rare sirloin of beef1 and saw a man on the door-steps of a house in ,washington ,square4 ,he was perhaps forty years old1 7more or less7 rather shabbily dressed1 with a dirty bundle under his arm1 and some indications of hard drinking about his face4 ,i noticed that he tried the handle of the door before he rang the bell1 and was thus led to no very favorable impression of his design4 ,stepping behind a flight of steps1 ,i noticed his movements as he went from door to door under successive rebuffs4 ,as soon as he came up to my standing place1 ,i said to him1 ,friend1 do you know you are liable to be taken up for begging in the street8 ,i war'nt begging4 ,i only asked for a bit of bread and cold meat4 ,well1 you will have a constable after you in a few minutes if you don't stop that business4 ,he turned on his heel and went from me1 and as my eye followed him1 and ,i remembered the well-furnished table from which ,i had just risen with no very grateful heart1 ,i felt reproached2 and quickening my steps1 ,i followed and overtook him4 ,do you say you are hungry1 friend8 ,yes1 ,i am4 ,do you live in town8 ,no1 ,i came in town last night4 ,where from8 ,from ,emmettsburg4 ,is that your home8 ,yes1 ,i served my time there4 ,what is your business8 ,shoemaking4 ,why did you leave ,emmettsburg8 ,to get work4 ,well1 you had better go to the ,mayor's1 at the corner of ,fifth and ,chestnut ,streets1 and tell him you have no food1 no home and no work4 ,off he went1 and ,i followed by another route1 and reached one door of the office1 just as he entered at the other4 ,unfortunately the ,mayor was at dinner1 and ,i could only tell my story to the officer in attendance4 ,what shall be done with such a man8 ,i asked4 ,we can only send him down to ,moyamensing for thirty days1 or to ,blockley1 was the reply4 ,is that the only alternative--the prison1 or the poor house1 the latter with #b1gjj inmates1 and the former so overstocked as to make it a positive nuisance8 ,is it really so8 ,there is work for one hundred men at this moment1 in removing ice from the gutters1 making the side walks passable1 and the streets decent1 and yet this able bodied vagrant must be imposed upon the tax-paying public as a prisoner or a pauper6 ,as we left the office1 we saw the ,emmettsburg shoemaker ignobly introduced to the ward room4 ,i hope it will not be said that this is a case not likely to occur often1 for in that event1 ,i shall feel obliged to relate half a dozen other instances which have occurred within my own observation1 and the details of which are any thing but agreeable4 ,i am clear in the opinion1 that there must be some needless and sad defect in our municipal legislation or administration1 if the power and capacity to work is found twenty-four hours in succession1 associated with vagrancy and mendicity4 ,am ,i wrong in this opinion8 ,and whether ,i am or not1 pray tell me how to treat street-beggars4 ,miscellaneous ,notices4 ,,vagrant ,,children ,,of ,,new ,,york4--,an organization has recently been effected in the city of ,new ,york1 under the title of the ,children's ,aid ,society1 the object of which is to bring humane and kindly influences to bear on homeless boys--to preach in various modes the ,gospel of ,christ to the vagrant children of ,new ,york4 ,as an evidence of the need of some such agency1 it is stated that in one ,ward alone 7the eleventh7 there were in #aheb1 out of #ab1jjj children between the ages of five and sixteen1 only #g1jjj who attended school1 and only #b1ejj who went to ,sunday-school1 leaving #e1jjj without the common privileges of education1 and about #i1jjj destitute of public religious influence6 ,the views of the founders of this charity are summarily presented in a circular as follows3 ,a large multitude of children live in the city who cannot be placed in asylums1 and yet who are uncared for and ignorant and vagrant4 ,we propose to give to these work1 and to bring them under religious influences4 ,a central office has been taken1 and an agent1 7,charles ,l4 ,brace17 has been engaged to give his whole time to efforts for relieving the wants of this class4 ,as means shall come in1 it is designed to district the city1 so that hereafter every ,ward may have its agent1 who shall be a friend to the vagrant child4 ,boys' ,sunday ,meetings have already been formed1 which we hope to see extended until every quarter has its place of preaching to boys4 ,with these we intend to connect ,industrial ,schools1 where the great temptations to this class1 arising from want of work1 may be removed1 and where they can learn an honest trade4 ,arrangements have been made with manufacturers1 by which1 if we have the requisite funds to begin1 five hundred boys1 in different localities1 can be supplied with paying work4 ,we hope too1 especially to be the means of draining the city of these children1 by communicating with farmers1 manufacturers or families in the country1 who may have need of such for employment4 ,when homeless boys are found by our agents1 we mean to get them homes in the families of respectable1 needy persons in the city1 and to put them into the way of an honest living4 ,it has been stated1 in the public prints1 that of #af1jjj commitments for crime to the prisons of ,new ,york during the year1 at least one-fourth were minors1 and it is estimated that not less than #aj1jjj children in the city are daily suffering all the evils of vagrancy4 ,,street ,,begging ,,in ,,new ,,york4--,we have had occasion more than once to refer1 in terms of high commendation1 to the ,new ,york ,city organization for the relief of the poor1 corresponding in its main features to our ,union ,benevolent ,association4 ,we regret to notice very loud and frequent complaints of the continuance and increase of street-begging1 notwithstanding the laudable exertions of the ,society4 ,a leading city newspaper has said within a week or two1 that upwards of a half million of dollars is annually spent by the authorities and various societies1 in the way of charity1 yet our streets are thronged with beggars of all descriptions1 and particularly the avenues and streets up town1 in almost any of which1 upon an average you can see from thirty to fifty going from house to house1 to the excessive annoyance of families1 who are often abused and insulted by them1 because you do not meet their demands4 ,in fact it has become a nuisance of the worst magnitude4 ,there is much reason to apprehend that such nuisances must work their own abatement4 ,if our authorities were strong enough and independent enough1 to lay hold of the ,,boys ,,and ,,girls who constitute the materials from which street-beggars are manufactured1 and compel them 7as a matter of public safety7 to submit to the discipline of an educational and industrial school1 it would make a bright opening in the prospect4 ,or1 if every man1 woman and child who is found begging in the street1 were transferred at once to some charitable institution1 7if they have infirmities which prevent them from labor17 or to some working institution1 7if they are able-bodied17 and there put to some wholesome labor in exchange for their sustenance and clothing1 we should not be without hope4 ,but we see no way of suppressing the evil1 if neither of these methods is feasible4 ,,new ,,york ,,prison ,,association4--,we have seen only newspaper reports of the proceedings at the eighth anniversary of this active and very useful ,association4 ,we understand that their condemnation of the yoke and the shower1 as modes of punishment1 is very emphatic and unqualified1 and among the interesting facts which are drawn from their report1 we select the following3-- ,in the city of ,new ,york1 since #ahdh1 disorderly conduct 7in almost every instance the result of strong drink7 has steadily increased from #gjc to #b1ffj1 or #bgh per cent42 intoxication has increased about #ge per cent41 and the two together from #e1egi to #aa1bhj4 ,by a comparison of the prison statistics for the last five years1 it appears that crimes against property have increased only about #ej per cent42 but that crimes against the person have increased #abi per cent41 or from #a1cjj in #ahdc to #b1ibj in #aheb4 ,the increase has been the greatest in the highest crimes4 ,thus we find assaults to kill were #be in #ahdh1 and #ci1 #ei1 #fa and #ge in #aheb1 or three-fold4 ,manslaughter1 in #ahdh1 was #c1 and then #d1 #af1 #aa in #aheb1 almost four-fold4 ,murder in #ahdh was #i1 and #i1 #ae1 #ba and #ef in #aheb1 or more than six-fold4 ,ninety per cent4 of the whole number committed to this prison during the past year1 were intemperate6 ,the returns of sixteen ,state ,prisons1 for the year #ahea1 give us a grand total of #d1ejg prisoners1 #c1jjf of whom were imprisoned for offences against property1 and #ghd against the person4 ,it is stated that there is a greater number of cases of bigamy and perjury in the ,state of ,new ,york1 than in all the other fifteen ,states2 there being twenty-one cases of bigamy in ,new ,york1 and only fifteen in the other ,states2 and seventeen cases of perjury to three in all the other ,states4 ,the average period of confinement in ,connecticut is six years1 seven months1 twenty-nine days2 and in the ,eastern ,penitentiary of ,pennsylvania it is only two years1 six months and three days4 ,,new ,,york ,,state ,,prisons4--,the report of the ,state ,penitentiaries of ,new ,york bear date ,december #a1 and show that #abi more convicts were in custody at that time than in ,december1 #ahea4 ,of #ahdc1 the whole number in confinement1 #ibd were at ,sing ,sing1 #geb at ,auburn and #afg at ,clinton4 ,one hundred and forty-three pardons were granted1 or about #a in every #ab convictions6 ,the expenses of all the prisons exceeded the earnings by several thousands of dollars1 showing the fallacy of the argument so potent with most ,legislatures1 that by associating prisoners in labor they become a source of profit1 while separating them involves great expense4 ,the ,clinton prison is going largely into the iron business and wants more hands4 ,we would respectfully suggest1 whether there are not many persons at large in ,new ,york1 and some quite considerable in importance and respectable in appearance1 too1 who would find appropriate employment there4 ,there has been some increase in the frequency of punishments by the yoke1 the shower bath1 the ball and chain1 and solitude4 ,of #fac commitments1 two-thirds confessed intemperate habits4 ,how many of the rest were moderate drinkers does not appear4 ,the average degree of education in the convicts received is less than in some former reports4 ,,idiots ,,in ,,new ,,york4--,there are two thousand eight hundred idiots in the ,state of ,new ,york4 ,the report of the superintendent of the ,idiot ,asylum1 near ,albany1 contains the following interesting passage3--,we have taught a child to walk when we had first to awaken or cultivate a fear of falling1 as an incentive to any efforts on her part4 ,we have awakened perceptions of sounds in ears where the sense of hearing resided without the use of it4 ,we have developed perceptions of sight through eyes that had never performed their appropriate office4 ,we have been teaching children to speak in every stage of articulation4 ,cases that three years since only promised to be hopeless1 helpless burdens to their friends all their lives1 have been elevated to the rank of happy1 useful members of society4 ,in almost all cases1 and with very few1 if any exceptions1 those usually called idiots1 under the age of twelve or fifteen1 may be so trained and instructed as to render them useful to themselves1 and fitted to learn some of the ordinary trades1 or to engage in agriculture4 ,their minds and souls can be developed1 so that they may become responsible beings1 acquainted with their relations to their ,creator and a future state1 and their obligations to obey the laws and respect the rights of their fellow-citizens4 ,in all cases1 we believe1 for we have seen what has been accomplished in apparently desperate cases1 they can be made cleanly and neat in their personal habits1 and enabled to enjoy the bounties of ,providence and the ,comforts of life1 and to cease being incumbrances and annoyances to the families in which they reside4 ,,be ,,beforehand ,,with ,,the ,,tempter6--,a friend tells us of a case in which a young girl of considerable personal attraction1 was rescued from impending danger4 ,her mother was a widow with very scanty means of support4 ,this girl had a taste for1 and some skill in music4 ,had been at the public schools1 and could read and write with facility1 and was indeed respectably educated for one in her station4 ,her mother had determined to take boarders1 and to give an air of gentility to her house1 she had also made arrangements to hire a piano4 ,the introduction of the class of boarders which the mother expected1 would have exposed the child to great danger4 ,a ,christian friend saw this1 and by timely and judicious efforts succeeded in securing for her a situation where she would be protected and prepared for usefulness1 and for gaining a respectable livelihood4 ,how much more hopeful such simple preventive measures are1 than those which 7though equally well meant7 come later1 and are at best but remedial in their character4 ,,new ,,penitentiary ,,in ,,massachusetts4--,we notice in the proceedings of the ,legislature of ,massachusetts that it is proposed to build a new ,state ,prison4 ,it is but a year or two since the ,charlestown prison was greatly enlarged1 so as to meet what was supposed to be the demand for convict-accommodation4 ,it is earnestly to be hoped1 that if a new prison should be erected in that ,state1 the principle of separation will be adopted4 ,if the two systems could be once fairly tried in the actual presence of the people of that ancient and intelligent ,commonwealth1 we should have strong confidence that the groundless prejudices against convict-separation would disappear1 and that her example would be set as effectually for the furtherance of correct views on the important subject of prison discipline1 as it has heretofore been cited for the furtherance of misapprehension and error4 ,,state ,,prison ,,at ,,charlestown1 ,,mass4--,the earnings of the inmates of the ,charlestown ,state ,prison1 for the year ending ,september #cjth1 #aheb1 were #f1iba4ag over expenses4 ,of the inmates1 #cac are ,americans1 #agj foreigners1 #ce negroes and #ab mulattoes4 ,we have known a succession of annual reports of ,state prisons to be published1 in which the earnings of the convicts1 over and above the expenditures were quite showy1 but by and by came a change in the administration1 and a balance appears against the concern1 sufficient to swallow up all the previously reported excess of earnings4 ,each report of a favorable year made its impression on the public mind1 and hundreds of thousands who were misled by it1 will never see a notice of the detection of the error1--to use no harsher term4 ,we do not mean to intimate that there is any reason to distrust the foregoing item1 but simply to admonish the reader that such statements are always to be taken with many grains of allowance4 ,,illinois ,,penitentiary4--,we understand that this institution is leased for a term of years to a person1 who allows the ,state a certain sum for the labor of the convicts1 c4 ,the report before us embraces the years #ahea and #aheb4 ,on the first of ,january1 #ahea1 the prison contained #agj convicts4 ,since that time #ch have died1 #da have been pardoned1 #a has escaped1 and #afh have been discharged by expiration of sentence--making the whole number discharged within the past two years1 #bdh4 ,during the same period1 #bie have been received1 and the whole number now in confinement is #bjg4 ,fourteen only were born in the ,state of ,illinois6 ,,new ,,state ,,reform ,,school4--,the ,legislature of ,new ,hampshire at its last ,june session1 received a report from a ,board of ,commissioners for the establishment of a ,state ,reform ,school1 to be located in the town of ,concord1 the cost not to exceed #ce1jjj1 and to be planned for the accommodation of #cjj boys1 but finished at present for #abj4 ,an eligible site has been obtained1 and we hope soon to hear that the institution is conferring wide and lasting benefits upon the community4 ,,juvenile ,,offenders4--,at the ,somersetshire ,sessions1 held lately at ,wells1 ,england1 an interesting discussion took place on the subject of the punishment and reformation of juvenile offenders4 ,the subject was brought before the ,court by the reading of a circular1 in which the magistrates were called upon to adopt a memorial to the ,marquis of ,lansdowne on this important subject4 ,mr4 ,lloyd ,baker said he had had the subject under his consideration for the last fifteen years1 and he laid before the ,court statistics referring to the criminal career of a number of youths at that moment confined in the ,gloucester ,county ,prison1 showing that they had been1 most of them1 previously convicted once or twice2 that this kind of punishment1 instead of having a moral effect upon them1 appeared only to have hardened them in crime by their coming in contact with other bad adult characters1 and that their trial and imprisonment had cost the county from #ge to #ajj a-piece4 ,his argument was in favor of an entirely new system of juvenile reformation4 ,he was followed by other magistrates1 who spoke of the course imposed upon them1 to sentence mere children to confinement in a prison1 as a most unsatisfactory one4 ,there was no moral effect in such punishments1 but1 on the contrary1 the effect was to break down the first barrier to crime1 and it was found that the shame of imprisonment was overcome4 ,one of them expressed an opinion that what was wanted was a public receptacle for offenders of this class who were not properly prisoners1 but unfortunate individuals who1 by neglect of their parents1 had been led into error4 ,he did not see why it should not be made compulsory upon such parents who so neglected their offspring as to lead them to crime1 to contribute towards their support in such an establishment1 in the same manner as a runaway parent was called upon to contribute to the support of his family4 ,the discussion ended in the adoption of a memorial1 which was signed by all the magistrates present1 expressing their conviction1 that the present mode of treating and disposing of juvenile offenders was most inefficient and unsatisfactory4 ,,singular ,,avocation ,,and ,,mode ,,of ,,life ,,in ,,london4--,in a case of assault brought before a police-court1 a most extraordinary character appeared as a witness4 ,the man is by profession a thorough subterranean rat-catcher1 for the supply of those who keep sporting dogs4 ,one-half of his life is spent in quest of prey from the whole range of the sewerage of ,london4 ,furnished with a bull's eye lantern1 a good-sized folding trap1 and a short rake1 he enters the main sewer1 at the foot of ,blackfriar's ,bridge1 and pursues his dangerous avocation1 waist-deep in mud and filth of every description4 ,the sewers literally swarm with rats1 which he catches by hand1 and places them in his cage as easy as if they were young kittens4 ,his underground journeys extend for miles4 ,he has been under ,newgate1 and along ,cheapside to the ,mansion ,house4 ,he has traversed from ,holborn to ,islington1 closely inspecting all the passages that enter the grand sewer of the mighty metropolis4 ,on one occasion1 an obstruction occurred to a drain at the foot of ,holborn ,hill4 ,terms were speedily agreed upon1 and our subterranean explorer started off to the foot of ,blackfriar's ,bridge1 and in half an hour his voice was heard down the gully-hole2 he speedily cleared away the obstruction1 and received his reward1 thus saving the expense of breaking up the roadway4 ,it is not1 however1 to the rats alone that he pays his attention2 he frequently falls in with a rich prize1 particularly in the ,city sewers4 ,on one occasion he found a silk purse1 containing gold and silver2 on another a gold watch and seals1 numbers of silver spoons1 rings and other articles of value4 ,he has been three times attacked with the typhus fever1 but rapidly recovered on each occasion4 ,,death ,,from ,,separation6--,a ,london paper tells us1 that ,mr4 ,bedford1 the coroner for ,westminster1 held an inquest lately in ,millbank ,penitentiary1 touching the death of ,thomas ,wilkinson1 a convict1 aged nineteen years1 a clothdresser1 who was found one ,sunday morning lying dead and bleeding on the floor of his cell1 having cut his throat with a razor which was given him to shave1 during the momentary absence of the warder in charge4 ,from the question of convict prison discipline having recently been slightly agitated in the public journals1 the separate system was inquired into by the coroner1 who asked ,dr4 ,baily if he could throw any light on the case1 to guide the jury as to the cause of the act4 ,dr4 ,baily thought that it was brooding over the length of his sentence1 and stated further that1 during eighteen years1 in that prison1 from #ahbd to #ahdb1 with an average of #ded prisoners1 only three had committed suicide1 but then their sentences were only two1 three or four years4 ,again1 in the ten years as a convict prison1 from #ahdc to #ahec1 there had been thirteen suicides4 ,so that he thought it was more the length of the sentences than the separate confinement1 although he must own that the latter would accelerate or aggravate any disease which might be on a prisoner1 and also tend to suicide1 by giving them an opportunity when they would be brooding over a long prospect of imprisonment4 ,the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased destroyed himself during a state of temporary insanity1 brought on by the separate system6 ,we have put a few words in italics to mark the absurdity of such a verdict4 7#a47 ,no evidence of insanity is stated1 except that which the fatal act furnishes4 7#b47 ,as favorable an opportunity is offered1 during half of every twenty-four hours in a congregate1 as in a separate prison4 7#c47 ,if it is brooding over an unusually long sentence that produces suicidal insanity1 the verdict should be1 that the deceased destroyed himself during a state of temporary insanity1 brought on by a mistake of the law or of its administrators6 ,,murders ,,in ,,philadelphia4--,it is our painful duty to record three deliberate and atrocious murders committed within the bounds of the city of ,philadelphia since our last issue4 ,the first was committed in broad day1 in one of the most frequented parts of the city1 upon a man in his own store1 and was attended with circumstances of ferocity rarely equalled4 ,the perpetrator of the deed has not been discovered4 ,the second was the wanton butchery of an unoffending man1 apparently without any motive1 except the indulgence of a blood-thirsty malevolence4 ,the third was committed upon two unprotected females1 and with a ferocity of which we should hope few human beings are susceptible1 even in their most savage state4 ,the only apparent motive for the cruel and dastardly deed was a pittance of money4 ,how far the wretched monster on whom the guilt of this double murder has been fixed by the law and the testimony1 may have been implicated in other deeds of blood ascribed to him by popular rumor1 it is not for us to say1 but we suppose there is no doubt that he was not long since a convict in the ,state ,penitentiary at ,sing ,sing1 ,n4 ,y41 and was pardoned by the ,executive of that ,state6 ,how much of his term of punishment was abridged by this interposition of extraordinary clemency1 we are not informed2 but if the full execution of his sentence would have carried the period of his confinement beyond the #ajth of ,march1 #ahec1 it is clear that the abridgment of it opened the way for the terrible deed which we have now recorded4 ,and are we not justified in holding the pardoning power responsible1 in foro conscienti1 at least1 for the consequences of taking a convict out of the hands of the ministers of justice1 while he is undergoing wholesome discipline by their order1 and sending him back into the community as one whose punishment was greater than he deserved8 ,who knows but that an ill-judged interposition of ,executive power may sometimes breed a contempt for public authority1 and stimulate a reckless convict to more audacious violations of law6 ,,missouri ,,insane ,,asylum4--,this institution is located in ,fulton4 ,it was opened a year since1 and has received #gj patients4 ,there are #dfj acres of land attached to it1 #cj of which are under culture4 ,dr4 ,t4 ,r4 ,h4 ,smith is the principal physician4 ,,missouri ,,penitentiary4--,on the #bjth of ,december there were #bcb convicts in custody1 of whom #adf were from the county of ,st4 ,louis4 ,of the countries of their nativity1 ,ireland furnishes the largest number1 and ,germany the next largest4 ,of the ,states of the ,union1 ,pennsylvania furnishes the largest number4 ,we are happy to learn that the physician is a decided advocate of convict-separation4 ,,it ,,is ,,said1 7,,and ,,we ,,presume ,,on ,,good ,,authority17 #a4--,,that1 on the #abth of ,november last1 notice was given in the ,british ,house of ,commons of a bill for the codification of the criminal laws4 #b4--,,that1 in the ,massachusetts ,legislature1 the ,committee on ,prisons have reported against allowing the families of convicts a portion of their earnings4 #c4--,,that1 the ,london ,society for improving the condition of the ,insane1 have offered a premium of twenty guineas for the best essay that shall be presented1 showing the progressive changes since ,pinel's time in the moral management of the ,insane1 and the various contrivances to dispense with mechanical restraints4 #d4--,,that1 the ,emperor of ,france has decided1 that out of ten millions of francs appropriated to the improvement of the lodging-houses of the laboring classes1 three millions shall be put at the disposal of the ,minister of the ,interior to procure plans6 #e4--,,that1 the inmates of the ,cincinnati ,house of ,refuge are #bce1 and that the number of juvenile culprits at large is fearfully increasing4 #f4--,,that1 the three ,state prisons of ,new ,york1 7containing #aghc convicts1 of whom only #hj are females17 will require a considerable sum beyond their earnings for their support1 viz43 for the ,auburn prison1 #ad1jjj2 for the ,sing ,sing ,prison1 #g1jjj2 for the ,clinton ,prison1 #bg1jjj4 ,yet the ,clinton ,prison is not regarded as an unsuccessful experiment6 ,we hope this important fact will be known to the ,missouri ,legislature before they determine to adopt the congregate system1 on the ground of its economy4 ,as a general thing1 says the report of a commissioner of ,missouri on that subject1 the prisons employing this 7the associate system7 support themselves4 ,it is wise to look before we leap4 #g4--,,that1 very favorable commencement has been made in the establishment of an institution in or near ,philadelphia1 for the instruction of idiots and feeble-minded children4 #h4--,,that1 the ,deaf and ,dumb ,asylum at ,jacksonville1 ,ill41 admitted during its last term #ajj pupils1 #id of whom were from within the ,state4 ,the whole number of mutes in the ,state is estimated at #ejj4 #i4--,,that1 the ,illinois ,asylum for the ,blind has in it #be pupils4 ,the whole number of the blind in the ,state is estimated at only #fj4 ,a building is nearly ready for their accommodation4 #aj4--,,that1 the ,illinois ,state ,lunatic ,asylum admitted during the year #ach patients1 of whom #ch were restored to sanity1 #ej were discharged1 and #hb remain under treatment4 #aa4--,,that1 the rite of confirmation1 as observed in the ,established ,church of ,england1 was lately administered by the ,bishop of ,manchester to #bh prisoners in the gaol in that town1 varying in age from #ad to #ee years4 ,the whole scene is represented as having been very impressive4 #ab4--,,that1 the number of idiots in the ,state of ,new ,york is not less than #b1hjj1 of whom one-fourth are under #ad years of age4 ,there are #db pupils in the ,state institution for idiots1 #cj of whom are supported by the ,state4 ,the trustees recommend the purchase of a building having accommodations for #ajj pupils1 of whom #fd1 7eight from each judicial district17 it is proposed to support at the expense of the ,state2 and the remaining #cf1 by friends4 ,the estimated cost of a suitable building is #bj1jjj2 and the annual appropriation necessary to maintain the establishment will be #aj1jjj4 #ac4--,,that1 a new organization of the police of ,new ,york contemplates the total release of the policemen from all political influence1 as it provides that they shall hold their offices during good behavior1 and shall only be removed for neglect of duty or the violation of police regulations4 ,that the ,chief of ,police shall be appointed by the ,mayor1 with the approval of the ,board of ,aldermen1 and not the ,common ,council1 as has been the law hitherto2 that every policeman appointed must be a citizen of the ,united ,states1 and a resident of the ward for which he has been nominated4 ,he must also present to the ,mayor1 with his certificate of nomination1 another1 signed by twenty-five reputable citizens1 two-thirds of whom must reside in the ward at the time of signing the certificate1 certifying that they have been personally acquainted with him five years last past1 and that during that time he has borne a good character for honesty1 morality and sobriety4 ,he must also present to the ,mayor a certificate from the ,chief of ,police1 certifying that the said applicant can read with ease1 and write legibly the ,english language1 that he well understands the first four rules of arithmetic1 and that he is a proper person to appoint to said office4 ,these rules if faithfully observed1 would probably exclude some of the present incumbents in most of our cities4 #ad4--,,that1 the whole number of convicts in the ,illinois ,penitentiary is #bbg1 and the whole expense of conveying convicts from the counties in the ,state to the penitentiary1 is #ad1iij4je6 ,the ,governor thinks it unwise to have a very large number of convicts congregated in one prison1 and he submits to the consideration of the ,legislature1 whether the public interest in regard to this subject would not be better subserved by building another penitentiary1 to be located at some eligible point in the northern part of the ,state4 ,we hope one of them1 at least1 will be established on the ,pennsylvania system4 #ae4--,,that1 a little ragged urchin1 begging in the streets of ,detroit1 was asked by the lady of the house 7where his baskets had been well replenished17 if his parents were living8 ,only dad1 marm1 said the boy4 ,then you've enough in your basket now1 to feed the family for some time1 said the lady4 ,oh6 no ,i haven't neither1 said the lad1 for dad and me keeps five boarders2 he does the housework1 and ,i does the market'n4 #af4--,,that1 a new edifice for the ,new ,york ,deaf and ,dumb ,institution is to be built1 the present location having been rendered ineligible for such a purpose1 by the opening of new thoroughfares4 ,the site selected is in the vicinity of ,fort ,washington1 near the line of the ,hudson ,river ,rail-road1 and the cost of the site and building is estimated at #abj1jjj4 #ag4--,,that1 on the #ast day of ,january the population of the ,new ,york ,city ,almshouse was #eeeg2 out-of-door paupers1 #accb2 total1 #fiji--sufficient to stock a large village4 #ah4--,,that1 the practice prevails among certain of the magistrates of the county of ,philadelphia1 7names not given17 of committing to the county prison persons known to be guiltless of any offence to justify their commitments--that such persons are sometimes retained in prison for weeks1 and it is added1 that this reprehensible system puts the county to an increased expense1 merely to place costs in the pockets of the committing magistrates4 #ai4--,,that1 instruction on the ,phonetic plan has been given with much success in several of the penal institutions abroad1 among which are the ,preston ,house of ,correction and the ,glasgow ,bridewell4 #bj4--,,that1 not a single case has yet been known of a convict's losing his reason as a necessary and natural consequence of being separated from other convicts4 ,,acknowledgments4 ,we have to express our thanks to various friends for their thoughtful kindness in forwarding us copies of reports1 and among them are the following3 ,annual reports of the ,officers of the ,new ,jersey ,state ,lunatic ,asylum for #aheb4 ,twentieth ,annual ,report of the ,state ,lunatic ,hospital at ,worcester1 ,mass4 for #aheb4 ,report of the ,pennsylvania ,hospital for the ,insane for the year #aheb4 ,tenth ,annual ,report of the ,state ,lunatic ,asylum of the ,state of ,new ,york1 #aheb4 ,annual ,report of the ,state ,lunatic ,asylum at ,harrisburg1 ,penn4 ,twenty-,fourth ,annual ,report of the ,inspectors of the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary of ,pennsylvania1 #aheb4 ,report of the ,inspectors of the ,western ,state ,penitentiary of ,pennsylvania for #aheb4 ,sixteenth ,annual ,report of the ,board of ,directors of the ,pennsylvania ,institution for the ,deaf and ,dumb1 #aheb4 ,twentieth ,annual ,report of the ,managers of the ,pennsylvania ,institution for the ,instruction of the ,blind for #aheb4 ,report of the ,state ,prison of ,new ,jersey for #aheb4 ,sixth ,annual ,report of the ,trustees of the ,state ,reform ,school at ,westborough1 ,mass4 ,twenty-,seventh ,annual ,report of the ,board of ,managers of the ,prison ,discipline ,society of ,boston1 #ahea-b4 ,act of ,incorporation1 ,by-,laws1 c41 of ,new ,york ,juvenile ,asylum4 ,twenty-,eighth ,annual ,report of the ,managers of the ,society for the ,reformation of ,juvenile ,delinquents of ,new ,york1 #aheb4 ,annual ,report of ,board of ,managers of ,philadelphia ,charity ,schools1 #aheb4 ,report of ,managers of the ,magdalen ,society for #aheb4 ,annual ,report of the ,managers of the ,boston ,asylum and ,farm ,school for #aheb4 ,eight ,report of the ,baltimore ,manual ,labor ,school for ,indigent ,boys for #aheb4 ,report of ,commissioners on the ,state ,reform ,school of ,pennsylvania4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,premium ,,for ,,an ,,essay ,,on ,,juvenile ,,delinquency4--,at a meeting of the ,board of ,managers of the ,house of ,refuge1 ,philadelphia1 the following preamble and resolution were adopted1 viz3 ,whereas1 ,the increase of ,juvenile ,delinquency in all the large cities of our country1 has claimed the attention of philanthropists2 and whereas1 the ,board of ,managers of the ,house of ,refuge1 ,philadelphia1 are desirous that errors in modes of training the young1 and other causes co-operating to produce the evil referred to1 may be presented in such a form as to claim the serious consideration of parents and guardians throughout the land2 therefore1 ,resolved1 ,that the ,board of ,managers do offer a premium of one hundred dollars for the best essay1 and fifty dollars for that next in order of merit1 to be awarded by a committee of literary gentlemen3 ,provided1 that such essays shall not exceed fifty octavo pages in length1 and shall be contributed before the first day of ,july1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahec2 and whether successful or not in competition1 shall be at the absolute disposal of the ,board of ,managers4 ,in accordance with the above preamble and resolution1 the premiums therein named are now offered1 without restriction as to the residence of competitors4 ,the ,rt4 ,rev4 ,alonzo ,potter1 ,frederick ,a4 ,packard1 ,esq41 and ,stephen ,colwell1 ,esq41 have consented to act as the ,committee1 to examine and adjudge as to the merits of the ,essays offered in competition4 ,competitors for the above named premiums1 will please address their manuscripts to ,john ,biddle1 ,no4 #f ,south ,fifth ,street1 ,philadelphia2 and send therewith1 their names and places of residence1 under sealed envelopes4 ,as the object of the ,board of ,managers of the ,house of ,refuge in offering the above-named premiums1 is mainly to call the attention of parents and guardians to errors in the prevalent modes of training the young--a subject which should claim the attention of every reader--the undersigned would call the attention of editors of newspapers generally1 throughout the ,united ,states1 to this advertisement1 and ask the favor of an insertion of it1 or of the more important parts of it1 in the columns of their papers4 ,by order of the ,board of ,managers of the ,house of ,refuge4 ,,thos4 ,p4 ,,cope1 ,president of ,h4 of ,r4 ,,john ,,biddle1 ,secretary of ,h4 of ,r4 ,philadelphia1 ,feb4 #ag1 #ahec4 ,third page of cover4 ,from the ,episcopal ,recorder4 ,this periodical gives a large amount of information on ,prison ,discipline1 and cannot fail to interest such as grieve over the sufferings occasioned by crime1 and regard the imprisoned criminal as still belonging to our common humanity1 and needing the commiseration of the wise and good4 ,from the ,public ,ledger4 ,we have received the ,october number of the ,pennsylvania ,journal of ,prison ,discipline and ,philanthropy1 published under the direction of the ,philadelphia ,society for alleviating the ,miseries of ,public ,prisons4 ,it is stored with interesting matter4 ,from the ,presbyterian4 ,we have been reading with great interest the ,pennsylvania ,journal of ,prison ,discipline and ,philanthropy4 ,,an ,,inquiry ,,into ,,the ,,alleged ,,tendency ,,of ,,the ,,separation ,,of ,,convicts1 ,,one ,,from ,,the ,,other1 ,,to ,,produce ,,disease ,,and ,,derangement4 ,,by ,a ,,citizen ,,of ,,pennsylvania4 ,philadelphia3 ,e4 ,c4 ,j4 ,biddle4 #ahdi4 ,it is1 as might possibly be anticipated from the residence of the author1 an elaborate and ardent defence of the separate system of confinement4 ,the charge of its peculiar tendency to induce disease and insanity1 is altogether denied1 and the testimony of the successive physicians to the ,eastern ,state ,penitentiary1 during a term of nearly twenty years1 goes very satisfactorily to warrant the denial4 ,the author is not1 however1 inclined to rest at this1 but carries the war into the enemies' camp4 ,the chapter entitled ,medical ,practice1 in a ,congregate ,prison1 is calculated to attract attention1 from the positions laid down in it1 and their startling illustrations1 deduced from the well known case of ,abner ,rogers4 ,it is not the time or the place for us to enter on this warmly controverted subject1 and we have noticed the work only on account of its bearing on the subject of insanity1 and as forming a part of its literature4--,am4 ,journal of ,insanity1 published by the ,superintendent of the ,new ,york ,lunatic ,asylum1 ,july1 #ahej4 ,so far as the leading controversy1 in regard to the rival systems of prison discipline1 is concerned1 it seems to us to cover the entire ground with singular ability4--,princeton ,review4 ,a few copies of this pamphlet are still on hand1 and may be had on application to the publishers1 corner of ,fifth and ,minor streets1 or to any member of the ,acting ,committee4 ,,officers ,,for #aheb-c4 ,,president--,james ,j4 ,barclay4 ,,vice-,,presidents--,townsend ,sharpless1 ,charles ,b4 ,trego4 ,,treasurer--,edward ,yarnall4 ,,secretaries ,,and ,,committee ,,of ,,correspondence-- ,william ,parker ,foulke1 ,edward ,townsend4 ,,counsellors4 ,job ,r4 ,tyson1 ,garrick ,mallery4 ,,acting ,,committee4 ,james ,j4 ,barclay1 ,townsend ,sharpless1 ,charles ,b4 ,trego1 ,edward ,yarnall1 ,william ,parker ,foulke1 ,edward ,townsend1 ,job ,r4 ,tyson1 ,garrick ,mallery1 ,f4 ,a4 ,packard1 ,jeremiah ,hacker1 ,william ,shippen1 ,charles ,ellis1 ,a4 ,t4 ,chur1 ,morris ,wickersham1 ,m4 ,w4 ,baldwin1 ,mark ,balderston1 ,joshua ,l4 ,baily1 ,thomas ,latimer1 ,josh4 ,t4 ,jeanes1 ,john ,m4 ,wetherill1 ,horatio ,c4 ,wood1 ,john ,lippincott1 ,john ,j4 ,lytle1 ,henry ,m4 ,zollickoffer1 ,william ,s4 ,perot1 ,benjamin ,j4 ,crew1 ,isaac ,g4 ,turner1 ,william ,u4 ,ditzler4 ,quarterly ,meeting of the ,society1 #bnd second day 7,monday7 of ,january1 ,april1 ,july and ,october4 ,,inspectors ,,of ,,the ,,state ,,penitentiary ,,for ,,the ,,eastern ,,district ,,of ,,pennsylvania4 ,john ,bacon1 ,richard ,vaux1 ,hugh ,campbell1 ,singleton ,a4 ,mercer1 ,andrew ,miller4 ,,warden--,john ,s4 ,halloway4 ,,resident ,,physician--,d4 ,w4 ,lassiter1 ,m4 ,d4 ,,moral ,,instructor--,thomas ,larcombe4 ,,clerk--,william ,marriott4 ,,teacher--,george ,neff4 ,,visiting ,,committee ,,of ,,the ,,eastern ,,penitentiary4 ,townsend ,sharpless1 ,edward ,townsend1 ,james ,j4 ,barclay1 ,a4 ,theodore ,chur1 ,joshua ,j4 ,jeanes1 ,matthias ,w4 ,baldwin1 ,joshua ,l4 ,baily1 ,john ,lippincott1 ,john ,j4 ,lytle1 ,horatio ,c4 ,wood1 ,isaac ,g4 ,turner1 ,benjamin ,j4 ,crew4 ,,inspectors ,,and ,,officers ,,of ,,the ,,philadelphia ,,county ,,prison4 ,,president4--,jesse ,r4 ,burden1 ,m4 ,d41 ,,treasurer4--,t4 ,c4 ,bunting4 ,m4 ,d41 ,,secretary4--,e4 ,a4 ,penniman1 ,edward ,c4 ,dale1 ,samuel ,palmer1 ,robert ,o',neill1 ,hugh ,o',donnell1 ,thomas ,e4 ,crowell1 ,godfrey ,metzger1 ,charles ,t4 ,jones1 ,joseph ,k4 ,howell1 ,joshua ,s4 ,fletcher1 ,william ,elliott1 ,samuel ,mc,manemy1 ,john ,t4 ,smith4 ,,superintendent4--,anthony ,freed4 ,,deputy ,,superintendents4--,william ,b4 ,perkins1 ,john ,mirkil4 ,,clerk4--,wm4 ,j4 ,crans4 ,,matron4--,e4 ,mc,daniel4 ,,physician4--,dr4 ,j4 ,c4 ,wall4 ,,moral ,,instructor4--,rev4 ,wm4 ,alexander4 ,,assistant ,,keepers--,c4 ,stagers1 ,william ,sharp1 ,h4 ,c4 ,snyder1 ,alexander ,campbell1 ,f4 ,laird1 ,j4 ,b4 ,haines1 ,a4 ,morrison1 ,alexander ,burden1 ,j4 ,watt1 ,g4 ,kirkpatrick1 ,william ,mc,grath4 ,,visiting ,,committee ,,on ,,the ,,county ,,prison4 ,william ,s4 ,perot1 ,dr4 ,william ,shippen1 ,jeremiah ,hacker1 ,h4 ,m4 ,zollickoffer1 ,thomas ,latimer1 ,paul ,t4 ,jones1 ,morris ,s4 ,wickersham1 ,john ,m4 ,wetherill1 ,charles ,ellis1 ,b4 ,b4 ,comegys1 ,william ,u4 ,ditzler4 ,transcribers' ,notes4 ,italics are rendered between underscores2 e4g4 ,princeton ,review44 ,small caps are rendered in ,,all ,,caps4 ,a paragraph1 which was split between the second page of the cover and the third page of the cover 7inside front and inside back71 was joined together on the second page4 ,the beginning of the third page of the cover was marked with a notation between curly brackets 7 ,third page of cover4 74 ,the table in ,article ,,iv was split into two tables to better fit on the page4 ,the following table shows changes made by the transcriber4 ,page refers to the ordinal number of the printed page for this issue4 ,page #b is the inside front cover4 ,page #h is the eighth page in this issue 7which was numbered #eh for the year74 ,page #bj is the twentieth page in this issue 7which was numbered #gj71 and so on4 ,page #fj is the outside back cover4 -------------------------------------- ,change table ------------------------------------ ,page original changed to ------------------------------------ #b expresse expressed #h there their #bj substracted subtracted #bd attractions2 attractions2 #bf mismangement mismanagement #bf impunity4 impunity4 #cb viz viz4 #cd seasonable reasonable #ci homocidal homicidal #de considered4 considered4 #de years6 years6 #df ,,viii ,,viii4 #dg ,unforfortunately ,unfortunately #ee viz viz4 #ef ,,that --,,that #eg ,,that --,,that #fj ,matron ,matron4 #fj ,wickersham ,wickersham1 ------------------------------------