there are exceptions in the laws, regarding transient persons, which still subject many, particularly in cities, to great oppression. In the city of Boston there were, during the last year, about six hundred imprisoned for debt, and of these about one third were seamen.*

3. One thing more, (and it should ever be remembered with feelings of thankfulness,) this society has been instrumental in causing hundreds of poor lunatics, who were suffering the most horrid cruelties in prisons, to be removed to asylums established particularly for them. The first asylum of this kind in the United States, which was intended expressly for poor and imprisoned lunatics, was that at Worcester. This institution, erected at an expense of over fifty thousand dollars, is situated on a singularly beautiful elevation, overlooking a wide expanse of surrounding country. It is probably as perfect an institution of the kind as exists in the world. In alluding to this magnificent asylum, the name of Horace Mann cannot be forgotten. His labors, probably, more than those of any other person, hastened and perfected this noble work of humanity, and long as it stands it will be a monument to his worth. The bill for its erection passed in 1830, and in January, 1833, the Governor issued a proclamation, requiring the removal to it of all lunatics confined in jails and houses of correction, throughout the commonwealth.

This unfortunate class of our fellow-creatures were, until that time, often treated with such brutal severity, that their case became one of almost unmitigated woe. Whereas they are now placed in the midst of soothing influences, and, in cases where reason is not restored, they are surrounded by every comfort, and live comparatively happy.

Formerly, while in jails and houses of correction, the insane seldom or never recovered; they generally became worse; now it appears by the report of the superintendent that eighty-nine per cent. of cases of less than one year's duration, and more than twenty-five per cent. of old cases, have been cured.

"There is reason to apprehend that the greatest abuses exist in this connexion; and that the jails in this Commonwealth are habitually made a part of the machinery by which seamen are cruelly defrauded of their hard earnings;" and the extraordinary results made known by the abstract of the returns prepared by the Secretary of State "seem to show the necessity of some farther laws to carry into effect the purpose of the legislature, and especially to extend its operation to that class of the community most exposed to hardships in this respect, — I mean our seafaring brethren."-Gov. Everett's Address, Jan. 1839.

There is another interesting feature of lunatic asylums, as they are now conducted, which we cannot pass by in silence. Connected with these institutions are chapels for worship, and persons who have not been present in a church, or attended religious services, for ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty, and, in more than one instance, thirty-five years, now attend regularly, and conduct themselves with the greatest decorum.

"Can we contemplate," says Dr. Woodward, "a more interesting spectacle than the assembly of the insane, a large proportion of whom had been incarcerated for years in prisons and in dungeons, or confined with chains and manacles, the objects of terror and dread to all around them, convened on the Sabbath for public worship, all decently clad, and respectable in appearance, calm and self-possessed, listening with apparent attention to the messages of truth, uniting in the devotions, and joining in the songs of praise; all going and returning from the chapel with order? Such a spectacle we have witnessed on each returning Sabbath, since our chapel was consecrated."

The work is going on. The states of Maine and Vermont are erecting asylums on an extensive scale, for which large appropriations have been made. The state of New York is erecting buildings which will accommodate one thousand patients. The corporations of New York and of Boston are erecting buildings for the insane of those cities. The legislature of Ohio has appropriated forty thousand dollars for erecting an institution at Columbus. One has been recently established in Kentucky, for pauper lunatics, at an expense of thirty thousand dollars. South Carolina has expended one hundred thousand dollars for the erection of a state asylum at Columbia, and is now making large additions to it. Virginia has two hospitals for the insane; one at Williamsburgh, and one at Staunton. Tennessee has recently erected an asylum at Nashville. Thus this noble work of philanthropy goes forward; and the Prison Discipline Society has been, without doubt, greatly instrumental in hastening it.

The society, we may also add, in passing, has done much in regard to penal laws. It has called forth a truer feeling towards convicts, and furnished statistical information of immense value.

One of the most important things, connected with the subject of Prison Discipline, is the controversy respecting the Pennsyl

vania and the Auburn systems. Each system is advocated by men of eminent piety and judgment. Many weighty arguments are brought forward on both sides. It is not our purpose, at this time, to enter into the merits of either minutely. It is a question of great importance, and should be entered upon with profound thought and thorough investigation. Both plans are in a measure experiments, and both may have their faults. In all such differences, it is desirable that there should be perfect candor, and that the desire should not be so strong to support a system, as to discover truth.

Much is said about expense, and this, no doubt, should be considered; but if it can be clearly proved that the greatest expense is connected with the best plan, the expense becomes a matter of comparatively small consequence. If, on the other hand, the best plan is also cheapest, this is, of course, an additional argument in its favor. To erect a penitentiary on the Pennsylvania system costs six or seven times as much as to build one of the same capacity on the Auburn plan. But the great question remains, Is the Pennsylvania system better calculated to reform the convict, and enable him to become a worthy member of society? We are not satisfied that it is so. Facts seem to be in favor of the Auburn system. With regard to recommitments, the accounts from Philadelphia are not very satisfactory. Out of 420,-the whole number discharged and pardoned in four years, -41 were recommitted, or 1 to 104. At Auburn of all discharged, the number of recommitments has been 1 to 123, for a period of twenty years.

It is well known that the Pennsylvania system is one of solitary confinement, day and night. In their small cells they remain, until released from prison. The principle that this goes upon is, that solitude will lead the mind to reflect, and reflection will lead it to virtue. But does not this depend in some measure upon the mind itself? If a mind has been enlightened, if its better powers have been called forth, if pure thoughts have been cherished, then, after moments of sin, solitude may lead to reflection, and reflection to virtue. But if you should take an ignorant man, whose mind has been neglected, who has been long in the habit of associating with the vicious, whose animal passions are strong, and whose recollections go back only to scenes of lust and sin, and place him in utter solitude, would not the effect be somewhat different? Might it not increase his passions, or stupify his mind? And what are the

characters of those who are generally imprisoned? It is well known that they are in most cases unfortunate, uneducated victims of neglect; that they are often low and sensual. And if we look philosophically at the probable consequence of solitary confinement on such persons, by night and by day, month after month, and year after year, what are our natural conclusions?

In the Auburn system there are daily prayers, when all are assembled in the chapel; there are also Sunday schools and religious services on the Sabbath. In the Pennsylvania prison the inmates are never assembled. They have no chapel. They are never brought together for instruction; they must be conversed with separately, or the speaker must stand in the long stone passage way, without seeing a single person, and let his voice be heard through the small holes cut in the doors of their cells. This latter mode would seem to be painfully unnatural. So much so, that one is led almost impatiently to ask, why not let them assemble, at least on the Lord's day? But this would violate the great principle upon which their whole system is founded, which is, that as it is desirable that the convict should not know, or be known by, any fellow-convict after release, therefore that no inmate shall see the face of another while in the prison. There is certainly good in this plan, but, to carry it out, much that is good must be sacrificed; so much, that one may well question its wisdom. The theory effectually debars the prisoners from ever being brought together either for work, mutual instruction, or worship.

It is also objected by many, that the health of the prisoners is greatly injured by being thus immured in utter solitude.* While, on the other hand, the friends of the system state that they are satisfied with the health of the convicts; that the bad

* The number of sick, according to the Reports of the Pennsylvania prison, is generally three per cent. The number under the Auburn, two per cent. According to the Ninth Report of the New Penitentiary in Philadelphia, it appears that there were seventeen deaths out of three hundred and eighty-seven, or more than four per cent. In the Auburn prison there are hospitals for the sick, with every necessary comfort. The sick in the Philadelphia prison must remain in their cells, and if they die, die in solitude.

It may be well here to refer to a pamphlet of ninety pages, just published by Dr. Ch. Condet of Geneva, Switzerland, who is physician of the Penitentiary of that place, in which he maintains that the Pennsylvania system is not favorable to health.

effect of being constantly confined to the cells is more than counteracted by the visits of advising friends; and that, with regard to assembling for worship, they are opposed to it on principle; that all that the convicts need is private instruction. There are many things connected with these two systems, which are important, and, in regard to which, wise and good men differ. It seems to us very important, that there should be a friendly and candid spirit between the friends of the two systems, that each should be willing to acknowledge defects, on whichever side they may be found, and that there should always be a wish to aid and assist each other in sifting the bad from the good; so that a system may gradually be brought out, which will give satisfaction to every Christian mind.

Let us now look at the internal discipline of prisons. First, in order to prevent all evil communication, the rule is, to allow no conversation. And, while speaking of this, it may be well to observe, that, although in the Pennsylvania prison all are kept constantly in their cells, it is unqualifiedly stated, by many who have examined the prison, that the prisoners can converse with each other; and this has been stated so often, and by such good authority, that we believe there is no doubt of the fact. They can speak through the pipes and ventilators, and over the walls of the yards. In the Auburn prisons they use the greatest caution to prevent conversation. When the prisoners leave their cells, for the workshops, they walk in single file, with an overseer to about every twenty, and under the care of these overseers they continue through the day. There may very likely, at times, be an exchange of signs or words; we should think it impossible wholly to prevent it; but we believe that no long continued conversation can ever take place, and that, as a general thing, there is little or no conversation during the whole time of imprisonment.*

The next thing, upon which we would speak, is labor. In the Pennsylvania prison work must be done at great disadvantage. Occupations, which require more than one person, cannot, of course, be carried on, and the time of labor must be at the discretion of the inmate. Under the Auburn system there

* Dr. Lieber has lately published a pamphlet, advocating the Pennsylvania system. On the other hand, the Secretary of the Prison Discipline Society, in his Annual Reports, speaks with great earnestness against the system, and considers it fraught with evil.