room. Those who said a religious character could not be maintained here, stand aghast, though some of them revile. Two weeks ago, Dr. Brown and Mr. Hoyt preached to us, and Dr. Brown again the Tuesday morning following. Much feeling was manifested by the preacher and hearers. To-day a Christian class was organized-not for Methodist, Presbyterian or Baptist purposes, but for the purpose of serving the Lord. All who were determined to serve the Lord, were requested to come forward and have their names registered. Twenty-five, including Mr. Worcester and myself, came forward and there publicly engaged to serve the Lord; others with deep feeling kept back, thinking they had not sufficiently considered the subject. The individuals of that class will probably be conversed with separately, and the feelings of each ascertained. Nearly one-third of the convicts belong to the class. Surely it is a day of wonders. The Lord can bring good out of evil, light out of darkness; make the wrath of man to praise him, and restrain the remainder."

3. The duty of exercising compassion for prisoners is taught in the Scriptures.

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," said the Saviour to his disciples. It is duty then, to impart Christian instruction to all men. Prisoners must be embraced in this comprehensive injunction. In compassion to their souls, the word of life should be faithfully dispensed to them. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." The Psalmist here extolleth that disposition of mind, which leads a person to relieve suffering and distress. Job could confidently affirm, in commendation of himself, that "when the ear heard him, then it blessed him, and when the eye saw him, it gave witness to him, because he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him." He attested that it was a

principal object with him to redress the wrongs and grievances of the widow, the orphan, and the destitute; by which he caused many a heart to sing for joy, and for which he received their benediction. Though in this passage of Scripture, Job may have had reference to another class of sufferers, yet the disposition here manifested is to be exercised towards prisoners in their wretchedness. These should experience the compassionate regard of all who can feel for another's wo.

IV. Some methods, in which prisoners may be benefited, will now be mentioned.

Improvement should be made in the construction, ventilation, and cleanliness of Prisons. Much evil may be remedied in this way. Experience has shown, that the bodily sufferings of prisoners may be mitigated consistently with the infliction of a punishment justly deserved and sufficiently dreaded. Our Prisons ought to be so formed, that the inmates may occupy separate cells, and be secluded from all associates, during the night. The great principle of solitary confinement, at least by night, is now adopted in the State Prisons of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and Missouri, and also in many county prisons and houses of correction.

It is highly beneficial to prisoners, that they be engaged in some laborious employment. This will be productive of health, and while suffering the sentence of the law, they may do much towards their own support. Besides, idleness will to a very considerable degree render ineffectual all attempts at reformation. In the employments of the day, it is important that there be a classification of the convicts. The males and the females should labor

separately, and the young and the old never be associated. Females should be placed under the superintending care of pious matrons, and the males be in subjection to some religious man, who will act as an immediate superintendent, and be prompt, unceasing and efficient in all his movements. Those who have the management of Prisons ought to mingle authority with affection in their government. Such a course will be wise and beneficial.

Every Prison should be furnished with religious instruction. A Bible should be placed in every occupied cell, and the preaching of the gospel be regularly provided. This is now the case at Thomaston, Me.; Concord, N. H.; Windsor, Vt.; Charlestown, Ms.; Wethersfield, Ct.; Sing Sing, and Auburn, N. Y.; Baltimore, Md.; Columbus, O., and Washington, D. C. Appropriate religious exercises should be observed, morning and evening, and a Sabbath School established and maintained. Says the Warden of the State Prison at Thomaston, Maine, in a letter to the Secretary of the Prison Discipline Society, "The Legislature has appropriated seventy-five dollars to purchase books for its use, and at the same time an addition was made of fifty dollars per annum to the salary of the Chaplain, who is required to attend to the Sabbath School. The success attending is apparent; the convicts become more industrious and obedient; and I am in hopes, by divine assistance, (without which all our attempts will be ineffectual,) that a different result than formerly will be produced in the morals and deportment of the convicts." State Prison Sabbath Schools are beginning to be considered almost as essential, as solitary confinement at night. The rules adopted by the New Penitentiary in the District of Columbia, are the best, probably, that can be adopted in relation to this subject. They are as follows:

"1. There shall be morning and evening service performed by the chaplain. 2. There shall be a Sunday

School under the direction of the Chaplain, with the co-operation and concurrence of the Warden. 3. There shall be a sermon preached, and divine service performed every Sabbath day by the Chaplain. 4. There shall be present at all the religious services, and at the Sunday School, such officers as shall be designated by the Warden. 5. Each cell shall be furnished with a Bible, and such other religious books as the Warden, with the assent of the Inspectors, may think suitable to improve their morals and conduct."

Such are some of the methods which should be adopted in the improvement of Prison Discipline. Were this penitentiary system generally practised, most salutary effects would result. Great good has already been effected where this course has been adopted. Success has attended every effort. The day of despair in relation to the reformation of prisoners, has gone by. This class of the community are no longer considered beyond the reach of divine mercy. Combined efforts are now making in their behalf. Societies are formed, having in view the amelioration of their condition. These ought to be multiplied in their number, and extended in their exertions. The ministers of the gospel, whose duty it is to exercise compassion themselves, should use their influence to promote a spirit of compassionate regard in others. Christians, generally, should remember it in their supplications for a world lying in wickedness. The press should be enlisted in this work for the alleviation of human wo. Howards then might be expected to come forward and advocate this cause of philanthropy. Let none doubt of ultimate success; but all anticipate the time, when there shall be no more need of bridewells, jails, state prisons, and the gallows. The Lord hasten this blessed day.

I cannot close this Dissertation, without an allusion

to imprisonment for debt. "I am shocked," says Dr. Channing, "at the imprisonment of the honest debtor; and the legislation which allows the creditor to play the tyrant over an innocent man, would disgrace, I think, a barbarous age." Once in heathen Rome, the insolvent debtor with his family, by a law of their statute book, was doomed to involuntary servitude for the benefit of the creditor. But this legislation was soon repealed. Would that there was no relic of it still remaining in Christian lands. The subject of incarceration for debt, which is now greatly exciting the attention of the public, should be fully and prayerfully considered. Its bearing upon the community is immense. It is stated upon the authority of Roome, the keeper of the debtor's jail in the city of New York, that there were committed to that prison, during the year 1828, ten hundred and eighty-five persons for debt. The debts contracted, amounted to twenty-five thousand, four hundred and nine dollars, and thirty-two cents; and the damages amounted to three hundred sixty-two thousand, seventysix dollars, and ninety-nine cents. What an enormous waste of time and money in legal prosecutions for debts merely, in the great commercial city of this nation! But a revolution in public sentiment and feeling has commenced, and the work of reform is onward. Let the Prison Discipline Society, in its Seventh Annual Report, speak. "In the great State of New York, containing at least a seventh part of our country's population, imprisonment for simple debt is abolished. Having seen the practical operation of the former laws; how many were imprisoned for less than one dollar; how many more for less than ten dollars; how many for rum debts, when the guilt of putting the bottle to the mouth by the creditor, was probably greater than that of the debtor in receiving it; how much time has been lost in prison;