appear, however, under the moft favorable circumstances for Inftruction; for they have been stopped in the midst of their career, and are suffering the penalties which they have juftly incurred. At this time, therefore, the Voice of Admonition is most likely to be attended to. The bleffing of God may accompany the leffon of the teacher, and he who was received into Goal a man of the worst morals, may be returned into Society with a difpofition to good, and a refolution to live better for the future. No method appears more a 3 likely likely to anfwer this good purpose, than the confinement of criminals in feparate apartments, which has been recommended by Mr. Howard, and is already adopted, with good Effect, in many places of this kingdom. It will, no doubt, be found the Intereft of the counties in general, as well as of individual towns, to follow this mode of punishment. I have lately feen with great fatisfaction two prifons, almost completed, with every accommodation of this nature; I mean, at Oxford and at Manchefter; and I hope it will not be long, before other places will follow follow the Example of these, fo eminent for learning and for commerce. When the prifoner is debarred from the Society of every other person, it is likely that he will turn his thoughts upon himself. A fucceffion of days and hours in Solitude, at firft, perhaps, will make him heavy and dejected. This is the moment for Inftruction. In the present age there are few, even among the common People, who are not able to read. He may be induced, therefore, to confider it as a reward for good behaviour, and an agreeable com companion in his folitary moments, to have a book put into his hands; and as he reads and meditates on serious things, there is every reason to hope, that his heart will be corrected, and that in every respect he will become a new man. Upon Enquiry I find, that there are very few books, addreffed particularly to confined Criminals. Roffell's Prifoner's Director, and Dr. Dodd's Thoughts, are almost the only publications, at least of modern date, which I could hear of, tho' I applied for this purpose to the Reverend Mr. Vilette, to Vilette, Ordinary of Newgate, who obligingly offered communicate any Information I might wish for; and even these, he informed me, were very seldom used by the Prifoners. The riot and difsipation, indeed, which, to the disgrace of our police, are fuffered to prevail in the generality of prisons, muft counteract the advantages which might arife from books of the most allowed Utility; and a well difpofed prifoner, thus endeavouring to improve his time, would, I fear, in many of our Goals, find himfelf the Object of contempt and ridicule from the profli gate |