The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-03-17 00:00:00

Dii;SGR/PTION Or PIIILADELPIII4

GAOL.

We have seldom met with any thing more interest-
ing to the P'dlanthrepist, thee the following descrip-
Ceti of the Gaol of Philadelphia ; which appears to
be conducted upon a plan, calculated to produce the
most salutary effects; without being liable to the ob-
jections urged against our houses of correction ;
where there is reason to believe that the habits and
morals of the prisoners, so far from being amended,
are rendered more vicious and perverse.
The Prison of Philadelphia is a large stone
building, occupying a lot of 400 by '2OO feet, ami is
two stories high—divided into rooms of various di-
meesioes, suitalde to the establishment; with com-
modious manufactor ies and workshops for carpenters,
smiths, 'tailors, stone-masons, tailors, shoemakers,
and other trades. There are also attached, extensive
gardens for culinary purposes, which are worked by
the convicts. In this prisou there are 16 cells for
solitary confinement, the dimensions of which are
eight by six, and 10 feet in height ; in each cell is a
small window, fixed so high as to he out of the reach
of the convict, and secured by doublegratings of iron.
The situation of these cells is lofty and healthy, and
in the winter they are warmed by stoves in the ad-
joining pasotges, without the prisoners being able to
get at the fire. lo the corner of each is a privy, which
is clennsed from a large cistern of water at the top of
the building, supplied by a forced pump from beneath.
No commit ideation between these convicts is possible,
the walla being so thick that the loudest voice cannot
be heard. lime is placed the refractory criminal,
u hose criitinoance is determined by his behaviour,
during which he is precluded from the sight of any
one, or hearing the sound of any thing but the
keeper's voice, and the locking of doors. For aet i-
ho refuses to labour, the solitary confinement
is generally -IS hours, and for other offences in like
proportion—it operates extremely to the prejudice of
the convict to undergo this punishment, as lie incurs
by it the loss of the expenses of his board, washing,
am! lodging, which are still charged to his debt, and
to make up which
-must consequently render his in-
dastry and services the greater lifter being again em-
ployed.
Subject to the direction of a Committee, are a
gaoler, four keepers, a turnkey, and clerk. The
cooks, scullion, barber, and other attendants are
convicts, vs lin are credited for their service in pro.
portion to such time tool labour. The Condemned-
room is a spacious aeaitment, abounding np less iii
comfort and coliverlience than any part of the prisms.
l‘ly conductor informed me that only two persons
bad, at that period, been there under sentence of
death, and they were condemned as ringleaders of
an insurrection at Presburgh, hat whom, front the
indellmigable atteritiOnsOf the Committee, were trans-
formed as it were into new beings, and after being
reprieved from time to time, were restored to society,
and finally, not only reformed, but renovated cha-
racters. The whole of the poison is under the
management of a Committee, chosen from the mass of
the City, one half of whom are elected every six
months--the atmoietment rests with the Mayor.and
two Aldermen of Philadelphia ; and the person
chosen eaiiiiet decline the office without iecorring the
penalty of 101. The Board consists of twelve: seven
of whom form a quorum, meet once a fortnight in the
Inspector's room. Two of them go over the prison every
Monday, and oftener if occasion requires. Their
duty is not only to examine the gaoler and the other
officers, but particularly the habits and dispositions
of the prisoners ; as also into their emplisyment,
health, ford, &c.; and cause the Clerk to make a
return on these matters, to be laid before the Com-
mittee monthly. To aid the influence of the Com-
mittee, the Clergy of different denominations fre-
cperoly attend for the purpose of prayer and
preaching.
As soon as the Prisoner is committed, he is pro-
vided with necessary clothes, which are debited to
his account. His fist improvement is permission to
do some kind of work, for which his account is cre-
dited ; and it is worthy of remark, that many have
appropriated the proceeds of their labour to the sup-
port of their families, whilst themselves were in con-
finement—and it is often the case, when they are
leaving the prison, they receive from forty to a hurt.
dred dollars, as the overplus profits of their labour.
Nothing can exceed the cleanliness of the prison,
the kiwi treatment of the keepers, and, in general,
the respectful behaviour of the Prisoners.
Neither the Government of the United States, nor
the Public are put to the expense of a shilling to-
wards
the payment of the Gaoler and other Officers,
the whole being defrayed by the profits arising from '
the manufactures.

The l'hilat!elphia Society for ameliorating tho con-
dition of public prisons, was instituted in 1787. The
honour of this wise and humane establishment is due
to the Soci;ty of Friends; Caleb Lowues, a Member
of that community, having first proposed the plan,
which %.as then treated as chimerical, but at length,.
by the indefatigable zeal of Judge Bradford, and,,
others, his great undertaking was accomplished..
To the enlightened nod benevolent mind, the int-
poi tan( improvement which has appeared in the 1)0;41
Liss s of that country, must afford the high-est satis-
faction, and excite a wish that its blessings'shcifild-be
extended to every country utfAr !leaven.'
All corporeal punishments for small offences are
abolished, as by experience, irk proved thift
tne discipliiie of flogging, &c. is resorted to, fen great
hope is to be expcvted of a reformation. The num-
ber of criminals are decrenging every 'year, a re-con.
14 Hatt is seldom heard of, and great numbers who,
arcorditi; to the'dlatis of other countries, would he
cut olf as unworthy of existence, are reclaimed, and
become worthy members of society.
preamble of the Act of the Legislature of
Pennsylvania, declares—" That the design of the
NM:lament is to prevent the Commission -of ,crimes,
.n:(1 to repair the injury that has thereby been done I
,oziety or the individual, and that it bath been found'
by experience that these objects are better obtainedt
by I,olletAte and certain penalties than by severe and
punishments: gnd that it is the duty "t
etery i inyertimnat to reform. rather than exterminate
ad'entlar..; that the punishment of death ought never"
to be initicted wfler4, it is not absolutely necessary,'
reforts it is abolished, except for murder of the
t (:e;ree."