The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-23

templates still more rational, more being
naot. and more instructive means of impro
vlag the moral sense, and reforming a vici
Gus man. l think it ought to provide in
some degree for the advancement of the
understanding. for quickening the sensibiity
OF the conscience, aad for aiding the man
to hold himself upon the rank of a creature
entitled to his esteem. 1t ought to allow
the opportunities CONSTRUCTION by reading.
admonition. meditation. and attention to mo-
raj aud religious duties. AS l would pay
an instructor for teaching youth, by lee
lures, precepts and eXhortation, and propar
ms him by his knowledge OF virtue and vice,
to avoid the practices which lead the UNI
happy and inconsiderate man to the doors OF
a Peniientiary, and immune him within the
walls OF prison, so would pay an instruc-
tor to teach a poor benighted convict how
to avoid a second confinement ia III sould
avoid with all possible scruple. those ridi-
cniors and unreasonable customs of defoim-
ing poor wretch by shaving his head or
by any phantastical Change in his dress, for.
eng HIM tn look upon his owa udicrous and
grotesQue appearance with sharue, confusion.
and disgust. o. Such "a condition, the
philosophy and patience of human nature
cannot endure & if cdnpelIedby PHYSICAL
force to submit TO such policy. with hard
eneu heart. callous feeling aud obIiterated
charity. influenced by all the goadings of
resentment, anG instigatcd by the xcite-
ments OF revenge, the man whogoes into the
penitentiary a reciaimable knave, comes
out an irresistible. fierce and fiendlike
beast. 1t the convict who is sentenced TO
confinement must be humbled and broken in
spirit by niockery of dress and defor-
"i,.y OF person, in order to prepare him tor
reformation, why not make the means at
once more efectuaP. Why nor strip him
hdAeu' knock onthls teeth, exunguisll an eye,
Guy oit-he nose, CT slit the tongue! This VIII be
saiu 10 outrage the feelings of the very ru
dest state ofhumanty no less do the Gus
TOMS which are predominant in state pri-
sons, and which are hectored over u crea-
lure, oanlshed from his home, his friends,
ana MS FAMILY, by the sentence OF the
law as d part of the penalty which is 10 re-
Cp"pSnce ms Crimes, violate the sensibli-
ties ofrefined and civilzcd society. Yes.
sucn Customs are calculated to cunver, the
emotions OF sympathy and COMMUNICATION
INTO the shrinkinSs of horror and dis
may .(6)
1He-dTmory is so situated as to command
every advantage from the application of wa
Lei W machinery; bnt-a stroll through ne
se'era' apartments, ans an inspection of the
machinery now in use, will ut once demon
yes 'his enterprze is beggarly repres scented
IN ITS accomplishment As there couid be
no d'ihculty IN obtaining a suitable site for
suCh an establishment IN the more retired
part Oh the state. rather wonder that the
Soou sense OF the legislature did not fix
Ems institution upon different spot. By so
ooins the institution itself would have been
more secure from injuries such as might al
lect II, and at the same time affect ;he well
iarc and safety Of tue state. But a more
immediate advantage would have been
gained 10 the institution in keeping tue me-
ene"iCs employed IN II Tree from those temp
.s'iohS ana enticements from labour and du-
", WHICH city never fails to afford. ~
rs the opportunities which have been al
ioroed me 10 examine this institution have
been very limited, and as the impressions
winch those opportunities have excited are
NOT very favorable, when compare it's pre-
sent state, with the design and purposes,
Win ana lor which 1t was created, I dis.
MISS III without further remark contcnted
W receive as the truest evidence of it's me-
II. .he Opinions ut judicious, rejecting and
wen informed men, which almost UNIFORM
" ocCiare, that as yet, ths state has not
oeen acquitted of the expence of founding
IT. q perhaps never will.
Inc Fenltentiary, Sta house, and espe
cialiy the Armoy, as we'll AS other public
INSTITUTIONS which are to be seen here, exhi
oit favorable demonstration that the pub.
nc spirit, patriotism, and UNDERSTANDING of
the commonwealth, is very elevated, pure.
ana enlightened but at the same time a
proof that the people in the attempt or en-.
ueaVour TO reduce TO practice their views.
specnia'lons. and theories, founded IN he no.
o'est designs, and in the most bene ficent
motives. nave either been extremely disao-
POihteu IN their estimation of the capacity or
integrity OF their public agents.
me RlVer Immediately opposite the CITY
Is broken INTO cataracts, and is, for some dis
ante ABOVE and below greatly obstrnctetl
by shoaiS, and falls, inasmuch that in its ma
tural state Its navigation mere is impractical
Die even Tor boats. Bul this great impe-
dimehtto the commercial enterprise OF the
place Is entirely reuedied by a canal which
10 Cnt from tue commencement of the ialls
"hlch lead directly into a. expansive re-
SerVolr or great bason lying in the heart of
city. Into TINS bason, al! the produce which
Is hoa' ed down the river is carried and
rom them, heretofore transported a short
distance by land to the shp-Iandine below
out shortly tn be conveyed tliither. by the
'uu OF locEs now III state Of great forward
ness reading from the bason IN tile CITY. i'm
10 the river below. hitho tile locks in the,r
present state do not eyinCe very Complete
Workmanship, yet they will probably meet
inc object tor wbich they were c0nstruc
tea and can at any time be substituted Lv
better, II e%psricncc should prove them in
sufficient