Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-08-12

| .'Nh'' npulttU Sutu, anu ttleF FNtfhDftltlt
ry Efforts iooseucd The CRATE and let ont asi
taied wretch. whose prayers to save fe!i"w
creature had been fervemt and affecting O,h
crs saved man from the 2d story at The east
angle by mounting ladder aGd opening a vent
tor his liberation. IL was now surpassed all were
sale, when suspicion was raised that anut'ier
still remained in the west side of the building.
Hundreds had passed ;lnng that quarter,
without seeing or hearing him--iill ut length
a gentleman approached Il Window and shout
ed loudly at it-whento the astoni,hnieut of
all man sprung M his feet. and patEeticsl'y.
exclaimed, Gentlemen, sure me, S1re -
In few minutes the grated Window yielded
To the strokes of the axe, and the miserable
tenant, an old man, who had been 10 or IL
years confined for rape, marched out exuit
ingly with his bible under his arm The
building IN this respect was admirably contriv-
ed. The rooms were arched at top, and for
lung time screened those who were under
them from the immediate hames.-For the
same reason il is that so many of the cells,
even some of the wooden duors, are scarcely
singed by the fire.-lt was the central! building,
where the fire first broke out, and communica
ted the flames to both wings ofth- semicircie,
| that laid the train of this misfortune.
! Two singular features, therefore, present
themselves To soften the dark shades of this
calamity that not one out of 2ll cpnvicts was
hurnt-and not one attempted To make his
escape. We may add, that not one accident
occurred during the awful scene.
| The scene was beyond description 1T
| struck the senses as " ell as the heart with an
astonishing force. The immense pile on fire,
the reflection which it threw upon the woods
around, the waters of the basin below, the
busy and anxious faces of the thronging spec
iators, battle all description. When we first
ga. .g.f.t al
were Just curling around the lofty belfry i'm
front, until they rapidly rose and proudly tow
cred above ITS pinnacle, seeming to mock the
works of man.
Wecannot estimate the loss to the common
wealth-the srmicircular building cost at first
about 5 lf0,O00-the central building was af
forwards addrd-the goods and raw materials
on hand might he worth about 40 or so 900
| doiis.-Ne know not the amount Of goods
that were rescued. The Wagons, ploughs,
and timber, under two sheds On the exterior,
were nearly all saved. The timber under "A
Sd shed was totally burnt The House itself,
except the central building, does not appear
as much injured as might be- expected. The ou-
ter brick walls stand though small part of it
must probably be taken dswn, 81 almost every
room around the s galleries ofthe semicircular
building may admit of being fitted out at no
very eXtravagant expense. Ten or twelve of
the cells, indeed, with their wooden floors
and doors are not burnt; nor even the resin
drawn out. The cook shop with lis benches,
is untouched But no positive estimate can
/ he made oi the damages done To the House.
An official survey will Immediately be held
and as soon as we can obtain the particulars,
we will lay them before uHr readers.
The condition offhe building has necessari-
) mad most important cilrci upon the de
libera'ions of the Council. The law makes no
| provision Tor such Il contingency. IL is a case
EentlreIy ont oi the file of preceJrnts. What
was 10 become of these 81 wfeiches sudden
" cast on the place To which they were
| dnomed by the laws What is to become of
those whom The fall term flhe Superior Courts
may assign 10 The same confinement In what
condition does this unpa allcled event place
the whole criminal code But this is not all
! The expense and Inconvenience attendant ON
IA continual and heavy draft of the militia, to
guard an exposed house like the Arnory,
were diihcuiiies not easily overlooked. Could
these objections be surmounted without the
immediate interpositon Of the Legislature p
ar were the Council tn call the members sud
denly at very great expense to the common
wealth, at most inconv enient season, when
The harvest and seeding times demanded their
presence at home? The Council! had to
avoid either Of these alternatives, If possible -
-hp N'ibfbN iucN nave Nttlutu wisely.
Al the board which met yesterday, we I'M
derstand, they have directed as many con-
vets as are able to work To be- conducted to
the PenitentIary under a competent guard
To prepare the rubbish for removal-and ten
'ahourers to he hired to remove ii from the
bulldlnS-and coDdlionaly to accept ofthe
offer OF an active captain olthe militia 10 raise
company OF IS men for the occasion. and
assist the Commandant Of the Public Guard in
guarding the convicts.-Its expected, If no un-
expected difficulty should occur, the convicts
may be moved back in the course of fe,s
days. These arrangements will supersede the
necessity of rcsortins to the authority of the
Legislature.
1t is the part Of wise men, however. TO pro
tit by the past. This serious misfortune to
The state may not he without its uses
Sweet are The uses of A,IYersitv
That like a toad ugly and venpn,ous,
Doth wear precious jewel in lis head.
Inc last penitentaiy was essentially i'm
perfect Experience proves that it does not
reform the criminal nor repress the repetition
OF crimes as much as was expected. The
reason lay IN the construction of the ronns.-
criminals ought TO sleep alone-and 10 work
together as little as possible. 1t is solitude
which ought TO constitute the leading feature
of such an Institution. Cut man of from the
society OF his fellows, and What sting is there
in the punishment Mix together Al the de
grees of vice, and you will soon perceive how
much I" evil communication corrupts the mo
rails" even of the bad.
To this great reform. therefore, we trust
the Legislature of Virginia will direct their
attention. Let them seek all plans, and select
The best. Pennsylvania, New York, and we
believe Louisiana, are at present erecting
PenItentiarics upon new principles. What
are they What does Edward Li,ingsiou's
I Rpuprl = IT,vpa's Il 4 q