The Litchfield County post., 1826-07-18

other effect upon the men, than to subdue their passioiIs it did not iuiure their health. The keeper, who has been l8years in the in- stitution, stated that 1he effect Ofsultary c0n-l liinenenf. with this diet had been good; the prisoners left the cell with determination never to return to them, and no one had yet returned. e&
 E,nployment.--1n one of our Penitentiaries, "a convict who had belonged to a gang of counterfeiters, and was possessed, at the time of his arrest, of great quantities and varieties of curious tools, plates, and bills, was placed at the head Of the whitesmith's shop. This shop was we'll furnished, at the expense of the State, with all the instruments which such an artist would desire to use, and had a window in it opening into the street, through which he could deliver any altered or counter E felt money, and receive materials to alter it-- All curious arts are out of place in Peniten- tiary. The simple trades only are suitable i; the cOoper9s, weaver's, shOemaker's, tailOr's, hatter's, and chiefly the stone cutters.
 Paniisknlents. At Auburn, stripes are al most the only mode punishment. In Rich moad, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New-York city, Charlestown, and Concord, solitary con
 inement mostly, with small allowance of bread and water. In Connecticut, stripes, chains, solitary confinement, and severe hum ger. Discretionary power must sbe allowed in administering punishment, and much, of course, depends on the character of the men entrusted with the government of the prison The best discipline is found to be: maintained where this power is vested in the Warden.
 Gorer,,nsent, Report regards per- manent board of three directors as the best government; the board to meet weekly over look the warden, with power to approve or reject the bye-laws proposed by him, but not to controul him in the exercise of his powers.
 REMEDY FOR THE DEFECTS IN PRISON DIsCI- PLINE. The State Prison at Auburn is recommen- ded as the best example of what prison should be both as regards its constructioa, and proper management 'sIt is not possible 7 says the Report, :. to describe the. pleasure which we feel in contemplating this noble in sttution, after wading through the fraud and moral iith of many prisons. We regard it as a modeiworthy of the worlds imitation.
 The whole establishment from the gate to the sewer, is a specimen of neatness. The unremitted industry, the entire subordinatlon, and subdued feelings of the convicts, have probably no parallel among an equal number of criminals. In their solitary cells, they spend the night with no other bsok but the Bible sand at sunrise they proceed in military order, under the eye of the turkeys, in solid columns, with the lock march, to their work shops; thence in the same order, at the hour of breakfast, to the common hall, where they partake of their wholesome and frugal meal m silence. Not even a whisper is heard;-- though the silence is such that whisper might he heard through the whole apartment. The cOnvicts are seated in single files, at nar- row tables, with their backs toward the cen Ire, so that here can be no interchange of signs. If one has more food than he wants, he raises his left hand; and ifanother has less, he raises his right. hand; and the waiter changes it. When they have done eating, at the ringing of little bell, of the softest sound, they rise from the table, form the solid col umns, and return under the eyes of the turn keys to the work shops. From one end of the shops to the other, it is the testimony of many witnesses, that they have passed more than 800 conyicts, without seeing one turn his head to gaze at them, or leave hs work. A law of the state requires that every cell shall be supplied with Bible or Testament. They also receive the undivided attention of most wise and faithful religious teacher,who spends l all his time in the Prison; visiting the sick {; teaching those who cannot read; preachingM the chapel on the Sabbath, the unsearchabe riches of Christ; and afterwards in going from cell to cell, to administer the reproofs and cancellations of religion to individuals.