Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-08

deplorable state Of the female prisoners
in Newgate, resolved to relieve them
She applied to the governor for leave
of admittance; he replied, that she would
incur the greatest risk in visiting that
abode of iniquity and disorder, which he
himself scarcely dared to enter; he OBJ
served that the language she must hear
would inevitably disgust her, and made
use OF every argument to prevail Oh her
to reinquish her intention. Mrs. Fry
said she was fully aware Of the danger to
which she exposed herself, and repeated
her solicitations for permission TO enter
the prison. The governor advised her
not to carry in with her either her purse
or her watch, and Mrs. Fry replicd-"l
thank you; am not afraid: don't think
shall lose any thing" She was shown
into an apartment of the prison, which
contained about one hundred and sixty
women; those who were condemned and
those who had not been tried, were all
suffered to associate together The chill
dren who were brought up in this school
Of vice, and who never spoke without ut
tering an oath, added to the horror OF the
picture. The prisoners eat, cooked their
victuals, and slept, all in the same room; |;
it might have been truly said, that New
| gate prison resembled den of savagcs.
Mrs Fry was not discouraged; the grace
Of God is infinite; the true Christian new
or despairs. In spite of very delicate
state OF health she persevered in her pi-
Gus design. The women listened to her,
| nd NJ. thn
pure and tranquil expression of her beau
tilul countenancc speedily soltened their
icrocity. 1t has been remarked, that If
virtue could be rendered visible, it would
be impossible to resist its influence; and
thus may be explained the extraordinary
ascondancy which Mrs. Fry exercises
over all whom sho approaches. Virtue
sumed the form of tins benevolent lady,
who is tho guide and consolation Of her
fellow creatures.
| Mrs. Fry addressed herself to the pris-
oners, "lou seem unhappy" said she;
''you are in want of clothes; would you
not be pleased if some one came TO re-
! lieve your Misery" "Ccrainlv," re-
piled they; "but nobody cares for US, and
where can me expect to find airicnd"-
81 am come with wish to serve you re-
sumed Elizabeth Fry, and think, if
you second my endeavors, | may be Of
use to you" She addressed to them the
language of peace, and afforded them
glmmering Of hope; she spoke not ofthcir
crimes; the minister Of an all-mercilul
God, she came there to comfort and to
pray, and not to Judge and condemn
When she was about to depart, the wo-
men thronged round her, as if to detain
her; you will never come again. said
they; but she, who never broke her word,
promised to return. She soon paid Sc
cond visit to this loathsomc gaol, where
she intended to pass the whole day; the
doors were closed upon her, and she was
left alone with the prisoners. "You can
not suppose" said she, addressing them,
"that l have come here without being
commissioned; this book (she held BIZ
bic in her hand,) which has been the
guide Of my life, has led me to you; it
directed me to visit the prisoners, and to
take pity on the poor and the afflicted; l
am willing to do all that lies in my pow
or, but my efforts will be vain unless met
and aided by you" She then asked
whether they would not like to hear her
read few passages from the book
They replied they would. Mrs. Fry Sc
lcctcd the parable of the Lord of the
vineyard, St. Mathew, Chap.20;] and
when she came to the man who was hir-
ed at the eleventh hour, she said, "NOw
the eleventh hour strikes for you; the
greater part Of your lives has been lost,
but Christ came to save sinners" Some
asked who Christ was! others said, that
he had not come for them; that the time
was passed, and that they could not be
saved Mrs. Fry replied, that Christ
had suffered, that he had been poor, and
that he had come to save the poor and
afflicted in particular.
Mrs. Fry obtained permission to as
scmble the children in school establish |
cd within the prison, for the purpose Of
promoting their religious Instruction.
The female prisoners, in spite of their
profllgatc and vicious habits, joyfuIly
embraced the opportunity of ameliorating
the condition of their children. Much |
was already effected, by restoring these
women to the first sentiments of nature;
namely, natural affection.
A woman, dcnomnatcd the .Mairon,
was entrusted with the control of tho pris-
oncrs, under the superintendent of the
ladies of the Society Of Friends compos-
ing the Newgate Committee. i
Mrs. Fry, having drawn up a set of
rules of conduct for the prisoners, a day
was fixed, and the Lord Mayor and one