Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-01-25
A VISIT BY A CLERGYMAN II
The AMERICAN PRISONERS
~ AT KINGSTON.
(From The Oswego Journal)


biief account ofmy late visit 10 the Ameri.
can Prisoners at Kingston.
On Thursday morning, the Goth inst,
through the kindness Of the Sheriff A. Nc.
Donell, Esq, | was permitted TO visit them.
found the great body of them in three
large rooms, each room containing should
suppose about forty individuals The Sher-
ff accompanid me, and introduced me TO
them as clergyman from their own couh-
try, who had come 10 visit them, and TO in
qnire into their condition in behalf OF their
relatives and friends He informed them
that they were at perfect liberty 10 make TO
me any communication that they wished, and
particularly desired them 10 be free aud un
reserved in their statements in regard 10
their condition aud their wants.
They availed themselves OF this freedom
and made apparently unreserved communi-
gle exception, told me that they were Turn
ished with every thing that was necessary
for their comfort, so lar as was proper for
persons in their situation. Their food was
sufficient, wholesome, and palaiable. Thei,
clothing was comfortable and whatever they
needed that was not furnished them by The
Gassrnmep,, was procured and paid for out
of the fund contributed by their lTiends.-
! They appeared for the most part clean in
their persons and dress and they NANTES.
ted composure OF mind. aud subdued
state OF feelings. whic h, considering. their stu
atoms and prospects, was quite unexpected
and gratifying TO me. The single exception
10 which alluded was that OF man about
| forty years OF age who told me that the food
which was allowed them was not sufficient.
They are allowed soldiers ralions. l. e. a
pound Of beet, aud n pound OF bread. with
some potatoes, per day but this. 10 men who
have been accustomed TO hard labor. and to
eat accordingly, is not sufficient to satisfy
their wants.
The Deputy Sheriff. Of whom made 10.
quiry, informed me that this was true, but
The deficiency was generally made up fiom
the prisoners fund This fund also enables
them to procure tea, coffee. sugar. stationary,
clothing, &C., as they need The Sheriff in-
! formed me that be had received for the use
OF the prisoners about four hundred dollars,
and that about one hundred and twenty dol
lars ofths sum remains unexpended in his
hands. This sum. he minated. would last
them about a fortnight longer, The supplies
are furnished 10 the prisoners, according to
orders from committee OF their own num-
Der
In saving that the prisoners appeared
comfortable and composed, | do not intend
TO intimate that they are not in truly I'M
happy and deplorabe condition. They APP
pear like men who are detected and suffer.
ing, las indeed they are,) and with gloomy
! h,.f,, fha, hnf oh
relate only TO their comparative condition, or
to what nigh, naturally be expected of the
tenants OF prsonhouse. They receive al
the hands ofthe Sheriff and the subordinate
keepers every indulgence that prudence and
safety will allow; and they manifested to me
the most sincere tbankfulness al the kind
ness and humanity with which they were
treated.
conversed with many of them individu-
ally, and addressed them all, in each room,
collectively. They appeared 10 hang upon
nv words with an intensity of interest, as
though thew were unwilling that syllable
should escape and, when babe them fare
well, | received such benedctions Of graft
tude us made n strong impression Of my
heart Several individuals, to whom had
particular messages from their friends, the
moment mentioned the names OF their
mothers, their parents, or relatives, the sill
tear was seen standing in their eyes, and the
quiverng lip and strong expression indica-
ted that the deep fountains of the soul were
broken and that there were emotions at work
within them OF a nature loo deep and strong
for utterance. One man, forty or forty five
years old wished me TO see his wife and
children al Cape Vincent but his feelings so
overcame him when he spoke that he was
not able TO communicate TO me the message
he wished to send.
The clergymen of the city arc very atien-
tive 10 visiting the prisoners. and are admit.
ted without restraint. Bibles and tracts al.
so. in sufficient numbers, are furnished them
by the Bible and Tract Societies, and when
| entered the rooms found many of them
with their Bibles in their hands. was in
formed that a great change has taken place
among them in this particular since their
first Imprisonment Then, as general
thing, they were islless and Indifferent in
regard TO their souls, and many OF them
scofled at the idea of religion, aud rilculed
the ministers that visited them. Their con-
duct in this respect was shocking to the off.
GERS who had them in charge But of late
they have become far more sober. and now,
universally, believe. receive the visits Of
the city clergymen with respect and graft.
Itude The Sheriff informed me that any in.
dvidual who wished 10 see any particular
clergyman of any denomination, in this city,
had the privilege that he requested. An ar
/ hoe lx, 4,