Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-10-16

three sentry boxes at different points in the yard
were visible guards with loaded muskcts, two of
whom also watched at the gate Several over
seers also superintendent the labor ofthc different
groups but there appeared to be very little of
restraint or compulson in the case. The pris-
oners all seemed cheerful and laborcd steadily.
and apparently with good will. We were told
that escapes were very seldom attempted now
that several had been severely wounded by shots
from the guard while making such attempts
that others had succeeded but been soon rctaken;
and that cases had occurred in which the prison.
crs, unable to find anything to cat in the dense
forest surrounding the prison, had voluntarily
returned to its walls These mshaps have had
decided effect upon the prisoners, to deter them
from making similar efforts. And the peculiar
mana cement of the Superintendent. in treating
them kindly and considerably, " avoiding se-
we're punishmcnts except in extreme cases. in
never flogging but when nothing else will prove
effective, in teaching the convicts allowing them
books in their cells. lccturing them upon moral
topics upon the sabbath and other measures of a
similar kind is said to have inspired them with
great respect for him, and TO have disposed them
to follow his directions and obey his authority
with very implicit confidence.
After rambling over the prison grounds and
examining the buildings. &c, under the courtc-
ous and instructive guidance of Mr.. Charles
Cook. whose father was then i'll at Albany we
crossed the road to the small tavern where dim
ner was preparing. Upon entering the room.
we found a lady reclining upon the sofa, CONVEX
sing famiarly and very inteligcntly with "a
large, muscular man, of round features. pleasant
manners. and an agreeable address, but clad in
prison uniform. A young man, the only other
person present, sat by and occasionally took part
in the conversation. which clearly indicated that
the apparent convict was u physician, and that
the lady in question had come ththcr to place her
self under his professional care. They spoke OF
mutual friends of the characteristics of the place
the incidents of the journey, &c, and to a remark
from her companion that on his way thither he
Just missed some friends whom he would have
been glad to see, the lady asked if he would real
ly have been pleased to see them. Certainly.
he replied, why not ?" oh" said She "vour
position now is so humiliating that should think
you would rather shun than meet yourold friends
ooh no." he replied, there's nothing humila
ting about it its unfortunate to be sure. but
nothing more After halfhour's conversation
he took his leave and walked into the prison
yard.
We learned upon inquiry that this was DR.
Boughton, the somewhat notorious Big Thunde,
of the Anti-Renters, whose sentence of death fol
the share he bore in the murder of Deputy Sher
if Steele. was committed by the Governor to i'm
prsonment for life. He appeared perfectly a
ease-intelligent, mild and agreeablein his man
ners, and far more like Jealous, impctuous en-
thusiast than deliberate criminal. lie has beer
made chief nurse in the hospital, the duties o
which he discharges with great fidelity and ;
good degree of skill. lie X ggea'lcmanly in hi
department. and perfectly obcdicnt to the regu
lations of the prison. The lady with whom HI
was convorsing, was his wife w'lio had jus
reached the scene of his ignominious punish
| ment
! We left the prison with most favorable impress
sions of the manner in which its concerns arr
managed. The convicts have certainly perform
ed an immense amount of labor, and have beef
kept under very admirable control by the Super
intendcnt. Mr.. Cooks method of discipline il
much milder than usually obtains in our penc
tentiaries. lie does not entirely reject hogging
but confines it to extreme cases. in which moth
ing else will answer, and substitutes for it tn,
dungeon in other cases. But in general he ap
peals to the moral sense and sober Judgment o
the convicts takes pains to instruct them; al
lows them books in their cells encourages then
to study and read lectures them iamiliarly upol
practical topics; takes occasion to show then
that he trusts and puts confidence in them an
IN various other ways substitutes moral contro
for the force upon which alone hitherto reliance
has been placed At the same time he very ju
Idciously avoids the extremes to which the ia
nltical reformers OF the day would carry this prin
cple, and unites the two methods of discipline
with good deal of skill and apparently, thus ia
at least with complete success lie seems to b
admirably qualified for the very responsible pc
stion in which he has been placed, and undc
his direction we are confident the new prison wi
more than Justify the expectations of the public