New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-09-20
Canadian Affairs.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.


MONTREAL, sept L., lsi9.
s,r,s Of vour render. are probably aware tia;
our Auburn or Sing-Sing IS si,aated within meme
Of the City Of Kngstoa az the foo: Of Lake Ontario
Ths institution has recently occupied mucn OF TIE
attention Of the public. The warden IA Mr. Henry
smith. once merchant in Kingston. the father OF
the present II P. Tor the county Of Frontensc, M
Henry smith. Jr. This gentleman was continual
IL quarreliug and getting into scraPes with the
subordinate officers Of the Penteniisry, and these
men in their turn, that s 70 say, when they were
turned out, Enlightened the pubic tnroagn tne
newspapers upon Mr.. Smith management oi the
institution: how be used the convict labor IA ms
own service how be did al balance accounts an1
bow be logged the prisoners cruelty uo1n me
and women. These charges were a. grave 'la'
toe Government took them up, and IN the sam "a q
Of SAC appointed Commission % inquire ln'o 'ns
state OF tue Peutentlsry. Tnis Commission con
si,ted Of five gentlemen. Hon. A. Ferguson
MANNER Of tie legislative Council Mr.. Thomas
sheriff # the Cove District Mr.. Aurlot, masis
49,, Of Montreal. M BrIstOw. the present tdl'of
Of the Montreal Plot; and Mr. george DtoN u
Editor OF the I'oroat0 Gl5tc. You Will see tnA'
~ Canada we set proper value on tue fress
TIE men OF the Press DO the WORK and shogi'
receive the patronage, aud one tnlns : - DC
ssit In their favor, that they always aiscnalse
tbsir duties 20 the people well they are &c
custOred % serve the soVerelgns IN 'ue' Wv =
business These gentlemen were ~ "olA
ten months and their report was presented % soc
House OF Assembly aud ord red 20 De pflnteo Jus'
AZ the close OF last session. ms report = W
luminous. containing great mass Of evidence
token against the Warden and his s1oordinates on
every sort OF transaction WITHIN tne iass 40
vesrs during which the Institution mas oeen ia
existence. The grossest peculnilon ana mus
MANAGEMENT is clearly proved sgaln" ths "
len. He never balanced his books during the
.i,teen wears the most naerant robbery was
prac,,ed In purchasing supp les for instance eac
animal fhorses and oxenl IN one particular yeai
cost $40 sl6Ol shead to keep In tact nothns
worse could possibly be proved against any
officers The charges OF cruelty TO the ooh'io''
uss also clearly made out, the numbered hogglng'
beirg enormous During the Investigation the
Warden was suspended from Office temporary
one amounted Ia his place, and OF course he WI
not h. reins.ated Blu. the Commissioners had
another duty % perform, namely, 20 recommend
better system of discipline for the Institution than
has hitherto prevailed. The present system IS inc
same rs that of Auburn and Sing Sing, but as thi'
s certainly not eectual IN producing reformation
The criminal however economical Il may be, II
was left 10 the Commissioners 10 recommend
better. With this end In view two members OF the
Commission Messrs Brist0w and Brown were
dispatched to the United States to examine tho
Penitentares. Their decision | shall send yol
when the last part Of the report is sent from th'
printers hands the former part only being finish
ed These Commissioners receive - per day To-
their services aud the commission cost t5i0o0
but if they have saved, as 1t is said they have
= 1000 on this years expenses and Will ultimate
ly make the Institution self supporting, IL may o.
considered money well laid out The Institution
mas cost the country during the II years OF IT'S ex
i.tence over $4,000. The following IS yer!
interesting table OF the number OF prisoners for th'
past IA years It will be seen that during the pas
three wears the number has decreased, although
the population has largely increased