Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-04
G0tal aaS Ysrsoual.
The District PenItentiary.-The Warden

Inc District Pen1tentiary.--Ihe warden
in his annual report says that this institution car
be maintained under existing circumstances By
the labor of the victs, is improbable, so long
there are committed 10 his charge conyicts un6
for labor, being incapacilated by age and infrmi
ties; and Others who are reckless and desperate
having no interest in their labor, and whose prin
cipal desires seem 10 be 10 waste and destroy ma
terial. The greater number OF the convicts are
sentenced for short periods, and are unacquainted
with the use of tools; hence il follows, by the time
they become familiar with their use, the term Of
sentence expires, and thus the government is re-
quired to iced and clolhe the most worthless class
Of apprentices. Nor are these the only causes 10
be assigned why this institution is unable to main.
tain itself; for, necessary 10 enforce discipline,
guards have to be employed; and whether there
be few or many convicts capable Of aboring, the
Incidental expenses nearly the same, as in
spectors physician, chaplain, and clerk, are neces-
sary attaches
The Warden says that, on referring 10 The
books OF this institution, il will be seen that not
only attempts al escape, but the actual escape OF
prisoners by scaling the walls, as well as other
numerous msdemeanors, have frequently oc-
CURED chiefly 10 be attributed, he presumes, 10
there being an inefficient number Of guards en-
poyed 10 enforce discipline. On the escape OF the
two last prisoners Of this place Camper and Ale
mander) there was bul one guard on the wall,
which should on no occasion be without two
during working hours. He believes il would be
polite on the part OF the Government TO increase
the guard.
The convicts ia this prison are not exclusively
offenders in this District, some being convicted
for mail robbery in the States Of Virginia and
Nonh Carolina; while Others though convicted IN
this District are expert hands, who follow in the
wake of our conspicuous public characters, seek
ing whom they can plumber" There are also in
the Penilentiary United States seamen, convicted
Of mutiny on the high seas.
The health of the prison is excellent, having
few, or rather no cases worthy Of note. When
the day OF rest from bodily labor arrives, The
chaplain, the Warden says, enters upon his
good work The impressive truths he utters, he
trusts, sink deep into the hearts of his hearers"
The Warden recommends, among other i'm
provements, the employment of a matron in the
female department indispensable 10 the enforce
ment OF order and the preservation OF property; ;
and renews his former recommendation, urging
the propriety of allowing each convict provided
his conduct has been good) portion Of his earn
ings TO be paid 10 him on being discharged for,
although some of the freed convicts might lavish
their earnings and again fall into the path Of mi
putty, yet others would doubtless convert the in.
dustry Of their silent and retributiye labor 10 a
good purpose and thereby enable them 10 become
useful and better citizens. Al present, each con-
vict on being discharged, is paid two dollars, a
sum insufficient to enlist his interest while in
prison, or TO buoy his mind with future specula.
ton on his departure.
The number Of convcts in the Penitentiary,
December 81, 1853, was SO; number Of convicts
received from January 10 September 80, 1854,
2S--tolal l2l. Number discharged by expiration
of sentence, 81 number pardoned. 6; number
escaped, 242-ieaving 10 the Penitentiary, Sep.
TENDER 80, 1854, 10 convcts, who are spporiioned
to labor as follows: Shoemaking, So carpentry
&C., 2; picking oakum, barber, 1 /; cooking 2;
baking | steward, tailoring, shoebinding, &c.
10; labor 3-79. The female convicts are EN-.
ployed in washing and mending clothes, shoe
| binding, &c.
The Rodsset Sisters-M'llle. Caroline
Mile. Caroline Rousset takes her benefit to.nigh,
at the National theatre. For some nights past
she and her accomplished sisters have delighted
large companies with their fascinating perform
ances. Their pantommc representations ex.
cellent, but the graceful artistic finish they die.
play in their beautiful dances is Of the most exqui-
site character. Without intending any disparage-
ment of the Others il is but just TO yield the palm
TO Mile Caroline, whom we regard one OF the
most finished artistes now on the stage. She de-
serves full house, and with the bill she offers,
aided as she will be by the whole talent of the
company cannot fail to attract a crowd
Washington and Alexandria Railroad
Congress, at its last session, passed an act char.
tering a company to construct railroad between
those two cities; since which time the surveys
have been made, and preliminary arrangements
completed with view 10 the commence ment of
the work The main difficulty is the crossing of
the Potomac river. How9this is TO be accom-
plished, we are not informed The Corporation
Of Washington has been asked TO subscribe 10 the
is another question, the city Golfers not being over
flowed, just now, with surplus revenue. The
subject, however, is 10 be considered by COM
mittee Of the councils, composed Of the following
named members, together with the mayor
Messrs. Msgruder, Evans, and Houston, Of the
Aldermen and Messrs. Clements, Stewart, and
hamburger, of the Common Council
Pictorial.-There now on exhibition in the
rotundo Of the Capitol, several beautiful paintings
The largest is the Calling Of ST. Mathew" by
Lucca Jiordano, said TO be three hundred years
old 81 John Of villanueva, distributing aims to
the poor" copy from Muro, by one Of his pu-
pills The alteration Of the three Kings" by
Murllo and two heads, by Corregio, representing
Christ and the Virgin Mary
These are from the gallery Of the late r. w.
Meade, Of Washington, and are to be rsfied for
the benefit Of his daughter, Miss M. 9. Meade.
Al Cour -wi,h;n a fs,p dave IN.