who gives information of an intended escape, is favoured much in this respect; his term is considerably shortened. A little before the election of new magistrates, those who are in office inspect these prisons, and inquire of the keeper, which prisoners, of those who have been confined a few years, have been diligent and orderly; and of the minister, which of them have been most attentive to public and private instructions. According to the accounts, they contract the appointed time of punishment; so that fourteen years will sometimes be reduced to eight or ten, and twelve years to six or seven. This practice of abridging the time of punishment upon reformation is, in every view, wise and beneficial. Indeed, I have some reason to think that criminals are often doomed to a longer term, with an intention to make such deductions upon their amendment."* Proceeding through Holland, Mr. Howard visited Rotterdam, where he found a Rasp and Spin House, in which were about forty men, and a hundred women. "The former were employed three or four in a room, making fishing nets, carding wool, sorting coffee, &c." The latter mostly in a manufacture of worsted, spinning, and working at a great wheel, like 66 * State of Prisons, First Edit. p. 122. those which at Derby are turned by water.* At Delft, there were ninety in the House of Correction; men and women quite separated; all neat and clean, and looked healthy. They were all employed in a woollen manufacture; women spinning, carding, &c. Men weaving from coarse to very fine cloth. If a prisoner had behaved well for a few years, and given proofs of amendment, the magistrates began to abridge the time for which he was sentenced. 66 One whom I saw very cheerful," says Mr. Howard, "told me the cause of his joy was, that a year had lately been taken from his term."t At Amsterdam, the principal employment for the men is rasping logwood; but regard is had not only to the degree of guilt, but to the strength of the prisoners. Some were in the warehouses, sorting and weighing; others bringing the wood to the rooms, &c. At extra hours they made tobacco boxes, &c.; which they sold to visitants, who paid two stivers to go in.‡ In the spin-house Mr. Howard saw thirty-two women criminals, some of whom had been the most abandoned, sitting in presence of the Mistress, quiet and orderly, at their different sorts "I saw of work, spinning, plain work, &c. them," says Mr. Howard, "go from work to dinner. The keeper, as they call him father, presided. First, they sang a psalm; then they went in order down to a neat dining-room, where they seated themselves at two tables, and several dishes of boiled barley, agreeably sweetened, were set before them. The father struck with a hammer. Then, in profound silence all stood up, and one of them read with propriety a prayer about four or five minutes. Then they sat down cheerful, and each filled her bowl from a large dish, which contained enough for four of them. Then one brought on a waiter slices of bread and butter, and served each prisoner."* In January, 1787, there were in the new work-house at Amsterdam, 350 persons spinning in one long room; some were employed in boiling ropes and cables, and preparing them for oakum. The women from the Spin-house had been removed thither, and Mr. Howard found the same order and quietness that he had formerly observed in that house. Forty women were at needle-work, and the mother presiding in the midst of them. Over one of * State of Prisons, p. 127. the outer gates is a device, with an inscription to this purpose: "Fear not; I mean not vengeance, but your reformation. intention." my In 1775, Mr. Howard visited the House of Industry at Ghent, called the Maison de Force; which, although then in an unfinished state, was conducted with regularity, decency, and order. All the criminals were employed, and an exact account kept of every circumstance relating to each man's work, and there were excellent rules for preventing all quarrelling, for mending their morals, preserving their health, and making them for the future useful in society. In 1778, he visited it again, and found they were still carrying on a well regulated manufactory. All the prisoners were employed in different occupations, by which they contributed to their own support. Their bread, soup, and meat, were good and plentiful, and all bespoke the care and attention of the director. But in 1783, when he visited it for the last time, he found a great alteration for the worse. The flourishing and useful manufactory was destroyed; the prisoners deprived of the opportunity of work, and their victuals reduced; and all this occasioned by an edict of * Account of Lazarettos, p. 73. the Emperor; who had been led to suppose that the manufactory interfered with the regular traders, and was injurious to the interests of the state.* It appears, however, that this absurd prohibition was not long continued, the former plan having been restored, and with it the health and order, and good moral conduct of the prisoners, which had been greatly injured and deranged, whilst they had been debarred from their usual labours. This prison was again visited in 1817 by Mr. Buxton, who has given a particular account of it in his excellent and useful work.† It was on the visit of Mr. Howard to Ghent, that he seems to have formed a decisive opinion, from the comparative superiority of the measures adopted on the continent in the treatment of criminals, on the great advantages that would be derived from the introduction of a * The same objection is not infrequently heard, as a reason against employing criminals in this country. In answer to which, it may be observed, that persons confined in a gaol must either be allowed to support themselves, or must be supported by the labour of others; and which of these is most advantageous to the community, it is surely not difficult to decide. And again, as it is presumed they must live, of what moment is it to the community, whether they obtain their livelihood within the walls of a prison, or without. + Mr. Buxton's Inquiry, &c. p. 82, &c. |