we have never used it, and I should be sorry ever to have to turn the key upon any body in it. You may range the place as freely as I do, if you will trust me as I shall trust you.' The man was sulky, and for weeks showed only very gradual symptoms of softening under the operation of Captain Pillsbury's cheerful confidence. At length, information was given to the Captain, of this man's intention to break prison. The Captain called him, and taxed him with it; the man preserved a gloomy silence. He was told that it was now necessary for him to be locked up in the solitary cell, and desired to follow the Captain, who went first, carrying a lamp in one hand and the key in the other. In the narrowest part of the passage, the Captain (who is a small, slight man) turned round and looked in the face of the stout criminal. 'Now,' said he, 'I ask you whether you have treated me as I deserved? I have done every thing I could think of to make you comfortable; I have trusted you, and you have never given me the least confidence in return, and have even planned to get me into difficulty. Is this kind? And yet I can not bear to lock you up. If I had the least sign that you cared for meThe man burst into tears. Sir,' said he, 'I have been a very devil these seventeen years; but you treat me like a man.' 'Come, let us go back,' said

the Captain. The convict had the free range of the prison as before. From this hour he began to open his heart to the Captain, and cheerfully fulfilled his whole term of imprisonment, confiding to his friend, as they arose, all impulses to violate his trust, and facilities for doing so which he imagined he saw.

"The other case was of a criminal of the same character, who went so far as to make the actual attempt to escape. He fell, and hurt his ankle very much. The Captain had him brought in and laid on his bed, and the ankle attended to, every one being forbidden to speak a word of reproach to the sufferer. The man was sullen, and would not say whether the bandaging of his ankle gave him pain or not. This was in the night, and every one returned to bed when this was done. But the Captain could not sleep. He was distressed at the attempt, and thought he could not have fully done his duty by any man who would make it. He was afraid the man was in great pain. He rose, threw on his gown, and went with a lamp to the cell. The prisoner's face was turned to the wall, and his eyes were closed, but the traces of suffering were not to be mistaken. The Captain loosened and replaced the bandage, and went for his own pillow to rest the limb upon, the man neither speaking nor moving all

the time. Just when he was shutting the door, the prisoner started up and called him back. Stop, Sir. Was it all to see after my ankle that you have got up?

66 6 'Yes, it was. I could not sleep for thinking of you.'

66 6 'And

you

have never said a word of the way I have used you!'

"I do feel hurt with you, but I don't want to call you unkind while you are suffering as you are now.'

"The man was in an agony of shame and grief. All he asked was to be trusted again when he should have recovered. He was freely trusted, and gave his generous friend no more anxiety on his behalf.

"Captain Pillsbury is the gentleman who, on being told that a desperate prisoner had sworn to murder him, speedily sent for him to shave him, allowing no one to be present. He eyed the man, pointed to the razor, and desired him to shave him. The prisoner's hand trembled, but he went through it very well. When he had done, the Captain said, "I have been told you meant to murder me, but I thought I might trust you.' 'God bless you, Sir! you may,' replied the regenerated man. Such is the power of faith in man."

No individual can avoid the conclusion which flows from these facts, viz., that good will overcome evil. And it can be as little doubted, that the fact now to be named, adds strength to this conclusion. When Major Goodell took charge of the State Prison at Auburn, N. Y., he was told that there was one particular convict, who was such a desperate villain, that he could not be kept in subjection except by the lash. The first time Major Goodell met this convict, was in the yard of the prison. He spoke to him kindly, inquired of his situation, where he came from, when he entered the prison, and whether he was comfortable. The Major then told the convict what he had heard concerning the necessity of checking his iron and revengeful conduct by the lash-how he had been informed that there was no other method of keeping him in awe. "Now," said the Major, "I do not believe this. I believe that you can and will obey the rules of the prison, without incurring severe whipping. I am placed over this prison, to keep you at work, and prevent you from escaping-to see that the punishment contemplated by the laws for crime, is.executed. But I also wish to be your friend-to make you just as comfortable as your situation will permit. In return, I expect that you will be a friend to me, by obeying the rules of the prison, and by per

forming your duty." All this, and much more, spoken in kind tone and manner, softened the feelings of the convict, so that he was soon in a perfect gush of tears. Nor was this all: from that day forward, it was not necessary to strike him a blow, for there was not a more faithful convict in the prison.

In all these instances, we perceive the triumph of benevolence united with firmness. And we find it softening the indurated heart, melting feelings hardened into iron by crime, making the bold offender bow in gushing tears of sorrow, and sending better thoughts to the soul long steeped in iniquity. How touchingly the following incident adds proof to this position. Previous to the destruction of the Walnut street Prison, and before the convicts were removed to Moyamensing, the Editor of the United States Gazette was permitted to visit it, which he did in 1835. The extract which we give, is taken from the account of his visit.

"Beneath the eastern wing, projecting into the yard of the prison, is a long arched passage, dimly lighted with one or two lamps fastened to the masonry of the wall. Doorways at the side of this long subterranean chamber, opened into

"Mr. Joseph R. Chandler-a gentleman who, if we may judge from many of his articles, possesses as warm and philanthropic feelings, as his talents are evidently of a high order.