THE prison, of which it is proposed to give an account, is situated on the east bank of the river, Hudson, about two miles from the City Hall It was begun in the summer of 1796, and finished in 1797. The buildings and courts comprise four acres of ground. A more pleasaut, airy, and salubrious spot could not have been selected in the vicinity of New-York. The west front overlooks the river, into which a spacious and convenient wharf has been extended beyond the prison wall. The upper apartments command an extensive view of the city, harbour, islands, and the adjacent country. The principal front is on Greenwich-street, the centre of which is projected and surmounted by a pediment: there is a corresponding projection and pediment in the west front. The whole length of the front is 204 feet, from each end of which projects a wing extending towards the river, and from them spring two other wings in the same direction, of less extent. There are two stories above the basement, each fifteen feet high. The roof is covered with slate, and the pediment BELFAST MAG. XXXVIII. is crowned with a handsome cupola, The walls are composed of freestone. The whole fabric is of the Doric order, and contains fifty-four rooms, twelve feet by eighteen, for prisoners, sufficient for the accommodation of eight persons in each. In the north wing is a large room with galleries, neatly finished for a place of worship. The apartments in the centre of the edifice are appropriated to the use of the keeper and his family. The women are confined in the north wing of the prison, on the ground floor, and have a court-yard entirely distinct from that of the men. Had the rooms for the prisoners been so constructed as that each should lodge but one person, the chance of their corrupting each other would have been diminished, and escapes would have been more difficult. The prison need not, in that case, have been made so strong or expensive. Absolute reliance ought not to be placed on the strength of any prison, let their walls be ever so well constructed. Nothing will probably prevent escapes but the unremitting vigilance of the keepers, and a strict watch day and night. At the end of each wing, and adjoining them, is a building of stone for solitary cells. Each building contains seven cells. The cells are eight feet long, six feet wide, and fourteen feet high: the windows are It would eight feet from the floor. A a have been more secure if all the cells and the rooms in the wings adjoining had communicated with one and the same passage; since the same person who watched the wings might at the same time have attended to the cells. It was, propably, owing to this defect, that the escapes were made from the cells, which might have been prevented by a suitable watch. Parallel to the front, along the rear of the yard, is a building of brick, two hundred feet in length, and twenty feet in breadth, two stories high, which contains all the work-shops. In the interior court are two pumps with excellent water, and a large basin supplied with water from the river, in which the prisoners frequently bathe during the warm season, for the purpose of clean liness and health. The whole is surrounded by a wall of stone twenty-three feet high on the river side, and fourteen feet high in front, extending in length on one side five hundred feet, and in breadth two hundred and seventy-nine feet. The north side of this enclosure is allotted to keep fuel, and materials for the use of the prison. The area on the south side is appropriated to a garden, which is in excellent order, and produces all the vegetables wanted for the use of the prison, the keeper and his family. inquire into and inspect the general state of the prison; to see that the keepers are attentive and faithful in the discharge of their several duties; that cleanliness, decency, and order are every where maintained; that the prisoners are treated with justice and humanity: to listen to their complaints and communications; to admonish the bad, applaud the good, and encourage all to amendment and reformation; and to give them such advice as may awaken virtuous sensibility, and promote their moral and religious improvement. This occasional intercourse, in which the prisoners discover in their visitors the features of benovolence, not the contemptuous frowns of an unfeeling tyrant, has a tendency to encourage the well-disposed, and soften the hearts of such as are grown obdurate by reiterated crimes. While it represses the ferocious insolence of the hardened offender, it tranquilizes the tumultuous feelings of despair; and instead of gloomy indifference, depression, and contempt, excites emotions of hope and fear, attention and respect, which prepare the mind to receive impressions favourable to future mendment. a The inspectors, with the judges of the supreme court, or any two of them, the mavor and recorder of the city of New-York, the attorney general, and assistant attorney. general, are empowered to make regnlations for the internal government and management of the prison. And the governor, lieutenant-governor, chancellor, and such ministers of the gospel, residing in the city, as have the charge of churches or gregations, are also allowed to visit and examine the prison at their plea sure con Every day either the visiting inspectors, the agent, who is also an inspector, or some of the board not on duty, and others occasionally, visit the prison. In the second week of the terms of April and July, when the supreme court is held in the city, visitations are made by the judges, who inquire into the state and progress of the establishment. And it is a circumstance not less honourable to them than evincive of the soundness of the principles of the institution, that they have hitherto been its zealous friends, and disposed to promote its success by their countenance and advice. Their situation, while it renders them fa'miliar with criminals, and enables them to decide with greater certainty on the operation of human punishments, is also favourable to those habits of deliberation and enlightened foresight, so necessary in pronouncing on the wisdom or success of new experiments in the system of penal laws. With this system of visitation and inspection, it is hardly possible that abuses and corruptions should creep into the administration of the prison, or should they arise, they cannot be long unnoticed or unreformed. The inspectors, or the agent purchase all the articles required for the use of the prison, the raw mate rials for manufacture, and the tools and implements necessary in the several occupations. A regular account of all these purchases is kept, and, annually, a report is made by the inspectors to the legislature of the condition of the prison, the number and description of the convicts received during the year, discharged, and remaining in confinement; an account of the sums expended for the maintenance of the prisoners, for raw materials, tools, &c. and of the monies received from the state, and arising from the sale of the manufactured articles. No salaries are paid to the inspec tors. Actuated by principles of benevolence, and a love of justice and humanity, they have offered their voluntary contribution of their ser viccs. They have sought no other recompense than those feelings which accompany the exertions of good men for the benefit of society. The AGENT appointed to purchase cloathing and materials, and for the disposal of the manufactured articles, is allowed a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year. As the nature of his office leads him daily to the prison, he ought to be selected from the board of inspectors; otherwise, as it is necessary that one of the inspectors should attend at the prison every day, that he may be intimately acquainted with its cerus, and ready to advise and direct in a variety of things which should not be left entirely to the keeper, another salary would be requisite as a compensation for this extraordinary service. As this is now performed by an agent who is also an inspector, a considerable sum is annually saved. con The inspectors have a clerk, who resides at the prison, and is allowed five hundred dollars a year. He transcribes the minutes and orders of the board; and, in books provided for that purpose, enters the names of the prisoners received and dis charged; keeps an account of the labour performed by each prisoner, and charges him with his cloathing and diet and also an account of are ticles brought into the prison for the maintenance of the convicts, and for the purpose of being manufactured, When a prisoner is dismissed from confinement, his account is made out and laid before the inspectors; and his name, with a description of his person, and the mode of life he intends to pursue, is transmitted to the police magistrates, Though, in the commencement of this establishment, persons have been found willing to undertake the gratuitous management of its concerns as inspectors; yet some may ima gine, that without the inducement of considerable salaries, or the usual motives of interest, it will be difiicult hereafter to obtain a competent number qualified for the execution of such an office. It cannot be denied, that the efficacy and success of this new experiment in penal Jaw, will, in a great degree, depend upon the board of inspectors; but it is highly probable, that in a city so populous as New-York, men may always be found, endued with that benevolence and zeal which such a cause demands, who will be ready to devote gratuitously a portion of their time and talents to a service so honourable to them, and beneficial to the community. The entire custody of the prison and the convicts is committed by Jaw to the inspectors, who are authorized to appoint and remove the keepers at their pleasure. Of the Keeper, and his Assistants. The principal keeper is obliged to take an oath or affirmation for the faithful execution of his office, and to give security for the performance of the duties required of him. He is allowed a salary of eight hundred and seventy-five dollars a year, with his board, and the necessary apartments for himself and his family in the prison; but no fees or perquisities of any kind is be permitted, on any account, to receive. It is of the highest importance, that an officer on whom the safety of the prison, and the success of the institution. so essentially depend, should be a person of respectability, and endued with qualities adapted to so difficult and arduous a duty. A salary, therefore, ought to be given, in some degree, proportioned to the great care and responsibility attached to the office, and which may command the services of a suitable character. By a competent and fixed salary, while fees and the prices of indulgences of any kind are strictly prohibited, all temptations to extortion and abuse, so frequent and enormous in the prisons of other countries, are entirely prevented. but A keeper should be a person of sound understanding, quick discernment, and ready apprehension; of a temper, cool, equable and dispassionate; with a heart warmed by the feelings of benevolence, firm and resolute; of manners dignified and commanding, yet mild and conciliating; a lover of temperance, decency, and order; neither resentful, talkative, or familiar; but patient, persevering, and discreet in all his conduct. While the unhappy wretches committed to his care, and subjected to his power, are regarded as susceptible of being influenced by their fellow men, and capable of reformation, he should never treat them with harshness, cruelty, or caprice, nor thwart or irritate them in trivial matters; but on all occasions, while he makes himself feared, he should, by a mild and temperate behaviour, by visiting the sick, inquiring into their wants, and occasionally supplying them with little comforts, and speaking kindly to those at work, endea vour to gain their affection and respect. Though, in order that he may be on his guard against their machinations, he should consider. them as wicked and depraved,capable of every atrocity, and ever plotting some means of violence and escape; yet he should always be convinced of the possibility of their amendment, and exert himself in every way to promote it. He ought, however, to be prompt in punishing every offence against the rules and orders of the prison, and suffer no improprieties of conduct to pass without animadversion; for the slighest negligence in this respect, might lead to greater of fences, and be attended with serious consequences. In the infliction of punishment, he should be calm and inflexible, without anger, so that he may convince the offender, that he acts-not from passion or vengeance, but from justice. He should frequently visit every part of the prison, the work-shops, kitchen, hospital, &c. that he may detect any irregularities which may be committed. No keeper or assistant-keeper is permitted to strike a prisoner. If he is a person of good understanding, he will perceive how much his influence must be diminished by any indul gence of anger, and must be content with the sober exercise of the power entrusted to him.* At each weekly meeting of the inspectors, the keeper presents a written report specifying the num ber of convicts in the prison, and their various employments; how many have been received or discharged; the number of the sick, and of those who are confined in the solitary-cells; and, in general, all the occurrences which have taken place in the prison, since the last meeting of the inspectors. The number of assistant-keepers, at present, consist of twelve, who "Prisoners are made desperate by the profaneness, violent hasty tempers, inhumanity, and ill-usage of their keepers. That convicts cannot be governed is certainly erroneous :-the most desperate may generally be managed by exercising a calm, quiet, and steady mode of conduct, and, when they behave well, with great kindness and humanity; and when sick, let them be treated with tenderness." HOWARD. are allowed each a salary of twohundred and fifty dollars a year, with diet, lodging, and washing, One of the assistants is designated by the inspectors as a deputy keeper, who in case of vacancy in the office of principal keeper, is invest ed with all his powers, and is to execute all his duties, and is allowed a salary of four hundred dollars a year. The deputy keeper delivers all the clothes to the prisoners, has the charge of all the household furniture, provisions, &c. daily inspects the gratings of the windows, the walls, floors, &c. to see if any attemps have been made to escape. The assistant keepers have sepa. rate stations assigned them, and keep alternate watch during the night. It is their peculiar duty to see that all the orders and regulations respecting the prison are strictly observed; that all the apartments, halls, &c. are kept clean; that the men are attentive to their respective occupations; and that no noise, swearing, indecent language, or disturbance, is permitted In case of any disbehaviour, however trifling, they must take the offenders, without delay or contention, to the keeper for the purpose of being sent to the solitary cells, if he shall be thought to deserve punishment. As the prisoners are punished for indecent language and misbehaviour, it is essential that the keeper and his assistants should wholly abstain from every impropriety of speech and conduct; for it is in vain to expect. good manners in the convicts, when those who are set over them exhibit examples of the very vices they are required to chastise and correct. The inspectors are careful to inform those who are appointed keepers, that, should they be found guil ty of those vicious practices, they shall be dismissed. It is difficult to find keepers of sufficient zeal to ad |