"I make no scruple to affirm, that if it were the aim and wish of Magistrates to effect the de-
struction, present and future, of young delinquents, they could not desire a more effectual method
than to confine them in our Prisons."-HOWARD.

"Whereas, if many offenders convicted of crimes, for which transportation has been usually
inflicted, were ordered for solitary confinement, accompanied by well-regulated labour and
religious instruction, it might be the means, under Providence, not only of deterring others from
the commission of the like Crimes, but also of reforming the individuals, and inuring them to
habits of Industry, &c."-19 GEORGE III. c. 74. s. 8.

London:

PRINTED FOR JOHN AND ARTHUR ARCH, CORNHILL; BUTTERWORTH AND
SONS, FLEET STREET; AND JOHN HATCHARD, PICCADILLY.

PREFACE.

BEING at Ghent during the early part of this winter, I took some pains in examining the excellent prison of that city, known by the name of the Maison de Force. On my return to England, I communicated to the "Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and for the reformation of juvenile offenders," the intelligence which was thus acquired. The members of that institution had accurately investigated the state of almost every jail in the metropolis and its vicinity. Their inquiries had led them to a decided and unanimous conviction, that the present alarming increase of crime arose more from the want of instruction, classification, regular employment, and inspection in Jails, than from any other cause, and that its prevention could only be accomplished, by an

entire change in the system of prison discipline. These views were strongly confirmed by the practical illustration afforded by the Maison de Force, and this led to a request from the Committee, that the description of it might be published.

When I sat down to this task, the work insensibly grew upon my hands. It was necessary, to prove that evils and grievances did really exist in this country, and to bring home to these causes, the increase of corruption and depravity. For this purpose repeated visits to various prisons were requisite.

Again a detail of the regulations of the Maison de Force alone, did not seem to establish the point contended for, with sufficient certainty. An experiment might succeed abroad, which might fail at home. Local circumstances and the habits of the people, might have rendered a plan very judicious in the Netherlands, which was quite impracticable in England. It appeared therefore desirable, to shew, that whether the attempt be made on the Continent, in England, or in America, the same results are invariably displayed.

This occasioned a new series of inquiries.

While I was occupied in procuring this intelligence, which was intended to be printed at a distant period, the unexpected appointment of a Parliamentary Committee to examine the jails of this city, and the discussions which took place in the Court of Common Council, attracted much attention to the point. It was probable that this session would not pass, without some legislative enactment upon the subject. If the intended communications were of any importance, the time seemed arrived for making them. The immediate publication of even crude and undigested materials was better calculated to do good to the cause, than a more finished and elaborate treatise, when general interest may have subsided.

The haste with which the parts of this Pamphlet were put together, in the last fortnight, and the consequent impossibility of any revision, must explain, if they do not excuse, many obvious errors in expression, and numerous inaccuracies in printing. For the truth of the facts, no indulgence is required. Every method has been used to discover their authenticity. Nothing is stated, (with the exception of the account of the Philadelphia Jail) which has not come within my own observation, and which has not been confirmed by the concur