Part 6

HEALTH OF THE BOSTON FARM SCHOOL.--The following remarkable statement respecting the health and the mortality of the boys connected with the Farm School, on Thompson’s Island, in Boston harbor, is made on the authority of Robert Morrison, Esq., the Superintendent.

The number of boys in the school, June 1, 1851, was 85; January 1, 1850, 89; January 1, 1851, 97. The present number is 94, several having been recently sent to places in the country. No death has occurred on the island since August, 1845; which is the only time when a physician has been sent for on account of sickness among the boys, for nearly ten years!

Under Providence, we consider this, in some measure, owing to a healthy location, a simple but wholesome diet, exercise in the open air, and good ventilation.

The average number of boys in the school, for several years, has not been far from 80.

BOSTON PAUPERISM.--The Annual Report of the Boston Society for the Prevention of Pauperism, estimates the cost of pauperism to that city, in 1840, at $43,454; in 1845, $45,000; and in 1850, $111,905! It also states that in the past five years, the native American paupers have decreased about 37 per cent., while foreign paupers, supported by the city, have increased about 150 per cent.

MAINE STATE PRISON.--When the State of Maine was about to erect a new Penitentiary a few years ago, the commissioners were disposed to recommend the separate system as decidedly preferable on every ground, except that it costs more at first, and may not yield so large a profit on convict labor. By the last report of the commissioners, we observe that of the whole number of convicts, (eighty-four,) about one-half are employed in making shoes--a business quite as profitably pursued in seclusion as in association. Basket-making furnishes employment to such as, from age or infirmity, are unable to perform hard labor, and this also might be as well done in a cell. As to the finances of the institution, a special committee of the legislature, appointed to investigate its affairs says, “they cannot give any definite information,” but they portentously intimate, (what time will probably reveal,) that if revenue is a prominent object in the management of the prison, it will be defeated. “For any losses which may accrue to the State,” say the commissioners, “we attach no blame to any former warden or officer of the prison, for any neglect or want of care, but believe, the loss arises from the universal credit system which has been too prevalent in our State.” “We certainly hope so,” says a leading newspaper, “for it is high time the State were realizing more from the prison economy than it has yet done.”

We wish this notion of making penitentiaries a source of profit could be eradicated, or absorbed in the higher and more important objects of making them the means of instructing the minds of convicts, softening their asperities, correcting their false views, elevating their motives, and counteracting the corrupt influences by which they have been surrounded. These humane purposes cannot be answered to any considerable extent under any system, save that of _separation_, and it is from this conviction, and not from any pride or pertinacity of opinion, that we advocate the universal adoption of that principle.

THE MARYLAND PENITENTIARY.--By the report made to the Maryland Legislature, it appears the receipts of the institution, during the last year, do not equal its expenses by the sum of $9,302 78. The average deficiency in the receipts for the last four years has been 89,267 63, and the aggregate deficiency for the same period 37,070 54. Various causes are stated for this deficiency--the unequal competition which the manufacturers of the prison have to sustain with those made by more improved machinery--the loss of time and labor consequent on the necessity of teaching the most of the convicts their employments--the prejudices which are entertained against the prison manufactures, and the difficulty of selling them at remunerating prices, being the principal causes to which it is to be attributed. The number of persons received into the penitentiary during the year was 119; discharged by expiration of sentence during the year 44; pardoned during the year 18.

POOR AND INSANE OF RHODE ISLAND.--Thomas R. Hazard, Esq., commissioner to inquire into the condition of the public poor and insane of Rhode Island, made his report to the Legislature at its late session. In fifteen towns in the State, asylums for the poor are maintained. In sixteen towns, not having asylums, the poor are put to persons who will keep them for the lowest sum, or are boarded out by contract. The average cost for each individual per annum, in the asylums, is $51.50; for each individual, per annum, of the latter class, $45.60.

The average number of poor, supported in asylums, is 500; all others, 229; total, 729. Whole cost of supporting the poor, including interest on cost of asylums, $51,003.23. Insane persons in Rhode Island, 282. Idiots and imbeciles, 136. Blind, 60. Deaf and dumb, 64.

RHODE ISLAND INSANE HOSPITAL.--We have not been favored with Dr. Ray’s last report, but we learn from other sources, that of 54 patients discharged, during the year, 36 were cured, and 8 improved. There were 16 deaths. Of 420 insane persons in the State, only 180 are enjoying the advantages of Hospital treatment.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS IN INDIANA.--_Hospital for the Insane._--This institution has 140 patients under treatment, and yet there are in the State 300 insane persons (exclusive of idiots) who are totally unprovided for. Applications are rejected for want of room, and an immediate enlargement of the buildings is contemplated. It is stated that there are in Indiana 442 insane, and 617 idiotic persons. Of the 292 patients who have been treated in the hospital, only 78 were natives of Indiana.

_Deaf and Dumb Asylum._--One hundred and thirteen pupils were under instruction at the date of the report, and the earnings of the pupils during the year, are valued at $3,770. Only two deaths occurred during the year.

_Institution for the Blind._--Fifty-two pupils are under instruction, from 33 counties. “The superintendent is of opinion that all applicants of sound mind, and not above twenty-one years of age, should be received, provided they are otherwise qualified, reserving discretionary powers as to the rest.” A new building is in progress, which will enlarge the accommodations so as to admit every blind child in the State, who is capable of instruction.

ALABAMA.--We are happy to observe, by the public prints, that the people of Alabama have resolved to establish, forthwith, an Insane Hospital and a Deaf and Dumb Asylum.

KENTUCKY DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.--The Annual Report of the Trustees of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum shows that the institution is in a prosperous condition. There were 60 pupils in the institution from January 1 to November 12, of whom 29 were males and 21 females. Forty-five inmates of the institution are from Kentucky, 9 from Louisiana, 1 from Arkansas, 1 from Mississippi, and 1 from Tennessee.

_From the Episcopal Recorder._

This periodical gives a large amount of information on Prison Discipline, and cannot fail to interest such as grieve over the sufferings occasioned by crime, and regard the imprisoned criminal as still belonging to our common humanity, and needing the commiseration of the wise and good.

_From the Public Ledger._

We have received the October number of the Pennsylvania Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, published under the direction of the Philadelphia Society for alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons. It is stored with interesting matter.

_From the Presbyterian._

We have been reading with great interest the Pennsylvania Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy.

AN INQUIRY

INTO THE ALLEGED TENDENCY OF THE SEPARATION OF CONVICTS, ONE FROM THE OTHER, TO PRODUCE DISEASE AND DERANGEMENT.

BY A CITIZEN OF PENNSYLVANIA. _Philadelphia_: E. C. & J. Biddle. 1849.

It is, as might possibly be anticipated from the residence of the author, an elaborate and ardent defence of the separate system of confinement. The charge of its peculiar tendency to induce disease and insanity, is altogether denied, and the testimony of the successive physicians to the Eastern State Penitentiary, during a term of nearly twenty years, goes very satisfactorily to warrant the denial.

The author is not, however, inclined to rest at this, but carries the war into the enemies’ camp. The chapter entitled Medical Practice, in a Congregate Prison, is calculated to attract attention, from the positions laid down in it, and their startling illustrations, deduced from the well known case of Abner Rogers. It is not the time or the place for us to enter on this warmly controverted subject, and we have noticed the work only on account of its bearing on the subject of insanity, and as forming a part of its literature.--_Am. Journal of Insanity, published by the Superintendent of the New York Lunatic Asylum, July, 1850._

So far as the leading controversy, in regard to the rival systems of prison discipline, is concerned, it seems to us to cover the entire ground with singular ability.--_Princeton Review._

☞ A few copies of this pamphlet are still on hand, and may be had on application to the publishers, corner of Fifth and Minor streets, or to any member of the Acting Committee.

OFFICERS FOR 1852.

PRESIDENT--James J. Barclay.

VICE-PRESIDENTS--Townsend Sharpless, Charles B. Trego.

TREASURER--Edward Yarnall.

SECRETARIES AND COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE--

William Parker Foulke, Edward Townsend.

COUNSELLORS.

Job R. Tyson, Garrick Mallery.

ACTING COMMITTEE.

James J. Barclay, Townsend Sharpless, Charles B. Trego, Edward Yarnall, William Parker Foulke, Edward Townsend, Job R. Tyson, Garrick Mallery, F. A. Packard, Jeremiah Hacker, William Shippen, Charles Ellis, Dilwyn Parrish, A. T. Chur, Morris Wickersham, M. W. Baldwin, Mark Balderson, Joshua L. Baily, George Dilks, Thomas Latimer, Josh. T. Jeanes, John M. Wetherill, Horatio C. Wood, John Lippincott, John J. Lytle, Henry M. Zollickoffer, W. P. Sharpless, William S. Perot, Rodman Wharton.

☞ Quarterly Meeting of the Society on the 12th of July instant.

ODD NUMBERS SUPPLIED.

There are no full sets of the FIVE volumes of this Journal (already published) on hand, but a large stock of odd volumes and numbers. Many complete copies of Vols. I. and II., can be had, and a few of Vols. IV. and V. If any person has duplicates of Vol. I, No. 1, Vol. II., No. 2, Vol. III., No. 1, Vol. IV., No. 3, or Vol. V., No. 1, they will oblige us by sending them to the office of publication. Copies of Vol. I., No. 4, Vol. II., No. 1, Vol. III., Nos. 3 and 4, Vol. IV., Nos. 1, 2 and 4, and Vol. V., Nos. 2, 3 and 4, will be given in exchange, or supplied to such as want them.

“JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE AND PHILANTHROPY,”

_Published by the “Philadelphia Society for alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons.”_

DESIGN AND PLAN OF THE WORK.

The members of this venerable Institution, which has been mainly instrumental, in introducing the great reform in Prison Discipline that has distinguished the last half century, have long felt the need of such a medium of communication with the public as is now proposed. Their attention has of late been more especially aroused to the importance of the measure, from the deep interest which has been awakened in such reform; and from the misapprehension which prevails, as to the true principles and results of what is termed the “Pennsylvanian,” or “Separate System.”

Of the intrinsic usefulness of a Journal of this nature, it is believed but one opinion can prevail among the intelligent and humane. One of the most active and well-informed of those engaged in the reform of Prisons, has justly remarked, that “judgment is but the result of comparison.” All reasonable men, before deciding on a measure, will acknowledge the importance of becoming acquainted with the history and results of similar efforts. Hence the necessity felt by all civilized nations, of publishing and preserving public documents, reports, discussions, criticisms, &c. In America there is no adequate provision for the preservation of these, so far as they relate to prison reform; they are scattered among an accumulation of pamphlets on other subjects, are frequently destroyed, and are always difficult of access; and the labour which ought to furnish instruction for our future progress, and for posterity, becomes too often merely temporary in its utility.

At the present time a greatly enhanced importance is attached to a publication of this kind, as a medium of communication with foreign countries. Several of the governments of Europe are endeavouring to ascertain the best system of Prison Discipline, with a view to its adoption; and although the Society have no doubt which of the methods now in existence is the best, some Philanthropists of the Old World are yet undecided.

It is from a knowledge of these facts and from a belief that it is due to themselves and the cause of humanity, that the Society have been induced to undertake this publication.

TERMS.

This periodical is published quarterly; each number to contain at least 48 pages octavo. It will be delivered without charge to members of the Society; but to those who are not members, the price is $1 per annum, always in advance, or 25 cents a number.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] For example, in the New Jersey State Penitentiary, the plan of which was inspected by the English and French commissioners, the warden’s department is in immediate connection with the observatory.

[2] See our April Number, pp. 84, 85.

[3] In those States where it is usual to transfer insane convicts to a Lunatic Asylum, the boon would certainly have been extended to two of our convicts, and thus the institution in which the mental disease originated would not have had to account for its physical termination. This fact should be remembered, when comparing our state of health with similar establishments, as it shows that the Eastern Penitentiary has always had a double mortality to account for, that which is due to it as a penal institution, as well as that which properly belongs to an Insane Asylum.

[4] Published by Acting Committee of the Philadelphia Society.

[Transcriber’s Note:

Page ii, continuation of paragraph from Page iii joined to start of paragraph.

Page 96, erratum incorporated into text.

Obvious printer errors corrected silently.

Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.]