Part 7

👉 “Officers of State, Inspectors, or Wardens of Penitentiaries, Keepers of Common Gaols, Houses of Correction, &c., Superintendents or Physicians of Insane Asylums, (whether public or private, and whether for paupers or pay-patients,) officers of Houses of Refuge, Police Magistrates, and others who may be in possession of, or have access to reports or other documents bearing on prison discipline, insanity, juvenile delinquency, police regulations, pauperism, &c., &c., will confer a particular favour by forwarding to the above office copies of such publications for use or notice in this Journal. All such attentions will be gratefully acknowledged, and cheerfully reciprocated.

“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.

The Journal will be devoted to the exposition and promulgation of correct views on Prison Discipline, Police systems, Asylums for the insane poor, Societies for the aid of discharged prisoners, and other reforms immediately connected with these subjects. It will also be rendered more interesting and instructive by the introduction of biographical sketches of celebrated Philanthropists, accompanied with portraits; and by plans and descriptions of the best methods of Prison construction. Such being the object, the Society cannot doubt that it will meet with cordial support from the friends of humanity, throughout the Old and New World.

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 aum, always in advance, or 25 cents a number.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Rev. Dr. Alexander’s letter to the Howard Society of New Jersey, July 1833.

[2] This subject has lately engrossed the earnest consideration of the Managers of the Philadelphia Refuge, and there is an evident determination to effect important improvements in this respect.

[3] “CASE I.--The family whose total earnings consist of £2 2_s_ per week, consist of the father and mother, who sleep in one bed; a married son and his wife who sleep in the second bed; a grown up daughter who, with two boys of twelve and fourteen years of age, sleep together on a bed on the floor; the whole family being in the same room.

“CASE II.--H. H. earns two shillings a day as a laborer--was brought up as a farmer, and had property to the amount of 2000 pounds, which he has dissipated--has a wife and five children--the eldest of whom is 13 years, the youngest 5 years; they have only one bed, upon which the parents sleep; the children sleeping on the floor as they best may.

“CASE III.--D. M., with his family, makes 30 shillings per week; his daughter, with a bastard child about two years old, a son about 16, another of 13, and a daughter of 10 years of age, making, with his wife, seven in all, sleep in the same room, with two beds.

“CASE IV.--J. G. has a father and mother who live with him; he and his wife sleep in one bed; his father and mother in another; his two grown up sisters in a third; his brother, a lad of 19, and a young man lodger, ‘who is courting one of his sisters,’ in a fourth: all in the same room. J. G. does not know, or will not tell, how much they all make, but thinks it ‘a good bit,’ as his wife and sisters and brother are at farming, himself on a fruit ground, and his father a laborer.”

Dr. Holland furnished Dr. Playfair with the following, in the case of one of his dispensary patients: “D. E. is a widower, with one sleeping apartment, in which sleeps his adult son and daughter. The latter has a bastard child which she affiliates on the father, he upon his son, and the neighbors upon both.”

[4] Boston Correspondence of the New York Recorder, January 1849.

[5] Opened May 15, 1848.

[6] 39 of dysentery in August and September.

[7] Mrs. Fry’s views, when fairly presented and properly understood, were altogether in favor of separation, and can never be justly cited against it.

[8] [Article VI. has been altered so as to make it require twenty dollars for a life contribution, and two dollars for an annual contribution.]

[Transcriber’s Note:

Table on page 71, headers: Males., Females., and Totals., were shortened to read M., Fem., and Tot.

Obvious printer errors corrected silently.

Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.]