connected with the nature of the punishment to which
the convicts are sentenced. By the great attention
paid to cleanliness in every part of the prison,
they
have shown their opinion of its importance in aiding
reformation. Its benign influence on the physical
character, though
well understood by many, is not
duly estimated by the bulk of
mankind. Though
its effect on bodily health be more obvious, its
less
striking but equally certain effect on the mind has
been
no where more fully experienced than in this
prison. It is found to
soften the temper, meliorate
the disposition, and to produce a
regard to temper-
ance, order, and industry; and, by exciting
more
agreeable and tranquil sensations, to render men
sus-
ceptible of good impressions, and thereby conduce to
their
future amendment.*
* Count RUMFORD
on the mendicants in the House of Industry at Munich, by cleanliness,
says, that virtue never dwelt long with filth and nastiness; nor do I
believe there ever was a person scrupulously attentive to cleanliness, who
was a consummate villain.
In the winter, those of the convicts who have
appeared to be most
meritorious, are allowed, with
the approbation of the keeper, to be
taught reading,
writing, and arithmetic. Teachers are selected
from
such of them as are competent, and twenty are per-
mitted
to meet together daily with one of the keep-
ers, and to receive
instruction for about two hours in
the evening. This is considered
as a privilege, and
conferred on those only, who, by a peaceable,
indus-
trious, and regular course of conduct, have shown a
disposition towards reformation. It is a further requi-
site for an
admission into this school, that the person
should have performed
labour above his task to the
value of four shillings a week, which
is to pay for
the implements of writing, light, and fuel.
Care is taken, as far as possible, to separate the
less vicious
from the more hardened and daring offen-
ders. About twenty-two of
the most obdurate crimi-
nals are kept confined and at work in
separate