of Quarter Sessions, ninety days; all greater
offences,
to be sent to the state prison for one or more
years.
No intercourse to be allowed with untried prisoners,
or
debtors, and a total prohibition to their wives, chil-
dren,
friends, or any person whatever. Inspectors to
visit the prison, at
least once every month, to examine
into the conduct of the keeper,
who should have rules
made by the inspectors, for his government.
The
rooms should, by law, be directed to be white washed
twice
every year, and no other than a low diet be allow-
ed, and strictly
to prohibit any spirituous liquors. The
inspectors might be
appointed by the county court,
or supervisors, or by council of
appointment. Many
of the jails at present are taverns; this should
be
by law prevented. An allowance to the keeper
sufficient to
procure a man of fair character should
be paid out of the public
treasury. As our laws now
are, the keeper, as he must have charge of
the debtors,
must be appointed by the sheriff.
If what I have suggested meets thy approbation,
I know thou wilt
considerably improve my plan; if
so, and thou hast leisure to draw
a bill, it will much
oblige me to be favoured with a copy.
Be pleased to accept my best wishes for thy health,
and believe me
respectfully, and very truly,
During the inclemency of the weather this morn-
ing, my mind has been
turned towards several absent
Friends, and I determined to let them
know it; per-
haps this may be the only sentiment worth
commu-
nicating to thee; if it so turn out, thou mayest
credit
me accordingly.
The peace which has been lately concluded between
Great Britain and
this country, whilst it is a subject
of general greeting and
rejoicing, will, I hope, impress