ment of them degrading to the character of our spe-
cies?

It is not only for our own satisfaction, that we are
desirous of obtaining whatever information you can
furnish in relation to these interesting subjects, but
because we believe the combined experience of all
those who have been engaged in this great object of
state polity, cannot fail to advance its value in the
estimation of others, and thereby subserve, at once,
the purposes of justice, and the cause of humanity.

We believe that, in our own country, the number
of its friends is gradually multiplying; and it is with
peculiar satisfaction, we have heard of the exertions
which some benevolent individuals, in their private
capacity, as well as enlightened statesmen, in their
public character, are employing in Great Britain, to
render the laws of that kingdom less sanguinary.—
These advocates of reformation have had the candour
to acknowledge, that they were encouraged to com-
mence the laudable work, from the success which
had followed our experiments; and hence we see the
importance of embodying all the evidence which can
be collected, to support, in England

, this effort of
mercy, and of diffusing these beneficent principles,
through all those nations and states, by which they have
not yet been adopted.

We are, very respectfully, &c. CALEB CRESSON, junr.,
ROBERT VAUX, } Secretaries. New York, 6th month, 5th, 1802. RESPECTED FRIEND,

Thy sentiments on crimes and punishments com-
municated to the public, in two excellent works on
the Police of London

and the Thames, has induced
me, without the pleasure of a personal acquaintance
to inform thee of the progress of an experiment
making in this state, by adopting a plan similar to
the one formed, soon after the revolution, in Pennsyl-
vania, for the amelioration of the penal laws.