to which I bestowed much attention at the outset,
but, instead of being seconded, I found myself coun-
teracted in all my anxious cares to introduce a sys-
tem of useful and productive labour, and I lament to
say, that, in addition to fourscore thousand pounds
laid out in the buildings, it costs the county nearly
4000l. sterling a year, to maintain the prisoners.—
Contemplating the difficulties and the consequent
failure of most of the plans founded on Mr. Howard

's
ideas, and considering the obstructions which are
opposed to evils, in their nature so gigantic, I have
been induced to give a decided preference to Mr.
Bentham's plan, as briefly explained in my treatise
on the police, (6th edition) where he proposes to
enter into a contract for the labour of convicts, and
to become responsible for the reformation of their
manners and vices.—When I return to London, I will
procure from that gentleman a copy of the detail of
his plan and will have great pleasure in transmit-
ting it to you, with such other publications as apply
to the subject of Penitentiary Houses. I will also send,
if I can possibly procure it, a copy of a report of the
Committee of the House of Commons.—The whole
of the reports have been reprinted in four volumes,
among which twenty-eight treats of Police. They
are all extremely interesting, and, I think, you will
be desirous that they should have a place in your
library; when I have the pleasure of seeing Mr.
Wilkes, I will consult with him how far I should go
in this respect. The first edition of the police of
London may be considered as only an imperfect sketch.
It is in the sixth-edition of that work that you will
find those interesting topics discussed, to which your
attention is at present so laudably directed.

The last report of your committee is extremely
interesting, and you press upon the attention of the
legislature, with great propriety, the evils arising
from the excessive multiplication of spirit houses, and
public houses. Nothing tends so much to the corrup-