The plan mentioned by thee of a Reformatory for six
hundred boys, is the wisest and best ever proposed,
provided it be so built as that each boy be lodged in
a separate room; in the day, when at work, they will
have keepers constantly with them, and then it will
be very easy to prevent them talking or having
any improper communication with each other;—if
more than one is in a room at night, they would as-
suredly corrupt each other, and thus your design, or
reformation, must be defeated.

The administration of the New York State Prison
has been very badly managed for many years; the
amount of expenditures are from twenty to thirty
thousand dollars yearly more than the amount pro-
duced by the labour of the convicts. When Friends
had the management, it was entirely different, as
will be seen by my book, published in 1804, a copy
of which was sent thee some time ago. In Philadel-
phia

, the affairs of their State Prison are managed
with much care and prudence, and the profit on the
labour of the convicts is several thousand dollars
more than the cost of support and maintenance.
The friends to the penitentiary system have been
in some degree disappointed as it regards reforma-
tion of the convicts, and this, in my opinion, is entire-
ly owing to the improper construction of our prisons.
The rooms are calculated too large, and in conse-
quence of this, twelve to fifteen are put in each room
at night, and of course they corrupt each other, and
it is not unreasonable to believe that many become
more wicked and incorrigible from their impri-
sonment. The only wise plan then is, for keepers
to be constantly with them during the day whilst
at labour, and at night, let each one be lodged in
separate cells.

I have many numbers of the Philanthropist, and
would be thankful if thou wouldst direct them to be
regularly sent me.

The pamphlets, and Montague on Punishments, &c.,