STATE PRISON AT AUBURN. 245 



of the prison are explained to them, and they are instructed by 

 the keeper in their duties, — to obey orders, and to labour dili- 

 gently in silence, — to approach all the officers of the institution, 

 when it is necessary for them to speak, with respectful language, 

 and never to speak without necessity, even to the keepers : never 

 to speak to each other under any pretence; nor to sing, dance, or 

 do anything having the least tendency to disturb the prison; 

 never to leave the places assigned to them without permission ; 

 never to speak to any person who does not belong to the prison, 

 nor to look off from their work to see any one ; never to work 

 carelessly, or be idle a single moment. They are also told, that 

 they will not be allowed to receive letters, or intelligence from, 

 or concerning, their friends, or any information on any subject 

 out of the prison. Any correspondence of this kind, that may 

 be necessary, must be carried on through the keeper, or assistant 

 keepers. A Bible is, by order of the State, put into each cell. 

 The bodies of all criminals, who die in the State prisons, are, 

 by order of the legislature, delivered to the College of Physicians 

 when they are not claimed by their relations within twenty-four 

 hours after their death. The State prisons being in the country, 

 — at a distance generally, it must be presumed, from the residence 

 of the relations, — such a claim can, it is obvious, be but rarely 

 made. 



For all infraction of the regulations, or of duty, the convicts are 

 instantly punished by stripes inflicted by the keeper, or assistant 

 keepers, with a raw hide whip ; or in aggravated cases, under the 

 direction of the keeper, or his deputy alone, by a cat made of six 

 Straus of small twine, applied to the bare back alone. Conviction 

 follows offences so certainly, and instantaneously, that they rarely 

 occur; sometimes not once in three months. 



At the end of fifteen minutes after the ringing of a bell in the 

 morning, the assistant keepers unlock the convicts, who march 

 out in military order in single files to their work-shops, where 

 they wash their faces and hands in vessels prepared in the shops. 



New convicts are put to work at such trade as they may have 

 previously learned, provided it be practicable; if not, or if they 

 have no trade, the keeper selects such trade as appears, on inquiry, 

 best suited to them. The hours of labour vary according to the 

 season. In long days, from half-past 5 a. m. to 6 p. m. In 

 short days, the hours are so fixed as to embrace all the daylight. 



At the signal for breakfast, the convicts again form in line in 

 the shops, and are marched by the assistant keepers to the mess- 



