1868.] ^g'J' [Lesley. 



" The visits of Howard to the prisons of Europe, had brought 

 to public notice not oidy the miserable condition of the disci- 

 pline in most of them, but also man}' of their principal defects 

 of construction. The modifications of interior arrangement first 

 suggested for convicts in England, and subsequently enlarged 

 and carried into successful operation in Pennsylvania, required 

 great alterations of material structure. The design was to 

 pass from a state of things, in Avliich there was an indiscrimi- 

 nate association of prisoners without labor, without instruction, 

 without government, almost without restraint, except that of 

 walls, chains, and the brutal tvranny of the strongest or boldest 

 among the prisoners, to a state in which separation, good order, 

 cleanliness, labor, instruction, and ready and continual super- 

 vision should be maintained, within the limits of such fiscal 

 economy as public opinion and resources rendered expedient. 

 The earliest and most noted experiments Mere made at Hor- 

 sham, Petworth, and Gloucester, in England; and in the old 

 Walnut street gaol, at Philadelphia. The record of these 

 attempts fortunately still remains ; and it would be superfluous 

 to discuss their want of adaptedness to any large scheme of 

 separate discipline. The next remarkable effort was at Pitts- 

 burg, where a circular prison was erected, so ill suited to its 

 objects, that in less than ten years after its completion, it Avas 

 demolished. The next step of progress was the erection of the 

 Eastern Penitentiaiy ; and it must be obvious, that much was 

 involved in the success or failure of its architect. There was 

 not in all Europe a building suited to the objects of the con- 

 templated work." 



In Ai)ril, 1853, his memorial lo the Legislature in favor of a 

 House of Correction, was adopted by the Society. About the 

 same time he started the subject of relief for persons suffering 

 from the hardships and oppressions occurring m the practice of 

 the Criminal Courts in the City and County of Philadelphia. 

 So much is now done by various agencies to diminish these par- 

 ticular evils and with such good results, that it is amazing the 

 subject was not earlier broached. It shows how necessary to 

 society, oftentimes, is the Avatchful, warm-hearted intelligence of 

 a single person. 



Early in the Summer of 1855 Mr. Eoulke visited Harrisburg, 

 and was astonished and grieved to find that the law of 184T had 



VOL. X.— oo 



