Air. Turner on Crimes and Punijhments. ^ZS 



Now it will not be difficult to fhew, that the 

 principal fprings of evil aftions are, pridey 

 luxury, and idlenefs, affifted by the influence of 

 had examples. To corredl the ill efFeds of thefe 

 things, we at prefent confine our prifoners in 

 a ftate of ahjolute indolence, in the company of 

 xht'moft del eft able o^ their fpecies, who encourage y 

 inftead of Jhaming them, ifjith free accejs to the 

 means of intemperance, the goaler being generally 

 a publican, and after five or fix months oithis 

 kind of diJcipUne, we ivhip, hanifto, or hang them. 

 In other words, we cherftj, as much as we are 

 able, thofe principles, and confirm., beyond the 

 pofTibility of amendment, thofe habits, which are 

 the foundations of all 'vicious ccndu5i ; and then 

 inflidt upon them a momentary punifhment, 

 which, if they furvive, they return into fociety 

 prepared by ourfehes to become its mod detefta- 

 ble members; and if their punifhment be the 

 conclufion of their prefent exiflence, we have 

 been doing thetn an injury which we cannot repair^ 

 by contriving for the lafl: months of their lives 

 fuch a courfe of condud, as was fure to confirm 

 their vicious principles and habits". 



Is all this rational and wife ? Does it mani- 

 feft found judgment, or good policy ? Surely 

 not. Right reafon would fugged a very oppo- 

 fite proceeding. To counteradt the efFcds of 

 idlenefs and luxury, and prevent the influence 

 of bad company, it would fnew, that it was 



much 



