at Sing Sing, near Neiv York. 14& 



superintendent, if I may use such a term, would interfere 

 with the ordinary discipline ; but that he now considered this, 

 alliance of primary consequence. This question is one of 

 great moment, and the name of Captain Lynds stands so 

 deservedly high, that I cannot afford to relinquish the support 

 which his authority lends to my own deliberate opinion upon 

 this subject. 



In April 1827, at the earnest recommendation of this 

 gentleman, a chaplain was sent to Sing Sing. The person who 

 was induced to assume the responsibilities of this station was 

 Mr. Gerrish Barrett, and that he feels these obligations in 

 the proper spirit, will I think be freely admitted by every one 

 who reads the following extract from a letter written by him, 

 which I have transcribed from page 109 of the Second 

 Report of the Prison Discipline Society of Boston, an institu- 

 tion which has rendered eminent services to this cause in 

 America. 



" A little after seven o'clock every evening," says Mr. 

 Barrett, " I commence reading the scriptures to the convicts, 

 afterwards make some remarks, and then offer a prayer on 

 each side of the prison. I have found by experience, that to 

 stand as near the centre of the prison as possible, on the 

 pavement below, is far better for the purpose of being easily 

 heard, than to stand upon the gallery. I am persuaded, that 

 of all the methods which have been used for fastening divine 

 truth upon the minds of convicts, this daily reading of the 

 scriptures and prayer is most likely to succeed. The truth 

 strikes upon the ear, when the men are sobered by the labours 

 of the day, when no mortal eye sees them, and when the 

 twilight and the silence, and the loneliness combine in causing 

 it to make a deep impression. They can then reflect on what 

 they have heard till they fall asleep. 



" After divine service on the Sabbath, a considerable por- 

 tion of the time is spent in talking to the men in their cells. 

 In this business I feel more and more interested. I have 

 found no one yet, who showed any disrespect or unwillingness 

 to hear what was said." 



Sketch of a Classification of the European Rocks. By 

 Henry T. De la Bkche, Esq. F. R. S. &c. 



[Extracted from the Philosophical Magazine, No. 36.] 



To propose in the present state of geological science any 

 iification of rocks which should pretend to more than tem- 

 ry utility, would be to assume a more intimate acquuint- 

 i ttifl earth's crust than we possess. Our l.nov 



