275 



that ; it is done with a much better intention 

 — to keep those bad men from associating 

 together, that they may .net improve in 

 roguery during the time of confinement -, as 

 it is doubtful whether there be a better 

 school for any language or science, than a 

 prison for a young man unfortunately in- 

 clined to be dishonest, nor could he by any 

 other means get so regularly and perfectly 

 instructed as a highwayman, housebreaker, 

 horse-stealer, &c : — and it is the opinion 

 of many sensible men, that there have been 

 young persons put in prisons for slight 

 offences, and after their confinement they 

 have, by hearing the hardened conversation 

 of others, come out completely finished to 

 rob and plunder, with a knowledge of every 

 device to enable them to avoid being appre- 

 hended when they have committed those 

 offences. The General frequently agreed 

 with me in opinion respecting the necessity 

 of punishment for crimes, which used much 

 to irritate a great part of the company, par- 

 ticularly those men who are merely book- 



I 2 



