74 The Pytchley Hunt^ Past and Present, [chap. n. 



circumstances of mj position will permit. This esta- 

 blishment is constructed on the same principle as that at 

 Northampton, but it is far more extensive, affording 

 accommodation for about four hundred government, and 

 as many county prisoners. The former remain, as a 

 general rule, subject to a different discipline, for about 

 nine months; and after being carefully taught such 

 lessons as are inculcated in the 1st Psalm, and 14tli 

 verse of Proverbs, chapter iv., are sent to associate with 

 about one thousand others similarly prepared. I con- 

 template making an effort to remain in a state of sepa- 

 ration, though I doubt not that I shall have to become 

 honest by the ordinary routine of the " system/' and so 

 remain a rogue. The principal employments here appear 

 to be tailoring and making shoes, and fancy and other 

 sorts of mats. The establishment, so far as the convict 

 department goes, must be little less than self-supporting ; 

 at any rate, all the labour is productive. There are none 

 of your hand-labour mills here. Strange infatuation ! 

 miserable delusion ! that idleness, the chief characteristic 

 of criminals, is to be eradicated, and a love of industry 

 acquired by compelling a man to turn three hundred 

 revolutions per hour, for three hours in each day, of those 

 diabolical machines which disgrace the gaol of North- 

 ampton. This, too, under the penalty of loss of food for 

 non-performance of the task allotted out ! Tbe man sees 

 that he is doing no good; that a complicated machine 

 has been invented to torture his body, and he laughs at 

 the idea of acquiring industrious habits by such means ; 

 habits formed by compulsion ! ! Compel a man to work, 

 and his mind revolts from it ; but lock him up for three 

 or four days without work, then he will ask for work ; 

 which if it is not forced upon him as a punishment, he 



