196 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



taught trades and then apprenticed out. A wealthy old man left 

 his whole property — some 7,000,000 dollars — for this purpose, 

 with the special proviso that no minister of any religious 

 denomination should be ever allowed to set foot within the 

 walls ! The Bible may be read, but without ministerial instruc- 

 tion. The will says that until the sects agree among them- 

 selves, he Avould not have the pupils taught the dogmas 

 of any. 



Though Thursday was wet, I got to see the Penitentiary, a 

 large prison conducted on the solitary system by " Friends." 

 I did not see any of the prisoners, but I visited some of their 

 empty cells, the walls of which were covered with frescoes, in 

 colours extracted from the old cotton fabrics that had been 

 given them to dress for the paper-makers, the brushes made of 

 their own hair, and other contrivances to match. The frescoes 

 si lowed considerable taste and patience. The walls of one were 

 covered with Arabesque patterns — very elaborate — and those of 

 the others with figures and inscriptions. The number of inmates 

 is usually 300. They have little yards in which now and then 

 they are permitted to exercise, and there are larger spaces 

 where delicate prisoners can have a wider range, but in no case 

 are they permitted to see each other or to converse. The 

 system is said to work well ; but it is thought that the terms of 

 confinement might be shortened with advantage, as the chief 

 object of the treatment is reformation, not punishment. 

 Prisoners sometimes seem to be reformed after a time, and then 

 the improvement passes away, and their sorrow for crime 

 becomes changed into revenge towards the community for 

 having locked them up so long, so that when set free, it is not 

 with any feeling of gratitude that they return to the outer 

 world. They are allowed to communicate with their friends 

 once in six months, and are constantly employed in manual 

 labour, some trade being taught to those who are without the 

 knowledge of any. All are taught to read and write. 



I forgot to say that on Wednesday night we went to the 

 assembly ball, which was a brilliant affair, but I soon grew 

 tired of it, and we only remained about two hours. 



On Friday I dined with Mr. P., the British consul, and in 

 the evening met a party of doctors at Dr. Morton's. 



On Sunday I went to church and heard a very Puseyite dis- 



