214 HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, ETC., 



government, and shop-keepers ; the third, in picking oakum, washing 

 for the establishment, and plaiting straw. 



It would be difficult to imagine a more hideous community; and 

 those who visited this establishment could scarcely realize the possi- 

 bility that Great Britain could have produced such an assemblage of 

 ugly creatures. It is hardly conceivable that the feminine character 

 could ever have existed under faces, in which all traces of gentle 

 expression have long since been annihilated, and where the countenance 

 now indicates only the prevalence of the baser passions. 



Some of the rooms were crowded, the inmates sitting on two rows 

 of benches. Upon our entrance they discontinued their occupations, 

 and saluted us with disgusting leering faces, staring at us with a 

 malignity and hatred that were not soon forgotten. 



The rooms appeared well ventilated, and scrupulously clean. I 

 wish I could say as much for the prisoners themselves : they were dirty 

 and slovenly in their appearance, and were clothed in a coarse drug- 

 get gown, a cap and neckerchief of cotton. 



The discipline is very strict, and maintained by a person who at 

 one time was the most unmanageable convict they ever had confined 

 there. She now holds the place of matron, and has the management 

 of the females, under the supervision of Mr. Bell, who is the superin- 

 tendent of the whole establishment. 



Until she was appointed, no sort of order was maintained. We 

 understood that her conduct has been excellent since she filled the 

 place. She is a tall masculine woman, of some intelligence, and has 

 a watchfulness of manner that shows she is an adept at her busi- 

 ness. She told us that the punishment for misconduct was solitary 

 confinement, on bread and water, and for smaller misdemeanours, 

 working at the crank of the pumps which supply the establishment 

 with water. 



The children are in a room by themselves, and there are about one 

 hundred of them, from the infant to the child of seven or eight years 

 of age. They all looked healthy, were very playful, and appeared to 

 be well taken care of. There are twenty nurses who attend to them. 

 It gave us much pleasure, when the matron entered with us, to see 

 them all come running up to her, demonstrating her kind treatment of 

 them, and the affection they bear her. 



To Mr. Bell, the superintendent, we were much indebted for his 

 civility. He appeared well qualified for the management of so ex- 

 tensive and diificult a concern. He explained every thing to us, 

 answering the numerous questions put to him with great pleasure and 



