39 
the building is a large yard where the prisoners work. It is en¬ 
closed by a high wall* with palisades, which is guarded day and 
night by several sentinels. The prisoners are chiefly employed 
in cutting and polishing blocks of granite, which are used in Bos¬ 
ton and its vicinity. The punishment of every prisoner who is 
sufficiently robust, commences with this hard labour, which, how¬ 
ever, is changed if his conduct merits it, or if he exhibits abilities 
for some other employment. As stone-cutter, a daily task is as¬ 
signed to him, which, if not finished, or badly done, is followed 
by solitary confinement. If he performs more than his task, he is 
paid for the surplus. Of this sum he can dispose as he pleases 
when discharged. Newly-arrived prisoners, and those who have 
conducted themselves badly, are dressed in green and blue, when, 
however, they conduct themselves properly again, they are freed 
from this distinguishing habit. Other prisoners work at various 
trades; supplying at the same time their mutual wants, as shoes, 
&c. An engraver who was imprisoned for counterfeiting Nova 
Scotia bank notes, worked in a separate room, and engraved 
very neat maps. Four prisoners sleep in one cell, which are all 
tolerably well ventilated, and every prisoner has his own ham¬ 
mock. Black bread and soup constitute the food of the prisoners, 
who receive besides for breakfast and supper, a portion of syrup 
and flour, forming a kind of pudding. Besides the usual service 
on Sunday, they have prayers daily. 
A report of the state of the prison from September 30, 1823, 
to September 30, 1824, which was published by the warden, Mr. 
Thomas Harris, contains the following results:— 
The whole number of prisoners from 1805 to September 30, 
1824, was one thousand eight hundred and sixteen; of these 
there were thirteen hundred and three dismissed, after the 
period of their punishment had expired; two hundred and 
ninety-eight were pardoned; fifteen escaped; one hundred and 
two died; two hundred and ninety-eight remained; of the 
thirteen hundred and three who were dismissed, two hundred 
and thirteen were a second time in prison for new crimes, and 
among these two hundred and thirteen there were twenty-four 
who had been pardoned. 
On the 30th of September, 1823, there were three hundred and 
eight prisoners; of these eighty were dismissed, ten pardoned, 
six died, and, consequently, two hundred and twelve remained. 
To these eighty-six had been added, so that the number of pri¬ 
soners amounted, September 30th, 1824, to two hundred and 
ninety-eight, as was mentioned above. Among these there were 
only three females. 
Of these two hundred and ninety-eight, there, were fifty-four 
