20 
I examined the state-house, which is a simple, but well-finished 
brick building of two stories. In the ground floor are the offices, 
in the upper story two halls, one is for the senate, the other for 
the representatives. In each there is a seat, with a canopy, for 
the speaker. The senators have each a desk before them, in the 
hall of the representatives one desk serves two persons. All 
places are numbered, to prevent awkward encounters. In each 
hall there is a gallery for the public. The state-house is placed 
alone on a little eminence. In its neighbourhood stands the 
state arsenal. Another house belonging to the state, is appoint¬ 
ed for the residence of the governor. Mr. Troup, notwithstand¬ 
ing, does not inhabit it; he has no family establishment, and 
has domesticated himself in a plain boarding-house. We intend¬ 
ed to pay him our respects, he could not, however, receive us, 
as he lay dangerously ill of a pleurisy. Through two friends, 
Colonel Hamilton and Mr. Ringold, he tendered us his apolo¬ 
gies, and these gentlemen, in his name, proffered us their ser¬ 
vices. 
We were then carried to the state prison, a large brick edifice, 
under the superintendence of Mr. Williams, and contained 
seventy-six prisoners. All these were white persons, for the 
black were punished by the whip, and not with imprisonment. No 
idleness was suffered among the prisoners. If one understood 
no mechanical trade, he was obliged to learn one. I found most 
of them employed in wagon and saddle-making; others laboured 
in a smithy; others as shoemakers or tailors. The greatest quiet 
and silence prevailed among the prisoners. Their dress is blue, 
with broad white stripes upon all the seams. The interior of the 
lodging-house did not please me as much as the workshops. 
Cleanliness, so indispensable to such an establishment, was want¬ 
ing here; it was neither swept nor scrubbed, and in the cells of 
the prisoners, in which four or five slept upon the floor, the woollen 
coverlets and pillows lay confusedly together. There were also 
cells for solitary confinement, this was, however, used only as a 
means of house discipline. The eating room was equally dis¬ 
agreeable to me. A piece of cooked meat was laid on the table 
for each prisoner, without knives, forks, or plates. Bread did 
not appear to be furnished every day; at least the day we were 
there, none was to be seen. The prison is surrounded by a high 
wall, at each of its four corners stands a sentry-box for the watch, 
which they ascend from without, and from which the whole yard 
can be overlooked. This establishment is so well conducted, 
that it occasions no expense to the state, on the contrary, it pro¬ 
duces a profit. Upon the principal building stands a turret, which 
commands an extensive view over the town and circumjacent 
country. The district around appears uneven and covered with 
