Amfterdam Houfe of Correciion. 
thing in thefe apartments was diftin- 
guifhed by neatnefs and propriety, and 
notwithftanding the number of inhabit. 
ants allotted to each, was fully adequate 
to the dimenfions of the rooms ; the fenfes 
“were not offended with any difagreeable 
»feent, and the air was in every refpect as 
pure and wholefome as the furrounding 
atmofphere. 
In an obfcure part of the building are 
a-number of cells, in which, formerly, 
-thofe prifoners who revolted againft the 
proper fubordination of the place, or ill- 
‘treated their comrades, were confined for 
a few days. But the keeper affured M,. 
THouIn, that thefe cells had not been 
made. ufe of for upwards of to years. 
They are dark, gloomy dungeons, with 
only a fmall aperture for the admiffion of 
dight and air. The fuppreffion of this 
barbarous and coercive punifhment does 
honour tothe humanity of government. 
The ftore-rooms are filled with various 
kinds of wood for the purpofes of dying ; 
as the Haemotoxylum Campechianum, the 
Morus Tin&oria, the Cacfalpinia Sappan, 
ée. They are all exotics, with the ex- 
ception of the Evonymus Europeus. The 
warehoufes were not of fuflicient extent 
to contain the quantity of wood, which 
_ was depofited in piles in different parts of 
the court. 
The prifoners, amounting to 76 in 
number, were uniformly habited in coarfe 
woollens ; wear very good ftockings, 
large leather fhoes, white fhirts, and caps 
or hats. They are, by the rules of the 
houle, obliged to frequent ablutions, 
which greatly contribute to the preferva- 
tion of their health. There was only one 
fick perfon amongft them: and, what is 
not a little remarkable, almoft ali the pri- 
foners had formeriy lived in large com- 
mercial towns ; very few villagers were 
amongft them. They had all been fen- 
tenced to imprifenment for theft; but. it 
depends upon themfelves, by reformation 
-and good behaviour, to fhorten the term 
of their confinement, which many of them 
frequently do, - . 
The keeper, whofe humanity towards 
the unfortunate perfons committed to his 
care, entitles him rather to the title of 
ether proteStor than their gaoler (and 
M. THOUIN informs us, that the pri- 
foners generally called him. by no other 
name than father), affifts them with his 
counfels-and friendly admonitions. He 
_Fegifters, every week, in. a book. appro- 
/priated to this purpore; both the inftances 
ef. good and) bad behaviour; which. is 
annually fubmitted to the examination of 
» MonTany Mac. No. xxxu, 
423 
i & 
the magiftracy, who, from this report, 
abridge or prolong the-term of confine- 
ment, accoiding to the degree of indulg- 
ence which each prifoner, appears to 
merit. Cafes frequently. happen where 
a malefactor, condemned to an imprifon- 
ment of eight years, by his good beha- 
viour procures his enlargement at the 
expiration of four ; and fo, in proportion, 
for a fhorter term. But great attention 
is paid to difcriminate between actual 
reform and hypocritical artifice. 
The reward of good behaviour is not, 
however, confined to, or withheld till, the 
period of aétual liberation. Their réitor- 
ation to fociety is preceded by a progref- 
five amelioration of their lot. Their 
work is gradually rendered lefs laborious, 
they are accommodated with fepa- 
rate apartments, and employed in. the 
fervices of domeftic ceconomy. | The 
keeper even entrufts them with commif- 
fons beyond the precinéts of the prifon, 
and {carce a fingle inftance has occurred 
of their abufing this indulgence. -By . 
this prudent management,‘ a confiderable 
faving is effected in. the expence of the 
eftablifhment, at the fame time that it 
tends to wear away prejudicé, and to ini- 
tiate the prifoners. by gradual advances 
into the reciprocal duties of focial life.’ 
_M. THOUIN made particular inquiries 
whether it was cuftomary for perfons 
after their difcharge, to be confined a 
fecond and third time, as is but too often 
the cafe in many countries, for a repeti- 
tion of their offence. He was informed, 
that fuch initances very .rarely eccur; 
but the cafe is not without precedent, as 
he obferved in the perfon of a young Jew,’ 
wno was then in the Rafphuys tor the 
third time. The cafe of this man is 
fomewhat extraordinary. During the 
period of his detention, he always.con- 
‘forms, with the moft fcrupulous obfery- 
ance, to the rules of the place, and gives 
general fatisfaétion by his exemplary 
conduét.. But fuch, as he bimfelf avow- 
ed to our traveller, is his: conftitutional 
propenfity to thieving, that no fooner jis 
the term of his imprifonment. elapfed, 
than he returns with redoubled ardcur te 
his ®&wlefs courfes. It is not fo much 
for the fake of plunder, as.to gratify his 
irefiftible impulfe, that he follows -this 
vicious Jife;).and.M.;THowrn,-adds, 
that he tecounted his different exploits 
with as much exultation and triumph, as 
a veteran difplays.when rehearing his 
warlike atchievements. ° er fio ta 
Another talutary regulation-in this in- 
ftitution, from whieh »the beft. scosie- 
31 quences 
