OF THE PRISON DISCIPLINE SOCIETY. THE statements composing this report are arranged principally under the following heads:Imprisonment for debt, State Prisons, Houses of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents, and Asylums for poor Lunatics. In Maryland a law was passed, at the last session of the legislature, exempting all persons, who have resided in the state four months, from imprisonment, when the debt shall not exceed $30. There were imprisoned in the city of Baltimore, alone, for less than $20 each, during the year 1829, seven hundred and twelve persons. The law of the last session will probably save from imprisonment, in a single year, not less than twelve hundred persons, in the state of Mary land. To show the injustice and bad economy of the common system of imprisonment for debt, it is stated that seven persons lay in jail one hundred and seventy-two days in the city of Philadelphia, Imprisonment for Debt.-This subject has in the summer of 1830, for seven debts, amountrecently attracted special attention. The gov-ing together to $2,84. Of the whole seven, one ernors of several of the states have introduced it only paid the debt, and that was a debt of 25 into their messages, and pressed it upon the atcents. It was ascertained that six could not pay; and of these, five lay in jail at least thirty days tention of the legislatures. In seven states the laws respecting the imprisonment of poor debtors have received important modifications. In Kentucky there has been no imprisonment for debt during the last nine years; and for a number of years there has been none in New Hampshire for a sum less than $13,33. In Maine a law was passed in March last, to abolish imprisonment for debt, and to punish fraudulent debtors. The ostensible object passing this law was, to exempt the honest debtor from arrest and imprisonment, except in cases where fraud is alleged and proved, by competent witnesses, before an impartial tribunal. The provisions of this law apply to all debts exceeding five dollars. This law, if properly administered, may probably save from imprisonment in Maine about one thousand persons annually. each. Penitentiaries.-The state prison at Thomaston contains about as many cells as convicts, so constructed as nearly, if not entirely to prevent evil communications. Each cell has a Bible. A large part of the time, therefore is spent by the convicts in solitude and silence, with the word of God in their hands; and with none to take away the good seed sown in their hearts the moment it is planted. A Sabbath school has been instituted for those who cannot read, which is superintend ed by a chaplain, who also preaches the gospel. Joint labor is performed, under close inspection, when the convicts are neither in solitary confinement, nor under instruction; so that the whole time, except that allotted to sleep and food, is designed to be filled up with reading and reflection, instruction, supervision, and labor. With this system, we believe the instances are not solitary, in which the grace of God has proved sufficient to turn the heart from sin to holiness. In Vermont the subject was introduced by the In New Hampshire it is not more apparent in governor in his last message, and a law was the county prisons, by the small number of passed during the session of the legislature, giv-debtors that are confined in them, than by the ing the poor debtor power to take the oath, if he is judged a fit subject to take it, within two hours after judgment is rendered. This provision of the new law will probably remove about one third or one fourth part of the evil of imprisonment for debt in Vermont. In Massachusetts the governor introduced the subject in his message at the last session of the legislature; and a law was passed exempting females for all sums, and others for sums less than ten dollars, on contracts made subsequent to July 1, 1831. Though this may appear to many a small law, it will save from incarceration, if it is obeyed, about five hundred persons annually. state prison at Concord, by the small number of convicts, that this is a favored state, in regard to its prisons. Two of the principal causes of the small number of convicts are its debtor laws and pauper laws. The county prisons have few debtors in training for villany and state prison punishment, and the poor houses are not sustained by a heavy state tax, for the support of foreign paupers. The new prison in Vermont, containing 136 cells for solitary confinement at night, is nearly finished, and will be soon occupied. When the convicts in an old prison are removed from an old building, where they have been associated, without restraint, in large night rooms, to a new In the legislature of New York a bill was brought in, adopting the principle of no imprison-building, like that here spoken of, separated from ment for debt except in cases of fraud; this fraud to be alleged and proved before an impartial tribunal by competent witnesses, and, when thus proved, to be punished as a misdemeanor. The faw passed both branches of the legislature by a large majority; but does not go into operation till March 1, 1832. each other, and placed under constant inspection and restraint, an amount of profaneness and blasphemy, lasciviousness and mischief, is prevented, far beyond the conception of those who have not been familiar with the dreadful corruption of old state prisons. The discipline of the Massachusetts state The great evil which this law is intended to prison continues as described last year. Separemedy, whether it shall prove effectual or not, is ration at night, silence, order, industry, respectful the incarceration, according to the best estimates and cheerful obedience among the convicts, harwe are able to make, of 10,000 persons annually; mony, mildness, and authority among the officers, -incarceration, too, not according to the com- are its leading features. The moral and religious mon form; but with no provision by law of bed-instruction, by the chaplain, on the Sabbath, in ding, fuel, or food to protect the subjects of it from cold and hunger and this, in a multitude of cases, for very small sums. the chapel, by public worship, by the Sabbath school, and, during the week, by morning and evening prayers, and reading of the scriptures, and by private admonition, sympathy, and counsel in the azernoon of cach day, is sustained with punctuality and encouragement. And in the Sabbath school, which was instructed last year, under the superintendence of the chaplain, by convicts, there are now found willing one hundred and thirty or forty persons, from twelve or fifteen churches, of different denominations, in Charlestown and Boston, to engage, alternately, by tens and twenties, as teachers in the Sabbath school, in the state prison. The state prison in Connecticut is still in a state of progressive improvement. Nothing can show this more clearly, than a comparison of the earnings and expenditures, during the whole period. The carnings of the convicts exceeded the whole expense of the establishment, for the six months ending March 31, 1828, $1,017 16; year ending March 31, 1829, 83,229 41; year ending March 31, 1830, $5,068 94; year ending March 31, 1831, $7.824 02; making a total gain to the state, in 3 1-2 years, of $17,139 53. This is after deducting the expenses, not only of food, clothing, fuel, medical attendance, and incidental expenses of the prison, but the pay of officers. The expense of the old prison, during the same period of 31-2 years, exceeded the income, $24,338 78; making a difference to the state, between the old and the new prison, in 31-2 years, of $41,478 31, in the keeping of an average of about 150 convicts.-The women, who before were crowded together in one appartment, and left to themselves, are now separated at night, and employed by day under the constant care and supervision of a matron. The chaplain says, in a letter dated May 7, 1831, "I suppose the female department here is the best arranged of any in the world. Formerly, when they were all in one room, the noise which they made might be heard at a distance; and hair, torn from each other's heads, might be seen strewed about the floor. Now, they are lodged in separate cells, more than support themselves by their labor, and are much changed for the better as to their outward appearance." The prison at Sing Sing in the state of New York is highly commended by the inspectors both as to discipline and health; and the duties of the chaplain have been performed in a satisfac tory manner. The course of discipline adopted in the new penitentiary in Philadelphia, embracing both solitary confinement and solitary labor, is thought by the inspectors to have thus far succeeded well. No prisoner is seen by another after he enters the walls. Great terror is known to have been impressed on the minds of the convict community by this institution. The expenses of the prison are more than balanced by the receipts. Four hundred additional cells are to be built iminediately. A new county prison is to be erected in Philadelphia. The new building in Baltimore for the accommodation of nearly 400 convicts in separate cells is occupied, the discipline improved, and the earnings of the convicts exceed all expenses of their support. A new penitentiary at Nashville, Tennessee, has been erected on the plan of that at Auburn. In Illinois a small penitentiary is erecting on the same plan. In Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky, the peniten tiaries remain much the same as heretofore. Houses of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents.That in Boston continues to sustain its former good character. That in the city of New York is a most noble and extensive institution. Dur 1.g the year 144 inmates have been rece since the opening of it, six years ago, a nas reezived 800, of whom 650 have been disposed of in different ways. The managers add, "that they can already point to hundreds of cases in which idle and dissolute, and even eraninal children of both sexes hay been reclaimed, snatched as it were from the steep leading to inevitable destruction, and moulded into wellbehaved, sober, moral, industrious, and modest young artisans, farmers, seamen, seamstresses, &c. An act of incorporation has been obtained for a house of refuge in Baltimore, and expectations are cherished that it will be speedily established. Similar institutions are much needed in all the states, and especially in connection with the large cities. are Asylums for Lunatics. In the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont there no asylums for this unhappy class of persons, though the number in each state who are poor and friendless, probably exceeds 200. A building for this purpose has been commenced and will soon be completed at Worcester, Massachusetts, by the authority and at the expense of the state. In the state of New York, where are 500 or 600 poor lunatics, a committee of the legislature have reported in favor of an asylum, which it is expected the public spirit and humanity of the state will soon carry into effect. A General View.-In regard to imprisonment for debt, by the laws which have been passed in a single year, in all probability, from twelve to fifteen thousand persons will be saved from imprisonment for small debts. By these laws, personal liberty, public morals, and cominon humanity, are in some measure relieved; but while so many are saved from imprisonment, let us not forget the far greater number who will be incarcerated in those states where no such laws have been passed, and where the remedy is applied only in a small degree. In regard to our state prisons, we can now begin to look upon many of them with complacency, as places of separation at night, supervision, silence, order, neatness, hard labor, economy, and good government; and, connected with all these improvements, we see, in each of the reformed prisons, the Bible, the resident chaplain, the chapel, the Sabbath school, the private admonition, counsel, and instruction; in one word, in some good degree, what we may suppose the Lord Jesus Christ would require a community, calling itself Christian, to make its prisons. In regard to Houses of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents, our country has given a noble example to other nations. The houses of refuge in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia have constantly under their paternal roofs almost five hundred youth and children. How incalculable must be the good, in a course of years, resulting from this most noble charity! We would deem it an object worthy of a life, to add another to the number of these institutions. That in Baltimore we hope soon to see in operation. La regard to our County Prisons, little or nothing has been done in the way of reform; and we freely acknowledge, that we have no heart to pull down the old county prisons and build greater, while the principal cause of any such necess y arises from the fact, that about three to one of all the persons committed in them are for debt, and about two thirds of these are for debts been heretofore paid in consequence of the old process of collecting, but probably pay the whole amount of the debts. In regard to Asylums for Poor and Imprisoned Lunatics, Massachusetts has taken the lead, in this new department of benevolence; New York is preparing to follow the example; and we are confident, that nothing is necessary to cause a beautiful sisterhood of these needful institutions, but a knowledge of the facts proving their necessity. under twenty dollars, and from one half to two thirds of the whole number, on writ, without judge, jury, or witness. The country at large does not appear to be disposed to enlarge its county prisons, and adopt the improved principles of prison discipline, viz. solitary continement, rigid discipline, and hard labor, and this, too, at a great expense, for the sake of persons incarcerated for small debts. The public opinion of the country, and the legislation of the country, so far as we are able to judge, are tending to a different result, as the laws of the last win- In regard to Establishments for the Pauper ter sufficiently prove. It appears to be a great Population, particularly of large cities, we bewaste to expend time and money in building new lieve many important principles concerning their and large county prisons, for the accommoda-construction, discipline, employment, and intion of those, many of whom public opinion and struction, have been, and may be, derived from the laws are likely so soon to relieve in another the improved prisons. way. A county prison, properly constructed for the accommodation of the thousand or twelve hundred persons saved from imprisonment, in the state of Maryland, in a single year, by the very brief and small law of the last winter, prohibiting the imprisonment of persons for less than $30, would cost, probably, not less than one hundred thousand dollars. The interest on this sum would not only pay as much as has In view of the whole field of labor fairly embraced by the Prison Discipline Society, it is large enough, and sufficiently interesting, to encourage patient and persevering labor without deviation or despondency. Thanking the Lord, therefore, for the mercies of the last year, we consecrate ourselves anew to his service, in this department of benevolence. Miscellanies. CHINA AS A FIELD FOR PROTESTANT MIS- THE more we know of the populous nations of The following letter is from the "Gazetta di Venezia," which refers to the Piedmont Ga zette We have received a letter of Monsignor Jacobo Suigi Fontana, bishop and vicar apostolic of Sutchuen, in China, which gives proof of the rapid progress the Christian religion is now making in China. After having explained the causes of his long silence, namely, that couriers found with letters in their possession, written in European characters, are exposed to the punishment of death, or perpetual exile; that such discoveries might expose the native Christians to more frequent persecution; and that, therefore, he was obliged to send his correspondence only once a year to Macao; the venerable pastor thus proceeds: "As to myself, after travelling five years in various parts of India, after frequent delays of many months each, for want of vessels in which to embark, and after many vicissitudes and various dangers, I at length succeeded in enter ing the vast empire of China; and in March, 1812, arrived at my destined mission, in the province of Sutchuen. I was at first employed, for some months, in the study of the language of the country; and since then have devoted myself to the functions of my holy ministry, with so much satisfaction, that I have never had reason to regret my situation. In 1815 a severe and very general persecution against the Christians was excited, in all the provinces of the empire, and especially in Sutchuen, which inflicted great injury on the cause of Christianity throughout this mission. My predecessor, Monsignor Dutresse, bishop of Trabbaca, and vicar apostolic of this province, was arrested, and condemned to death by decapitation, obtaining thereby the crown of martyrdom. The bishop of Zela, coadjutor, was driven from his home, every where pursued and persecuted, and at length died in Toncino, sinking severe under his fatigue and sufferings. Nine priests of Sutchuen were arrested, and condemned to various punishments for the glorious cause of religion: four of them obtained the palm of martyrdom; two being strangled, and two others dying in prison, in consequence of Scourgings, and other cruel tortures: three were exiled into Chinese Tartary, and two others condemned to the punishment of the kanga, and perpetual imprisonment. Many Christians, of both sexes, and of all ages, gave heroic examples of constancy in the confession of their faith, showing themselves ready to die, and to suffer every kind of torture rather than abjure it; and consequently great numbers of them suffered as martyrs. Some were strangled; some condemned to suffer the kanga, some to exile, others to imprisonment for life; and many died in prison from the scourgings and other tortures cruelly inflicted on them. During this severe persecution, I passed through many perils and much suffering. Having been denounced before the Mandarins, I was sought for, and pursued so furiously, that I was often obliged to fly to the forests, and take shelter in the caverns, among the mountains on the borders of Sutchuen and 62 China as a Field for Protestant Missions. Yun-Nan, venturing only by night to leave my hiding-place, for the purpose of visiting the sick, and exhorting the Christians of the two provinces to firmness and constancy in the exercise of their religion, and the confession of their holy faith. "At present, the persecution has much diminWe ished in violence, but is not quite over. have here five European missionaries, including the two bishops, the vicar apostolic, and the coadjutor. We have been able to establish a small clerical seminary in my district; and in the eral seminary of the French mission, in PuloPinang, there are already twenty students. We have thirty native priests; and the number of Christians in my district (Vicariato) is sixty thousand. gen "Although the government has lately issued very severe edicts against those who endeavor to spread Christianity, and especially against European missionaries, a great number of pagans annually embrace our holy religion. Whilst examining the state of Christianity, and visiting the converts of this province, I have often been discovered, and was twice arrested; but I was not carried before the Proctor, because the Christians, not without danger to themselves, rescued me from the hands of the officers. God has hitherto given me only to see, and not yet to drink, the cup of the holy passion (il calice della santa passione;) but I am not without hope that I shall finish my life like my glorious predecessor; my divine Master requires that I should be willing to sacrifice my life for the welfare of the flock committed to me. "I have now reached fifty years of age; and I know not when or in what manner my frail life may end. May it please the Lord to grant that I may have a holy death! If I should obtain the grace to die, like M. Dufresse, my predecessor, under the axe of the executioner, the day of death will be far more happy than that of my birth." Since the bishop's letter was copied-says the correspondent who transmitted the foregoing letter for publication in the Magazine-I have seen a work on China, which appears to come from competent authority, and which, among progress other interesting matter, confirms the made by Christianity, even among the higher classes of that country; as also, the constancy displayed by most of the Christians, under persecution: and as the author is a Russian, his testimony cannot be suspected of partiality towards persons of another nation and another creed. It appears that, for more than a century past, a Russian mission, composed of ecclesiastics, has not only been tolerated at Pekin, but protected, and in a great measure supported, by the Chinese government. The individual members of the mission are changed every ten years; and it appears that Timkouski, the author of this work, was the officer appointed by the Russian emperor to superintend the mission, on its journey to and from Pekin, in 1820 and 1821, when it was last changed. He appears to be an impartial observer; and his book has also the benefit of the notes and corrections of the celebrated Klaproth, who himself, I believe, many years ago, was inspector or superintendent during one of the changes of the mission. It appears that the conduct of the Chinese towards European Christians depends more upon the disposition of the reigning monarch, than on any fixed law. FEB The author goes into lengthened details concerning the late severe persecutions. He states that the Italian and French missionaries had drawn a map of China, in which certain places were marked, as being converted to Christianity; that this map they were sending, with a young native convert, to the pope; and that, owing to the machinations of the Portuguese, the messenger was arrested, and his papers laid before the The emperor was immediately government. illed with suspicion lest the pope should pretend to exercise authority in any part of the celestial empire. The author then proceeds: "In consequence of this occurrence, a fresh persecution was commenced against the Christhe cross, tians. They wanted to oblige them to trample and to abjure their errors: those upon who refused were threatened with death. At Pekin many thousand persons were discovered, who had embraced the Christian religion, even among the members of the imperial family and mandarins. The enraged monarch commanded that the common people should remain unmolested, and directed all his vengeance against the members of his family. He appointed a special commission, composed of the director-general of the police at Pekin, (Ti-Tou,) of a prince of the blood, and the president of the department of criminal affairs, and ordered all those who obstinately refused to abjure Christianity to be imprisoned, and tortured in the most cruel manner; after having been deprived of their rank and fortune, to be beaten on the cheeks and thighs, to have incisions made in the soles of their feet, and the wound filled with horse hair, finely cut, then closed with a plaster, and sealed up. It is affirmed that such tortures had never before been practised in China. "Several of these miserable beings, chiefly Chinese soldiers, lost their courage during these tortures, but the majority remained faithful to their religion. In the sequel, the president of the criminal tribunal, having learned that, in his own house, nearly all his relations and servants were Christians, was less rigorous in his examinations, and more indulgent towards the Christians. order was issued for seizing, in the four Catholic convents in Pekin, all works relating to the Christian religion, written in Chinese or Mantchoo, as well as the blocks which served for printing them; but the priests succeeded in saving the greater part. An Thus the distrustful character of the Chinese, and the indiscreet zeal of the Jesuits, in sending the map and the young Chinese to the pope, were the principal causes of the persecution against the Roman Catholic Christians; for otherwise the Chinese government is, in many respects, distinguished for its great toleration." This observation of the author, as to Chinese toleration, is supported by the following pas sage "March 20th. The Chinese Christian, Pierre Bourjoie, told me that the procurator-general of one of the southern provinces has sent a report to the emperor, respecting several Chinese, who had been condemned for having embraced the Christian religion. The emperor asked in what their crime consisted. The mandarin replied that they had abandoned the faith of their ancestors, to follow foreign doctrine. The emperor, finding nothing in this action which could disturb the tranquillity of the empire, ordered them to be sent home at the expense of the government. "All religions are tolerated in China. The policy of the Mantchoo conrt has adopted the |