For

1804.

A

S the fturdieft oak of the foreft germinated from a final acorn; as the most impetuous and ample rivers fpring from almost imperceptible fources; fo the greatest atrocities of the moit obdurate man may be traced to trivial inftances of mifconduct, or venal examples of vice, at first fcarcely noticed; and perhaps not cognizable to legal juftice, or liable to the falutary reftraints and punith- ments in which it ought ever to be exercised.

The feeds of future vices are often fown in very early life; they ripen by example, and mature by age. Hence it is of the greatest importance to the community that the roots of these noxious plants be early removed; that the bad propenfities of unguarded youth be corrected, before they are exemplified by practice, and become familiar by repetition.

The moft ufual fources of early depravity may be afcribed to the want of a decent education, and its concomitant, idlenefs. Education is to the mind what eyes are to the body; it expands intellect, and ftrengthens reafon; and, while it enables the poffeffor to apply his powers to the emoluments of induftry, it prevents idleness, and fortifies refolution to withstand vice.

In reflecting upon this pleafing fource of future happiness, the man of feeling and piety contemplates, with high gratification, the increafing establishments of Sunday and

other fchools, for the benefit of the rifing generation, by which not only useful inftruction is gratuitoufly conferred, but ability to read the Bible and other books of inftruction is afforded. The candle which before laid dormant and useleis is lighted, and rendered capable of illuminating others; and the future, it may be prefumed, will exceed the preceding generations, as the means of improvement will be extended.

But the tender plant, however promifing, requires renewed attention; left idlenets, like a canker, impede its growth; and vice, like a bleak wind, wither its bloffoms, and ingraft buds capable of bearing only noxious fruit.

In each parish, this fuperintending care fhould be conftantly exercifed, and, by promoting Virtue and Induftry, the poor rates, and other expences, would be leffened, if not prevented, and the community in general enriched. Contraft the practice which pervades almost every parith inftead of early affifting the forlorn inhabitant, who, by a little aid, opportunely applied, might have extricated hinfeif and offspring from impending diftrefs and ruin; his application for relief is treated with the angry rebuff, "You muft go to the Workhoufe." And thus, by denying temporary aid and good counfel, the whole family become a permanent expence; their fpirits are broken, the pride and energies of independence are deftroyed, and immured with others once like themfelves-virtuous, but poor, they acquire, like their new affociates, habits of idleness and vice; the pa

rent

rent neglects himself and his children; if they had acquired a little learning, it is foon forgotten; for idleness, while it engenders noxious weeds, fmothers falutary ones. The poor are often farmed out and fed by contract, and fome of them prefer begging, or even a Bridewell, to the redrictions of a Workhoufe; and the contractor, by permitting it, is thus exonerated from the expence of maintenance, whilft the mendicant can fupport himself by exciting the charity of the humane, and raifing a premium on the industry of others. If thefe means of fubfiftence prove defective, the tranfition to thieving is eafy; and the gradation from a Bridewell or a workhoufe is a prifon; and the step from this is the gallows, which might have been prevented by the extenfion of early fuccour, and trifling expenditure.

Thus has reafoned the benevolent NEILD, from long experience of the fad effects of Bridewells, Workhoufes, and Houfes of Correction, rendered nurferies of Vice, by their improvident management; where Idlenefs finds an afylum; where Induftry meets with no encouragement; where a Clergyman is unknown, and Religion is banified; for here, the truths of the Gofpel are never conveyed!

JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM.

My Dear Sir, Oct. 23, 1801. By the fcrap inclofed in my laft you will fee it was my intention of writing to you on my return from vifiting the gaols of Surrey and Suffex. Circumftances happened which prevented my finifhing what I had begun. The plan I fet out upon in Auguft lait was, to vifit the county and town gaols; accordingly I went to Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordthire, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonthire, Cambridgethire, Surry, Suffex, and Kent; but, till I came to Maidftone, never thought of vifiting the Bridewells. That they are the very finks of Vice and Profligacy, and

a never-failing fource to fupply our gaols, will, I think, be evident from the following defcription.

MAIDSTONE BRIDEWELL. John Down, keeper; falary 50l.; prifoners 32; allowance five half quartern loaves per week each. Surgeon as in the town gaol. No chaplain, or divine fervice ever performed. Court-yard 18 yards by 14 yards.

The young beginner and the old offender promifcuoutly mixed; a few employed in the hemp and flax manufactory, but they have no part of what they

earn.

Two boys fpinning twine, the one in irons, the other not; upon afking the reason, the keeper informed me, the former was but lately fent there; that he made it a rule to put every new-comer into irons, and if he behaved well for fome time to take them off.

In this fituation I faw nine or ten all heavily fettered, fome of them extremely fo. It is a pity that there are no printed rules and orders for its government; no periodical reports of its conduct; no vifiting Committee to controul its management.

Difcharged pennilefs, almoft famifhed, half (fcarcely half) cloathed, the miferable objects become midnight depredators; hence (from the Bridewells) will our county gools be replete with felons, and the fcaffolds of execution groan with the accumulated weight of thefe wretched malefactors-doubly wretched, from their fufferings and their crimes!

Impelled by chance, or curiofity, in my first vifit of the Bridewells; I am now prompted to the purfuit by the mifèries of the fufferers, and by ftriking at their fource attempt the relief of the miferable.

From the converfations I have had with many, in the prefence of the gaoler, fparks of good intentions have been plainly indicated; the acknowledged regular and correct behaviour in many has con