May 16. Skinner. Psalm 119, 1 verse Hymn 3 verses. General Observations. It astonishes me to observe how strictly and constantly the prisoners labour to learn their verses from the Holy Scriptures, every day. Poor old S. takes uncommon pains to remember one every day. T., who, on April 21, could only attempt one, has for some time learned five regularly, and several of Watts's Divine Songs: since yesterday, he has learned fourteen, from John xv., perfectly. It is no less gratifying and wonderful to observe the success of H., who, with a defective memory, perseveres by constant study in furnishing his mind and memory with from two to five verses daily. But I was particularly pleased with the progress of B.; and the youngest B. had learned perfectly the verse which, as he could not read it alone, I had commenced teaching him yesterday. when I returned to R. H., a dull person, who has been committed four days, he said he had been so busy mending his clothes, that he had not had time. I entered on the subject, explaining its advantages, and on his acknowledging that as an ignorant and guilty creature he was not happy, that he needed instruction, God's mercy, and to be reclaimed from a bad course, that he had better, knowing the thing to be right, give his mind to what I proposed, and not consult his inclination, but at once begin to store his mind with suitable portions from the Testament. May 17 records, "This morning R. H. repeated three verses from Matt. viii.” Some extracts from the Every Day Book will show her opinion as to the advantage of hard labour in prisons, her manner of dealing with prisoners, etc. December 29.-B., the vagrant, who was discharged on the 26th, and promised to leave the town, did not, but entered a shop and stole a pair of stockings, with the hope and intention of getting into our gaol, I have no doubt whatever. Jan. 1.-B. seems quite happy: I should judge him to be familiar with prisons. He is very well behaved to me: when I reproved him for the crime which brought him here, and charged him with committing the theft immediately on his discharge, for the purpose of coming again, he did not deny it were he separate from the rest, or at work on a tread-wheel, he might be less anxious to come. He is, I feel convinced, a dangerous companion for any less advanced in iniquity. Jan. 30.-K., knowing I reproved R. for not leaving the town, immediately after his former discharge, when I went to-day observed, that B. declared on leaving the prison yesterday, he would instantly return to his own parish, and not be found in a prison any more. P. interrupted him by saying with an angry feeling, "You must not talk of R. coming often to prison, I never come without finding you here.” It seems quite clear, that where there are no means of separation, nor any hard work, whilst also for men doing nothing, they have more to eat than many have out of prison, and, at the same time, have the society and conversation they prefer, such persons are not likely to keep long out of our gaol. A specimen of her manner of reasoning and dealing with the prisoners, may not be unacceptable. Feb. 2.-I had been accustomed to allow the prisoners, in the middle of every day, to write a copy in my absence, with the view of filling up their time. On Friday, in consequence of a note being sent over to the female prisoners' ward, the governor, to prevent the improper use of pen and ink, took both away, with their books also. Since that day, not a single prisoner has learned any lessons. On leaving after reading with them to-day, I asked why it was that all had done so ?-F. J. replied he wished to write, that would do him some good, the other would do none, so he would learn no more. I reasoned with him, but his reply was, sure it will do me no good." I turned to the Bible as a standard to convince him. "As for that," said he, "I won't believe one word of it, it is all nonsense; victuals is what I want." Yes," replied B., a poor ignorant creature, "victuals is what we want, and not to be put in here for nothing; we don't want religion, we want victuals." I then took pains to show, that religion, "I am 66 which enforced justice, industry, etc., brought plenty; and in the absence of its principles, there was want and destitution. I still referred to the Bible; it was my standard, although F. J., in rejecting it, had none. F. J. said exultingly, "I have a right to think as I like." I replied, "If such be your thoughts, you have no right, viperlike, to cast forth the poison upon other people." It was remarkable, that when he spoke the most dangerous things, the others seconded him at the beginning of the contest; not so at the end. I requested as a favour, an answer to one plain question did they still wish me to visit them, or was it their wish that I should keep away? if it were the latter, as I would never go where I was unwelcome knowingly, I would never enter the room again until they were gone. All but F. J. eagerly desired that I would still come, that they were quite sure I intended good to them, and hoped I would on no account leave them. I told them it was enough, I would visit them still. J. B. said, " Although I am bad, and have not followed them up, I am convinced that your views are right:" he acknowledged that what I taught from the Bible was true, and those who followed up such views were the best people. All agreed to this excepting F. J. and at parting I said, "If any of you think proper to learn more from the Scriptures, I shall feel happy to hear you, except F. J.; with his views I shall not hear any from him." Feb. 3.-On entering the middle-room to-day, all received me in the most respectful and grateful manner; all had learned a lesson from the Scrip tures to repeat, except F. J., and all, except him, read a verse in turn in general reading. As we read, I adverted to what had been said the day before: J. B., as spokesman, said, "What you said yesterday, madam, was satisfactory, it removed all doubts, you are in the right, you can have no motive but our good." F. J. did not speak once. One said there must be a Creator; this opened the way for carrying forward the subject; the Creator is good, his works are good; man is not good, hence the need of a Redeemer. W. and all said I certainly meant for their good, and thought I was happy in it: yes, I said, and if the surface of one's mind be disturbed for a moment, my happiness in the work is not in human power, and you can no more touch that, than you can bring the sun from the firmament. Feb. 6.-J. B., the vagrant before noticed, who committed a felony so soon after his former discharge, followed me to the gate to knock for the turnkey. He said, "I wish I had a home to go to, or a trade, but I have neither, and that is the reason I am here: I did it with the view to get out of the country:" "But," I observed, "it is bad getting out of the country under such circumstances with a determination to do right, a way may appear; I will talk with you again." Feb. 10.-J. B. followed me to the gate to speak to me in behalf of F. J., who wished I would allow him to have some conversation with me apart from the rest; also, that I would receive him again, he wished to retract all he had said against the Bible and religion. J. B. said, "F. J. thinks you were wrong in casting him off so |