other, as every one begins to tell something in revenge of another, on the moment of my appearance. No possible pains can succeed to prevent these evils, whilst they remain together unemployed.

Feb. 6.-The young boys in the Bridewell with the other prisoners, and J., P., and B. by themselves, in the new gaol-yard and day-room, are alike pleased with making patch-work. Of it they do not tire, but are every day asking for more pieces to sew together than I judge it well to give, for were it ceased to be made a favour of, they might no longer care for the employment; yet they value the thing because it tends to secure order and quietness, as well as because it teaches them to sew, so that they may be able to mend their clothes and make some. It is just as evident, these boys need some occupation here of another character, and of a less amusing nature, namely, peremptory, engaged, fixed hours of labour. The greater number of these boys are better fed than when out of prison; the cleanliness they are obliged to observe, and regular hours for sleep, if they are annoying at first, soon promote comfort; so that in the absence of occupation of a deterring kind, these boys may well be always full of spirits, just like school-boys on a playground. Surely the absence of such an advantage as I have alluded to, is as strongly evident as for men.

Feb. 21. The boy B. is making patch-work for a quilt to cover a poor child, and when I was giving pieces to him and to H. P., W., a man, told me, the more work I gave them to do the

quieter they are, and then there was plenty of time to learn their lessons: the other men joined in the observation. Gladly, indeed, would I supply them with more; but, whilst it would be impossible to succeed as I do, otherwise than by making a favour of it, and giving them barely the number of pieces they ask for, to depart from this course would only be followed by their doing less, and that not well.

The Liberated Prisoners' Book gives the following detail:

T. E. was convicted for felony, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. He was entirely taught in the prison; he laboured much with inferior capacity, until he was able to read easy lessons from the Testament. I saw him on the quay two days ago, laden with large open salt fish: he had then finished fishing for the season. He informed me he went off fishing the day after his discharge, which was the reason he had not called to speak to me. This morning he came with a new hat on, new blue slop, yellow silk handkerchief, and quite smart. I said, "You have been to the public-house." replied, "but not to drink; we have had our making-up dinner; the owners pay for it; I only took a little ale; I was forced to it." I said, "Ale is poison with you; I wish you would spare a little money for the savings'-bank." He replied, "I can't, for I bought my mother a gown and a pair of shoes; my sister a new gown and a hat; and my sister's child a new frock, for they are so poor; and I bought myself two such beautiful books; they cost 2s." "How foolish! why

"Yes," he

not let me buy them for you; what are they about?" "I don't know; may I bring them and show you? and may I write you some copies on paper, to make you a present of, because you taught me?" I told him to bring the books, as I wished to see him again. His kind feeling towards his mother is right. The public-house was his ruin at first, and, with his want of firmness, much is to be feared.

Dec. 29.-R. H. called upon me this morning, I like the behaviour of the boy, he now wishes to go to sea. His parents seem to be steady, honest people; they placed the boy as an apprentice to a rope-maker, he seemed fit for the business, but he would not settle to work: his parents found it impossible to keep him at home in the night, he would get out some way, and spend the time with others of the same habits.

Jan. 3.—I have provided R. H. with a pair of scales from the Liberated Prisoners' Fund, which cost 2s. 6d., also with a pound and a half-pound weight which cost 10d., and a basket which cost 1s., to sell sprats; I went also to a fish merchant's, and paid for a stone of red sprats for him.

Jan. 5.-R. H. called to inform me of his success; he saved 9d. by the first stone; he then bought a half-stone of sprats which he sold, and gave his mother the money. I shall see his mother soon, although I believe the boy is going on rightly.

Jan. 10.-R. H. has obtained work at a twinespinner's, and is to have 2d. a skein the first week, and 24d. the next: at this season he is to

sell sprats, being prevented from working by the weather.

Feb. 3.-This evening R. H. called to speak to me; he has obtained regular employment in a rope-maker's yard. I allowed him to read a fellow prisoner's letter I had that day received: having done so he said, "It is a nice letter, I wish he could get some work; when people come out of that place 'tis a hard matter; thank God I have got work. L. and I made vows together that we would never do what was bad after we got out of prison, as we had done before."

Feb. 7.—R. H. is conducting himself so much to my satisfaction, that I desired him to bring the duplicate of a jacket and waistcoat which had been pawned, and went myself with him to P.'s to get them out, for which I paid 4s. 24d.; being aware that he stood in great need of them, without the means of procuring them for himself.

March 22.-W. R. was discharged, after being six months in gaol. He called upon me directly, expressed his determination to follow an honest course; and whatever his difficulties might be, not to do wrong with the view of removing them. He has been convicted before, knows no trade, and although he has a home with his father, he is destitute of means of support. His father earned his living by making and selling peppermint balls. I ordered him a threepenny loaf a-day for seven days, whilst seeking work.

March 26.-W. R. came to inform me that he had entered on board a man-of-war, as there seemed no prospect of his getting work, it

appeared the only opening to obtain an honest living. He said he felt more happy in his mind than he had done for years.

April 12.-W. R., after entering the navy and leaving Yarmouth, has been returned home with fourteen others, as more had been received than were wanted, except regular seamen, which is a sad disappointment. I have been to the house; there are three sons without the knowledge of any trade, who have no work. One young man sat, with an expression of grief, who was prevented even from going out to seek work, because he was entirely without shoes. I have determined, after much consideration, to venture on the payment of half the price of a half barrel of herrings, and send W. R. into the country to sell them.

April 13.-W. R. has made inquiry where he could best get the herrings, and the cheapest likely to answer are 9s. 6d. the half barrel. I went with him to the fish office, (M. B.'s,) and if his father can either borrow money, or get credit for the other half, he shall start in the morning to sell them in the villages. The business was managed about the herrings: I paid Mr. B. 4s. 9d., being my half part. W. R., accompanied by the brother whose shoes were scarcely sufficient, went out on Thursday morning: they returned to-day, and he has this moment been to tell me, that after having paid expenses, they had 3s. to spare.

May 23.-T. B. is fifteen years of age; has been in prison once before as a refractory pauper. He was tried for stealing coals, and acquitted. His sister gives him shelter: he has been selling