by the Agent. They are herewith sent, marked numbers 7 to 18 inclusive. And by the terms of the same section we are required to furnish a list of all contracts entered into, by which the convicts are employed, setting forth the portion of the same that may have been finished during the year, &c. It would appear by the phraseology of this part of that section, that its application was not meant for this prison; for, to require us to state what portion of the contracts have been finished during the year, is not requiring a statement of any thing that takes place in this prison. The contracts made for the labor of convicts at this prison are for a daily compensation, for a specified period of time; or for payment of a stipu lated sum for the manufacture of each article made, and for a specified period of time. As it respects the sums of money received upon the contracts for labor, they are contained in the monthly returns herewith sent, numbers marked 7 to 18 inclusive.

All which is respectfully submitted.

HORACE HILLS,

JOHN PORTER,
E. WILLIAMS,

HERVEY HINMAN,

BRADLEY TUTTLE,

Inspectors.

DOCUMENTS.

REPORT

Of the Physician of the State Prison, for the year

1832.

To the Inspectors of the State Prison, Auburn.

GENTLEMEN, In presenting to the Board the health of the convicts for the year ending December 31st, 1832, it is worthy of observation, that, (notwithstanding the threatening aspect during the summer,) the average of sick confined to the hospital during the year does not vary materially from former seasons: The character of the disease was, however, essentially changed during the summer months.

Early in the month of July, there was an uncommon tendency to the derangement of the stomach and bowels. In some there was obstinate constipation of the bowels; in others too great looseness, and several cases of cholera morbus occurred; but without any thing stirikingly peculiar in the attack, progress or termination. This condition of the system did not exist long, before there seemed an universal predisposition to watery diarrhoea with whiteness of the tongue, but very little disturbance in the circulation. About the 10th of August, disease assumed a distinctiveness of character, differing essentially from any thing in the form of disease that had at any time come under my observation. The pale face and shrunken features, cool and clammy skin, a peculiar whiteness of the tongue, the shrivelled skin over the ends of the fingers and toes, tenderness over the abdominal region, and at the pit of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, &c. too plainly indicated the character of the disease with which we had to contend. Its identity with the fatal epidemic which has spread consternation and desolation over the fairest portions of the civilized world, could not be mistaken even by the common observer who had read the characteristic symptoms of that disease.

In escaping the fatality which has marked this pestilence in its progress in nearly every place where it has appeared, I consider we owe much to the vigilance of the prison officers; the increased attention to cleanliness and ventilation; the uniform, regular and accustomed diet; the immediate report to the hospital of such as were even slightly indisposed, afforded advantages in contracting the disease, which could scarcely have been enjoyed in private [Assem. No. 20.]

2

practice. The delay of a few hours might, and unquestionably would, have rendered in many cases, the application of means entirely unavailing.

In the greatly increased responsibilities of my situation during that period, I feel under great obligations to the Board of Inspectors, for the promptness with which every facility was placed at my disposal, that could aid me in my professional duties.

The average number of hospital cases per day for each month, is as follows:

November,

December,

...

54

12

9

7

7

4

6

6

7

10

7

The whole that received prescription, embracing those discharged with those retained in the hospital, would average for the year, about 2 per cent a day.

The months of July, August, and September, show a higher number on the sick list than any other months, and a diminished number of cases confined to the hospital.

The average per day that received prescription during the above months is as follows:

July....
August,

September,.

19

21

20

Report of the Chaplain.

To the Inspectors of the State Prison, Auburn.

GENTLEMEN,

Though it is not required of the resident chaplain of the prison, by any formal resolution of your Board, to make an annual report, it seems obviously proper, as he holds his relation to the institution by your appointment, and under the patronage of the State, that he should from time to time give some account of the nature and results of his labors. It is under this impression that I present to the Board the following remarks and statements relating to the interesting and important department which is confided to my care.

To enable the Board to form an adequate estimate of the need and utility of labor in this department, it would be requisite to give a full and particular view of the character, habits, and propensities of the convicts, previous to their conviction, and to show the tendency and actual effects of moral culture upon their feelings and conduct while under instruction, and after they leave the prison. I need not say that this is, to a great extent, entirely impracticable. Some prominent and striking facts may be presented; but it must be obvious that, in the main, I can speak only in general terms, and merely give my own conclusions, without going into a detail of the facts from which those conclusions are drawn.

The fact, which, of all others, is the most striking to a person conversant with the religious history of convicts, is that of their great and general ignorance of the Bible-and consequently of the nature of the relations which they sustain to God and to their fellow-men, and of the obligations which arise out of those relations. Without mentioning particular instances of this ignorance, which would scarcely be credited, it is sufficient to remark, that many, upon being questioned, have betrayed thesr inability to name any one of the books or parts of which the Bible is composed; and expressions of surprise at finding it to be such a book as it is, are so common as to be very remarkable. The following extract from the account which one gave of himself a few days since at the time of his discharge, is but the history of the former character and feelings of a large portion of the men who are brought to this prison. It is the substance of his answer to a question respecting his education, and in nearly his own words: "Says he has got all his religious instruction in this prison-never took a Bible into his hand before-had none at home-despised it-for some time after he came here, used to put his Bible out of sight when he went into his cell-could not bear to see it-got his dislike of it among his old associates, who were always ridiculing it and those who believed in it-hated the sight of a christian, and thought a minister as bad as the devil-whenever they talked to him, he used to swear at them-was the means of leading his young brother (convicted with him at the age of 15,) in the same way. Says he shall always be thankful that he was brought to this prison."