Under the influence of ardent spirits at the time of commit

Had been gamblers,

Had attended Sabbath school previous to conviction,
Had been habitual daily readers of the Bible,..
Had committed the Decalogue to memory,
Had been strict observers of the Sabbath,.
Lost or left parents before 21 years of age,

แ

17

....

...

153

121

77

Report of the Physician and Surgeon.

To the Inspectors of the Auburn State Prison:

Gentlemen-There has been ten deaths since my last annual report; nine of them were under medical treatment, and one died of apoplexy in his cell, without any previous complaint. The annexed table exhibits the names of the deceased, and the time when they were received into prison: Eaton and Butler were in prison the second time, and Baron the third,

Daily average, per month, of the number of convicts who have received medical assistance.

Extract from the letters of G. Gay, S. Blydenburgh, and A. Spencer.

Extract from Mr. G. Gay's letter, dated August 27, 1835.

"I can put up for you two of my new patent reeling machines, to reel any number of fibres, from one to the highest requisite number, and instruct, or cause to be instructed, help to perform the labor; two looms for weaving, with 84 spindles, and all the necessary machinery to keep them in operation from the reeled or raw silk, and instruct a set of help to manufacture a material like the enclosed samples; I can also furnish a superintendent. The cost of the whole machinery, and introduction of help, will be $12,500."

Copy of Mr. S. Blydenburgh's communication.

Sir-As you did me the honor to call on me, respecting the application made to you for information on the subject of introducing the manufacture of silk into the State Prisons, respectful duty to you, as well as the interest I feel in any question which may affect the public good, requires that I should communicate any ideas I may possess respecting it, although I have not the vanity to suppose myself capable of throwing any light upon a subject, which has already occupied the attention of much wiser heads.

As respects the great excitement about State Prison monopolies, my feelings have never been enlisted on either side. I have ever been in favor of substituting, even in all cases, corporeal restraint instead of corporeal punishment, and I should certainly think it bad policy, to maintain healthy and atlethic men in idleness, because they have committed crimes. There is no way in which I can be injured or much benefitted in the kind of employment they pursue; therefore I can have no interest for nor against employing the convicts in the manufacture of silk. As an individual of the State, I should wish to see them employed in whatever way their labor will turn to the best account. I feel an ardent desire to promote the manufacture of silk in this country, and if they can be employed in it to advantage, I would certainly do any thing in my power to aid in effecting it.

I have thought much on the subject before, but more especially since you called on me; and the following facts force themselves irresistibly on my mind.

In cultivating the mulberry trees, which is the first step in the business, I should suppose, though I am well aware of my ignorance, that the labor would be incompatible with the degree of restraint the convicts are necessarily under.

The next operation, the hatching and feeding the worms, is of short duration, the whole occupying only about six weeks in the year; and as it can as well be done by women and children, I should think it could not be profitable business for men.

The reeling of silk is still more appropriately the business of females; as it requires the most lively and quick perception, joined with the most nimble action, and the softest and most delicate