n the trench, and when its roof was covered, the plumber moulded
dollars from lead, the property of government.]

[Footnote 206: This child, when asked his age by the superintendent,
answered, "I was so young when I was born, that I cannot tell."]

[Footnote 207: _Spectator_, Sept. 21, 1833.]

[Footnote 208: "I do not know how it was, but we always considered
robbing an orchard an honorable exploit. I remember once being carried
before a magistrate: there were three of us. The magistrate acted upon
what, I think, was rather curious law: he fined our fathers each 30s.
for our offence. We were very good boys, indeed. I believe, we never did
anything worse than a robbery."--_Lord Eldon; Life, by Horace Twiss._]

[Footnote 209: _Prison Discipline Society's Report_, 1827.]

SECTION XVII.

The views of the ministers respecting the severity of punishment,
rendered the discipline more stern.[210] The subordinate agents of
government received instructions to enforce an amount of labor from the
prisoners employed upon the roads, which was measured without much
regard to their previous habits, dexterity, or strength.

Nottman, to whose management several gangs were committed, was a person
of unflinching temper--rigorous and fearless. Once, when assailed upon
the road, he clenched the robber by the throat, until he expired. He
found a pleasure in hastening the operations entrusted to his oversight,
and neglect of work was an offence which was never pardoned. It did not
unfrequently happen, that a tailor, or other sedentary craftsman, was
sentenced to the roads; but in breaking stones, there is an art, and
while the dexterous could make every blow effective, the utmost toil of
the novice left a deficiency in the task. To admit excuse, would have
disturbed the calculations of labor, and the defaulter was delivered at
once to the flogger; often, too, the implements, injured by use,
rendered the fracture of stones more difficult: the issue of rations
weekly, tempted the improvident to consume their food, so that the last
days of the week were spent in exhaustion and hunger.[211] The slightest
symptoms of insubordination were promptly visited; and in one party,
3,300 lashes were administered in one morning.

The overseers copied the rigour of their superiors, without their
discrimination or sense of justice. It was not uncommon, though
forbidden, for these men to strike down the prisoners who displeased
them. Such violations