. H. statutes into a corporate
body by this title, to hold its annual meeting in the city of Concord,
the second Tuesday of each June, the avowed purpose being to aid the
discharged convicts by proper advice, and help them to places of labor
without delay, where they may enjoy the needed society privileges,
guardian care, and a general influence in favor of their best success,
paying for them such small bills as may be necessary for this purpose.

The legislature of that season voted the Association three hundred
dollars, to aid it in its benevolent work, I being appointed agent for
that purpose.

10. _Complaint of prison hunger._ Late in the summer, a man, leaving
prison, complained that the prison living was not as good as that of the
past year, the rations being poorer in quality, and less in quantity;
that, at times, he had really so suffered with hunger that he could not
sleep at night. I questioned him carefully, and he appeared honest in
his statements, still, this being the first I had heard of such
complaints, I would not form an opinion from this assertion, for he
might be telling the story to injure the warden. But he gave this
account here and there in the city, so that it was circulated widely. A
lady, as she asserts, asked the prison physician if the rations had been
reduced, and he replied that they had to some extent.

The reader will understand, that while I had no right to converse with
the inmates about their food, and other like subjects, and did not while
they were there confined, yet, when they had been released and become
citizens, nothing lay in the way of my freely conversing with them on
all matters as with others.

11. _Chaplain's object in hearing from released prisoners and others._
This object was purely to learn the true working of things, and thus be
prepared to conduct myself understandingly in all my prison duties. I
had served a year under a certain system, studying with care its
workings and effects on the men, and had now entered service under one
that seemed measurably different, the operations of which, also, I ought
to comprehend. I would, therefore, listen to those who were released,
study what might come to hand in this way, from personal observation in
official intercourse, or from reading authors, and use whatever hints
were gained, to the best advantage.

But one says, "Those fellows from prison will lie." Grant that. Grant
that here are twenty of the greates