ct upon their minds. When I have sometimes gone and said it was my
intention to read, they would flock up-stairs after me, as if it were a
great pleasure I had to afford them."

"You have confined yourself to reading the Scriptures, and pointing out
generally the moral lessons that might be derived from them?"

"Yes, generally so."

"Without inculcating any particular doctrine?"

"Nothing but the general Scripture doctrine; in short, they are not
capable of receiving any other."

"Nothing but the morals of the Scripture,--the duties towards God and
man?"

"That is all; we are very particular in endeavoring to keep close to
that. We consider, from the situation we fill, as it respects the
public, as well as the poor creatures themselves, that it would be
highly indecorous to press any particular doctrine of any kind, anything
beyond the fundamental doctrines of Scripture. We have had considerable
satisfaction in observing, not only the improved state of the women in
the prison, but we understand from the governor and clergyman at the
penitentiary, that those who have been under our care are very different
from those who come from other prisons. We also may state that when they
left Newgate to go to Botany Bay, such a thing was never known in the
prison before as the quietness and order with which they left it;
instead of tearing down everything, and burning it, it was impossible to
leave it more peaceably. And as a proof that their moral and religious
instruction have had some effect upon their minds, when those poor
creatures were going to Botany Bay, the little fund we allowed them to
collect for themselves, in a small box under our care, they entreated
might all be given to those that were going, those who remained saying
that they wished to give up their little share of the profit to the
others."

"Do you know anything of the room and accommodation for the women in
1815?"

"I do not; I did not visit it in that year."

"What was it in 1817?"

"Not nearly room enough. If we had room enough to class them, I think a
very great deal more might be accomplished. We labor very much in the
day, and we see the fruit of our labor: but if we could separate them in
the night, I do think that we could not calculate upon the effect which
would be produced."

"At present, those convicted for all offenses pass the day together?"

"Very much so; very much intermixed, old and young, hardened offenders
with those who hav