e committed only a minor crime, or the first crime;
the very lowest of women with respectable married women and
maid-servants. It is more injurious than can be described, in its
effects and in its consequences. One little instance to prove how
beneficial it is to take care of the prisoners, is afforded by the case
of a poor woman, for whom we have obtained pardon (Lord Sidmouth having
been very kind to us whenever we have applied for the mitigation of
punishment since our committee has been formed). We taught her to knit
in the prison; she is now living respectably out of it, and in part
gains her livelihood by knitting. We generally endeavor to provide for
them in degree when they go out. One poor woman to whom we lent money,
comes every week to my house, and pays two shillings, as honestly and as
punctually as we could desire. We give part, and lend part, to accustom
them to habits of punctuality and honesty."
"Is that woman still in Newgate, whose husband was executed, and she
herself condemned to death, having eight children?"
"She is."
"Has not her character been very materially changed since she has been
under your care?"
"I heard her state to a gentleman going through the other day, that it
had been a very great blessing to her at Newgate, and I think there has
been a very great change in her. Her case is now before Lord Sidmouth,
but we could hardly ask for her immediate liberation."
"What reward, or hope of reward, do you hold out?"
"Rewards form one part of our plan. They not only have the earning of
their work, but we endeavor to stimulate them by a system of marks. We
divide our women into classes, with a monitor over every class, and our
matron at the head. It is the duty of every monitor to take up to the
matron every night an account of the conduct of her class, which is set
down; and if they have a certain number of what we call good marks at
the end of any fixed period, they have for rewards such prizes as we
think proper to give them--generally small articles of clothing, or
Bibles and Testaments."
"Be so good as to state, as nearly as you can, what proportion of the
women, without your assistance, would be in a state of extreme want?"
"It is difficult to say; but I think we average the number of eighty
tried women. Perhaps out of that number twenty may live very well,
twenty very badly, and the others are supported by their friends in some
degree. When I say twenty who live very well,
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