_ Woodman, surrounded by her
four children, and only waiting the birth of another, which she
hourly expects, to pay the forfeit of her life, as her husband has
done for the same crime a short time before.

Such various, such acute, and such new feelings passed through my
mind that I could hardly support the reflection that what I saw was
only to be compared to an atom in the abyss of vice, and
consequently misery, of this vast metropolis. The hope of doing the
least lasting good seemed to vanish, and to leave me in fearful
apathy. The prisoners left the room in order. Each monitor took
charge of the work in her class on retiring. We proceeded to other
wards, some containing forgers, coiners, and thieves; and almost
all these vices were engrafted on the most deplorable root of
sinful dissipation. Many of the women are married; their families
are in some instances permitted to be with them, if very young;
their husbands, the partners of their crimes, are often found to be
on the men's side of the prison, or on their way to Botany Bay....

They appear to be aware of the true value of character, to know
what is right, and to forsake it in action. Finding these feelings
yet alive, if properly purified and directed it may become a
foundation on which a degree of reformation can be built. Thus they
conduct themselves more calmly and decently to each other, they are
more orderly and quiet, refrain from bad language, chew tobacco
more cautiously, surrender the use of the fireplace, permit doors
and windows to be opened and shut to air or warm the prison,
reprove their children with less violence, borrow and lend useful
articles to each other kindly, put on their attire with modesty,
and abstain from slanderous and reproachful words.

None among them was so shocking as an old woman, a clipper of the
coin of the realm, whose daughter was by her side, with her infant
in her arms, which infant had been born in Bridewell; the
grandfather was already transported with several branches of his
family, as being coiners. The old woman's face was full of
depravity. We next crossed the airing-yard, where many persons were
industriously engaged at slop-work, for which they are paid, and
after receiving what they require, the rest is kept for them by the
Committee,