who have a receipt-book, where their earning and their
expenditure may be seen at any time, by the day or week. On
entering the untried wards we found the women very different from
those we had just left. They were quarrelling and very disorderly,
neither knowing their future fate, nor anything like subordination
among one another. It resembles the state of the women on the tried
side before the formation of the Visitors' Association. Not a hand
was employed, except in mischief. One bold creature was ushered in
for committing highway robbery. Many convicts were arriving, just
remanded from the Sessions House, and their dark associates
received them with applause--such is the unhallowed friendship of
sin. We left this revolting scene and proceeded to the school-room,
situated on the untried side of the prison for want of room on the
tried. The quiet decency of this apartment was quite a relief, for
about twenty young women arose on our entrance, and stood with
their eyes cast on the ground.

Another extract from the diary of this lady will be found to describe,
in graphic terms, the visit to the prison recorded in the Corporation
minutes. As one reads the simple and truth-like story, the scene rises
before the mind's eye:--the party of gentlemen upon their semi-official
visit; the awe-stricken prisoners, scarcely comprehending whether this
visit boded ill or well to them; and the little company of quiet, godly,
unfashionable Quaker ladies, who were thus "laying hands" upon the lost
of their sex, in order to reclaim them. Such a picture might well be
transferred to canvas.

Rose early and visited Newgate, where most of the Committee met to
receive the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, several Aldermen, and some of
the Jail Committee. Even the irritable state of city politics does
not interfere with this attempt at improvement. The women were
assembled as usual, looking particularly clean, and Elizabeth Fry
had commenced reading a Psalm, when the whole of this party entered
this already crowded room. Her reading was thus interrupted for a
short time. She looked calmly on the approaching gentlemen, who,
soon perceiving the solemnity of her occupation, stood still midst
the multitude, whilst Elizabeth Fry resumed her office and the
women their quietude. In an impressive tone she told them she never