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attention. This is, indemnity to the community for the expense of the conviction and maintenance of the offender. It is highly probable, that with due management and economy, the profit of the labour of the convicts may be rendered equal to their support. Such a result, however, has not been anticipated by the zealous friends of reform in penal law in Europe. They have regarded it as the indispensable duty of legislators, to meliorate the laws, and correct the abuses of prisons, without counting the cost of their justice or humanity. In Pennsylvania, we are assu-red, that the experiment has been attended with success;—and when the improved system of the penitentiary house of this state has had time to operate fully, there can be no doubt of a result equally favourable. It ought to have fair scope, and not to be thwarted in its infancy, by distrust, or the selfish views of individuals or particular classes of men. A wise legislature will extend its concern to the whole community, and, regardless of private interests, stea-dily pursue a plan the best calculated to promote the general good. In the first establishment of the prison, the inspectors have had to encounter all the difficulties of a new experiment, with the disadvantage of imperfect knowledge in many branches of manufacture. A system was to be formed, by which above two hun-dred convicts, many of them hardened, desperate, and refractory, and many ignorant, or incapacitated through infirmity or disease, might be brought into a regular course of productive labour. To find suitable employment for so many persons, was a matter of considerable difficulty. In the choice of occupations, regard must be had to those which require the least capital, are most productive of profit, and most con-sistent with the health of the convicts, and the general security of the prison. Among the different kinds of manufactures, that of shoes was first introduced, and has been fouud the most convenient and profita-