SW_WH1793_Page_079

ment is in so great a state of forwardness as to be nearly ready for the reception of suitable objects. It is to be denominated the House of Refuge, and youth, not exceeding sixteen or seventeen years of age, are to be committed there by the criminal courts, instead of being sent to the City Penitentiary, or State Prison, as has heretofore been the practice. At night they are to lodge in separate cells, and during the day, to be employed in some useful labour; they are to be instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. The utmost degree of cleanliness is to be strictly observed,throughout every part of the building; and in the persons of the boys, good morals and decent beha-viour, are to be rigidly maintained; the careful and frequent reading of the Holy Scriptures is to be en-forced. The trustees are empowered to bind them as apprentices, to the sea-service, to a trade, or to farmers. A similar establishment might be formed at Albany, to serve for Troy and other towns on the North River, and the state might be divided into con-venient districts, and one establishment of this nature erected in each district. A distinct and separate building should be erected on the premises attached to the state prison, for the confine-ment of adults, males and females, such as common drunkards, prostitutes, those who keep houses of ill fame, or gambling-houses, or for those guilty of small petty thefts, or vagrants. This prison should be divi-ded into cells about the size of six feet by four. A single magistrate should be vested with power tocommit persons to this prison from three to thirty days. Each prisoner should be obliged to wash his face and hands every morning. Rigid care should be taken to have each cell well ventilated, and kept perfectly clean; and this care should be extended, as far as pos-sible, to their clothes and personal appearance. He should be confined in a separate cell, and fed only on bread and water, have no work, and no bed, except a single blanket. The prisoners should be allowed