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Life of Thomas Eddy

SW_WH1793_Page_178

to which I bestowed much attention at the outset,but, instead of being seconded, I found myself coun-teracted in all my anxious cares to introduce a sys-tem of useful and productive labour, and I lament tosay, that, in addition to fourscore thousand poundslaid out in the buildings, it costs the county nearly4000l. sterling a year, to maintain the prisoners.—Contemplating the difficulties and the consequentfailure of most of the plans founded on Mr. Howard'sideas, and considering the obstructions which areopposed to evils, in their nature so gigantic, I havebeen induced to give a decided preference to Mr.Bentham's plan, as briefly explained in my treatiseon the police, (6th edition) where he proposes toenter into a contract for the labour of convicts, andto become responsible for the reformation of theirmanners and vices.—When I return to London, I willprocure from that gentleman a copy of the detail ofhis plan and will have great pleasure in transmit-ting it to you, with such other publications as applyto the subject of Penitentiary Houses. I will also send,if I can possibly procure it, a copy of a report of theCommittee of the House of Commons.—The wholeof the reports have been reprinted in four volumes,among which twenty-eight treats of Police. Theyare all extremely interesting, and, I think, you willbe desirous that they should have a place in yourlibrary; when I have the pleasure of seeing Mr.Wilkes, I will consult with him how far I should goin this respect. The first edition of the police of London may be considered as only an imperfect sketch.It is in the sixth-edition of that work that you willfind those interesting topics discussed, to which yourattention is at present so laudably directed. The last report of your committee is extremelyinteresting, and you press upon the attention of thelegislature, with great propriety, the evils arisingfrom the excessive multiplication of spirit houses, andpublic houses. Nothing tends so much to the corrup-