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  NEW SERIES.]                                [NO. 1.

  THE JOURNAL
  OF
  PRISON DISCIPLINE
  AND
  PHILANTHROPY.

  PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
  UNDER THE DIRECTION OF “THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR
  ALLEVIATING THE MISERIES OF PUBLIC PRISONS,”
  INSTITUTED 1787.

  JANUARY, 1862.

  PHILADELPHIA:
  HENRY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER,
  NOS. 1102 AND 1104 SANSOM STREET.
  1862.




  NEW SERIES.                                  NO. 1.

  THE JOURNAL
  OF
  PRISON DISCIPLINE
  AND
  PHILANTHROPY.

  PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
  UNDER THE DIRECTION OF “THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR
  ALLEVIATING THE MISERIES OF PUBLIC PRISONS,”
  INSTITUTED 1787.

  JANUARY, 1862.

  PHILADELPHIA:
  HENRY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER,
  NOS. 1102 AND 1104 SANSOM STREET.
  1862.




TO THE READER.


This being the first number of the new series of “THE JOURNAL OF
PRISON DISCIPLINE AND PHILANTHROPY,” some reference to the action of
the Society in relation to the change from a “Quarterly” to an
“Annual” may be looked for here. We may, therefore, just say, that the
ground upon which the change was proposed, and the manner in which it
finally resulted, will be found to be fully set forth in the latter
part of the “Report,” which is the first and principal article in the
present number. This Report occupies so much space, that the
“Editorial Board” have not deemed it expedient to include in the
present issue much additional matter.




REPORT.


The Editorial Board, in the discharge of the duties assigned them,
have prepared the following “Annual Report,” which they beg leave to
present to the Society for its adoption:

_Introduction._—This being the first time that an Annual Report has
become a part of the regular proceedings of “The Philadelphia Society
for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons,” it seems a fitting
occasion to take a wider range than is generally done in the
preparation of such papers; and especially does it seem proper to
bring into view the origin of the Society—the motives which prompted
its organization, and some of the labors in which it has been engaged
since its establishment, with the fruit of those labors. It will be
seen that being but little known in the community, is not because it
has been without vitality during its existence of nearly three-fourths
of a century, but because it has steadily pursued its benevolent
course, quietly and unostentatiously, not proclaiming its doings, or
coming out before the public, excepting at such times as the
accomplishment of some object of special importance required it.

Before proceeding in the narration, it is proper to mention, that the
examination into the history of the Society during its earlier period,
has been facilitated by referring to a pamphlet which it published
about three years since, containing a sketch of its principal
transactions from its origin to that time.

_Origin and Organisation._—It appears that on the 2d day of February,
1776, a Society of a kindred character was organized in this city,
under the name of “The Philadelphia Society for Assisting Distressed
Prisoners,” which, though not identical with ours, was imbued with a
good measure of the same spirit, and may be fairly viewed as a
forerunner. It embraced among its members some of the most prominent
citizens of that day, and immediately commenced to carry out its
benevolent purposes, and extended relief to many prisoners; but in
September of the following year, the British army entered the city and
took possession of the jail, which caused a dissolution of the
Society, after an existence of nineteen months. The troubles resulting
from the Revolutionary War, prevented any further organized action in
the same direction for a number of years. But finally peace having
been restored, and public attention having been again called to the
condition of prisoners, and to the many abuses which existed, not only
in the manner of administering the penal laws, but also from a want of
proper statutory enactments—a number of benevolent citizens assembled
on the 8th day of May, 1787, and agreed to form themselves into an
Association to be called “The Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the
Miseries of Public Prisons.” This meeting was attended by twenty-five
persons, and was composed of men eminent in the community for their
general position, and their enlarged Christian benevolence; and, with
those who came into the arrangement immediately afterwards as original
members, embraced several who, through a continued career of virtue
and usefulness, attained to a good old age before they were gathered
to their fathers, and were consequently personally known to, and their
memory is pleasantly cherished by, many of those still active in the
Society; and it may be said, as regards their example, that, “though
dead, they yet speak.” A few of those who were longest spared to
continue their useful services to their fellow men, were William
White, (Bishop) Thomas Wistar, Zachariah Poulson, Dr. Benjamin Rush,
Thomas Harrison, Dr. Samuel Powell Griffitts, Isaac Parrish, William
Rogers, Jacob Shoemaker, Thomas Rogers, Tench Coxe, Charles Marshall,
and Joseph James.

The reasons which prompted the organization, and the basis of the
action contemplated, can hardly be better set forth than by here
introducing the simple, but eloquent preamble to the Constitution:—“When
we consider that the obligations of benevolence, which are founded on
