The inspectors and the keeper of the Philadelphia pri son deny, positively, that any injurious effect has been ob served upon tho intellects of those confined in solitary cells, even for the longest period mentioned. It is to be hoped, therefore, from the facts here adduced, that ne state will be influenced to prevent a trial being made of solitary confinement, from the mere apprehension of mad ness ensuing, in a criminal suffering it. The inspectors further deny the accuracy of the statement of the writer in the North American Review, that "a week or ten days is generally sufficient to subdue the obstinate temper of a convict ;" a much longer time being often required. One woman required fifty-two days confinement in an upper re mote cell, and to increase her punishment, not a word was spoken to her during all that time. She had previously been some time confined in a lower cell, where conversa tion was practicable with an adjoining convict, and was permitted with the cell keepers, but had not become peni tent. They say further, that none are ever taken out of the cells, until completely subdued, unless the attending physician desire their removal on account of the state of their health; and it is the invariable rule to remand them to their solitary abode, whenever they are able to bear it in order to complete the time of their sentence to that punishment. The inspectors well know the constitution of the minds of criminals, and that to restore one of them to the luxury of working, and sleeping in society, before their turbulent passions are overcome, would be a victory over the discipline of the prison, and produce the most ruinous effects upon the system. Such a triumph is there fore never permitted.
The writer in the Review says, he was " assured by the inspectors of the Philadelphia and Baltimore penitentia ries, that in each of those prisons, but one instance had occurred of solitary confinement failing to subdue the cri minal. In each of these cases, after a confinement of a month, and ' when the pulse had been reduced to a cam bric thread,' the criminal was still obstinate, and they were obliged to release him to prevent his perishing un der it." The practice of the Philadelphia prison has been stated. The particular case just mentioned, is not recol lected by the present inspectors, who have been consult ed; but they have no hesitation in saying, that a repetition of the experiment would have fully succeeded. So far from the mental faculties being impaired by solitary con finement, it is a fact, that the muscular powers often apparently suffer very little diminution ; and even in cases where debility is perceptible, after the release of a crimi nal, it is only temporary. Sonic have actually acquired flesh during their confinement ; one man carried a keg of nails the length of the yard, immediately on coming out, alter a seclusion of upwards of a month. The man con fined in Providence, says he tottered when taken out, but in one month he was as strong as ever. This man was exposed to a highly debilitating cause while in his cell, viz. an almost constant stench from inattention on the part of the prison-keepers, to the removal of an obvious cause of it, but once in ten days. Mr. Robinson, though debili tated by confinement, low diet, and an illness of several weeks from a violent hxmorrhage, suffered no permanent injury in his health.
The reviewer resumes the subject in the progress of his remarks, and adopting the suggestions and sentiments of the author of the pamphlet,* at the head of his paper, says, that " it is a mistake of some theorists to plan a prison so that every man shall be in absolute seclusion. It is only desirable that the greater part of the convicts, par ticularly the more atrocious and hardened, should be thus separated. But in many cases a superintendant will find it advantageous to put two or three together, where he perceives a repentant disposition, and that they will sym pathise and confirm each other in such a course." It is a strong argument in favour of solitary confine ment, that it is warmly advocated by the most experienced among the present inspectors of Philadelphia, whose knowledge, derived from long familiarity with prison dis cipline, and management of convicts, is far removed from "theory," and is not exceeded by that of any men in this country, or in Europe. There are few—very few of those committed to the Philadelphia prison, who do not deserve the epithets which the writer affixes to those whose con signment to the cells he allows to be proper ; and as to repentance, although "a consummation devoutly to be wished," yet it is so rare an occurrence, as not to enter into the calculation of the inspectors so long as more than one are confined in a cell at a time. Several have successfully played the hypocrite, and one man "fairly prayed himself out of prison," some time before the expiration of the period for which he was sentenced ; but he returned with in the year. It is evident that the writer himself " theo rises," for he speaks of " a repentant disposition," as a possible occurrence, but mentions no instance of this communion of penitent souls, having been successfully allowed, in support of the practice he recommends. He may be assured, that any useful " sympathetic" or moral influence, or "confirmation" in a repentant disposition, derived from the company of " two or three in a cell," is wholly imaginary, and will not be experienced. The greater probability is, that the discovery of any symptoms of contrition in a convict, by another in the same cell, would end in his being laughed out of it by his companions, and in the establishment of his old habits. An equally proba ble consequence of such intercourse would he, the plan ning of future robberies, or the contriving the means of escape : of this, I shall say more presently. It must be acknowledged, that although 19 out of 20 ,now confined in Philadelphia have been before in the prison there, or in that of some other city, yet that numbers once released, have not again offended against the laws; hut it is possi ble that they would have behaved equally well, if they had never been punished; and it does not follow that any seri ous reformation has taken place in the heart of a man, merely because he has not committed a larceny or other crime, the penalty of which is confinement ; for a dislike to the prison life, and a preference to the enjoyment of domestic quiet and liberty, may be the restraining causes, and not a moral impression received during imprison ment.