throughout the country of a variety of diseases of the most malignant character. It is true that considerable sickness has prevailed among the convicts, but it has been mostly of a nature that yielded readily to medical treatment; and it is believed that there has been less time lost from this cause than in former years. This comparatively healthy state of the convicts will cease, perhaps, to be a matter of surprise when it is stated that under the direction of this board, in conjunct¡on with the Agent, the officers having charge of the yard, shops, and prison buildings, have been untiring in their exertions to remove, or cause te be removed, every thing calculated to render the atmosphere impure and unhealthy. Lime has been used freely about the yard and buildings and great attention has been paid to cleanliness, both of the clothing of the convicts and their persons. Superadded to all this, much care has been observed in relation to the diet of the men, and whenever it was found that a particular article of food furnished with the rations, proved injurious, it was immediately changed for something calculated to restore the system to a healthy and vigo rous state.. Much credit is certainly due to the agent and his subordinate officers, and also to the physician, for their humane efforts to promote the health and welfare of the convicts. A knowledge of the religious and moral condition of the convicts, may be obtained from the chaplain's report. The library of the prison, now contains many valuable books. The sum of one hundred dollars, has been expended for books during the past year, and much pains taken to select good, substantially bound, standard works. These books are sought after with much avidity by the convicts, and it is believed that many of them are deriving substantial benefit from their perusal. The officers of the prison felt that it was due to the cause of humanity, to make a statement to the last legislature, in relation to the condition of convicts sentenced here to solitary confinement for life. These men were confined in small cells, situated in the body of the main block, badly lighted, and without any means of ventilation, except through a small iron lattice door. It was evident to all, that they were rapidly loosing, not only their physical, but mental faculties, and that thus situated, could not long survive. The result of the deliberations of that body upon the subject, was the passage of the following act, to wit: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the convicts which have been, or may be sentenced to solitary confinement in the state prison, at hard labor for life, may be released from solitary confinement, and employed as other convicts are, whenever, and for such times, as the Inspectors may by resolution direct, until such times as proper cells are prepared, to enable such sentence to be fully enforced." At the first meeting of this board held subsequent to the passage of the above act, the following resolution was adopted, to wit: Resolved, That the agent may and he is hereby authorized at his discretion to release such convicts as are now or may hereafter be sentenced to solitary confinement for life, from their cells and employ them in such manner as he may deem most safe and profitable to the State, Provided, said convicts shall in all cases comply with the rules and regulations of the Prison. Thus clothed with authority, the agent immediately directed that four of the five then in confinement, should be taken from their cells and "employed as other convicts." This favor it was not deemed either safe or prudent to extend to the other individual. Of those liberated three were placed on contracts. The other being a good mechanic was employed upon the state work. Two of those placed upon contract have conducted with the utmost propriety; laboring constantly and cheerfully for the benefit of their employers. The other one pursued the same course for some time. He finally made an attempt to escape--succeeded in scaling the walls-was fired upon by the guard-wounded and retaken. He was then remanded to his cell, and there remains in solitary confinement. It is not known that the one employed upon the Prison buildings, has been guilty of a single violation of the rules. His conduct has been most exemplary throughout. He has been entrusted with the principal charge of the framing department; has labored constantly and faithfully, and his services have been of great value to the state. These men when first taken from the cells, were so reduced and debilitated, that they could scarcely walk from the Prison to the shops, and in all human probability could not have long survived in that situation. They however rapidly improved and were soon able to perform their daily labor with ease and comfort. What course shall be adopted in relation to these men in future is a question which now arises, for it will be remembered that the act releasing them from solitary confinement extends only to such time as proper cells can be furnished. This it is thought can soon be done. Must they then, after having for a long time conducted so well and labored so faithfully, be again immured in solitary cohfinement, or will the legislature deem it wise and prudent to extend further lenity? In considering upon this subject, other questions are also presented to the mind, to wit: What effect would the latter course have upon the commission of crime, and how far would the safety of community be thereby effected? These questions we do not propose to answer, but have been thus explicit in stating facts and raising queries, for the purpose of placing the matter in a fair light before the legislature, where it properly belongs. From frequent examinations made by this board, we are satisfied that the rations furnished during the past year were composed of articles of provision, as well proportioned to conduce to the health of the convicts, as can well be obtained. The contract has therefore been let to furnish rations for the ensuing year, commencing on the first day of December, in the same proportions, for six cents and six mills per daily ration. Our monthly inspections of the prison, have tended only to convince us that every reasonable attention has been paid to the wants and comfort of the convicts, by the agent and other officers. We have uniformly found that the provisions furnished, were ample, and of good quality, and that the convicts were comfortably clad. All of which is respectfully submitted. JOSEPH B. PIERCE, BENJAMIN KNIGHT, EZRA PLATT, Inspectors of the State Prison. Statement of the several Monthly Reports of the Agent made to the Board' of Inspectors during the year ending Norember 30th, 1849. To the Inspectors of the State Prison : The following is a correct statement of moneys received and expended on account of said Prison during the month ending December 31st, 1848: Balance on hand November 30th, 1848, per Annual Report, $104 95 CASH RECEIVED THIS MONTH. State of Michigan, per Inspectors' certificate, State Prison-A. Filley, stone tube, 1,000 00 80 00 50 50 6 94 $1,192 89 CASH EXPENDED THIS MONTH. Officers and Keepers-W. Budington, salary as Clerk, Clothing and Bedding-J. H. Taylor, coat, $41 67 $6.00 Building and Repairs-C. D. Henderson, repairs on |