not mean thence to insinuate that their work is light: the contrary is the case. But the prisoners work hard in the early part of the day, in order to procure themselves in the afternoon an intermission from toil. Formerly, those who would not work were confined in an apartment into which water was caused to flow in such quantities, that incessant pumping was necessary to preserve the persons so shut up from drowning; and they thereby became reconciled to the less perilous and disagreeable labour of rasping wood. But this barbarous mode of obliging criminals to work has been discontinued, since an unhappy wretch, driven to desperation by his situation, permitted the water to overflow him, and was drowned. Corporal punishment, solitary confinement, and abridgement of food, are the methods which are now used to subdue the refractory; and I fear they are exercised with a rigour which never fails speedily to produce the intended effect.
The prisoners in general appeared emaciated through confinement, unwholesome
