Being at Ghent during the early part of this winter, I took some pains in examining the excellent prison of that city, known by the name of the Maison de Force. On my return to England, I communicated to the “Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and for the reformation of juvenile offenders,” the intelligence which was thus acquired. The members of that institution had accurately investigated the state of almost every jail in the metropolis and its vicinity. Their inquiries had led them to a decided and unanimous conviction, that the present alarming increase of crime arose more from the want of instruction, classification, regular employment, and inspection in Jails, than from any other cause, and that its prevention could only be accomplished, by an entire change in the system of prison discipline. These views were strongly confirmed by the practical illustration afforded by the Maison de Force, and this led to a request from the Committee, that the description of it might be published.

When I sat down to this task, the work insensibly grew upon my hands. It was necessary, to prove that evils and grievances did really exist in this country, and to bring home to these causes, the increase of corruption and depravity. For this purpose repeated visits to various prisons were requisite.

Again a detail of the regulations of the Maison de Force alone, did not seem to establish the point contended for, with sufficient certainty.