ad been released as
soon as his time was up. He was an excellent workman, and resolved for
the future to be honest. He obtained employment from a master tailor in
Philadelphia, and in three months was made foreman. One of the
inspectors of Walnut-street prison came in for clothes, and his friend
was called down to take the measures. The inspector recognised him, and
as soon as he left the shop told his master that he had been in the
Walnut-street prison. The man was in consequence immediately
discharged. He could obtain no more work, and in a few months
afterwards found his way back again to Walnut-street prison for a fresh
offence.

No. 5--a fine intelligent Yankee, very bold in bearing. He was in the
penitentiary under a false name, being well connected had been brought
up as an architect and surveyor, and was imprisoned for having
counterfeit bank notes in his possession. This fellow was a regular
lawyer, and very amusing; it appeared as if nothing could subdue his
elasticity of spirit. He said that he did not think that he should be
better for his incarceration; on the contrary, that it would produce
very bad effects. "I am punished," said he, "not for having passed
counterfeit notes, but for having them in my possession. The facts are,
I had lost all my money by gambling; and then the gamblers, to make me
amends, gave me some of their counterfeit notes, which they always have
by them. I do not say that I should not have uttered them; I believe
that in my distress I should have done so; but I had not exactly made up
my mind. At all events, _I had not_ passed them when, from information
given, I was taken up. This is certain, that not having passed them, it
is very possible for a man to have forged notes in his possession
without being aware of it; but this was not considered by my judges,
although it ought to have been, as I had never been brought up before;
and I have now been sentenced to exactly the same term of imprisonment
as those who were convicted of passing them. Now, this I consider as
unfair; my punishment is too severe for my offence, and that always does
harm--it creates a vindictive feeling, and a desire to revenge yourself
for the injustice done to you.

"Now, sir," continued he, "I should have no objection to compromise; if
they would reduce my punishment one-half, I would acknowledge the
justice of it, and turn honest when I go out again; but, if I am
confined here for three years,