criticise and condemn our institutions, were conducted
through the Auburn State Prison, without any intimation of its design,
they would put it down in their journals of travel as an institution to
diffuse literary science and useful knowledge; and from what we have
learned of institutions of the latter kind, under monarchical
governments, we have little hesitation in saying, that they would not
compare well with this prison. Nor would they be willing that some of
their plans for the diffusion of useful knowledge, in the way of
charity, should be compared, in respect to health and religious
principles, with this institution, intended only for the punishment and
prevention of crime, and the reformation of criminals. And if it be the
fact, that our state's prison is better calculated than some foreign
institutions designed to educate the poor of the land for this same
purpose, it certainly will stand good that our land of liberty is
comparatively the land of morality.

We entered the chapel, where were seated nearly eight hundred convicts,
and something like one hundred citizens, who had been admitted for the
purpose of hearing the sweet melody of the Boston Quartet Club, and to
hear the reformed gambler speak upon a vice which had brought over one
hundred within the gloomy walls of a state's prison. Service commenced
with prayer by the chaplain, Rev. O.E. Morrill. The Boston Quartet Club
then sung the beautiful sacred piece, "Hear my Prayer," during which
breathless silence made manifest that the music was enjoyed. I was then
introduced as the reformed gambler, Mr. J. H. Green. When I arose, there
was profound silence throughout the chapel, to hear my sad experience. I
felt perfectly incompetent to give satisfaction to an audience, partly
composed of the most hardened wretches that infest our land--men who are
steeped to the very lips in degradation, many of whom are men of talent,
well-educated, and well acquainted with most of the leading topics of
the day, knowing, too, as I did, that an error might be construed into
an insult; and to such men an insult is unpardonable. I commenced by
relating my sad experience, and in a few minutes there could scarcely be
seen a dry cheek in that vast assembly of depraved men. My address being
closed, the prisoners were marched in order to their dining-room.

The chaplain and myself visited the cell of Wyatt, the murderer. We
found him sitting upon the straw which covered the floor.