They worked very hard, slept on boards, and were fed upon
bread and dry beans. At night they were ranged in a long gallery, and in
number from one hundred to two hundred, were all chained to the iron rod
which ran the entire length of the gallery. By day they worked chained
together in couples.

At Marseilles a new kind of prison was inspected by her; this was a
conventual institution and refuge for female penitents, under the
control of the nuns of the order of St. Charles, who to the three
ordinary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, added that of
converting souls. Superintending ladies in the city, who bore the title
of "directresses," were not even permitted to see the women immured
there; indeed, only one was permitted to enter the building in order to
look after the necessary repairs, and even she was strictly restrained
from seeing a penitent or sister. It seemed hopeless in the face of
these facts to expect admission, but Mrs. Fry's name and errand
prevailed. Accompanied by one of these nominal directresses, she was
admitted and shown into a large, plainly-furnished parlor. After she had
waited some little time, the Lady Superior presented herself at the
grating, and prepared to hear the communications of her visitors. In the
course of the conversation which passed, it appeared that there were
over one hundred penitents in the convent, who mostly became servants
after their reclamation. It seemed that they "were not taught to read or
write, neither was the least morsel of pencil, paper, pen, ink, or any
other possible material for writing permitted, from the fear of their
communicating with people without." The Superior admitted that portions
of the Bible were suitable to the inmates, such as the Parables and
Psalms, but said that as a whole the Scriptures were not fit to be put
into the hands of people in general. Mrs. Fry departed from this "home
of mystery and darkness," very unsatisfied and sad. She next visited a
boys' prison, conducted by the Abbe Fisceaux, which excited her
admiration.

At the "Maison Penitentiaire" at Geneva, the arrangements appeared to be
as complete as possible, and most praiseworthy. The treatment varied in
severity, according to the guilt of the criminals, who were divided into
four classes. They were in all cases there for long terms of
imprisonment, but were allowed either Catholic or Protestant versions of
the Scriptures, according to their faith. After paying short visits