iscipline be severe in
proportion to the enormity of the crimes of those on whom it is
exercised, and let its strictness be such as to deter others from a
similar course of iniquity, but let us ever aim at the _diminution of
crime_ through the just and happy medium of the REFORMATION OF
CRIMINALS."

Not only in the published page, but in other ways--in fact in every
possible way--did Mrs. Fry continue to proclaim the need of a new method
of ordering criminals, and also of so treating them, that they should be
fitted to return to society _improved_ and not _degraded_ by their
experience of penal measures. In 1832, she was called upon to give
evidence before another committee of the House of Commons, upon the best
mode of enforcing "secondary punishments" so as to repress crime. On
this occasion she dwelt particularly upon the points noticed in her book
published five years previously, and added one or two more. For
instance, while advocating complete separation at _night_, she quite as
earnestly contended against what was known as the "solitary system." On
this point she maintained that "solitude does not prepare women for
returning to social and domestic life, or tend so much to real
improvement, as carefully arranged intercourse during part of the day
with one another under the closest superintendence and inspection,
combined with constant occupation, and solitude at night." In her
evidence there occurs the following passage:--

Every matron should live upon the spot, and be able to inspect them
closely by night and by day; and when there are sufficient female
prisoners to require it, female officers should be appointed, and a
male turnkey never permitted to go into the women's apartments. I
am convinced when a prison is properly managed it is unnecessary,
because, by firm and gentle management, the most refractory may be
controlled by their own sex. But here I must put in a word
respecting ladies' visiting. I find a remarkable difference
depending upon whether female officers are superintended by ladies
or not. I can tell almost as soon as I go into the prison whether
they are or not, from the general appearance both of the women and
their officers. One reason is that many of the latter are not very
superior women, not very high, either in principle or habits, and
are liable to be contaminated; they soon get familiar with the
prisoners, and c