"The adoption of this plan is the result of the most mature deliberation, and although the time which the Emperor and his Government have bestowed may appear long to the feelings of humanity, yet as the magnitude and importance of the plan demanded the most profound consideration, it cannot be regretted or regarded as lost-as it must have produced a sounder conviction of what I consider an incontrovertible principle, that the bonds of society can be strengthened by those measures only, which are founded on christian principles, of justice, love, and humanity.

"The establishment of this Society in the Russian metropolis, with the authority and sanction of the Emperor and his Government, will soon be followed by the formation of similar Institutions throughout the territory of this extensive empire; and what will greatly tend to facilitate the accomplishment of the great design, namely, the suppression of crime and the reformation of the criminal, is, that the new prisons which are now erecting in the various Government towns in Russia, will be so constructed as to admit the introduction of those moral and religious instruments of reformation, which are contained in the Memorial first submitted.

"His Excellency the President has made the first visit to the Great Town Prison since the establishment of the Society. He was much pleased at finding the juvenile offenders separated from the men, and he entertained hopes of the reformation of some of the boys whom he found in tears. The Prince has kindly offered his mansion for the place of our Meetings, and he assured me this morning that he would occupy the chair as often as his other important occupations would admit.

"The good that has already been accomplished in the prisons in Russia vanishes in my mind, when I look forward to the glorious prospect that is opened, by the great and good example which has been set by the Emperor Alexander, to surrounding nations and it must be considered a happy coincidence of circumstances when we reflect that the persons who are best qualified to carry these benevolent plans into execution are every where to be found. The agents of the British and Foreign Bible Society, have already assembled the excellent of the earth, in almost every country and town in Europe; and in the Promoters of that sacred cause, we are sure to find the friends of humanity who are no less able than willing to promote the Prison cause, with as much zeal as if it were their own.

"I cannot conclude this Letter without expressing my gratitude to the Great and Merciful Disposer of all events, who has been pleased thus to smile on my feeble endeavours in the Prison cause, and to crown them all with signal success. So remarkably have the leadings of Providence been accompanied with the divine blessing in my own experience, that were the whole world combined to deride me for it, I would still admire and adore the directing hand of God."

This interesting epistle was quickly followed by another still more interesting. It is addressed to Samuel Hoare, Junr. Esq. dated. St. Petersburg, 15th October, N. S. 1819.

66

My dear friend,-By the blessing of God, the first General Meeting of the Members of both Committees of the Society for the care of Prisons, was held in this City, on Saturday last, when we were assembled at ten o'clock in the morning, at the residence of the President, Prince Alexander Galitzin.

"The day of our Meeting was very remarkable, it being that very day six years when the French were driven out of Moscow. The apartment in which we sat was hung round with the portraits of the most distinguished characters of

the country, both Statesmen and Generals, among whom I observed the brave Field Marshal Kutusoff, whose amiable daughter Mrs. Tolstoy, will I expect soon prove to be a second Mrs. Fry.*

"The rules were first read, and the following Vice-Presidents were chosen :

"His Eminence the Metropolitan Michael, of Novogorod and St. Petersburg.-His Eminence Philaret, the Archbishop of Twer.-His Excellency Count Lieven, Lieutenant-General, Curator of the University of Dorpat, and President of the Lutheran General Consistory.-His Excellency Baron Vittenghoff, Privy Counsellor.

"Members of the Committee of Gentlemen are as follow:-His Excellency Prince Peter Mestchersky.-Major General Leontioff.-His Excellency B. Papof, actual Counsellor of State.His Excellency D'junskoffsky, actual Counsellor of State. His Excellency Magnitsky, actual

* An English Lady who has eminently distinguished herself in the Prison Cause, and God has been pleased to crown her endeavours with amazing success.

Counsellor of State.-His Excellency Hablitz, Counsellor at Court.-His Excellency Stehr, Counsellor of State.-His Excellency Pezerovious, Counsellor of State.-His Excellency Galakof, Counsellor of State.-Mr. Pilitzky, Mr. Hershelman, Mr. Singbush, Doctor Paterson, Doctor Pinkerton, and myself.

"Treasurer, John Venning; Baron Bronon Foreign Secretary; Mr. Scroff, Home Secretary; Collector, John Parland, Esq. Members of the Committee."

PRESIDENT OF THE LADIES' COMMITTEE.

"Her Excellency Mrs. Kasadavloff, widow of the late Minister of State for the Interior.

"MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

"Her Excellency Princess Mestchersky.-Her Excellency Mrs. Stolstay.-Her Excellency Princess Galitzin.-Her Excellency Princess Sherbatoff. Her Excellency Princess Tronbetskoy.Mrs. Paterson, Mrs. Bacheracht, Mrs. Pezerovious, and Mrs. Venning.

"The Prince Galitzin read an admirable Report giving an account of the formation of our