may be compared to the few remaining sparks of a nearly extinguished fire.  By means of the utmost care and attention, united with the most gentle treatment, these may yet be fanned into a flame; but under the operation of a rough and violent hand they will presently disappear and be lost forever.  In our conduct with these unfortunate females, kindness, gentleness, and true humility ought ever to be united with serenity and firmness.  Nor will it be safe ever to descend, in our intercourse with them, to familiarity, for there is a dignity in the Christian character which demands, and will obtain, respect; and which is powerful in its influence even over dissolute minds....  Neither is it by any means wise to converse with them on the subject of the crimes of which they are accused or convicted, for such conversation is injurious both to the criminals themselves and to others who hear them; and, moreover, too frequently leads them to add sin to sin, by uttering the grossest falsehoods.  And those who engage in the interesting task of visiting criminals must not be impatient if they find the work of reformation a very slow one....  Much disadvantage will accrue generally from endeavors on the part of visiting ladies to procure the mitigation of the sentences of criminals.  Such endeavors ought never to be made except where the cases are remarkably clear, and then through the official channels.  Deeply as we must deplore the baneful effects of the punishment of death, and painful as we must feel it to be that our fellow-creatures, in whose welfare we are interested, should be prematurely plunged into an awful eternity, yet, while our laws continue as they are, unless they can bring forward decided facts in favor of the condemned, it is wiser for the visiting ladies to be quiet, and to submit to decrees which they cannot alter.”

In reference to the choice of officers, she strongly insists that all officers—­superior and inferior—­shall be females.  She prefers a widow for the post of matron, because of her superior knowledge of the world and of life; and never should she or her subordinates be chosen “because the situation is suited to their wants, but because they are suited to fill the situation.”  She holds it of the first importance that the matrons should not only be of a superior station in life, but that they should be decidedly religious.  This little book was written in 1827, but from her insistence upon this as a first requisite in proper dealing with female prisoners, it appears likely that the then recent act of George IV., had not been commonly complied with.  This act provides that a “matron shall be appointed in every prison in which female prisoners shall be confined, who shall reside in the prison; and it shall be the duty of the matron constantly to superintend the female prisoners.”  Again, another clause of the Act says, “Females shall in all cases be attended by female officers.”  That these provisions had only been partially carried