Fry, Elizabeth Gurney, 1780-1845; Prison reformers -- Biography
Rose early and visited Newgate, where most of the Committee met to
receive the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, several Aldermen, and some of
the Jail Committee. Even the irritable state of city politics does
not interfere with this attempt at improvement. The women were
assembled as usual, looking particularly clean, and Elizabeth Fry
had commenced reading a Psalm, when the whole of this party entered
this already crowded room. Her reading was thus interrupted for a
short time. She looked calmly on the approaching gentlemen, who,
soon perceiving the solemnity of her occupation, stood still midst
the multitude, whilst Elizabeth Fry resumed her office and the
women their quietude. In an impressive tone she told them she never
permitted any trifling circumstance to interrupt the very solemn
and important engagement of reading the Holy Scriptures; but in
this instance it appeared unavoidable from the unexpected entrance
of so many persons, besides which, when opportunity offers, we
should pay respect to those in authority over us, to those who
administer justice. She thus, with a Christian prudence peculiar to
herself, controlled the whole assembly, and subdued the feelings of
the prisoners, many of whom were but two well acquainted with the
faces of the magistrates, who were themselves touched and
astonished at being thus introduced to a state of decorum so new
within these walls, and could not help acknowledging how admirably
this mode of treatment was adapted to overcome the evil spirit
which had so long triumphed there. The usual silence ensued after
the reading, then the women withdrew. We could not help feeling
particularly glad that the gentlemen were present at the reading.
The prisoners crowded around the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs to beg
little favors. We had a long conference with these gentlemen
relative to this prison and its object, and to the wisest
regulations for prison discipline, and the causes of crime.
Indeed, we could not have received more kind and devoted attention
to what was suggested. Elizabeth Fry's manner seemed to awaken new
trains of reflection, and to place the individual value of these
poor creatures before them in a fresh point of view. The Sheriffs
came to our committee-room. They ordered a cell to be given up to
the Committee for the temporary confinement of delinquents; it was
to be made to appear as formidable as possible, and we hope never
to require it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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