I knew _another_ high officer in the prison, who was also a Deist; but _he_ was a most excellent man, and by a kind and fatherly administration, he endeared himself to every prisoner. His conduct would have done honor to the highest professions of Christianity. He adorned many of the doctrines of the gospel. He was not only an _honest_ man, he was also a _benevolent_ one. In all things he was influenced by _principle_, and did as he would be done by; and he did more to bless the prisoners with the preaching of the gospel, than many who prided themselves on their Christianity. Among many of the inferior officers of the prison, who made no profession of religion, there was but one sentiment in respect to those prisoners who professed to be Christians, and this was, that they were all _hypocrites_.--They dealt out to them a very superior share of their contempt, and always ridiculed their professions. If one of them was particular in reading the Scriptures, _that_ was made the subject of light remark; and if in prayer one of them spoke so as to be heard, he was impudently ordered to stop. And once, in particular, a keeper told one of the serious convicts, that he would act a more wise part, if he would say nothing about his religion, but leave off praying and be like the other prisoners. Another prisoner was put in the solitary cell for reading his bible in the shop, where many a one had been allowed to read books, undisturbed, with which no virtuous _female_ would pollute her fingers. The common vulgar cant, with which the keepers used to assail the piety of the prisoners, was as follows,--"They want to get _out_ I guess--they are _coming_ the _religious_ lock--they are going to _pray_ themselves out--they are mighty _pious_ just now, pity they had not thought of this _before_." Such remarks as these were as frequent as the mention of the prisoner's piety, or the sight of one who was known to read his bible and pray; and not only the servants, but their _masters_ often joined in such unmanly and inhuman sarcasms. "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." GENERAL CHARACTER AND HABITS OF THE PRISONERS. This view presents human nature in its most degraded state, and in its darkest complexion. Here is man _doubly fallen_; here are the fragments of moral ruin in their most _hideous array_. A field, once green with inspiring promise, but now withering under a second blight. A splendid and glorious creation in baleful ruin. An ocean, once pure as a dew drop and smooth as a sea of glass, but now torn by conflicting waves, and casting up mire and dirt. The view is too painful! My heart sickens within me!