The jurisprudence of the Constitution--Roumanian courts--The Code Napoléon--Complaints of patronage--The penal system--Capital punishment abolished--History and effect of the abolition--Statistics--The prison system--Abuses--Enumeration of prisons--Employment of convicts--Ornamental art amongst them--Objects made by them--Absence of educational measures--Criminal statistics (and note)--Visit to the 'intermediate' prison of Vakareschti--An old monastery--Description of the prison--Scene in the court-yard--Untried prisoners in fetters--Promiscuous intercourse of prisoners--Mischievous effects--Views of a 'juge d'instruction' concerning the system--Various classes of prisoners--Lenient treatment of them--Partial employment--Safeguards against mutiny--Visit to the penal salt mine of Doftana (or Telega)--Former treatment of prisoners--A lingering death--Present treatment--Conditions of penal servitude--Compared with work of our colliers--Abuses--Descent into the mine--Its condition--Unearthly sounds and sights--Enormous salt cave--Floor of the cave--Convicts at work in chains--Mode of excavating and raising salt--Lighting the mine for visitors--Return to the surface--Visit to the penitentiary--Its discreditable condition--Alleged frauds upon convicts--General mild treatment of criminals in Roumania--Utilisation of convict labour--Comparison of cost and results of systems in Roumania and England--Favourable to Roumania. I.