_Publications; and Reform of Penal Code._—From an early period, the Society had issued through the press, memorials and addresses in behalf of its objects, and in 1790 a pamphlet was published, entitled, “Extracts and Remarks on the Subject of Punishment and the Reformation of Criminals,” 500 copies of which were distributed among the members of the Legislature, and other persons prominently connected with the government, with a view to preparing them to support such reforms as the observations of the Society had suggested to be necessary. As a result mainly due to the efforts of the Society, an Act was passed in April, 1790, to reform the penal code of the State, by which the principle of individual separation was recognized, though applied strictly only to “more hardened and atrocious offenders, who are sentenced for a term of years,” while the introduction of intoxicating drinks was prohibited under severe penalties. _Early Advantages of Separation._—Even this very partial separation resulted so satisfactorily, that one of its early fruits was the Act of 1794, by which it was intended that not only “the more hardened and atrocious offenders,” but _all_ convicts should be subjected to seclusion. But as the number of the cells was not equal to one-third the average number of the convicts (say thirty of the former to one hundred of the latter) the Inspectors were obliged to exercise their discretion. Some of the prisoners, immediately on their admission, were conducted to their separate cells, and remained in them until their discharge; and the remarkable and most gratifying fact is on record, (see Roberts Vaux’s Letter of Sept. 21st, 1827, to William Roscoe, of Liverpool,) that _the cases thus treated were the only instances of reformation which continued throughout the lives of the individuals_, so far as they could be traced, or their condition ascertained by diligent inquiry. _Jailor’s Fees._—In the year 1796, the sore evil and reproachful practice which existed, of the jailors exacting fees, as a condition of liberation from imprisonment, was taken in hand, and an adequate salary to the keeper was suggested as the best remedy, so that he might have no personal interest in any question affecting the liberty of the prisoner. This wholesome suggestion was not, however, at that time, as fully accepted and acted upon as its importance demanded. _Imprisonment of Debtors._—The broad and interesting question of imprisonment for debt, in its various aspects, came up for investigation and consideration by the Society in 1798, and resulted in an Act of the Legislature in the same year, removing some of the most objectionable features of the existing laws on that subject.