“The chain was also repudiated, and a fair trial of labor in seclusion from other convicts, with moderate diet, under suitable agents, was urged as the wisest, safest, most humane, most efficient, and in the end most economical mode of dealing with criminals.” _Memorial to the Legislature to establish an Eastern Penitentiary._—The investigations of the Society, and their observations of the practical effect of the reformatory suggestions which they had made from time to time, so far as they had been carried out, so thoroughly convinced them of the correctness of these views, that they addressed a memorial to the Legislature of the State, in January, 1821, setting forth the tendency of the degrading and sanguinary punishments formerly inflicted to excite the malignant passions of offenders, instead of bringing them to a better mind, and thus frustrating the great ends of law; and then the various modifications of the system, designed to obviate existing evils. These modifications, they alleged, had proved quite as valuable as was anticipated, and clearly demonstrated the superiority of the new system, if it were fairly tried. They, therefore, urged “the erection of a new Penitentiary for the Eastern District of the State, so constructed as to admit of the constant separation and healthful labor of the convicts.” This was promptly responded to, and in the following May the law was passed for building the Eastern Penitentiary at Philadelphia, which is now the model prison on the “Pennsylvania” or “separate system,” and as such, at this day maintains a prominent position among the penal institutions of the world, and stands as a noble monument of the liberality, humanity, and wise economy of its founders. _Abuses by Committing Magistrates._—In 1820, and also in 1822, the illegal and corrupt exercise of power by the Magistrates, which was most oppressive on the poor and helpless, became again a subject of inquiry, and a committee was appointed to confer with the Governor of the State on the subject, and a memorial was soon afterwards presented to the Legislature soliciting its interference to remedy the evil. _Discharged Prisoners._—In November of the same year a committee was raised to consider of and report on the project of establishing an asylum for such discharged convicts as might be unable to obtain employment, but it appearing that there were serious difficulties in the way of carrying it out at that time, it was abandoned. _Juvenile Offenders and “House of Refuge.”_—At a meeting of the Society, held January 28, 1823, a committee was instructed to “inquire into the condition of juvenile offenders, and what relief is needed in their case.” This being a matter of deep interest, and requiring much consideration, from its inherent difficulties, the inquiries which were prosecuted from time to time, as opportunities presented, did not reach any definite result till January 21st, 1826.