It remains for us now to bring into view the principal transactions of the last year or eighteen months, from which we think it will be evident that “The Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons,” is still alive to the interests of humanity connected with its sphere of action, as in its early days, and standing as a “watchman upon the walls,” both to detect abuses which may exist, and use efforts for their removal, and to avail itself of every opportunity which may present for furthering the progress of penal reform, not only within our own City and State, but also amongst our neighbors. _Prison at Washington._—In 1860 we were informed that there was a proposition to erect a new prison at Washington City, and our Society immediately took action in relation to the subject, with a view to communicating with the authorities there, and urging upon them the importance of making their arrangements so as to adapt them to introducing the system of cellular separation. Circumstances, however, prevented this communication from being made, and we believe that no actual steps have yet been taken by them to carry out their proposition, and we have recently had accounts of a most deplorable state of things in their jail. Shocking as the account is, we can only appropriate space to introduce one short quotation, to wit, “In other portions of the building are narrow passages, five feet wide by twenty-five feet long, upon which open three cells. In each of these, only _ten_ feet long by _eight_ wide, _ten_ prisoners sleep, and during the day the whole _thirty_ have merely the liberty of moving through the twenty-five feet of crowded and fetid passage-way, without books, papers, work, or any mental distraction beyond the idle words of their companions.” _New Prison in New Jersey._—Learning also that a proposition to erect a new Penitentiary in the eastern part of the State of New Jersey, was likely to be brought before their Legislature last winter, our Society adopted a memorial of a character very similar to that of the communication intended to have been forwarded to Washington, and appointed a committee to take charge of it. A part of this committee visited Trenton, and in a very satisfactory interview with the Governor, were assured of his cordial co-operation in promoting our views. The memorial was duly presented to the Legislature. No action, however, has yet been taken in reference to this important matter, and it is feared that the terrible calamity which has overtaken our beloved country will occasion its postponement.