This practice of selling convicts was nothing more or less than making slaves of them,--for a limited period, of course; but perhaps it was in many instances a punishment more to be desired by the victims than being confined in prison, especially if they were well treated. The prisons in those days had not "modern conveniences," and probably in some cases were hardly decent. The condition of the jail in Portsmouth, N.H., in February, 1789, is thus described by a prisoner who made his escape from there by digging through the chimney. His account is interesting in this connection. The paper from which we take it says: "But for fear his quitting his lodgings in so abrupt a manner might lay him open to censure, he wrote the following on the wall:-- "The reason of my going is because I have _no fire_ to comfort myself with, and very _little_ provision. So I am sure, if I was to _stay_ any longer I should perish to death. Look at that bed there! Do you think it fit for any person to lie on? "If you are well, I am well; Mend the chimney, and all's well! "To the gentlemen and officers of Portsmouth from your humble servant, "WILLIAM FALL. "N.B. I am very sorry that I did not think of this before, for if I had, your people should not have had the pleasure of seeing me take the lashes." The whipping-post and stocks were discontinued in Massachusetts early in the present century. On the 15th of January, 1801, one Hawkins stood an hour in the pillory in Court Street (now Washington Street), Salem, and had his ear cropped for the crime of forgery, pursuant to the sentence of the Supreme Court.