The Committee on Discharged Prisoners have attended to their peculiar duties to the best of their ability. Clothing has been furnished when required, and occasion sought to give the prisoner, before his discharge, good counsel and advice, to guide him on regaining his liberty and resuming his station in society.

During the current year, to October 1st, 209 prisoners were discharged, viz: 188 white males; 16 colored males; 3 white females; 2 colored females. Their method of discharge was as follows: by expiration of sentence, 155; pardoned, 34; died, 6; removed to County Prison, 13.

Of those discharged during the year, 36 came to prison illiterate, 4 of whom learned to read-6 to read and write-26 to read, write and cipher. Eleven (11) read imperfectly, all of whom improved in reading, and learned to write, and 10 to cipher. Nine (9) could read and write imperfectly, all of whom improved and learned to cipher.

Although not strictly within the purview of the Committee's duties, I would call your attention to the decrease in the number of prisoners received this year, in comparison with the same period of 1867. This decrease is shown in the number of minors received, number of illiterate, and also of army prisoners.

The following statistics of the number and percentage of convicts received last year, as compared with those received for a corresponding period of this year, is presented on account of many interesting facts it contains:

COUNTY PRISON.

While the state of the cells, containing from two to four prisoners, in the Male Department of the County Prison continues, little can be hoped from the labors of the visitors in behalf of the morals of their respective clients. Something, of course, is attempted in that direction; more is done in the way of physical comfort; more in providing employment when the term of imprisonment is complete, and still more in aiding the prisoner to return to his family.

Nor is it just to say that because the instructions and advice of the visitor seem to have left but slight impression on the mind of the prisoner, therefore the labor has been in vain. It is impossible to say what may be the later effect of these lessons, recalled at some moment of difficulty; and it would be contrary to the experience in that particular, if much good were not ultimately derived from those lessons of kindness. Much more good, much more immediate good would certainly follow the lessons given alone to the convict. As it is, with the many disagreeable circumstances to dishearten, the visitors to the male department of the County Prison are faithful and persevering in their efforts.

FEMALE DEPARTMENT.

The female department has, since the publication of the last number of this Journal, had its whole complement of cells finished-an addition of forty-two to the former number of cells-and has also experienced a

considerable diminution in the number of convicts. The result of this favorable state of things is a compliance with the letter of the law in securing separate imprisonment to every female convict, and a conformity with the spirit of the law, in placing the untried accused in separate cells; and, as far as possible, even the drunkards and vagrants are kept separate-and even this last has, of late, become general.

Of course, the discipline of the prison is easily maintained when separate confinement is practised; and by being saved from the irritation consequent upon punishment, however slight that punishment may be, the minds of the prisoners are tranquil, and disposed to listen to instruction.

The effect of the favorable state of the female prison is manifest to the visitors. Lessons prescribed are easily and readily acquired, and exhortations and instruction are listened to with a spirit of gratitude and evidence of docility that are eminently encouraging.

It is difficult to tell how much good has resulted from the moral efforts in this prison, because it is not known how much of permanency is in the resolutions to amend. Those resolutions have often much more of sincerity than of permanency. The circumstances of the convict are favorable to good resolves, and to mental and moral improvement. These circumstances necessarily change when the repentant leaves her cell; and that change is often so great as to defeat all resolutions to do and to be good. The combat is often earnest, and sometimes persistent, without being successful. Without some friend to watch, encourage, and assist, the poor contestant is