l'otal, The average number of prisoners for the year 1830, Three hundred of the Vagrants were discharged, be- has been 477. The deaths having been 26, gives the ore the expiration of their sentences, by the commit- I mortality for the year 1830 at 5.4 per cent. Cured, 884 89 Total terminated and transferred cases, 973 14 252 DISEASES IN THE HOSPITAL OF THE PHILADELPHIA PRISON. (Остовки TABLE OF THE DISEASES OF THE HOSPITAL OF THE PHILADELPHIA PRISON. Tabular view of cases admitted into the Hospital of the Philadelphia Prison, giving the number of Diseases in each month, and the number of cases under each morbid affection for the year 1830. FRANKLIN BACHE, M.D. Physician. All these prisoners were not confined to their beds in the Hospital, but received medical treatment as their respective cases required. HARVEY KLAPP, M. D. Published by order of the Acting Committee of the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons. JAMES J. BARCLAY, Secretary of A. C. No point in philosophy, or even in mathematics, is more susceptible of demonstration, than that order is the first law of nature, and the first element of society. In all which concerns the momentous subjects of legislation, judicature, ecclesiastical affairs, science, literature-men appear to be unanimous in regard to the general adoption of some fixed rules of proceeding, whenever they come together to act or to deliberate, The expressions.-"coming to order”—“ being organized”--“forming a duly constituted society, "-and similar phrases, applied even to the most ordinary popular meetings, indicate how necessary it is deemed, by all persons conversant with social intercourse, to commence and proceed in the transaction of serious business, with a strict adherence to some known and acknowledged order. But unfortunately, the necessity which all feel and admit, when acting in communities, many utterly overlook or disregard, in their individual practice,-just as some political economists appear to imagine that their vaunted doctrines have no application to their own per sonal or domestic concerns. to enter into contracts which a moment's reflection must show to be beyond their power of fulfilment; or a more profitable undertaking is permitted to set aside one already commenced, which consequently subjects the employer to numerous inconveniencies, and vexations, while from day to day, or from month to month, he receives new promises and new deceptions, until he ceases to be deceived by any thing which the unprinci pled contractor can utter, and all this loss of credit and of moral reputation, was perhaps owing to the want of a few moment's application, in completing a design, or in procuring some trifling material. The best remedy for the evil would be, for the public to withdraw all confidence and patronage from those who prove thus heedless of the obligation of a promise; and to encour age, by every means, the man, who, by a regular and systematic pursuit of his calling, is enabled to fulfil with punctilious fidelity, every engagement into which he enters. Few men are so important, or, at least, so indispensable to the common welfare, that they can long be allowed to trifle with the good nature and just desires of their fellow citizens. One who so egregiously overrates his own importance as to imagine that society cannot do without him, and that he may set at defiance all the laws of prudence, will soon find a substitute stepping into his place. The learned professions furnish still more lamentable exemplifications of the wretched impolicy of neglecting a regular system in the prosecution of their respective duties. The practice of neglecting engagements, postponing business and mixing up avocations is, in this case, both more injurious as an example, and more de That I may not seem wholly to neglect what is about to be recommended to others, I propose to offer some examples of the evil consequences of a want of method: first, among men engaged in the ordinary useful occupations-next among the learned professions—and, fi-trimental in its immediate effects, than in those already nally in the studies and writings of men professedly devoted to the investigation and communication of truth. There is a species of bustling among persons who would be thought active and efficient, which sometimes passes for real talent, and not unfrequently for energy in business. mentioned; because, as the parties are more prominent in the social walks, their very position displays every defect in a more glaring light, and as the duties are more difficult, the importance of their punctual discharge increases with their magnitude. How It is the absence of all method in the arrangement of In the industrious callings, it is manifested by the ideas and the discussion of topics, which causes so ceaseless hurry in which the individual finds himself. much incongruity in many discourses from the pulpit. He has a score of things in hand, but none near its From this cause, it happens that a certain zealous ditimely completion. Fifty engagements are virtually vine, the Rev. Dr. Thwackbible, appears to preach, broken, where one is rigorously fulfilled. Disappoint- on all occasions, but one and the same sermon. ment breeds disgust in the minds of his employers. ever various the texts with which he prefaces it, the Every new perplexity brings a fresh mortification. absence of all methodical preparation, soon reduces him His subordinate agents become sullen and discontented to the alternative of either stopping in the midst of disat the capriciousness of his requisitions, and the uncercourse to gather his shreds of thought, or of runtainty of meeting his next unreasonable expectations.ing on in some beaten track, and with a “specious verPromises are made with lavish tongue, but the hands which should make good those declarations, are dip ping into so many matters at the same moment, that nothing corresponds, either in time or quality, with his own pretences, or with the just expectations which they have fostered in others. Nothing more effectually blasts the prospects of mechanics and other industrious persons, than a want of punctuality. But that dispatch of business, on which punctuality depends, is out of the question, where no regular method is known or adhered to. A desire to retain or to multiply customers, often prompts artizans bosity" keeping up the current of sound, lest the shock of coming to a full stop should awaken his congregation to the fact that they were listening for the hundredth time to a string of common places in which there was neither argument nor edification. The doctor prays and preaches too without book, but to this I would make no objection did he not also insist on preaching without thoughts, or praying without having any distinct petitions to offer. In the pride and boastfulness of his humility, he often declares that he sends forth his poor thoughts without notes or "comments." In the latter particular, however, he is not quite accurate, for though his pom |