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To His Excellency Levi Lincoln, and

the Honorable Council of the Commonwealth.

The Warden of the State Prison has the honor to make his semi-annual "Statement of the affairs of the Prison," and to report as follows:

The whole number of convicts in confinement

on the 30th September, 1331, was

Received during the last six months,

256

25

281

224

In confinement on the 31st of March, 1832,

The

Of those received the preceding six months 18 are for Larceny, 3 for Counterfeiting, 1 for Burglary, 2 for Forgery, and 1 for attempt to Murder with poison-25. Of the 224 Convicts, 39 are confined on second commitments, 24 on third, 3 on fourth, and 3 on fifth commitments. 37 are blacks and mulattoes, and 1 Indian ; and 101 of the number are, or have been married. great decrease of the number of convicts, their orderly deportment, the augmentation of labor in proportion to numbers, the obvious and deep interest which many of them evince in the moral and religious instruction afforded them, as well as the salutary resolutions which appear to impress those discharged; the favorable accounts we have of those who have been long

enough in the exercise of freedom, since their discharge, to show that many of them have resolved with a fixed and determined purpose, to refrain from evil; and the success of the financial operations of the prison, present the Institution under the aspects of consummated success and flattering improvement, affording to those who have labored in its cause, compensation, ample and gratifying. The laws passed during the last session of the Legislature, in amendment of those already existing, and augmenting the salaries of the Chaplain and Superintendent of the Stone Department, giving discretionary power to the Warden to increase the ration of the Convicts, in certain cases, and appropriating a sum equal to the probable cost of the alterations and additions, necessary for a residence for the Warden within convenient limits, will have a salutary tendency as regards the ultimate objects of the institution, although the consequent increase of expense may prove in a slight degree unfavorable to its financial results.

There is one class of the Officers of this Prison whose arduous duties appear to demand an increase of salary. It is the Watchmen-whose compensation being only three hundred dollars per annum, and who are prohibited by law from conducting any other business, and from deriving any other pay or perquisite, the undersigned would respectfully recommend, that the salaries of tho Watchmen should therefore be augmented to three hundred and twenty dollars, and is fully sensible that such augmentation is demanded by justice and good policy.

The undersigned, about to close his services in the Institution, and feeling a desire for its future success, has in preparation a Model of the Prison yard, walls, and suitable buildings and shops, which may be adopted,

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in his opinion, with advantage, whenever it shall be found necessary to erect an Hospital, to build new shops, or additional cells. He also has prepared a plan of a house for the Warden, and which he now has the honor to present. In anticipation of his early resignation, the Warden has caused an account of stock to be taken, with due regard to accuracy and value, and the accounts of the half year closing on the 31st of March, being made up, in conformity to law, present a net gain to the Institution, after deducting every expense for the preceding six months, of two thousand one hundred and fifty-five dollars and fifteen cents.

It is not probable that results more favorable will ensue from the operations of the ensuing six months, the decreasing number of the Convicts not warranting such anticipations; but should the results prove as advantageous, there will be a net gain to the Institution of more than four thousand dollars, from the labor of the Convicts during the present year. The discipline and general police of the Prison, has, during the same time, been preserved in all their necessary rigid features, and with but comparatively few instances of coercion or punishThere will remain enough of arduous duty, however, for the full occupation of the faculties and industry of the successor of the present Warden, notwithstanding the favorable aspects which the Institution now presents, to sustain the character of the establishment in all its relations, to maintain the discipline, and to conduct the general concerns of the Prison to continue success.

ment.

In thus closing his last Report on the affairs of this Institution, the undersigned is by no means insensible to the many instances of kindness and forbearance which have been extended to him by the Members of the Leg