ble; what must it be in mid-summer in this almost pest house ?
where a man discharges from his lungs the most poisonous gases,
only to take in greater, if possible, from the depraved air around
him; should a contagion visit this prison, which, may God in
his mercy avert, no prediction can be made as to its consequences,
not only to the prison, but to the city in general. Something
should be done to correct this evil; the number of inmates might
be lessened, by changing the law imprisoning in the peniten-
tiary for petty thefts and by substituting in its stead, a law in-
flicting punishment that might be more salutary and effective in
its operation.

Your committee would respectfully close the report by recom-
mending to the consideration of the Legislature, this department
of the prison, and to express the hope that some means may be
enacted at once for its relief.

B. H. Kennard, Chairman.
H. J. Grieves,
John W. Dail,

N. WORTHINGTON,

On the part of the House.

S. Owings Hoffman,
John G. Stone,

On the part of the Senate.