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Lay, as long since as the year 1737—at that time he thus notices the subject: "As to criminals, they had better be kept in bondage, that by hard labour they might be brought to repentance and amendment of life, in order to a happy death, rather than to put them to death in their sins; for in the grave there
less sanguinary and cruel than that which now exists in that country, would promote the best interests of the realm; whilst a considerable number of distinguished men, in London, have formed themselves into an association in aid of the great work of reformation and mercy. That society, in an account of its origin, &c. not long since published, candidly acknowledges itself indebted to the "Philadelphia Society for alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons," for its existence. Some information respecting the successful exertions of the Philadelphia society, in producing a change in the penal laws of Pennsylvania, was printed many years ago, a copy of which being sent to London, it accidentally fell into the hands of a gentleman, whose benevolent mind had been for some time engaged in reflection on the subject of their criminal punishments; the encouragement it afforded induced him to communicate his views to a few of his friends, who immediately formed an association for similar purposes.
