226 CONVERSION OF W. L. me, (we have never seen one another) but he is seventeen years younger than I am. It is now fifty-three years that I am in Germany. "Yours in the gospel, "PETER MORTIMER." On the 9th of the following month Mr. S. visited all the rooms in the front building at Bellevue, thirtysix in number; and though very much fatigued, he preached in the Penitentiary, and afterwards examined the school. On Wednesday, the 11th of November, he says— "I preached twice in the State-Prison, and enjoyed a most gratifying conversation with one of the convicts, who, since his residence in the prison, has drunk - deeply of the cup of salvation." As this is an interesting case, of the conversion of a poor old African we shall subjoin a brief extract, which embraces the narrative. man. Conversion of W- L- "This is," says Mr. Stanford, "a very old black A native of Guinea. I have frequently, and with great pleasure, conversed with him; his answers were short, pertinent, and impressive. I wish I had taken earlier notes of his conversation. To-day I asked him of his state of mind. In his vernacular dialect, he answered- Massa parson, my pain be very great. My heart look the Lord Jesus; he only my support. Massa, I no one else to look; he make me patient. Bless you, massa.' 6 Very Jese Christ "February 10th. William, how do you do? well, massa, tank God and you too, massa.' William what is it makes you so comfortable? be my Friend and Saviour too, massa. good to me poor creature. God be very I dont want to live; I want to go to heaven, massa.' Dont you know that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that none LETTER FROM HON. THOMAS J. SPICER. 227 come unto the Father but by him? 'O yes, please you, massa, I know dat, and his way good enough for me, poor creature! I shall be there by-and-by. Den I have no more pain, no more sin, dat be best of all, massa parson. I praise him all de time, neber leave off.' "When I saw him again he was very low, and all he said to me was-' Massa, when my eyes open, I look to de Almighty, he my hope, he no forsake me. Massa, I hang on him all day long, till night come. And when I wake in de night, de Lord be still very good.' "March 24th. He died this night exclaiming, Now I die!-happy for me die ! " Tuesday, the 17th, Mr. S. remarks-"I went carly to the State-Prison to breakfast with Governor Clinton and other gentlemen, and had much interesting conversation with them on the subject of the public institutions." The following letter from the Hon. Thomas J. Spicer, is so perfectly coincident with the view of Mr. S. as a philanthropist, which, in this memoir we have attempted to give, that we cannot allow ourselves to omit its insertion. "New-Orleans, November 9th, 1818. "MUCH RESPECTED FRIEND, "My inclination has frequently prompted me to do myself this pleasure, but heretofore not having any thing to communicate that could be worthy of your attention, I have remained silent-but now having it' in my power to give you an opportunity of indulging yourself in your favourite employment, 'the cause of humanity' which, although it will be attended with considerable labour, I am confident will meet your most prompt attention. "Enlightened men have adopted a State Peniten 228 LETTER FROM HON. THOMAS J. SPICER. tiary, as the most humane mode of punishment, and best calculated to reform the minds of such of our unhappy fellow creatures as have run so long in the broad road of vice, that crimes have been added to their sins, and justice has claimed them as her own; yet with a due regard to her sway, many souls, no doubt, have been saved by a timely repentance, though under the solitary influence of prison walls. "This has been often realized to me, when I have observed, under your influence, on the Sabbath, the true repentance so visible in the conduct of your too numerous congregation at the New-York StatePrison; and remarked in your weekly visits with what cheerful countenances they met your fatherly advice; and how happy had been the effect of your previous attention to their spiritual concerns; and when I contrast this state of things with the situation of the country in which I have become a citizen, I have been fully impressed, that, under your guidance, I may be enabled to alleviate the situation of the many criminals who daily come under our judicatory control; and also be instrumental in doing a service to the state, by stimulating the judiciary to a more general punishment of crime, and by the establishment of a penitentiary, abolish the degrading punishment of whipping, which punishment I consider only calculated to prostrate the noble mind of man, to the level of the brute creation. For where is the man whose feelings, even if they have become blunted by repeated crimes, does not view, with horrors worse than death, the dreadful punishment of whipping, in the presence of the scum and rabble of a populous city. "How preferable and how humane would be an establishment on the plan of that in which you officiate in New-York, as its chaplain, and director of the reforming mind; and to view, at a future day, the change from a common dungeon, where the prisoner LETTER FROM HON. THOMAS J. SPICER. 229 becomes more hardened by his confinement and punishment, to a penitentiary established upon so humanc a system, where happy effects would equally result to God, the state, and the criminal. "The population of this country, composed of a heterogenous mass, has caused crime to become familiar to us, and loudly calls for severe punishment on the offenders of the laws of the country; necessity must soon compel the executive to act promptly; at which time our prisons will be insufficient to hold the criminals who may be convicted, and we shall see improper and unnatural punishment resorted to, in order to free the state from the trouble of retaining them in confinement, or shall be compelled to witness the ravages of a race of men who resort to this place, as secure from punishment, and free to violate the laws of God and man with impunity. "You may discover, by my too brief remarks on this subject, that I am about to request much of you; but when I reflect that future ages will revere your name for the plan of such an institution, I must request that you will, with the least possible delay, forward to me a full and complete plan, with every necessary advice, to enable me, under your direction, to promote the establishment of a Penitentiary for the state of Louisiana. "To point any thing out to you on the subject would be presumption in me, for among your humane actions and studies I have discovered that this has claimed your particular attention, and I rest assured that I shall be in receipt of every thing necessary for the legislature to act upon during the winter session, which may end on the 1st of March, 1819. "Please remember me to your amiable family and many friends, and believe me to be, "Still your willing pupil, "THOMAS J. SPICER." 230 AN INFANT DISCIPLE. The above letter was answered, by forwarding to Mr. Spicer the documents required, including Mr. Stanford's excellent "Memorial on Prisons, addressed to the Legislature of the State of New-York," several years before. This is a valuable paper, full of discriminating and practical remarks, but must be omitted for want of room. December 2d, Mr. S. walked to the Orphan-Asylum, and gave a discourse, with much satisfaction. Another child died this day, and although only seven years of age, he gave very satisfactory evidence of having obtained converting grace, and died rejoicing in the Lord. "No tears for thee be shed, Blossom of being, seen and gone! "We rear no marble o'er thy tomb; No sculptur'd image there shall mourn; Such dwelling to adorn." |