Morning Star

Prison Discipline Society.-The anniversary meeting of this society was held in Park-street church Tuesday, at 11 o'clock. The nineteenth annual report was read by the secretary. It contained a mass of statistical information, and made suggestions in regard to the conduct of penitentiaries, worthy of a philanthropic mind, and in accordance with the reformatory spirit of the age.

The report was divided into four heads, treating of-1st, lunatics; 2d, county prisons; 3d, penitentiaries; 4th, houses of refuge. There are in the United States about 17,000 insane persons, a large proportion of whom are still confined in alms-houses, jails and penitentiaries. Thirteen States have insane asylums, to wit: New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio: and active efforts are making to procure their establishment in Rhode Island, Delaware and Indiana. The principal causes of insanity cited, were—intemperance, religious excitements, ill health, anxiety about property, and solitary vice. A comparison was made between the years 1833 and 1843, as to the proportion which each of these causes created. The number made by intemperance had fallen from 24 to 3 per cent. while the number from religious excitements had increased. [This latter result is unquestionably attributable to the influence of "Millerism."] The property mania had retained its full number of victims; but those arising from the solitary vice had decreased one-half.

The secretary had addressed circulars to the jailers in New England, inquiring as to the number of prisoners in comparison with former years, the classification of their crimes, and whether they received any moral and religious instruction, &c., &c. In answer he had received but twenty reports; by which it appeared that in only two jails of the number-at Dedham, Mass, and at Brooklyn, Ct.,—was any attention paid to the moral cultivation of the convicts! The reports indicated a general diminution of crime, in proportion to the population, compared with former years. The secretary credited this reform to the progress of temperance.

The statistics of the county prisons, in regard to the decrease of crime, would also hold true with the State penitentiaries. Solitary confinement was reprobated, as promoting insanity and disease, and reports were read showing this fact. The abolition of the practice was recommended. Milder punishments are more generally inflicted than formerly, and the conduct and moral sense of prisoners had improved in consequence.

Addresses were made by deacon Greely, Rev. Mr. Waterston, and others, in commendation of the objects and efforts of the society, which were listened to with gratification: and a more deep and universal feeling in regard to the benevolence and usefulness of the institution, was never manifest.