Panopticon; PostScript Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1791 edition. Excerpt: ... hut induftry? Is coarfe diet nothing? Is confinement, is lofs of liberty in every fhape nothing? To me it would feem but fo much the better, if a man could be taught to love labour, inftead of being taught to loath it. Occupation, inftead of the prifoner's fcourge, fhould be called and fhould be made as much as pofhble, a cordial to him. It is in itfelf fwcet in companion of forced idlenefs; and the produce of it will give it a double favour. The mere exertion, the mere naked energy is amufement, where loofer ones arc not to be found. Take it in either point of view, induftry is a bl-effing--why paint it as a curfe? Hard labour?--labourharder than ordinary, in a prifon?--not only it has no bufinefs there, but a prifon is the only place in which it is not to be had. 'Is it exertion that you want? violent exertion? The Chevatier Paulet's views on this head f iit better, I muft c-nfefs,-withmine. in his eftablifhment, a capital article in the penal lift is the pmifhmentof forced idlenefs: and without dividing bis b.ys for the purpofe into two dafTes and three dafTes, or plaguing his managers with governing Committees, he contrive! to render it fufficcmlv uncomfortable. See an interefling account of the ettablimment of that generous and intelligent 'phrhup. ttropift jn the Rcpofitory, vul. i. reward rewafd not punifhment is the office you rauft apply to. Compulfion and flavery muft in a race like this be ever an unequal match for encouragement and liberty: and the rougher the ground the more unequal. By what contrivance could any man be made to do in a jail the work that any common coal-heaver will do when at large? By what compulfion could a porter be made to carry the burthen which he would carry with pleafure for half a crown? He would...