, and cutting tobacco stoppers. From this last
mode of idle industry I took the hint of setting such as chose to work at
cutting pegs for tobacconists and shoemakers, the proper wood being bought by a
general subscription, and when manufactured, sold by my appointment; so that
each earned something every day: a trifle indeed, but sufficient to maintain
him.
    I did not stop here, but instituted fines for the punishment of immorality,
and rewards for peculiar industry. Thus in less than a fortnight I had formed
them into something social and humane, and had the pleasure of regarding myself
as a legislator, who had brought men from their native ferocity into friendship
and obedience.
    And it were highly to be wished, that legislative power would thus direct
the law rather to reformation than severity. That it would seem convinced that
the work of eradicating crimes is not by making punishments familiar, but
formidable. Then instead of our present prisons, which find or make men guilty,
which enclose wretches for the commission of one crime, and return them, if
returned alive, fitted for the perpetration of thousands; we should see, as in
other parts of Europe, places of penitence and solitude, where the accused might
be attended by such as could give them repentance if guilty, or new motives to
virtue if innocent. And this, but not the increasing punishments, is the way to
mend a state: nor can I avoid even questioning the validity of that right which
social combinations have assumed of capitally punishing offences of a slight
nature. In cases of murder their right is obvious, as it is the duty of us all,
from the law of self-defence, to cut off that man who has shewn a disregard for
the life of another. Against such, all nature arises in arms; but it is not so
against him who steals my property. Natural law gives me no right to take away
his life, as by that the horse he steals is as much his property as mine. If
then I have any right, it must be from a compact made between us, that he who
deprives the other of his horse shall die. But this is a false compact; because
no man has a right to barter his life, no more than to take it away, as it is
not his own. And beside, the compact is inadequate, and would be set aside even
in a court of modern equity, as there is a great penalty for a very trifling
convenience, since it is far better that two men should live, than that one man
should ride. But a
