b o o k vayvodes, or inferior juftices, by whom it had been
i— ,— <ihamefully abufed. In 176 7 a fecret order was iffued to the
judges in thefeveral provinces, that whenever they fhould
think torture requifite to force a criminal to confeffion, they
Ihould draw up the general articles o f the charge, and lay
the cafe before the governor o f the province for his conli-
deration : and all the governors had received previous directions
to determine the cafe according to the principles laid
down in the third queftion * o f the tenth chapter o f her ma-
jefty’s inftruCtions for a code o f laws ; wherein torture is
proved to be no lefs ufelefs than cruel. This, therefore, was
a tacit abolition o f torture, which has been fince formally
and publickly annulled. The prohibition of torture throughout
the vaft dominions of the Ruffian empire forms a memorable
æra in the annals of humanity.
According to the plan I laid down, I vifited the Ruffian
prifons at Mofcow and Peteriburgh, o f which I have already-
given an ample account in a former publication +. In this
place I lhall only remark in general, that thè emprefs being
informed o f my refearches in relation to prifons, with a con-
defcenfion peculiar to her character, permitted me to deliver
to count Ivan Tchernichef vice-prefident o f the admiralty,
a lilt of queries, with refpeCt to fome o f which I received in-
formation,by her orders, from her heft-informed governors Ë
and others ffie even condefcended to anfwer herfelf. The
latter I lhall here fubjoin, with a full conviction, that obfer-
vations even o f lefs moment would be rendered acceptable
b y the authority o f fo diltinguilhed a character.
* Qu eftion I I I . “ L a queftion ne b leffe- + A c c o u n t o f th e Prifons and Ho fpita ls
t-e lle pas la ju ft ic e , e t c o n d u it.e lle au b u t , in Ru ffia , Sweden, and D enm a rk , 8cc.
& c . See In f tru flio n de C a th a r in e I I . & c . J I ha ve made u ie o f thefe papers in th e
p. 5 1 1 ° tre a tife mentioned in th e laft n o te .
Queries
queries upon the Ruffian pri- Anfwerj difiated by the emprefs c h a p .
fons, delivered to the emprefs. to her fecretary, and fent to — J—
the author.
1. Is there any general plan
for the conftruSlion o f prifons,
and their interior diftribution ?
and are they ufually ftu a ted in
the fuburbs, and near the run-
- 'ning water P
2. What precautions are
taken in order to keep the prifons
clean, and to prevent epidemical
diflempers P
3. Is their a feparate infirmary
for thefickf
4. Are petty offenders kept
apart'from the felons, and are
the felons alfo feparated from
each other P
¡,. Are the prifoyiers permitted
to pur chafe fpirituous
liquors,, and do the jailers fe ll
them P
“ 1 . There has been hitherto
“ no general plan for the
“ conftruCtion o f prifons, nor
“ rules for their diftribution
H and lituation.
“ 2. There is no more re-
“ gulation for the cleanlinefs
“ o f the prifons, thanfortheir
“ conftruCtion and lituation.
“ By an abufe, favourable to
“ the prifoners, they are in
“ many places permitted to go
“ to the baths. It is probable
“ that the cold alone prevents
“ epidemical diforders.
“ 3. Not every where.
“ 4. Although it is prefcribed
I by the antient laws that afe-
“ Ion, when he is fentenced to
“ death,lhallbekeptinafepa-
“ rate room, called the cham-
“ berofrepentance,neverthe-
“ lefs, there are no where
3 chambers o f that defcription.
“ 5. Every fpecies o f food is
e‘ fold in the prifons, but the
“ jailer cannot fell fpirituous-
liquors,