The opening of Chapter I
INTRODUCTORY.
Object of the journey.--Interest in prisons.--Visitation of prisons in 1874.--Distribution of religious literature in Russia.--Tour round Bothnian Gulf, 1876.--To Russo-Turkish war, 1877.--To Archangel, 1878.--Origin of Siberian journey.--Alba Hellman and her correspondence.--The way opened.--Projected efforts of usefulness.--Books to be distributed.--Final resolve.
The object that took me through Siberia was of a philanthropic and religious character; and before proceeding to a general description of the country, I should like to acquaint the reader with the circumstances that led me there. My interest in prisons dates from a visit to Newgate jail in 1867, followed by others to prisons at Winchester, Portland, Millbank, Dover, York, Exeter, Geneva, Guernsey, and Edinburgh: but this interest amounted to little more than curiosity. Two years later it took a practical turn. My summer holidays up to that time had been spent on the principle, “Play when you play, and work when you work,”--a proverb that is doubtless true, but which I had not found entirely satisfactory.