CRIME AND PUNISHMENT 95
The city prison, which was different from the Ostrog, was" a
disgrace to a civilized country." The Grand Duke's Hospital,
however," would do credit to any country."
On the whole, it may be said that Howard's picture of the
European prisons is not too depressing, and shows that there
was a considerable advance in humanitarianism over the cen-
tury. Torture was abolished in most countries, and capital
punishment was falling out of use except for murderers.
France was the only great state, down to the Revolution, which
still resorted to torture. Howard, visiting Avignon, nominally
Papal territory, but administered by France since 1768, was
shown the torture instruments by the gaoler, who said that
" he had seen drops of blood mixed with the sweat on the
breasts of some who had suffered the torture."