Frederic became involved with the movement for political reform with his brothers, Rowland, who would introduce the Penny Post, and Matthew, who would become an MP for Hull.
“Well do I remember the arrival of the letter from Lord John Russell,” Frederic wrote many years later, “informing me that I was appointed an inspector of prisons.
I was sitting reading in Matthew’s chambers in Chancery Lane, and such was my delight that I skipped about the room for joy, and, tradition says, jumped over a chair!” His complete ignorance on the subject of prisons proved to be no barrier to his appointment as inspector.
He was told by the Home Secretary that Scotland had been “[chosen] as your chief district because there is most work to be done there and I know you will do it.” The counties of Northumberland and Durham were also to be under his supervision.
Frederic Hill realized that he needed advice before jumping into the stormy seas of the Scottish prison system.
They had dirty straw for bedding, unglazed windows, cold, damp cells and were “herded together, young and old, good or bad, without any distinction as to their various offences, and were left to corrupt one another.
No work was provided, and they passed their time in idleness, drunkenness and gambling.” Hill made various suggestions to Lord John Russell, one of the most important being that the management of all the prisons in Scotland should be placed under one directing authority.