1 S 1 6. ] State of Debtors and Creditors. 121 



As far as j'on can form any judgment Did those persons appear to live at 

 from the examination of debtors, what their ease in prison? — I have some of 

 appears to you to be theii- cliief fault with them now; they appear to live in a de- 

 regard to tlicir creditors? Is it in con- give of decenc}, bat not extrava"-ant!y. 

 tracting debts without ability to pay, or Have you known any persons confined 

 HI squandering property after tiiey have in prison for debt who have been either 

 obtained credit? — In contracting debts in a state of sickness or insanity for any 

 that they have not abiUty to pay, I length of time? — Yes; I have an insane 

 tiiiilk. debtor now, who lias been in my custody 



What class of persons did those ap- I believe fifteen years, 

 pear to be who contracted debts without What is the reason of his lono- deten- 



ability to pay? — Generally persons who tion in prison? — He might hav'e taken 



call themselves gentlemen ; persons who the benefit of several Insolvent Acts, but 



kave no means of getting a living. having a property of his own, he never 



You do not know how long that attempted it ; and latterly, within these 



paper you have just put in has been iu " 



•xistencc ? — Some years. 



3Ir. Nicholas Nixon. 

 You are warden of the Fleet? — I am 

 the deputy-warden of the Fleet. 



,'oae out of his 



three yeais, he has 

 mind. 



And therefore is unable to make the 

 application?— Yes; he cannot take tli« 

 oath. 



Do you know whether debtors in con- 31r. Bernard Emanuel Brooshooft caU 

 i „ -: .1- led 171, and examined. 



What is your situation?— I act a» 

 deputy-marshal of the King's Bench. 



Do you know whether debtors in con- 

 finement are more numerous since the 

 passing of the General Insolvent Act 

 than befoie ?— There are more persons 

 committed to custody since. 



Perhaps a part of the augmentation of 



finement are more numerous since the 

 passing of the General Insolvent Act 

 Ihau before? — More numerous. 



Perhaps a part of the augmentation of 

 the numbers is to be attributed to the 

 distress of the times? — I conceive so. 



Do you know any other cause that 

 lias occasioned an increase in their 

 numbers? — The Insolvent Act itself. 



In what manner do you conceive it the number is to be attributed to the dig.- 

 has increased tiie number of debtors? — tress of the times? — I should certainly 

 My opinion is, that, when an act of par- tJiink so. 



Lodging houses w ithin your rules artf 

 not expensive?— They can be had at 

 from half-a-crown a week to two gui« 

 neas. 



Half-a-crown a week for an apart- 

 ment? — Yes. 



How low are there any houses rented 

 in your rules?— As low as five shillings 

 a week. 



Houses?— Yes, with three rooms; 



liament limits the imprisonment of a 

 prisoner to three months only, it is invi- 

 ting persons to come to prison. 



llefore the Insolvent Debtors Act 

 passed, were many persons confined for 

 a great length of time in gaol by their 

 •reditors ? — Not longer than usual ; there 

 was not any marked distinction. I have 

 debtors in custody that have been so with 

 me for upwards of twenty years, but 



tliey have not been longer confined than they build tliem on a small constri 

 generally they were; and we have had, tion. 

 Upon an average, a greater number of Before the Insolvent Debtors Act pas- 

 prisoners than we had before the General sed, were many persons confined for a 

 Act took place. Formerly, on the ru- great length of time in gaol by tlicir 

 mour going abroad of an intention to creditors? — Previous to the acts of insol- 

 pass an Insolvent Act, the place filled vency wliich have lately taken place 

 rapiilly: but, although the prison has t'ley were certainly confined a long time' 

 filled more rapidly on that account, yet, many of them. " ' 



when the debtors, so coming in, found Have you known any remain durin" 

 they were not included in that temporary their whole life in prison? — 'J'here is one 

 act of insolvency, they discharged Ihem- gentleman who has been there tliirtv 



iielves a.s quickly as they came in. 



In the cases of persons being confined 

 twenty years, to what cause do you at- 

 tribute that length of confinement? — 

 Ilrihling, 1 suppose, pr()|)erty of their 

 own, wliicli they were not disjjosed to 

 jj\c up under any act of parliament. 



.MoNTHLv Mag. \o. 2btf, 



years.' but it is a voluntary thing now"; 

 because, in the dilitrcnt acts that have 

 passed, he has been included: it would 

 be his death to remove him. 



Does he live luxuriou.sly?— No; quite 



humble. The Post Ufticu have given 



Lim the office of post-uiastcr there, for 



R whicli 



