Cill A RA 
Within its circumference a great 
number of houfes are built for the 
accommodation of the prifoners; a 
garden where they may walk, a 
place where they may play at fives, 
public-houfes where beer and wine 
are fold, a cefiee-houfe, fhops, &c. 
&c. Fi 
All the mechanics who. follow 
trades which do not require much 
room nor long preparation, are 
allowed here to exercife their re- 
{pective avocations, which they 
denote by figns at their doors and 
windows. You-may find: taylors, 
fhoe-makers, wig-makers, &c. &c. 
who not only work for the other 
prifoners, but alfo for their cuf- 
tomers elfewhere, who itill continue 
to employ them. They generaily 
make their families ftay with them, 
and live very comfortably. Thofe 
who are at liberty fometimes fur- 
pafs in number thofe who are con- 
fined, andthe whole often amounts 
to two or three thoufand. - There 
isno guard but at the entrance; 
the greateit liberty reigns within; 
neither bars, nor bolts, nor irons, 
nor gaoler are to be perceived ; 
nothing, in one word, to denote a 
prifon. 
As their doors are never locked 
up, the» inhabitants may divert 
themfelves for whole nights toge- 
ther: they have even been known 
to give balls and concerts. The 
free-mafons have a lodge here. It 
was in théking’s bench that Wilkes 
was, in the year 1769, received as 
a member of that fociety. 
The gates are open from feven 
o’clock in the morning till nine at 
night. Any perfon impelled either 
by curiofity or bufinefs, may go 
and come during thofe hours, with- 
oyt being atked any queftions. 
During Wilkes’s imprifonment, the 
CiT BRIS 31 
avenues were continually choaked 
up by the number of carriages that 
were bringing vifitors to him. 
‘It fometimes happens, that per- 
fons afraid of being arreited, run 
to this place as to an afylum, where 
they remain with fome of the pri- 
foners-whom they are acquainted 
with, and never depart till they 
have made terms with their cre- 
ditors, or taken fome other ne- 
ceflary fteps. For, according to 
the conftitution of this fingular 
commonwealth, the perfons who fly 
there for refuge, cannot in any. 
manner be moletted by thofe on the 
outfide. The infide is a fanctuary, 
facred to liberty, where the bailit? 
dares not penetrate. He never 
goes further than the lobby, where 
he depofits his prifoners. Woe to 
if he pafies one flep beyond 
if} 
In this prifon, there are apart- 
ments which would not difgrace a 
palace. Thefe are generally oc- 
cupied by rich people, who pay for 
them at a very dear rate: for no- 
thing is more common than to fee 
perfons who pofiefs confiderable 
fortunes conducted to.this place, 
who remain there as long as they 
pleafe, and fet out whenever they 
choofe to make the neceflary ar- 
rangements with their creditors. 
During their confinement they 
fquander large fums of money, and 
give a great deal in charity to their 
fellow-prifoners. 
One may here fee people drefied 
in the moft fafhionable clothes; 
affemblies of ladies and gentlemen, 
apartments elegantly furnifhed, and 
tables delicately ferved. The gen- 
teel. and polite air every where 
vifible, will never ailow any one to 
think that all this isina gaol. 
One is almof fure of meeting 
good 
