32 
good company at this place, as it 
1s frequented by refpectable \per- 
fons, who have loft their fortunes 
by fome. unforefeen accidents, 
It was here that the Rev. Mr. 
Horne wrote his excellent book on 
the government and laws of Eng- , 
land; that Wilkes formed the plan 
.of his prefent grandeur, 
The unbecoming aflemblage of 
the two fexes, is one of the greateft 
abufes of this prifon. I have al- 
xeady faid, that according to the 
laws of the country, the hufband is 
obliged to anfwer for the debts of 
his wife, fo that it is he only that 
is arrefted. One does not there- 
fore meet with married ‘women . 
here, but there are plenty of wi- 
dows and unmarried ladies. Thefe 
laft, who are all priefteffes of Ve- 
nus, abound in great plenty, and 
fometimes exceed an.hundred. One 
of thefe mutt be very difagreeable, 
if fhe does not find, on her arrival, 
feveral who will offer to fhare their 
apartments with her,and even their 
beds. When they are tired of each 
other they feparate, and make a 
frefh choice. ' [t often happens that 
they remain with their lovers after 
they are liberated ; and it is not at 
all uncommon to fee them forming 
connetions here, which are ‘only 
diffolved by death. 
The voluptuous life which they : 
lead in this gaol, is alfo angmented 
by the continual vifits which their 
lovers make them. However, not- 
withftanding the debauchery which 
generally prevails, it very rarely 
happens that it is attended with 
confequences punifhable by the 
laws. 
There aye certain diftri€s in the 
neighbourhood of the king’s bench 
and the fleet, called rules, which . 
form a circuit of two Englifh miles. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. 
The prifoner may not only ramble 4 
but even live within thele, when~ 
ever -he can find fecurity that he 
will not efcape. It is remarked, 
that no nation is fo creduious as the 
Englith. a 
‘here are a great. many agree- 
able gardens in the neighbourhood 
of the king’s bench, where tea and 
.coffee are fold, and which in an 
afternoon are full of prifoners, 
The marfhal has upwards of three 
thoufand a year, in falary and per- 
quilites ; for this-he has very little 
to do; as he never troubles himfelf 
about the interior regulations: he 
is obliged, however, to give large 
fecurity, as he becomes liable to 
the debts of all thofe who efcape. 
About ten years fince, four pri- 
foners, whoie debts amounted to 
1,500/. fterling, efcaped by means 
of a hole in the garden wall. Be- 
fore he paid fo much money, the 
marfhal bethought himfelf of a 
very fingular expedient. He gave 
notice that he would give them 
fifty per cent. of the {ums for which 
they had been confined, provided 
they would furrender themfelves. 
Three of them a€tually acceded to 
the agreement, received the ftipu- 
lated payment, and returned to 
their former habitation. ; 
Although the care of this gaol is 
entirely confided to the marfhal, 
yet he is not permitted to interfere 
in its internal regulations, and is 
very feldom feen withia its walls. 
Every prifoner, whether man or 
woman, is a member of this com- 
monwealth, and participates in all 
its privileges. They cheofe a lord 
chief juftice, and a certain number 
of judges, who aflemble once a 
week, and decide controverties. 
In .this court they terminate all 
quarrels, make laws concerning the 
* police; 
< 
