I20 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



This system of herding all classes of prisoners 

 together was eminently adapted for the formation of a 

 criminal class, and to that end succeeded admirably. 



In the outer doors of these wards I have enumerated 

 was a smaller trap-doer, through which various things 

 could be passed to the inmates ; and an old woman, 

 Polly Batt, had the privilege of supplying any prisoner 

 with whatever he required, if only he had the money to 

 pay. Tobacco, chops, bacon, vegetables, tea and sugar, 

 could be had, and as scarcely any supervision was 

 exercised, on many occasions files and other implements 

 to aid an escape were surreptitiously conveyed to the 

 inmates. But the crowning absurdity of all remains to 

 be mentioned — these prison worthies were allowed as 

 much beer (but no spirits) as they could pay for ; it is 

 true that there was a sort of arrangement that no man 

 should have more than a pint a day, but as a man who 

 had plenty of money could arrange with others who had 

 none, one man might get six or eight pints a day. 

 When the agricultural or Swing rioters were in gaol, in 

 the year 183 1, there were served in one day from the 

 White Hart 112 quarts of beer to the various wards. 

 The White Hart was celebrated fur its Marlow beer, and 

 it was carried round openly by a potman, who served his 

 customers through the little door, the money being taken 

 at the time, or, if there were any well-known man in gaol, 

 he could go on credit. In an old account-book now 

 before me, I see several items for beer scored up — 

 C. Lynn, is. ; C. Lynn, is. ^d.^ etc. This man was 

 guilty of a dreadful murder in the Whaddon Chase, 

 but was acquitted on the ground of insanity, and 



