SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



was very great. The criminals were taken either to London or Portsmouth, 

 where they were received by merchants who contracted to transport them to 

 the King's colonies and possessions either in America or Africa. The gaoler 

 seldom sent in an account which did not mention expenses for conveying con- 

 victs. A Report of a Committee of Magistrates of the counties of Chester 

 and Lancaster appointed to consider how such expenses could be reduced was 

 received by the Bedfordshire magistrates ; but whether any concerted action 

 was taken does not appear. The gaoler's usual fee for each convict was ^6 

 plus the costs incurred on the journey. Thus in 1803 the gaoler's fee for 

 delivering six convicts on board the Captivity at Portsmouth was £1° '■> ^^^ 

 cost of conveyance, including ' proper guards and every necessary expense,' 

 was ^21 I2J. more. In another case, where the expenses are set out in 

 detail, we get a glimpse of the travelling of that day. A convict had to be 

 taken to London, and this is the gaoler's bill : ' For three men and three 

 horses as a guard, £t^ 3J. ; one night's charges upon the road and other 

 charges, ^i is. ; for waiting upon the Clerk of the Assize, coach hire, water 

 carriage, and charges in London, ^^i i u. ; charges down, 15J. ; for my own 

 trouble; £2 2s. ; paid the wagoner, ys. bd. ; total, ^^8 19J. 6d'.' Criminals 

 were often sent to the hulks at Woolwich, for periods of several years. 

 Women were transported as well as men. 



The condition of the gaols and the treatment of prisoners deserve notice, 

 particularly in view of the fact that John Howard's philanthropic work 

 began in this county in which he was a resident. The condition of the 

 county gaol at Bedford began to attract serious attention about the years 

 1 78 1—3. Two men who were committed for debt broke gaol, and it cost 

 the gaoler ^40 to recover them, they having taken refuge in the Fens. In 

 1783 the keepers of the gaol and bridewell complained at quarter sessions 

 that the number of convicted felons who had not been removed was so great 

 that the prisons were rendered unhealthy and had become dangerous to the 

 health of the town. In 1786 it was resolved to enlarge the gaol. It is 

 significant that the enlargement was to provide cells above ground, a separate 

 apartment for the sick, and separate accommodation for male and female 

 prisoners. In the meantime the walls of the cells were scraped and white- 

 washed. There had, for thirty years, been a windmill for ventilating the 

 gaol ; but it is now reported — as if the ventilating had been in abeyance — 

 that the cells had been kept clean and supplied with fresh air. Two rooms, 

 it was reported, could be set apart for the sick when there were but few 

 prisoners, otherwise not. No bathing tub was provided. We come upon 

 frequent reports of ague, fever, and severe colds. The dietary of the sick 

 appears to have been liberal. We read of 'hot suppins ' (spoonmeat), 

 cordials, broths, wine, whey, meat, white bread, and ' other nourishments,' 

 particularly panada (curiously misspelt in the reports), or sweetened bread- 

 pudding. 'Buttered ale ' was given in cases of severe colds. In 1799, 

 when the fever was unusually prevalent, we read of ' brandy, port wine, 

 sitters-up ... oil and vinegar to wash the sick wards and supply a fumi- 

 gating lamp . . . ponadoes, sago, sugar, mutton broths, and porter.' The 

 convalescent at this time were regaled with meat and three meals a day for 

 several days ; and those who were not diseased were supplied for a fortnight 

 with ' meat, beer, and tobacco to prevent the infection.' Bleeding and the 



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