1796. ] 
perfons confined : I gained the confidence 
of fome of the gaolers; and I made ule 
of my own common fenle, in making ob- 
fervations, and in drawing comparifons 
between different goals. In fhort, I took 
an accurate, though curfory, furvey of 
various particulars in thefe places: Hav- 
ing firft perufed Mr. Howard’s State of 
the Prifons, and examined the force of 
his remarks on the Gad cufioms prevailing 
in them, I withed to afcertain, by per- 
fonal obfervation, how far thefe abufes 
were ftill fuffered. 
found that moft of the bad praétices, com- 
plained of by Howard, then prevailed : 
and a few obfervations on this fubje& I 
according laid before the public. 
How ftand thefe matters at prefent ? 
About three quarters of a year ago, fir, 
I had cceafion to revilit one of the prifons 
in the metropolis. I was anxious to 
know whether thefe dad cu/foms were yet 
perfevered in. It is the policy of defign- 
ing and interefted men to avail them- 
felves of the moft trifling inaccuracies of 
fuch as expofe public evils, and delineate 
profligate characters, though not a fingle 
argument 1s weakened by fuch {mall in- 
advertencies. Thefe miferable fubter- 
fuges are eafily feen through by judicious 
obfervers. The facts ftated in 1792 were 
true; and the following ftatement, lately 
made jn one of the prifons in the me- 
tropolis, may be relied on as impartial 
and ac¢urate : 
r. The laws of 1784, and 1791, that re- 
gard prifoners, are both neglected in this 
gaol. The fourth fection of the firt law 
(24 Geo. iil. ch. 25.) enacts, ‘ that pri- 
Joners convicted of felony, prifeners commutted 
Sor, or adjudged to be guilty of, mtldemeanors 
only, and debtors, are to have feparate and 
diflind places of confinement.” Both thefe 
Jaws breathe the fpirit of benevolence, 
and were defiyned to prevent the un- 
avoidable contamination arifing from a 
proimifcuous intercourfe ameng great and 
little culprits ; among fuch as are greatly 
deprave, and partially corrupt. A more 
daring violation of law and juftice has 
paft uncenfured in this prifon. A per- 
fon guilty of a mifdemeanor, and con- 
fined at firft on the ftate-fide, was forced 
over to the felons’ fide, and continued 
there till the expiration of his 
Whether the gaoler exercifed this feve- 
rity on account of any fuppofed unruly 
conduct of the. prifoner, or in confe- 
quence of not receiving certain fees, 
which, however generally paid, are un- 
lawfully demanded, it is unneceflary to 
enquire. The conduct of che gaoler was 
3 
a 
impofitions in Prifonse 
To my furprize, I 
entence. 
roy 
in the face of two acts of parliament.— 
Thefe impofitions relate to the fate fide 
of the prifon. 
z- Lhe fecond clafs of abufes to be 
mentioned, belongs te the felon’s fide. 
Jn the gaol alluded to, oifenders cf every 
defcription may be provided’ with rhe 
fame accommodations, and lodged in the 
fame chatnber ; and every fpecies of im- 
pofition is exercifed on the unhappy fe- 
lon, in the face too of an aét of parlia- 
ment, that breathes the fpirit of wifdcm 
and benevolence: for, by 31 Geo. iti. 
ch. 26. feét. 9. it is ena&ted, that as long 
as any perfon under fentence of tran/portation 
Seal continue in the common gaol, the gaoler 
JSoall feparate fucd convidt, as far as con- 
ventenily may be, from every perfon in bis 
cuflody, except prifoners convidted of felony. 
The tendency of this law is obvious’ to 
intelligent readers, but the force of it is 
deftroyed through the avarice of gaolers. 
3- I with the import of the Marquis 
of Becearia’s and Baron Montefquien’s 
Obfervations on the Proportioning of Pu- 
nifhments to Crimes, and on the Speedy 
Execution of Juftice, was. fully compre- 
hended, and generally realized. - Mr. 
Howard obferves, * that at Hull they 
ufed to have afiize but once in feven 
years, though now they have it once in 
three.” It feems almof to exceed belief, 
fir, that, in the prifon alluded to, there 
fhould have been lodged a perfon for 
more than feven years, without a trial, 
though, during that period, there were 
feveral gaol-denveries. 
4. Irons are fill made an affair of per- 
quifite to the keeper. 
choice of fetters for a fee. Such felons 
as cannot aiford to pay the gaoler a per- 
quifite, are generally burthened with 
irons; fuch as pay the fee, are releafed 
from them. Strictly fpeaking, no per- 
fon whatever ought to be loaded with 
irons ; and prifons should be fo conftruét- 
ed, as to render fuch expedients unne- 
ceflary. 
5- Fees on entrance, and on enlarge- 
ment, fo repeatedly complained of by 
Howard, and by others, are ftill received : 
and prifoners, on their admiffion, {till 
pay entrance-money, commonly called 
Garnith, ro their feilow-prifoners. 
6. The felons are mo wretchedly im- 
pofed on in almoft every article that 
they purchafe ; a two-fold extortion is 
practifed : the price is dearer than at 
other places, and the commodity not fo 
good. 
Not half the evils that might be ex- 
pected are here mentioned. Of the deb- 
LOLs, 
Men may have the 2 
