LETTER XI. ON PRISONS.

MR. URBAN,

T

Sambrook Court, Sept. 19.

HE following correfpondence, which defcribes the ftate of the Prifons and places of confine***** ment in the county of Cambridge, prefents more to approve than to cenfure; and, although it affords matter worthy of remark, any reflections thereon fhall be poftponed, in order to fulfil the engagement propofed in P 608 of your Mifcellany, of noticing the letters under the fignatures of W. p. 496. and S. A. p. 518, with which I thall include thofe of Eufebia, p. 709, and Confervator, p. 710, as illuftrative of each other.

From the two first letters, figned by initials, we are affured, that in fome of the workhoufes in the metropolis, divine fervice has been regularly performed, and, confequently, that general cenfure of neglect in this neceffary duty is not uniformly applicable. Well-authenticated fa&s of paftoral attention over the rifing generation muft convey pleasure to every feeling mind; and that pleasure would be augmented were the fruits of virtuous conduct found to correfpond with this pious care; but, in Confervator's apology for the vicious ftate of the manufacturing children placed out from the metropolis, the lamentable inftances of depravity are in fome measure deduced from, and afcribed to, the introdu&tion of the children from the workhoufes in London, as he ftates, that "the gleanings of work houfes from the capital, from many parts of the

country, have been thrown into thefe great towns;" and hence it, may be inferred, that the attention to morals in many of them is inadequate and ineffectual to the due correction of vicious habits, and that the requifite care to this important object cannot be too earneftly impreffed upon the public

It never was my defign, however, to point out the Clergy as the ob jects of cenfure, but rather the miftaken economy of the directors of Prifons, Bridewells, and Workhoufes, in neglecting the advantages to be derived from employing their useful fervices; and I fhall hence avoid any animadverfion on the charges introduced by Eufebia. As an individual, I am under numerous obligations to the Clergy for the pleasure and inftruction I have derived from their fociety and friendship; whom I have long confidered as a diftinguished ornament of the community; and without whole exertions virtue, which happily animates this country to a degree hitherto unknown, would become lukewarm; and beneficence, with all thofe moral affections which dignify human nature, might degenerate into torpor, and fympa thy be congealed into apathy.

In noticing Confervator's letter, I wish to avoid controverfy; his fentiments, however, do not appear to me calculated to preferve infantile morality, upon which the future happinefs of the community fo materially depends. "If," fays he, "the vifit of the benevolent Mr. Neild was only to wreft from his mill articles of crimination for an expofure before the publick. Mr. Bott has acted very wifely by the interdiction

interdiction of curiofity and intrufive enquiry."

Enquiry and intrufion may refult from very different fources. My friend Neild is well known as holding the king's commiffion of the peace in more counties than one; and the fource from whence his curiofity is derived, neither requires my explanation nor apology; but to admit, like Confervator, an IF, I might add-" IF children of various denominations are apprenticed to manufactories, and enquiry into their fituation and treatment be interdicted, morality and health muft in many inftances be ruined; and hence equally humane would it be at once to introduce flavery, and tolerate all its baneful effects.' A fecond Mrs. Brownrigg, and another manufacturer of Bow near Stratford, might ufe the fame argument to preclude intrufive enquiry, and the exercife of that juf tice which the pooreft object is yet entitled to. Not fo reafoned that great manufacturer Sir Robert Peel, bart. whofe humane exertions, however unjuftifiably eluded, to protect and meliorate the miferable condition of infantile outcasts and apprentices, will ever claim the bleffings of the poor and the gratitude of the nation, and not only of Dale of Lanark, but likewife of every other liberal manufacturer who wishes to raife his fortunes only on the conjoint happiness of his labourers.

Indeed, were this inquifitive en quiry more univerfally extended, the most interefting benefits might refult. Every poor perfon, apprenticed out by any parish whatever, ought to be vifited at the leaft twice a year by the overfeers or churchwardens, or rather by one or two independent individuals of the parifh, in order to enquire into their treatment and health,-to encourage virtue and induftry fometimes by little rewards, and difcourage vice by remonftrance and advice. It would be honourable to the female fex, were fimilar appointments adopted to vifit and fuperintend

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thofe of their own fex who may be alfo placed out to fervice. By these attentions the poor would feel the pride of being owned by their fuperiors; and gratitude would excite a ftrong impulfe to perfeverance in good conduct.

Howard told me, that, when he was in Vienna, after having been highly diftinguifhed by the Em peror, he was vifited by feveral perfons of rank, and among others the newly-appointed governor of Upper. Auftria and his countefs. The former, with no little pomp, enquired into the ftate of the prifons under his government to which the Vifitor of Prifons replied, that " they were in the worft state of any in the Imperial dominions he had feen, and particularly the fituation in which the women were placed;" adding, that "it would be doing a noble action were his lady to pay attention to this miferable clafs of her own fex." This great lady appeared highly indignant on the recommendation of fuch a degradation of her rank, and was retiring fafter down the flairs of his apartments than fhe had afcended them. "Remember," faid the Philanthropist, "that you, Madam, are alfo a woman, and will fome time poffefs no more room than the pooreft of your fex."

I cannot close this letter without adverting to Confervator's note on the fuppofed religious profeffion of Dale of Lanark. If he meant no cenfure on him or Howard as Diffenters, there was certainly no occafion for his apology; nor does there appear any great neceflity for admitting the charge of "party." The object we have endeavoured to promote is not bounden by the narrow prejudices of any religious body, nor circumfcribed. by any partial diftinétions whatever; for it is that benevolence which defcends from heaven to earth, and extends from pole to pole.

Yours, &c. J. C. LETTSQM. P. 799, col. 2, 115, for partial tracts, . practical tracts.

Cambridge

Cambridge Caftle, William Gregory, gaoler (falary 901, out of which he pays 181. 10s. to the turnkey) for Gaol and Bridewell. Debtors' fees and garnish are very laudably abolished, but the under-fheriff demands 8s. for his liberate, and for the payment of which the debtor may be detained. Felons fees, 18s. 4d. paid by the county. Tranfports, 61. 6s. each; he paying the clerk of afflize 11. 1s. for each. Chap lain, Rev. Mr. Homes. There being no chapel, divine fervice, when performed, is in the keeper's house across the caftle-yard. Salary, 251. and occafional donations from the Earl of Hardwicke. Surgeon, Mr. Okes; falary, 201. Allowance to felons and Houfe of Corection prifoners; Monday and Thurf day, 16 ounces of bread; Wednesday and Saturday, 12 ounces; Tuefday and Friday, 12 ounces of bread with potatoes, or peafe, onions, or other vege tables ftewed; and on Sunday oxcheek or leg of beef made into trong Loup. Debtors have no allowance whatever except they are very poor, then, upon folicitation of the gaoler, the juftices order them the fame allow ance as the felons. Number of prifoners, Aug. 20, 1800, debtors 8, felons 13; January 28, 1802, debtors 18, felons 9; Auguff 7, 1802, debtors 6, felon 1. The prifon is the gate of the old cafle. On the ground-floor, called the Low Gaol, are four ftrong rooms, about 12 feet by 9 each, one of which is called the Condemned Room. To these the county furnishes fraw. There is an afcent of 22 (tone fteps to the debtors' apartments, called the High Gaol. On the firft-floor is a room for the turnkey, a kitchen, a privy, and three other rooms. Above them are fix other fizeable rooms; four of them hold two and three beds each, for which the prifoner pays 1s. 6d. per week if he has no bed of his own, and if two fleep together, is each. They have a day-room on the first-floor, and a fmall court-vard, in which they grow vegetables, 27 vards by 14, with a pump in it. The felons court is 10 yards by 9. No infirmary, but a room appropriated to fick women. No employment furnished by the county. The act for the prefervation of health and claufes against fpirituous liquors both hung up. Whitewashed once a year. Vifited once a quarter; but I faw no books in which the reports were en tered. The Cafle-yard is fpacious but

not fecure, and no prifoners have the ufe of it but thofe who are confined for finall fums, and in whom the keeper can place confidence. In it is the gallows.

Debtors have fome relief from legacies and donations paid by feveral colleges: from Sidney college 41. to buy a fhirt each, and to expend the remainder in coals and bread; from St. John's fixteen pennyworth of bread every Saturday morning. A collection is made in the Univertities and the town at Christmas, which amounted in 1801 to.twelve guineas, being one guinea to each debtor. 20s. per annum (deducting land-tax 49.) is paid from an estate at Croxton, in this county.. No inemorial in the gaol. This payment, the keeper informed me when I was there, was two years in arrear. I wrote to Mr. Lantaff, who occupies the eftate, about it, and received from him a very uncivil anfwer. On my vifit in Augull 1802, the prifoners made grievous complaint that divine fervice had never been performed during the last four months, or any religious attention whatever paid to them. The reafon which I heard afterwards affigned was, that a felon had made his efcape in going across the Caftle yard. The Rules and Orders for the government of this gaol are twenty in number; the breach of them is punished by confinement for a limited time. I tranfcribed them; but, as they would make my packet too bulky, I omit them at prefent.

County Bridewell at Cambridge is in the Cafle yard, and joins to the gaoler's houfe. It confifts of two workrooms on the ground-floor, a courtyard with a privy in it for men, Upftairs are two rooms for women, with five cages, 6 feet by 44. Prifoners not committed to hard labour receive one-half the net profits of their earnings at their difcharge. The Rules and Orders (which I copied) are well calculated for its good government. Prifoners, August 7, 1802, 7 men, 2 women. The county is now building a new gaol in the Cafle-yard, upon a plan fomewhat fimilar to that of Bury St. Edmund's, and by the fame ingenious architect.

Cambridge Town Gaol. There was formerly a room below for criminal, called the Hole, 21 feet by 7, and, above, a room called the Cage. No court-yard; no water; no allowance. On my visit, August 1800, I had the plafure

pleafure to find the Cage had fallen into the Hole, and both were a heap of ruins. The gaoler, Thomas Adams, is lellman to the town; falary, 101.; fees and garnish abolished. No chaplain, or divine fervice ever performed. A fmall court, about fix yards fquare, with a pump and neceffary in it, for all deferiptions of prifoners. There are five rooms below for criminals, about 3 yards by 2, and 25 yards high, with boarded floors. Above, are three rooms for men and women debtors, and a day-room 24 feet by 15, who pay 2s. per week for a fingle bed; and if two fleep together, Is. 3d. each. Allow ance to criminals, 6d. a day in bread and cheese. Debtors receive relief (upon the gaoler's folicitation) from feveral of the colleges; and Trinity college fends yearly three facks of coals. for debtors and criminals, which are ufed to cook their victuals in the houfe, and occafionally to warm themselves by, there being no common room with a fire-place.

The town allows firow and blankets. If the keeper furnishes a bed, each prifoner pays 1s per week. The cells are ventilated by an iron grating over each door, in which there is an aperture about 6 inches. There is one dark folitary cell with a double door, the inner door wood, the outer iron-grated, ventilated by an iron grating above it. Water is now acceffible to all the prifoners. Neither the act for the prefer vation of health nor claufe against fpirituous liquors were hung up. No employment furnished by the town, but prifoners are allowed to work on their own account, if they can procure it. The gaol was clean, though more than two years fince whitewashed. Prifon not fecure. A houfe-breaker had made his efcape by a breach in the brickwork about a month before my vifit. Prifoners, Auguft: 8, 1802 debtors, none; criminals, two.

Cambridge Town Bridewell, Samuel Barker keeper, is a fquare building furrounded by a boundary-wall of 15 feet high and about 5 feet from the prifon; was originally bought and endowed for the encouragement of woolcombers and fpinners of this town. The basis of the infiitution was a legacy of the famous carrier Thomas Hobfon, whe died in 1630. To aufwer the intention, the keeper is a wool-comber. He employs not only feveral hands upon the foundation of the charity, but

many others; among them his prifoners. His falary is paid out of the charity, 301. and from the University 51. No fees. Allowance, towu prifoners, 6d. a day. The vice-chancellor's prifoners have 4d. a day, and 6d. on Sunday; they are likewife allowed firing in the winter. Each cell has a mattress, two blankets, and a rug. For nien there are three cells at the entrance, each 9 feet by 71, and uear 8 feet high, with ftraw on the floor. A tub ferves the purpofe of a neceflary in these cells. They are ventilated by an iron grating over each door, which has an aperture about 6 inches fquare. For women there are ten cells, the fame fize as the men's, and four court-yards with a privy in each. There is only one pump in the prifon. Many of the cells are out of repair, and the whole prifon very dirty. Surgeon, for the University prifoners, Mr. Tinney; and for the town prifoners, Mr. Bond; falary, none; make a bill. Employment, fpinning. Prifoners have the whole of their earnings. Neither the act for the prefervation of health, nor claufes against fpirituous liquors hung up. Prifoner, Auguli 7, 1802, one.

Ely Gool. John Leaford, gaoler, and fheriff's officer for the ifle but not for the county; falary, 401. Debtors' fees, 16s. 8d. Felons pay no fees. Garnish abolished. Tranfports, 71. each. Allowance, five pounds of wheat bread every other day. This gaol the property of the Bishop, who is lord of the franchife of the Ifle of Ely, was in part re-built by Bp. Mawfon in 1768, upon complaint of the cruel method which, for want of a fafe gaol, the keeper took to fecure his prifoners*.

For debtors there are three goodfized rooms up-flairs, and another, called the Nursery-room, for the fick, with a fire-place in it. One iron bedstead, made a prefent of to the gaol by the bifhop's lady, and one wood-plank bedflead for the uurfery. Straw is provided by the county. If a debtor has a

*This was done by chaining them down on their backs upon a floor, across which were feveral iron-bars, with an iron collar with fpikes about their necks, and a heavy iron bar across their legs. An excellent

magiftrate, James Collyer, efq. prefented an account of the cafe, accompanied with a drawing, to the king; with which his majefty was much affected, and gave imme! diate order for a proper enquiry and redrefs. HowARD.

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