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AVERAGE PRICES of CORN, from the Returns ending
INLAND COUNTIES.

Wheat Rye Barley Oats | Beans
d. s. d. s. d. s. d.

s.

d.

,54 cloudy
,46 rain

Dec. 22, 1804.

MARITIME COUNTIES.

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Wheat Rye Barley Oats Beans

s. d. s. ds.

d. s. a s. d.

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o Kent

99 845

047 634 450

635 6 Suffex

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245 10 Suffolk

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Hunting. 82 100043
Northam. 76 448 04

024

03911 Cambrid.

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425 445 o Norfolk

96 050 1043

3 26

126 1140 6 York

047 8 744 11247 3

Rutland 80 000 044 025 0470 Lincoln 87 950 641 10 24

43

78 254
400

Leicester 79 900
Notting. 91 253 646428 644 6 Durham 81

85 300

046 831 81 100 046 530 155 244 625 848

o Northum. 83

2 Cumberl. 74

140 527
042826 500 0

152 1143 926
047 438 526

Westmo. 80 1152

700 300

035 426 600

349 4 Lancast. 79 400 046 831 349 9

Derby
Stafford 87
Salop
77 57
Hereford 79 48 049 427
Worcest. 83 11 46 047 1031
Warwick 85 100 046 11 28 0 54 3 Flint
046 029 860
043 429 152

Wilts
83 400
Berks 102 600

43

0523 Chester

Oxford 83 300 041 526 1146
Bucks 86 000
228 1044
Brecon 81 648 044 026 800
Montgo. 8r 900 041 723 1100
Radnor 85 1000 945 528 700

77 700 046 828 11 56

00000

4 Denbigh 89 900

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Anglesea 60
7 Carnarv. 76000

8 Merioneth92 52

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Cardigan 76 700 037 820 000 Pembrok 70 700 043 220 1100 o Carmart. 86 300 043 421 8000 Glamorg. 92 1100 052 025 100 Average of England and Wales, per quarter. Gloucest. 82 500 046 427 455 6 Somerset 89 200 049 728 662 6 84 45 844 5/27 4/49.6 Monm. 89 700 049 1126 000 Devon 95 500 045 226 Average of Scotland, per quarter. Cornwall 83 1000 041 525 000 74 1035 9 37 1123 937 9 Dorfet 95 1000 049 733 660 8 97 200 047 831 052

052

Hants
AVERAGE PRICES, by which Exportation and Bounty are to be regulated

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AVERAGE PRICES, by which Exportation and Bounty are to be regulated in Scotland. | 38 I

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39 I

23 7

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE,

For DECEMBER, 1804.

Mr. URBAN,

LETTER XIII. ON PRISONS. Sambrook Court, Νου. 27. "Behold, instead Of us outcast, exil'd, his new delight, Mankind, created" MILTON'S Par. Loft. N the Physical World, however irregular the operations may appear to a fuperficial obfer

I

ver, they uniformly correspond in cause and effect. In the Moral World likewise, individual circumstances may occur, which Philosophy may not explain; and apparent inconfiftencies may be presented, which Reason cannot immediately reconcile; but in contemplating the aggregate-the intellectual powers, the various paffions, and different allotments of man, a luminous order is exhibited, and a confiftent harmony is discovered.

Some, indeed, under every precaution, become liable to mental and corporeal afflictions, whilft others enjoy the flow of spirits, and the perfection of bodily health; some are rich and liberal, many more are poor and distressed; and multitudes appear as the mere outcasts of the community; but these immenfe distinctions amalgamate to mutual gratification and happiness. Under the vifitation of fickness, the folaces of sympathy, and the sensibilities of affection, are generated. To alleviate poverty, the protection and liberality of the rich are extended; hence is excited gratitude on one side; and sentiments of humanity enrich the other. Thus, from apparent incongruity result those feel ings which elevate human nature, and dignify character.

It is almost proverbial, that "it is better to give than to receive;" but this does not infer that one is more pleasurable than the other; for, what conveys to the mind more pleasing sensations than heartfelt gratitude towards the friend of genuine and unassuming beneficence? The pleasure of the donor must arife more from a fenfe of gratitude to

"the Giver of all good," who enabled him to exercise beneficence, than from the mere reflection of relieving a fellow-creature. In both instances, gratitude is the foothing and sensitive passion of the mind.

It is not, I trust, presumptuous in this place to suggest, that the Author of the Chriftian Religion seemed defirous of impressing sentiments of this nature upon every heart, from the frequent examples he afforded of kindness to OurCASTS of every degree. The beautiful and animated allufions to their forlorn state upon numerous occafions, and the folicitude he expressed to have them reftored to the rank and character from whence they had fallen, must impress every Philanthropist and Christian with the importance of a Society eftablished for their restoration.

When Jefus had his first interview with Matthew, he condescended to accompany him to his house, and take a feat at his table, when several publicans and perfons of immoral character happened to come in, who fat down and eat with him and his difciples: which the Pharifces obferving, "Why, faid they to his difciples, is your mafter fo familiar with publicans and perfons of immoral character?" Το which Jesus aptly replied, "Those who are in health do not require a phyfician,

phyfician, but those who are fick; for I am not come to call Saints, but finners *."

This gracious fentiment is illuftrated by him in numerous instances, but perhaps none more forcibly than where he obferves, that, " if a man have an hundred theep, and one of them thould go aftray, do you not think he would leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go to fearch for that which was gone aftray? And if he happen to find it, he would certainly be more gratified by the restoration of that one, than by the security of the ninety and nine which went not aftray. In like manner, your heavenly Father would not that any person so situated should be lott." He farther declares, that "there shall likewise be greater joy in heaven for one finner that repenteth, than for ninetynine just persons that need no repentance."

An establishment for the employment and restoration of OUTCASTS affords a profpect highly gratifying and important in political and economical points of view; and its practicability is demonftrable from the examples introduced in the following letter; and indeed, from the general and uniform refult of private and individual industry, it

must be obvious, that if labour maintain a family, not only to provide for all the immediate neceffaries of life, but likewife to pay for rent; when, therefore, a house or asylum is gratuitoufly provided for the employment of Outcasts, the product of labour ought to exceed the expences of the establishment; and, even after likewife difcharging the interest of the principal which the building might have required, a saving on the average of productive labour ought to refult proportionably to that of the private individual; and this surplus might con

* If this, and the subsequent, quotation are not the exact words of the present tranflation, they are analagous to the original, in Matthew ix. 9-13.

stitute a fund to be appropriated in rewarding Industry, or promoting Virtue.

Without such an establishment, or of adequate means of employing the indolent and Outcast, principles the most baneful to fociety will be formed; the injuries to the community from fuch individuals, who increase consumption without adding to product, are augmented by the influence of vicious example upon others; and thus the aggregate loss to the community must be manifold. But were the plan alluded to, of systematically employing fuch Outcasts, and initiating them into habits of indusiry, fully established, a pleasing counterpart would necessarily refult; which is fo fully demonftrated by my friend NEILD, that with pleasure the fentiments of a man whose study is the promotion of public and private good are here introduced by

JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM.

To Dr. LETTSOM.

My dear Sir, Chelsea, Aug. 27,1804. In one of my former letters I mentioned having received from the Rev. Mr. Whitaker a proposal for establishing an ASYLUM for OUTCASTS. I will now make a few remarks upon what I conceive to be of national utility, and, accompanied by well-regulated labour and religious instruction, might be the means of reforming the individuals, and inuring them to habits of industry.

The common misfortune of public punishment is, that few perfons will receive either man or woman out of a

gaol into any fervice or employment whatever; but for which, I prefume, this afylum is meant to provide.

Reformation of prisoners in gaol appears practicable, by the Dorchefter annual Reports; which fiate, that, upon an enquiry made into the characters of all the Dorseshire prifoners on charges of felony, during a period of 14 years, it appears that, out of 893 of both fexes, there have been 242 reclaimed, maintaining themselves by honest industry. As much, I have no doubt, might be faid of the excellently-wellregulated gaol of Gloucefier, were its enquiries and Reports published annually. Both these prisons are provided

with proper places of seclufion, to difpofe the mind to penitence, and produce a lasting alteration in the principles of the prifoner. Dr. Paley very jutily obferves, "as averfion to labour is the cause from which half of the vices of low life deduce their origin and continuance, punishments ought to be contrived with a view to the conquering of this difpofition." Few prifons are better confirueted for this purpose than those above mentioned; none under better regulations, or more frequently vifited by their refpective magißrates.

I will fubjoin to this letter extracts, which I have made in my feveral tours of vifitation, from the Prifon-books, that the promoters of this intended excellent INSTITUTION may not be difcouraged in finding it for fome years unproductive, by fuppofing that the profit of the work may be equal to the expence of the afylum.

However this may appear in fpeculation, in practice it is generally found otherwise. The difference is great hetween involuntary labour and that which is performed from choice. Though in its infant state it cannot fupport itfelf, yet, under proper regulations, it will contribute in a great meafure towards its own maintenance. At Morpeth, Hexham, and Tynemouth, the prifoner committed to hard labour is (if in health) "debarred from any other provifion or fupply; that his fubfiftence, however coarfe or penurious, may be proportioned to his diligence; and that he may tafße the advantage of industry together with the toil." Dr. Paley farther observes, he would meafure the confinement not by the duration of time but by quantity of work, in order both to excite industry and render it more voluntary.

In many prisons the County allowance is withheld from those who refuse to work; whilft in many, very many, prifoners eat the bread of idleness, and no employment whatever provided for those who are willing to work.

This Society for employing Outcafts, however humble in its outfet, cannot fail to waken the attention of the benevolent, and engage them to affift in so useful an undertaking. What can be of greater consequence to a Nation, more advantageous to Society, more humane and benevolent in its nature, than to prevent the wretched from being ftill more so, to reclaim the profligate and abandoned, and to restore them as useful members to the

community; to make the criminal punifhment contribute to the general good of the publick?

The learned writer on the principles of penal law allerts (and I perfectly concur in opinion,) that "every effect of banishment, as practised in England, is often beneficial to the criminal, and always injurious to the community." He eftimates, that the number of perfons for whom fome mode of reftraint and punishment, in lieu of tranfportation, must be provided, may be estimated at 1000 annually.

The average number of prisoners in the House of Correction at Preston, in Lancashire, from October 7, 1801, to October 7, 1802, together with the amount of their earnings, disbursements, and fums paid to the treasurer for that time, as presented to the Bench of Magistrates aflembled at the quarterfeflions held at Prefion Court-house:Average number of prifoners, 155; total earnings, 13011. 14s.; disburfements, 3351. 13s. 8d.; sum paid to the treasurer, 966l. os. Sd.

Bodmin Bridewell, from £. s. d. Ολ. 1802 to Oct. 1803 117 8 0

Chelinsford, from Jan. 1800 to Jan. 1803 (clear profit to the county)

Chefter, from April 1803 to April 1804 (manufactory just established)

Worcester Gaol, 1796 to 1804

Worcester House of Correction, 1796 to 1804

223 8 9

43 5 7

59209

525 16 3 Manchester, 1801to1802 812 0 0 (The average earnings in this prifon is Od. per day, the expence of maintenance, 6d.).

Lancaster, from June 1801 to June 1802 One-third of this fum was paid to the prifoners for their share of earnings; and, after deducting every expence attending the manufactory, the county treafurer received

675 7 11

287 19

Stafford Gaol and House of Correction from Michaelmas 1801 to Michaelmas 1802 :

County allowance of food 293 10 9 Deduct the allowance

from Government to convicts under sentence of transportation

55 15 0

Carried over 237 15 9 Brought

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