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have been exempted from this fresh aggravation of their sufferings. The previous habits and callings of the prisoners are also stated to have been various, some having been accustomed to very hard work, and others comparatively to lighter occupations; yet these opposite modes of life are equally brought forward to account for the injuries which have followed the labour of the Tread-wheel, and to exonerate it from the power of doing mischief; although it is evident, that without the Treadmill no such injuries would have been complained of, or even known:-as it is also evident, that the inmates of a prison must at all times be brought together from almost every diversity of life and habit; and consequently, if this position be true, be alike exposed to suffer under the exercise of this new DISCIPLINE.

The present Writer's time would be idly spent in a more extended notice of a Letter so full of objections unessential to the main question, and he willingly therefore resigns it to the perusal of all who may wish for the body as well as the spirit of its contents, only adding a very brief account of a re-examination of the several Cases it has sought to invalidate as far as it has been possible, leaving the decision to the public, who are better qualified to form a more correct judgment of the evidence advanced and combated, than either of the parties who have taken the field.

M

MINUTES

OF A

RE-EXAMINATION OF PRISONERS

STILL IN CONFINEMENT

IN THE

HOUSE OF CORRECTION AT GUILDFORD,

Taken separately in the Committee Room in the presence of the Governor, on Monday, the 9th of February, 1824, in reference to the remarks of the preceding Letter of HENRY DRUMMOND, Esq.

EDWARD BROUGHTON.

How long had you worked on the Wheel in November last?

"I had worked nearly the whole time since the erection of the Mill in August 1822. I have been in prison twenty months."

"I was however taken off the Wheel on the 28th of November, and I continued off till the 13th of January. I now only work half the usual time, and I am much better than I was."

Did you tell me the story respecting the breaking your arm by falling from a tree five years ago, in taking a bird's

nest?

"No, Sir, I complained of my arm, which has always pained me more or less."

Let me see it.

"You see, Sir, it has more flesh since I have had rest.”

ROBERT WILLY.

Having read over to the prisoner his former statement, I asked him,

Did you tell me any thing more?

"No, Sir, only my age."

Have you ever mentioned having fallen from a horse which trod on your side?

"Yes, Sir, I told that to a gentleman who was here a short time ago."

Did you ever tell me that?

"No, Sir."

RICHARD BELL.

Had

you worked on the Wheel eight months on the 24th of last November?

"Not all the whole of the time, Sir; I was on and off. "The labour is so fagging both for young and old, and the old could not stand it, if they had not rest."

THOMAS HART,

Who is stated by Mr. Drummond to have fallen from a cart, three years and a half ago, when the wheel passed over both his shins.

"The surgeon ordered the bandages to strengthen my leg, and they do me good; but my legs swell a great deal, after I have been on the Wheel two or three spells."

THOMAS SMEA.

Mr. Drummond has stated, that this man was originally of an asthmatic habit of body, that he became weak and dropsical, and finally, that he died on the 21st of January; not having been at work for three months previous to his death.

"He went into the Infirmary on the 16th of November, where he had mutton chops, porter, puddings, tea, or any thing else that was ordered by the surgeon."

I inquired of the Governor if Thomas Smea was well on entering the prison, who replied, "Apparently, he was quite well."

WILLIAM MILFORD.

Having read over his former statement, I inquired :How do you feel now?

"I never was in so weak a state."

But you think that the labour of the Wheel would not be hurtful to you, if you had more to eat?

"I never said so. A Gentleman the other day put this question to me: Suppose you had four times the quantity of food which you have now, would the labour then hurt you?' I replied, "that I should be better able to stand it. I always thought that the Wheel would be injurious to the constitution: but not so injurious if we had more nourishment. This is exactly what I said."

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