Bridewell, Guildford, Surrey

GUILDFORD BRIDEWELL, in 1776, had four rooms, besides the infirmary (lately a stable) and the condemned room. Yet when the assize is held here, and prisoners are brought from Southwark, it is much crowded. But in 1779, three new rooms up stairs had been lately added, and sewers below. A court, for the use of which every prisoner pays entrance-money one shilling. Here is but one day-room for men and women (10 feet 2 inches by 7 feet) which is the only room that has a chimney. Two rooms have in the roof an iron-grate lattice, about 5 feet by 4, and an open turret above; very useful for freshening those rooms. Allowance, a threepenny loaf every other day (weight, Feb. 1776, 2lb. Nov. 1782, 1lb. 11oz.). No bedding nor straw. None were at work. Keeper's salary, £25: fees, 3s. 4d. no table. The clauses against spirituous liquors, and the act for preserving the health of prisoners, are both hung up.

1773, Dec, 17,	Prisoners 6.	1779 March 9,	Prisoners 3
1776, Feb. 24,	- - 6.	1782, Nov. 8,	Deserter 1.

This bridewell not white-washed for some years: only one small day room (ten feet two inches by seven feet) for men and women: the court paved with sharp flints: a pig sty in the court. Allowance, three halfpenny worth of bread (weight 15 oz and badly made): no straw or bedding: employment, removing gravel as in the two other bridewells: the work-room locked up. Keeper's salary, now £45 in lieu of the tap. (His son keeps a public house near).

1788, July 11, Prisoners 8.

Keeper, John King. Salary, 45l. Fees, 4s. 2d.

Chaplain, none; nor any religious attentions.

Surgeons, Messrs. Merriman and Jackson. Salary, 15l.

Number of Prisoners, 1805, June 30th, thirteen. 1807, Sept. 17th, nine.

Allowance, a one pound loaf of bread per day, and water: It formerly was one pound and a half. The Magistrates allow winter firing, when applied to by the Keeper.

REMARKS.

The court-yard is 40 feet by 23, with a pump in it. The day-room for the Men Prisoners is 7 feet by 9 feet 6, and has a fire-place. The Women's ward opens into the Men's court, and is 14 feet by 9, and 8 feet high. The Infirmary room, likewise, communicating with the court, is 18 feet by 9 feet 6, and 8 feet high; and has a fire-place, with a glazed window of three lights, made to take out occasionally.

Here are two cells, with solid iron doors, and an iron-grated window to each. One of them, 14 feet by 9 feet 6, and 10 feet high, has an iron-grated lattice, of about 3 feet by 2, and an open turret above. The other is 18 feet by 9 feet 6, with vaulted roof, an iron-grated lattice, 5 feet by 4; and, like the former, has an open turret above.

No sewer, but half tubs instead of them. The straw on the floor was bad, and no other covering supplied.

Women's Side. The door of their court-yard opens into that assigned for the Their day-room is 10 feet by 9 feet 6, and has a fire-place.

Up-stairs is a lumber-room, in which fuel is put; and two rooms with beds, furnished by the Keeper at six-pence each bed per week: One of them 16 feet by 10, and 7 feet high; the other 14 by 10, of the same height. No fire-places: the glass windows are made to take out in warm weather.

When the Assizes are held here, the Gaol is much crouded. The Summer Assize is alternately held here and at Croydon; the Lent Assize at Kingston. Prison white-washed once a year. Not visited by the Magistrates for two years previous to my being here in June 1805. No employment for the Prisoners.

The Act for preserving Health is hung up; but not the Clauses against Spirituous Liquors.

The prison (which is built of brick and was completed in 1822) stands on extra-parochial ground, on the declivity of a hill, within a quarter of a mile of the town of Guildford, and commands from its upper galleries a fine view of the river Wey and surrounding scenery. It is under the jurisdiction of the county magistrates and twelve visiting justices.

With the exception of the chapel and one small day-room for female prisoners, the whole prison is divided into separate cells, of which there are altogether 89. They are in single ranges, and approached by a corridor in each gallery, extending from one extremity of the building to the other. There are seven wards, — five for males, and two for females. Each ward has a separate staircase from the lower to the middle and upper galleries, and is divided from the adjoining wards, from the roof to the basement, by partition walls, in which are doors of communication, for the passage of the officers through the corridors, into all the other wards. In the door of each cell there is a ventilator, and another in the wall next the corridor. At night, one of the ventilators is always closed on the outside; there are no means of closing the other, which is twelve inches square. The distance between the respective open ventilators is only five feet six inches, and will admit of conversation in a low tone of voice from cell to cell. At night, one watchman, in list shoes, traverses the corridors, which are lighted, up. It takes him fifteen minutes to go through them. But the prisoners can hear his approach, and see his shadow under the cell doors. They listen for the sound of his footsteps; and when he is in a distant part of the building, conversation goes on. Sometimes several prisoners sleep in one cell. The prisoners can converse, and their conversation is frequently of a most demoralizing character. The watchman does not go into the female wards, and the prisoners there are under no night supervision after the hour of 9.

When any one class is overcrowded, some of the prisoners are brought into another ward; and two classes are then mixed. Convicted felons, misdemeanants, and prisoners summarily convicted, are placed together in ward 3; and untried and convicted felons, in ward 5. There is no ward for juvenile offenders; and boys charged with felony are mixed with men convicted of that crime. The female wards are so small that the classes are generally mixed throughout the year; and sometimes female felons and misdemeanants sleep together, not only in one cell, but one of each class in the same bed. There is no accommodation for untried prisoners of either sex, who are therefore mixed with the convicted.

The cells and passages are cleaned by wardsmen and wardswomen (prisoners), who, for that purpose, have access to them for about five hours every day. There are grated windows (unglazed), which open into the garden from the corridors, and also from some of the staircases. One of these windows is in the passage of the lower gallery of one of the female wards, and immediately under it, in the garden, is a coal-hole, to which a male prisoner, called the lobbyman, frequently goes for coals; and several prisoners, taken from all classes, are occasionally brought into the garden to work. Through these windows the cleaners might converse with prisoners in the garden, and the female cleaners with the lobbyman. The cleaners, when in their respective wards, can also converse with, and see, and be seen by, each other, through the key-holes in the doors separating some of the wards. Female cleaners have repeatedly been detected, before the silent system was introduced, conversing with male cleaners by this medium.

In many of the sleeping cells there are open-grated windows (with wooden shutters, which the prisoners can open on the inside) overlooking the garden and surrounding country: they are only 4 feet 2 inches apart; and from some of them prisoners in different wards can see and be seen, and converse with each other. Before the adoption of the silent system, such conversations were frequent.

There is a public bowling-green almost close to the boundary-wall: it can be seen into from the windows of some few of the cells, in which conversation in the bowling-green might also be distinctly hoard. It has often afforded amusement to prisoners occupying these cells to watch parties playing at bowls in the summer evenings. Throughout the prison none of the cell-windows are screened on the outside, except those of the female wards.

The chapel is in the middle gallery there are six compartments in it for the male classes but, but only one for all classes of females. The women are screened from the men. The different classes are conducted to and from the chapel separately. The women are taken through the male tread-wheel house, the precaution being observed of first removing the male prisoners. But it is stated by one of the female prisoners (D.) that the sexes sometimes meet. This might be avoided by the females being conducted through one of the corridors.

In front of the prison, but detached from it, is the governor's house. Before it is a passage of communication with the different airing-yards and garden. The airing-yards are separated from the passage by an open iron fence, and are under a good inspection from the governor’s front windows.

In the midst of the airing-yards is the tread-wheel house, in which are two tread-wheels, divided into eight compartments, six for males, and two for females; the whole capable of holding 68 prisoners. In some of the compartments prisoners of different classes are frequently placed together.

Over the mill-house is the common mess-room for male prisoners, admeasuring 45 feet in length by 20½ feet in width, where the different classes are always mixed at their meals.

The Infirmary is detached from the main building, and contains four apartments for males and four for females. In each of these all classes are mixed, being under no supervision, except that of the nurses (who are prisoners): the governor and turnkeys occasionally visit the patients.

One of the male apartments is used as the common receiving-room for male prisoners, where all classes are mixed before they are assigned to their respective wards.

The front windows of the female infirmary are only 3 feet 2 inches distant from the front windows of the male infirmary; and in both infirmaries the windows can be opened from within without difficulty. They overlook the garden, as well as the male and female infirmary airing-yards, which are separated from each other by a brick wall. Prisoners in the garden, or in either of the yards, might, with perfect ease, converse with, or receive letters from, prisoners at either of the male and female infirmary windows. The governor once, saw a woman drop a letter into the yard of the men. The male patients can converse, and, we think, could even shake hands, with the female patients from their respective windows; where the governor has, in fact, witnessed conversation between them, which he says might often take place without much risk of being detected. When any of the rooms in the female infirmary are not occupied by the sick, and the female wards (which, together, contain only 12 cells) are over-crowded, some of the female prisoners are taken to the Infirmary to sleep. Neither the male nor, the female patients are under any supervision at night, except that a female turnkey sleeps alone, in one of the apartments at the back of the building, consequently there are frequent opportunities, not only for conversation between prisoners of various classes, who may be placed together in one room, but between the sexes, from their respective windows. All classes of females dine together in their own day-room in ward 7; and whenever the Infirmary is occupied by women in health, the latter, in order to go therefrom to their dayroom, must go through the passage in front of the governor’s house, and close to all the male airing-yards, separated from that passage only by open iron fences. The sick females take their meals in the Infirmary; but those who are convalescent fetch their meals from a low wall, upon which it is placed for them. Immediately opposite to the cookery; and, in their way to and fro, these also must pass close to the open iron gratings of the male airing yards.

The cookery is immediately under the governor’s house, and of too easy access to the prisoners.

The wash-house and laundry are built against the boundary wall. In these all classes of females are mixed; but they are generally under the eye of the matron.

The male prisoners of each class, on Mondays and Thursdays, bring their linen to the laundry-door to be washed, where they can be seen, at least, by the female prisoners; but the linen is taken in, and given out, by the matron or a female turnkey.

The female prisoners who work in the wash-house frequently go to the drying-ground in the garden to hang out the linen; and opportunities are thus presented for their seeing male prisoners who work in the garden, — the lobbyman, — the infirm prisoners who carry corn and flour from the lodge to the mill-house, the prisoners who bring the linen to the laundry, — the male officers, the customers who go to the mill-house, and any strangers admitted within the boundary wall.

Corn is ground at the mill for customers, who bring it in carts to the lodge-gate. Prisoners, felons, and misdemeanants, — convicted and untried, — who are too infirm to work on the wheels, are assembled, during the day, in one of the airing-yards, and perform the less laborious employment of drawing an iron roller. When corn is brought, or flour carried away, the lobbyman goes outside of the lodge-gate to assist, in unloading and loading the carts; and the infirm prisoners, and frequently the prisoners on relief from the wheels, convey the corn and flour to and from the mill and the inside of the lodge-gate. But the infirm prisoners, as well as the lobbyman, sometimes also go to the outside of the gate; and the customers go through the garden to the mill-house to instruct the miller. Frequent escapes have been the consequence of this arrangement. About two years ago, one of the relief-men engaged in carrying corn to the lodge ran oft': two of his fellow-prisoners went in pursuit of him, and finding him in a public-house in the town of Guildford, honestly returned with him to the prison. One of them was rewarded by being made a wardsman. On another occasion, three prisoners were employed in the garden outside the boundary-wall, in cleaning the privies: one of them escaped; but, on the third day afterwards, returned, saying ha had only gone home to see his wife. He was not punished.

It appears that bodies of prisoners frequently go to the outside of the prison to work in the outer garden, — to pick stones in the adjoining field, — to receive and deliver corn and flour, — and to perform various other tasks. Two prisoners once escaped from the field: they had been permitted to go out of the officers' sight, and ten minutes had elapsed before their escape was discovered. Many escapes have taken place.

It appeared to us astonishing that escapes had not been more frequent, so great and numerous are the facilities which are afforded to the prisoners. The porter is generally the most infirm of the turnkeys, being appointed to that office because its duties are the least arduous. The present porter is an old man, sixty-eight years of age. The lobbyman is selected from any class, chiefly on account of his strength and capability for laborious work; and as his period of discharge arrives generally in two or three months after his appointment, there is but little opportunity of forming a correct estimate of his character and habits, which in any case are not likely to be of a very high order. There is a free passage of communication from the door of the tread-wheel house, in which all the prisoners are assembled at work, to the lodge-gate. The porter has no arms, except that two or three cutlasses are kept in one of the sleeping-rooms of the turnkeys over the lodge, which could not, therefore, be immediately accessible upon an emergency. The lobbyman might overpower the porter and secure the keys, — the prisoners at the wheels might as easily overpower the other turnkeys, — and all of them might quietly walk away without much chance of the matter being discovered, or, at least, in sufficient time to defeat the attempt.

The permitting prisoners to go beyond the lodge-gate is attended with other serious evils. It opens a channel of communication from without; and the infirm prisoners of various classes, who work at the roller, and at night return to sleep in their respective wards, extend that channel of communication throughout every portion of the inferior of the prison. The governor stales that the prison is not sufficiently capacious; and that the mixing of the classes is, in many instances, unavoidable. It has already been mentioned that there is no ward for the untried; and that the two female wards contain only twelve cells, and one very small day-room. The average number of prisoners is about 110. There have been 141 confined in the prison at one time, viz. 115 males and 26 females. The number of separate sleeping-cells is 89, which, with the exception of 4 of larger dimensions, are much of the same size.

The whole prison is solidly built, and in substantial repair.

The prison is not secure against escapes, as will be perceived from what has been said; hut its insecurity seems to be rather a consequence of some of the prison arrangements than owing to defects of construction. For its protection against fire, there is no fire-engine on the establishment; but there are three in the town.

The means of inspection are extremely bad, there being no inspecting holes into the cells or in any of the apartments. The only point which commands any inspection is the governor’s house, which merely overlooks the airing-yards. Generally speaking, the officers have no means of seeing the prisoners without being in the midst of them.

With regard to employment, the Tread Wheels appear to be insufficient for the average number of prisoners. All the Wheels will hold, at one time, only 68 persons. The cells are commodious, and not badly adapted for employment not requiring machinery.

To prevent communication between prisoners in separate cells (which now is practicable), material alterations would be Indispensable.

The governor is of opinion that the prison is tolerably dry, although in winter the water may sometimes be seen standing on the floors and running oft' the walls; but he thinks such might be the case with other buildings. There are no fires except in the infirmaries. The prison is well ventilated and well drained.

System — Discipline.

The seven wards are appropriated to the following classes:—

Males.	1. Rogues and vagabonds.
	2. Prisoners summarily convicted.
	3. Felons (now mixed with misdemeanants and persons summarily convicted).
	4. Misdemeanants.
	5. Felons (now mixed with untried felons).
Females.	6. Prisoners summarily convicted.
	7. Felons.

Such is the classification practically pursued, although it does not appear to be in accordance with that which is directed by the existing rules and regulations for the government of the houses of correction of the county of Surrey, made by the court of quarter session (Michaelmas 1833), and certified by his Majesty’s justices of gaol delivery. To what extent the prison arrangements which have been described under the first head of this report (and which therefore it is not necessary here to repeat) are calculated to prevent the intermixture of classes, however constituted, and the contamination which must necessarily result from intercourse between prisoners of every variety and degree of moral depravity, a tolerably correct opinion may easily be formed from what has there been said. There is no accommodation for juvenile delinquents, or for untried prisoners of any class or sex.

Untried male prisons of every class, by day, are placed by themselves in the airing-yard of the convicted felons, where they have no employment, and are allowed free intercourse; but at night they are subject to the same rules and restrictions as convicted prisoners, in whose ward they sleep. Untried female prisoners, by day, are employed in washing or at needlework, and are mixed with all classes; at night, also, they are associated with the convicted.

The silent system is that which is pursued with convicted prisoners. They work in bodies; and at night, as far as they can be accommodated, sleep in separate cells.

It will be proper to give some account of the prison arrangements for working the system. There are seven male monitors, whose duty is to attend the prisoners at their labour, meals, exercise, and at chapel, to see that silence and good order are observed, and to report any breaches of the prison regulations. Six of them attend the prisoners on the wheels — one at each compartment; and two of that compartment also attend the school (which is open during week-days for about three-quarters of an hour), to assist the schoolmaster: the schoolmaster is the chief turnkey. One monitor attends the infirm prisoners at the roller. There are seven male wardsmen or cleaners, whose duty is to clean the prison, and to assist in getting ready the meals; one of them being also nurse and cleaner of the male infirmary. There is one wardswoman, who cleans the female wards. There is a lobbyman who assists in carrying the corn and flour to and from the mill, and performs various other offices at the lodge and about the prison; and there is one cook, who assists the chief turnkey in the cookery. All these are selected from prisoners of any class, with reference only to their capability, and receive extra allowance of food. There are four male turnkeys, who by day overlook the monitors and the prisoners at their labour, meals, exercise, &c.; and at night alternately perform the duty of watchman — one only being on watch at a time. The night watchman traverses the passages of the male wards (which are lighted up) in list shoes. The female wards are under no night supervision. There are two female turnkeys, who alternately attend the female prisoners at the tread-wheel, and at their meals, and do various other duties of the prison. And there is a miller, who superintends the grinding of the corn and keeps the corn account.

The male prisoners take their meals together in their mess-room, sitting side by side, with their faces towards the monitors and turnkeys; but we observed that they looked about without restraint, and it appears they converse much in whispers. The prisoners go to and from work, chapel, meals, and exercise, in single files — the turnkeys and monitors being stationed in the most favourable positions for overlooking them; but many of the passages are circuitous, so that the officers cannot at all times command a view of the entire body: and there is often a stoppage and thronging in the ranks, which afford frequent opportunities for communication. The females take their meals in their day-room, under the charge of a female turnkey. The sick and some of the convalescent female prisoners take their meals in the infirmary.

The hard labour is that of the tread-wheel, which is productive, corn being ground for customers. The profits for the year ending Michaelmas, 1836, were 93l. 6s. 9d.— 20l. per cent, of the profits are paid to the governor, the residue to the county fund. When there is no corn to be ground, the power is applied to the working of a fly-wheel. For a description of the wheels, the hours of labour, and amount of labour performed, &c. &c. Tread-wheel labour is regarded as a punishment, but is preferred to solitary confinement. The usual modes of deception and falsehoods are resorted to by the prisoners, to deceive the doctor, the turnkeys, and each other, as well to avoid the labour as to get into the infirmaries. The wheels are high, and wherever there are nine prisoners (which is the average number) in one compartment they are then close together, and have greater opportunities for talking — and they do talk. The turnkeys say it is impossible to prevent it, and they have no doubt it frequently takes place without being discovered. It is often difficult to detect the offenders. They communicate in whispers and by signs, and possess sufficient means of communication to become aware of what takes place throughout the prison.

The employment or labour not severe — of male prisoners — is that of drawing a large iron roller: but prisoners who have been sentenced to, and are too infirm to perform, hard labour on the wheels, are also placed at this employment. Those prisoners have abundant opportunities for conversation, and, being taken from different classes, constitute channels of communication throughout the whole prison. Female prisoners sentenced to labour not severe are employed in washing, mending, and making shirts for the prisoners.

With regard to labour by transports, there have been no transports in this prison.

Prisoners confined under sentence of court, and untried felons and misdemeanants, are permitted to see visitors once a-week, under an order signed by a visiting magistrate, between the hours of 1 and 2 — males on Wednesdays, females on Tuesdays. Prisoners under summary convictions of justices, entitled to their discharge on payment of fines, and reputed fathers of bastard children before an order of affiliation, are allowed to see visitors every day (except Sundays) between 12 and 1. Visitors are seen by the prisoners in presence of an officer; they are very few. The governor, unless absent, personally interrogates them, and if found to be improper characters, or if they cannot give a satisfactory account of themselves, they are not admitted, although bringing a magistrate’s order. They come no farther than the lodge-gate, where a temporary wooden rail is affixed for their separation from the prisoners, which leaves a space between them of three yards, in which an officer always stands during the visiting hours. The visitors are not searched.

Prisoners are not allowed the possession of money under any circumstances; but in October, 1836, it was ascertained that one of the turnkeys had been in the habit of introducing money. He was discharged, and the governor afterwards ascertained that a regular account had been kept open between him and a prisoner, for whom he had been in the habit of purchasing tobacco, &c. The governor thinks that the practice had prevailed very generally among the male classes in that turnkey’s time.

Letters may be received by prisoners at all times, subject to the inspection of the keeper, who communicates to, or withholds from them, all or any part of the contents at his discretion. And with the permission of the visiting justices, prisoners may at all times write to their friends, their letters being subject to the like inspection.

No books would be allowed to be introduced by prisoners or their friends without being previously submitted to the governor. All books supplied by the prison are first subject to the approval of the chaplain.

These articles are inadmissible, and, with the exception of tobacco, are rarely or never attempted to be brought into the prison. The prisoners are searched on admission, and all visitors are narrowly watched; but prisoners are nevertheless frequently discovered chewing tobacco. The governor thinks that when they arrive at night (as they frequently do when coming from London) the turnkeys are less than usually vigilant, and do not sufficiently search them; they secrete it in their shoes, waistbands, and in various other ways. It has also frequently been found by the turnkeys in the garden, having been thrown over the boundary wall.

The governor has never known gambling of any kind to have taken place.

Religious and Moral Instruction.

On Sundays, the chaplain preaches two sermons. The services commence at 10 in the morning, and 2 in the afternoon. He reads the prayers of the Church of England on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, at half-past 7; and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at half-past 12. But sometimes, instead of reading those prayers, he reads and expounds the Scriptures, and concludes by reading a prayer from Jenks’s Family Prayers. He visits and superintends the school daily (except Sundays), and the infirmaries as often as there are any sick in them. He visits each class once a-week, for about an hour, seeing each prisoner alone in his cell. On Sundays his entire duties occupy about two hours and a half; and on other days about one hour and a half. He keeps a journal, but no character-book; in the former he records the times of his attendance and the duties he performs. On Sundays he has other engagements besides those of the prison; he reads prayers in the mornings and afternoons in one of the churches at Guildford. He is ready at all times to attend any prisoners wishing to communicate with him. He says the prisoners are attentive and orderly in chapel. Both the officers (except when on duty) and the prisoners very regularly attend divine service. No report is made of absentees; the governor says that if either prisoners or officers were to .absent themselves without cause, it would immediately, and without difficulty, be discovered by him from personal observation in the chapel. The necessary cleaning is always done before service, except on those mornings when it begins at half-past 7 — the governor and turnkeys visiting the wards to ascertain the fact.

All The prisoners who can read are supplied with Bibles, Testaments, and Prayer-books; and the chaplain frequently distributes amongst them religious tracts; and no books are supplied them by the prison which are not first submitted for his approval.

There is a school for boys, at which they are taught to read; it is held in the mess-room; on Sundays, in the morning, during one hour before the service; and in the evening, after the service, during half an hour. It is attended also on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, during three-quarters of an hour, immediately after the prisoners have dined. The only book which is read, except spelling-books, and such others as are necessary for instructing the most ignorant, is the Bible. The numbers instructed fluctuate between 20 and 40. The chief turnkey is the schoolmaster; he is assisted by four prisoners, of whom, at the period of our visiting the prison, two were convicted felons, and two convicted misdemeanants. No instruction is given to females. Young men (if sentenced to more than a month’s imprisonment) who can be spared from the wheels are admissible to the school. It is said that several boys, who have been wholly ignorant of their letters on admission, have been capable of reading the Scriptures at the period of their discharge.

The chaplain states that the prisoners behave at chapel with apparent devotion, and that he thinks several have received religious impressions; whilst of the improvement of others he, entertains little or no hopes. He thinks there is a general communication among them, and a knowledge of what transpires in the prison, notwithstanding the silent system. Ho says there has been a greater demand for books since that system was adopted, but that it has probably proccedcd solely from a desire to relieve the additional irksomeness which it has produced. He feels assured that the prisoners practise every deception and falsehood to avoid the labour of the wheels.

Health.

Prisoners who are sent from London are invariably cleansed by means of a bath, and their clothes are fumigated; and the prisoners if found to be healthy, are then passed to their wards before examination by the surgeon, who sees them on the following day: all other prisoners, if found to be free from vermin, and in other respects clean and in a healthy condition, are passed to their wards before examination by the surgeon, and their persons are not cleansed nor their clothes fumigated, but the surgeon examines them on the following morning: if the governor, however, is not perfectly satisfied with their appearance, the usual routine of cleansing. &c. &c. is observed. The mode of fumigation practised is that of baking the clothes of the males in an oven; and if very dirty, immersing them in salt and water. The females’ clothes are always washed. The surgeon visits the sick daily, and if necessary more frequently; and he inspects the whole of the prisoners twice a-week. He attends the visiting magistrates at their meeting, and reports the state of the prisoners' health at every quarter-sessions, attending personally with his journal for that purpose. The surgeon is also engaged in private practice.

The infirmaries are under the superintendence of nurses (prisoners), but are visited occasionally by the governor or other officer. The most prevalent diseases are inflammation of the lungs and pleura, catarrh, and diarrhoea. Diarrhoea appears to be caused in a great measure by the diet, which is more liquid and less stimulating than the great mass of prisoners have been accustomed to. The inflammatory diseases are said to be produced by the dry, keen, and bracing air of the prison, which is frequently too stimulating for debilitated constitutions. The average number of days during which each invalid remained on the sick list, in the year ending Michaelmas 1836, was 24. The proportion of sick to the whole number admitted during that year was 1 to 9. There was only one death among 448 prisoners for the same period.

The governor thinks the prisoners are much exposed, in cold and wet weather in the winter, in coming off the wheels warm, and then going to their meals and chapel in that state. They also come from work into the open yards, twice a-week, to muster for examination by the surgeon : the time of mustering occupies a quarter of an hour; each class waiting in the yards until the preceding class has been examined.

There is no regular allowance of soap, towels, and combs; but the prisoners are sufficiently supplied with these articles. They wash under open sheds in the yards, three only at a time. And here they seek all opportunities, and make a variety of excuses, for conversation, pretending that they only ask for soap, towels, &c. &c. They appeared to be cleanly in their persons.

Every part of the prison is clean. Tho walls and ceiling are whitewashed with lime as often as the slightest shade or discoloration is perceived; and the floors throughout are washed with lime and stone daily.

The linen of the prisoners and the bedding is washed by the female convicted prisoners in the prison, where there is a good laundry; these wash for the governor’s family also. The untried are employed in the wash-house if they require work.

In fine weather, all the prisoners who work on the wheels take half an hour’s exercise in the open yards daily. Those at the rollers, and the untried, are always in the yards by day.

Diet, Clothing, Bedding.

The allowance of diet is as follows:—

Mondays. Wednesdays. Fridays.	Men. Boys.	Bread 24 oz., meat 4 oz., potatoes ¾ lb., Soup 1½ pint, gruel 1½ pint.
	Women	Same as male prisoners, with exception of 8 oz. less of bread.
Tuesdays. Thursdays. Saturdays.	Men. Boys.	Bread 24 oz., potatoes ¾ lb., Soup 1½ pint, gruel 1½ pint.
	Women	Same as male prisoners, with exception of 8 oz. less of bread.
Sundays.	Men. Boys.	Bread 24 oz., potatoes ¾ lb., gruel 3 pints.
	Women	Same as male prisoners, with exception of 8 oz. less of bread.

The soup is made of oatmeal, Scotch barley, and vegetables : one ounce of oatmeal, and one ounce of Scotch barley, being allowed for making 1½ pint. The monitors, cleaners, &c., receive an extra allowance. No distinction is made between the convicted and untried. None of the prisoners support themselves. The tick in the infirmaries receive extra allowance at tho discretion of the surgeon. The cost of extra allowance for the last year, to all the prisoners, was l0. 1s. l0d. The whole cost of prison diet was 549l. l0s. 2d. or 5l. 11s. per head per annum.

There is no regular prison dress: prisoners wear their own clothing, but, if in need, are supplied by the county. The supply consists of scarcely any other articles than shirts, shoes, and shifts. There are no periodical musters to ascertain that these articles are properly preserved. The prisoners frequently exchange their clothes, and steal from or sell them to each other. An account is kept by the governor of the quantity issued and its value. The cost of clothing for the last year was 63l. 18s. 9d. The shirts and shifts are made in the prison by such of the females as are incapable of working on the wheels.

There are 77 separate sleeping cells for male prisoners. The greatest number of male prisoners in confinement at one time, during the year ending Michaelmas 1836, was 102; and during the year preceding, 115. In the 4 large cells, several prisoners frequently sleep together, sometimes 5 or 6 beds being placed in each. The rule is that no less than 3 shall be placed in one cell: but when we visited the prison we found an instance of two only being in one cell. The governor said it had been intended to place another with them. Sometimes when the prison is very full, three or four prisoners sleep in one bed. On such occasions two beds are generally drawn close together, so as to form one —all the prisoners sleeping under the same covering. We found three boys in one small or single bed — two at the head, one at the foot. The bedding consists of a straw mattress, a hull bed and bolster, two blankets, and a rug; the cost of which is about 20s. There are no stated periods for washing or shaking the bedding; it is done frequently; we found it remarkably clean. The cost of prison bedding and clothing per head per annum, for the last year, was l6s. 3d.

There were three prisoners at the time of our visit, who had been convicted of unnatural offences. These were placed with the others on the wheels, but in separate cells at night.

Offences in Prison and Punishments.

The most usual prison offences are refusal to work on the tread-wheels, bad language, talking, exchanging clothes. These are punished by stoppage of food, and confinement in dark and solitary cells; talking on the wheel is punished also, by depriving the prisoner of his turn for relief. The governor states that little reliance is to be placed on the monitors, who would favour their fellow-prisoners, if not closely watched themselves by the turnkeys. In the case of whipping, the ordinary number of lashes is-four dozen, inflicted in the presence of the governor. During the last year two prisoners were placed in irons for refractory con- - duct. In almost all cases of solitary confinement the prisoners have been much subdued; but the periods of confinement have been too short, to produce any very sensible or lasting effects. The total punishments during the last year were — males, 540; females, 75; total, 615: that number does not include extra turns on the wheels. Punishment by reduction of food, the most objectionable perhaps of any, is that which is most frequently inflicted; but the governor admits that with the boys at least, whose allowance equals that of the men, it produces very little effect: that in all cases, in order to maintain the discipline and the rule of silence, solitary confinement on bread and water must frequently be resorted to. We are quite persuaded that] he is not a person who would punish unnecessarily; but it will be perceived that the punishments are numerous, and it may be inferred from that fact alone, and it will be seen both from the evidence and the extracts from the governor’s journal, as well as under various heads of this report, that considerable intercourse takes place between the prisoners; and that the evils of contamination are not materially diminished.

Officers.

The governor, matron, male and female turnkeys and porter, reside in the prison: the chaplain, surgeon, miller, and secretary to the visiting magistrates, reside out of the prison.

The 1st regulation of the gaol act requiring that "No keeper or officer shall sell or derive any advantage from the sale of any article to prisoners," &c.

The 2nd regulation requiring that A matron shall be appointed," &c.

The 3rd regulation requiring that "The keeper shall visit every ward, see every prisoner, and inspect all, once in every 24 hours," &c.

The 4th regulation, requiring that "The keeper shall keep a journal," &c. and.

The 21st regulation, requiring that "No money under the name of garnish shall be taken," &c.

appear to have been fully complied with. The various matters embraced by the other regulations of the act have been reported on in detail. As to the duties of chaplain and surgeon, see "Religious and Moral Instruction" and "Health." The superior officers appear to be highly respectable; and the sub-officers steady and trustworthy. All of them, without exception, afforded us every assistance in our inquiries.

Of the prisoners employed, there are 7 monitors, 7 wardsmen and cleaners, 1 cook, 1 lobbyman, 1 wardswoman, and generally 4 washerwomen.

The regular officers are 14. An occasional assistant 1. The prisoners employed as monitors, &c. &c. are 21. Total 36.

The average number of prisoners is said to be 110; so that the individuals employed as officers and attendants (36) are in the proportion of about 1 to 3 prisoners; and if that number be deducted from the daily average number of prisoners (110), the proportion of persons employed as officers or attendants will be 36 to 89 prisoners, or 1 to 2¼. In order, therefore, to maintain the discipline in a prison comparatively small, it will be seen that a large and costly machinery is employed.

It is stated both by the governor and turnkeys that the duties are extremely arduous, and require unremitted attention.

During the late influenza 3 of the turnkeys were laid up and incapable of attending the prisoners — two of them at one time; one substitute was provided, but another could not be found. The consequence was, that one of the other turnkeys was obliged to do double duty at the wheels, and to be excused from night duty; and that between midnight and six in the morning there was no night-watch during two successive nights. The governor, moreover, states that the prisoners, aware of the inexperience of assistant turnkeys, will alter their system of working for the purpose of deceiving them as to the amount of labour.

Miscellaneous.

The following are the books of account, journals, &c., used in this prison:—Account-Books of Clothing received for the use of prisoners; Do. of Clothing supplied, and Money given to do. on discharge; Do. of Corn sent to the Mill to be ground, &c.; Do. of Corn ground with a Dr. and Cr. Account; Do. of Fines received; Register or Commitment Book, containing the Number, Name, Sex, Age, Trade, or Profession, Description of Person, Parish, and County, of the Prisoners, by whom and when committed, when received, their Crime, Sentence, when discharged, if committed before, how often committed, for what Offence, their Conduct in Prison, and Observations; a Journal of Daily Food issued, also enumerating the various Employment of Prisoners; Governor’s Journal of all Occurrences of Importance in the Prison; Chaplain’s Do. for entering the Times of his Attendance and Duties performed; Surgeon’s Daily Journal; Do. for Extra Diet; Register Book, containing the Weight of all Prisoners committed for Two Months and upwards showing their Decrease or Increase of Weight monthly; and Magistrates’ Book for inserting the time of their visiting the Prison and Observations.

The total number of prisoners in confinement during the last year was 552; of whom 74 had been before committed to this prison.

The governor is of opinion that the effect of imprisonment is not such as either to deter or to reform; that the prisoners in general retain their bad habits, and return to their former practices. Besides those who are recommitted, he hears frequently of others who have been tried and transported.

Of late years there has been a great increase of juvenile offenders. The chaplain, in one of his recent reports to the Secretary of State, says, "There is one circumstance so remarkable that it must strike every one acquainted with the prison — the great increase of juvenile offenders: there is now a far greater proportion of boys than heretofore."

It seems that passes are not granted. Discharged prisoners, whose places of residence are 20 miles distant, receive 1s. 6d. —if less distant, 1s.

There are no insane prisoners.

No prisoners were recommended during the last year for pardon.

No allowance is made to prisoners committed under the revenue laws