Borough Gaol, Walton, Liverpool, Lancashire

The Liverpool Borough Gaol at Walton is one of the finest structures of the kind, and one of the largest local prisons in the kingdom. It was only opened in 1855, stands with its surrounding grounds on 23 acres of land, and cost the corporation about £180,000. It is constructed on the separate and silent system, which is now in so much repute, and contains above 1000 cells; but such is the extent of crime in Liverpool that it has already been found too small for its purpose. Indeed, at the sessions before last, the numbers confined in the prison had reached to 661 males and 616 females, so that an enlargement at no remote day will become a necessity. The actual number of cells for the separate confinement of ordinary criminals is 1002; of these 595 are on the males', and 407 on the females' side of the prison. There are also, in addition, 30 dark cells for the punishment of refractory prisoners. Provision has also been made for 19 male and 3 female debtors, and there are 28 separate cells and 4 convalescent rooms in the hospital department. It may be necessary for other than the local reader to observe that the site of the gaol is on the side of the public road leading from Liverpool to Ormskirk, and is nearly contiguous to the junction of the East Lancashire with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. The entire frontage of the gaol faces south, and extends in length upwards of 1000 feet. The depth backward is about 600 feet. The form of the site, therefore, is a parallelogram, and the whole of this is surrounded by a strong brick wall 18 feet high, the four angles of the parallelogram being occupied by hexagonal warder houses with flat roofs. The front wall is recessed to a certain distance, to admit immediately outside the gates, of houses for the governor and chaplain, which have pretty gardens in front, and form handsome residences. The main entrance is a beautiful architectural object, being flanked on each side by two square Norman towers, with dressed brick fronts and stone dressings, connected by a groined stone archway, in which are inserted the outer and inner gates. The whole structure in its internal arrangements is not so much one entire prison as two separate prisons for the opposite sexes. The female prison is managed — subject, of course, to the supervision of the governor — by a matron and female turnkeys, and no officer on the male side has any key, or other means of access to it. Nearly the whole building is vaulted. It would be difficult to convey by a written description a clear and intelligible idea of the internal appearance of the gaol; but supposing the brick wall dividing the two prisons be removed, we have then before the eye in one continuous range a corridor 820 feet long, and at right angles, directly in front, another 130 feet long, both 16 feet wide, and 55 feet high to the summit of the roof, terminated at three ends by stone bay windows the whole width and height of the corridor. On each side of these corridors are rows of cells for prisoners, four tiers in height, and approached by light galleries, with iron balustrades and brackets.

We peep into one of the cells, and find that they are thirteen feet in length, seven feet wide and nine feet in height. The furniture is sufficiently simple and consists of a table, stool, wash-hand basin, comb, a tin to drink out of, a wooden saltbox and wooden spoon, and a hammock for a bed, with blanket and rug. There is also a water closet pan, and a tap, which turns both ways, and gives the necessary supply of water. There is an ingenious arrangement to prevent prisoners wasting water, a sufficient supply for each is run by pipes from the cistern into a series of slate troughs in an upper gallery of the building. Each of these troughs is divided into compartments bearing a number corresponding with that of the cell below, which draws from it its supply. The water is let on periodically; so that if any of these compartments be needlessly wasted, the delinquent can be traced. A printed copy of the rules relating to the treatment and conduct of the prisoners is suspended in each cell; and in case that any prisoner cannot read, it becomes the duty of one of the gaol officials to read these rules over to him at a stated time; indeed, the rules are invariably read over to all on admission, and the prisoners are also arranged, we learn, for that purpose, in classes at least once in every three months. The food is passed in through a small aperture which opens out as a shelf in the door of the cell; and there is a pierced eye-hole by which the turnkeys can look in upon the prisoner at any time, without being observed by him. Each cell is also furnished with a bell, which by an ingenious arrangement strikes out the number of the cell where it has been sounded, so that the officer in attendance can see even from the extreme end of the corridor where his services are required. The officers are to be seen quietly walking about; and although there is a population of above 1200 persons within a very narrow compass, everything is as silent as the tomb. The light is sombre, and the whole effect saddening and impressive.

The prison bell rings every morning half-past five, when all the prisoners have to rise, air their beds and cells, and wash ready to begin work at six o'clock. Another bell rings at six to commence work. The bell is again is rung every night at a quarter of an hour before bedtime, when each prisoner is expected to sling his hammock and prepare for bed. The retiring hour is eight o'clock, but of course there is a slight variance in these times according to the season of the year.

There are nine different scales of dietary according to the rules for the government of the gaol at Walton, and these altogether depends upon the "class" in which the prisoners are placed. The rules state that "every prisoner maintained at the expense of the borough of Liverpool shall be allowed a quantity of plain and wholesome food; and that scales and legal weights and measures shall be provided for the purpose of weighing and measuring any article of food at the request of the prisoner." The following are the prescribed rates of diet:— The first class consists of convicted prisoners for any term not exceeding seven days, and these have for breakfast a pint of oatmeal gruel, for dinner a pound of bread, and for supper also a pint of oatmeal gruel. The second class consists of convicted prisoners for any term exceeding seven days, and not exceeding a month. Their dietary is — for breakfast a pint of oatmeal gruel and six ounces of bread; dinner twelve ounces of bread; supper the same as breakfast. For dinner we ought to state that female prisoners get only one-half the quantity of bread stated; and those of this class amongst the males employed at hard labour have in addition a pint of soup per week. The third class consists of convicted prisoners employed at hard labour for terms exceeding one month, but not more than two; and convicted prisoners not employed at hard labour but to be confined for from one to four months. Their dietary is for both breakfast and supper a pint of oatmeal gruel and six ounces of bread. The dinner varies, however, according to the day of the week. On Sundays and Thursdays it consists of a pint of soup and eight ounces of bread; on Tuesdays and Saturdays of three ounces of cooked meat "without bone," eight ounces of bread and half a pound of potatoes. On the three other days the midday meal is made up of eight ounces of bread and a pound of potatoes. Females of the same class get exactly the same, with only a less allowance of bread. The fourth class consists of prisoners sentenced to upwards of two months, and not yet more than four, the dietary is a little better than that of the third class, the difference consisting in the allowance of a pint of soup on three days of the week instead of eight ounces of bread. Class five consists of convicted prisoners employed at hard labour for terms exceeding four months. On Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays the breakfast consists of a pint of oatmeal gruel and eight ounces of bread; dinner, four ounces of cooked meat without bone, one pound of potatoes and six ounces of bread; and on the three alternate days breakfast consists of a pint of cocoa "made of three and a half ounces of flaked cocoa or cocoa nibs, sweetened with three-quarters of an ounce of molasses or sugar," and eight ounces of bread. For dinner a pint of soup, one pound of potatoes, and six ounces of bread. The supper for the seven days is a pint of oatmeal gruel and eight ounces of bread. Prisoners sentenced by the court to solitary confinement get the ordinary diet of their respective classes. Those for examination before trial, and misdemeanants of the first division who do not maintain themselves, deserters, destitute debtors, and others not specially provided for, get the same diet as prisoners of the fourth class. Prisoners under punishment for prison offences for terms not exceeding three days are supplied with bread and water only, at the rate of one pound of bread per day.

Then the ingredients of which the soup and gruel are to be made are strictly defined by the prison rules. The soup is to contain per pint 3 ounces of cooked meat, 3 ounces of potatoes, and 1 ounce of barley, rice or oatmeal, and 1 ounce of onions or leeks, with pepper and salt. The gruel to contain 2 ounces of oatmeal per pint and on alternate days to be sweetened with ¾ of an ounce of molasses or sugar, and seasoned with salt. In seasons when the potato crop has failed — for even this is provided against — 4 ounces of spilt peas made into a pudding may occasionally be substituted, but the change must not be made more than twice in each week. Boys under 14 years of age are placed on the same diet as the females.

When viewed collectively, as at church, the prisoners appear the very reverse of a healthy and vigorous body of men, and there are many sham plaints of sickness with the view of being sent to the hospital, where the diet, of course, is as good as the surgeon chooses to direct. On one occasion a fellow appealed to the chaplain, promising if he would use his influence with the doctor to get him a better diet, he should turn Protestant at once! And the reverend gentleman is convinced that he could have as many of such converts as he might wish on the same easy terms.

The prisoners confined in the Borough Gaol consist of those summarily convicted or sent for trial by the magistrates, and of those convicted at the sessions for felony or misdemeanour. Should one, however, be sentenced to penal servitude, from that moment he becomes a Government prisoner, and is only temporarily detained, subject to an order of removal to one of the national convict prisons. The time of his detention here seems to vary just to suit the convenience of the directors of the convict department, and at this moment there are not fewer than 102 prisoners in the gaol under the new mode of sentence.

About 10,000 persons graduate annually through the borough gaol, and the average number of prisoners received and discharged reaches to upwards of thirty a day. The total expense in maintaining and managing the prisoners for the past year was £14,553 odd — an increase, by-the-way, over the like expenditure of the previous year of £1818. The average cost per head was 6s. 8¼d., being 9½d. per week per head more than last year (The cost of maintenance in the workhouse only runs to about 2s. 11½d. per head per week; But then the fact that so many of the inmates are children should be taken into account.) Deductions being made for the prisoners' earnings, and the sums charged to the Treasury for the maintenance of prisoners convicted at the sessions &c., we find £11,272, being 5s. 2¼d. per head per week, as the actual and entire cost of each prisoner to the corporation of the borough.

The whole of the cooking is conducted in the basement of the establishment by the prisoners, under the supervision of one paid cook, at a salary of £75. 8s. per annum. The food is cooked by steam, in large copper boilers, and the kitchen, considering the amount of work to be done daily, is a model of cleanliness and good order. Each prisoner's supply being placed in his can, hoists are set in motion and the food is raised by this means to the various tiers of the respective wards branching out of the main corridor, and, placed in carriages which rest upon the upper rail of each balcony, is pushed along to the various cells, and so distributed with every facility and an astonishing economy of time. There is a benevolent regulation that "no prisoner is to be set to work immediately after each meal" — a physiological advantage which the poor workman outside does not always enjoy.

And now a word as to the clothing of the prisoners. By the prison regulations, each male prisoner on entrance is supplied with the following articles: A jacket, waistcoat, trousers, stock, shirt, pair of socks, pair of shoes or clogs, a pocket handkerchief, a cap, and a pair of braces. Each female prisoner:— a jacket (bedgown), petticoat, pair of stockings, shift, pocket handkerchief, neckerchief, day cap (except juveniles), night cap, pair of shoes or clogs, apron, and any other necessary articles. If prisoners wear singlets or drawers, or both of them, on fist coming into the prison, they are to be supplied with either or both of such articles accordingly; and also they and all other prisoners may be supplied with additional clothing or bedding as the medical officer may deem requisite for their health. The bedding allowed to each male and female, is composed of a hammock, mattrass, or bed filled with straw or coir, or other such substance, two blankets and a rug or coverlet. Prisoners, as a punishment for refractory conduct, may be deprived for a time of the hammock, mattress, or bed. The clothing of the males is a sort of duffel, or coarse grey cloth; and the different classes are shown by the colour of the the collar of the jacket, or other facings. Those summarily convicted are clad all in gray, without any parti colours; those convicted at the sessions for felony have yellow facings for the first conviction and red for a second. Those convicted at the sessions for misdemeanour, like those summarily convicted, have no distinctive colour in their attire, wearing only a red or yellow badge on one arm. This is a useful guide to the turnkeys and other officers, and the object is to prevent as much as possible the necessity of asking any questions from the prisoners themselves. But there are still other distinctive marks. Each prisoner on admission has attached to his jacket, in yellow figures, his register number (the number in which he is entered in the prison books). This is sewn on to a narrow piece of cloth, which fastens on the arm. He carries about with him also the number of his cell; this is a round cloth label attached to a button hole of his jacket. There is still a further distinction to be noted. The prisoners of last year have the first of these figures in red cloth sewn on a grey ground cover but the prisoners of this year have consecutive numbers in yellow, and according to the order of their admission. The gaol of course has only been open two years; But in all probability the principle will be extended, and the prisoners of next year will have another consecutive number, perhaps green. These numbers in the course of a year may run from 1 to 4000 or 5000 on each side of the gaol, and indeed more. The attire of the female prisoners is distinguished in the same way by plain, yellow or red facings, And they have to wear in a somewhat similar manner both their register and cell numbers — indeed, no prisoner without them is allowed to leave his cell.

The hair of no prisoner is ever cut at all unless required for the purposes of cleanliness and health. Formerly, a released prisoner might be known at once on his discharge by the close "bowl crop" which he had got in gaol, but now and here, if a prisoner objects to having his hair cut, it is not done, and if a man wished not to be shaved it is questionable if he would be forced. It is certainly a rule that male prisoners shall be shaved at least once a week, but we suppose that since the "beard movement" began it would be regarded as too cruel to carry it into strict execution. Besides, it is never good, when the Reformation of the prisoner is one of the principle objects, to degrade him unnecessarily in his own eyes, much less to fix upon him a brand which he would carry with him out of gaol.

When prisoners first arrive, they are taken into the reception ward, where they are stripped and carefully searched, and all necessary entries made in a book kept for the purpose; they are measured and weighed, and a strict personal description is recorded. They are then made to go into a warm bath, where they get a very necessary cleansing; but grateful as a bath may be to all who have learned its value, this is about one of the most unpopular institutions of the prison with the majority of the persons sent there. The clothes of the prisoners are taken from them and first put into a large dry boiler, heated by steam, for the purpose of being stoved. The temperature of the boiler is very high, and can be raised, if need be, to nearly 200 degrees. There is no sulphur used, as at the workhouse; the heat alone is sufficient not only to remove disinfection, but to kill those "crawlin ferlie." The dead carcases of these are sometimes brushed off in battalions. The clothes of each prisoner are then taken and rolled up, duly ticketed, and put away on shelves in the storeroom, which has the appearance of an exaggerated pawnshop. They are there ready for them at a moments notice, either to put on for trial, or when the hour has arrived for their release.

There are cells in the reception ward to which the new prisoners are first conducted, and on the next day they are all paraded for medical inspection. The prisoners are not stripped for the occasion, but the arms and breasts are bared, it being held that the usual diseases to which this class of society are subject will be almost certain to show themselves cutaneously; but if any prisoner has any specific ailment he steps out of rank and acquaints the surgeon with the fact. They are then classified, and told off to the respective cells which they are to occupy whilst in prison.

The great majority of prisoners are sentenced to hard labour in addition to their confinement, the work as a general rule is not hard at all, and we are inclined to think that labour of any kind in the solitude of imprisonment is a solace rather than a pain. The difference between separate and "solitary" confinement, indeed, consists simply in this, that those sentenced to the latter are not allowed any occupation whatever as a diversion to the mind. This is found by experience to be so trying a punishment that we believe there is a special restriction applicable everywhere, that it shall never exceed one month in all, or a fortnight at a time. The human mind would not be able to bear more. The industrial pursuits carried on in the gaol at Walton Are by know means numerous or varied: they consist principally of opening junk and oakum picking, mat making and weaving matting, rope making, sewing, and knitting; but a deal of work such as tailoring and shoemaking, &c., is also done for the gaol. The total number employed at profitable labour last year was 674, the actual amount of earnings on goods sold and work done for individuals reached only to £1117, about 11d. a-week for each prisoner. There are many things, however, which will serve to account for this small product. As far as possible a man is put to his own trade; but the great disadvantage in Liverpool is that a very large proportion of our prisoners are unskilled labourers. These, of course, are only fit to pick oakum, the least profitable of all pursuits.

The rope-making in prison can of course only be conducted by a departure from the strictly separate, and an approach to the associated, system; And only well-behaved prisoners, in whom confidence can be placed, are engaged in the work. Some of the matting made in the gaol is beautiful; and vast quantities of the stronger kind of mats, suitable for hotels, &c., are exported to America. From the general shortness of the sentences in the borough gaol, no systematic attempt is made to teach the prisoners trades, as there might be in a county or convict prison. In his report to the magistrates in 1855, the governor called attention to one disadvantage in respect to the labour department which would be consequent on the removal to Walton. The goods manufactured in the old gaol were sold by retail there, but it cannot be expected that persons would go all the way to the new gaol for the purpose of making a purchase; and he suggested that to effect the sale of the various articles manufactured in the prison, it would be requisite to have a depot in the town, or to have a person to solicit orders in Liverpool and elsewhere. So far the suggestion has not been acted upon.

The hardest labour in the gaol consists in turning cranks which raise water from wells below to eleven large cisterns upon the roofs of the different wards. There are eighty of these cranks which could be used if necessary, but last year there was an average of only twenty prisoners a day so employed. The cranks are all together, on each side of a long ward; and the prisoners in pumping are placed, as it were, in narrow compartments, separated from each other. To those accustomed to labour the work can scarcely be said to be very severe, and of the twenty so employed, t the time of our visit we observed the sweat standing on the brow of only one. A turnkey is in attendance to see that there is no speaking, or other attempt at communication; but he has no occasion to urge them on. Each man has a certain quantity of water to raise, and this is shown by an indicator, a very ingenious piece of mechanism, situated outside, so that the prisoner himself cannot tell how he is progressing, but the turnkey by walking along can see at a glance the strength and willingness which each man has brought to bear. There can be no shamming, and any attempt at it exposes the man to the liability of punishment. It is, we believe, a rule of the prison that no female or boy under 16 years of age shall be employed in the labour of this kind.

Every due and consistent regard being paid to the health of the prisoners, they all at intervals, in addition to the labour carried on, get a certain amount of exercise in the open air. There are five promenades for this purpose in the gaol grounds. Let the reader suppose a large yard or garden, duly enclosed. In this there is laid down and flagged a number of concentric circles, some say three or four. The innermost is of course the smallest, and as the distance to be travelled, therefore, is less, the oldest or most infirm are placed upon it. In regard to the other circles, of course there is a rough classification and graduation according to strength. The prisoners, from the moment they are marched on to these circles, are expected to keep in continual motion, to observe a due distance from each other, not to stare about and of course not to speak. It would be regarded as a breach of discipline to turn round the head, as the great object aimed at under the separate system of imprisonment is that no prisoner should form any intimacies to be matured when they meet outside. Turnkeys are, of course, in attendance, keeping the strictest watch on every movement and every look. To a visitor, the sight of so many prisoners promenading round these circles is very striking and to some extent a ludicrous one. In the inner circles the men move slowly, whereas on the outer promenade the walk is brisk, and those engaged in it appear quite in earnest in their pace. Should the weather be wet, or otherwise too inclement to admit of this outdoor promenade, the prisoners are paraded for exercise up and down each side of the long corridor within the gaol.

We now reach a consideration of the punishments for refractory conduct in the prison. The most severe punishment which can be inflicted by the governor is that of solitary confinement for three days in a dark cell, on bread and water; anything beyond this is alone in the hands of the visiting magistrates. There are thirty of these dark cells, all situated in the basement of the prison; but they are not much used, a reduction of diet as a rule being found quite sufficient to keep down breaches of discipline. They would only be employed in such a case as resistance to an officer, or continuing contumacious after a reprimand or lighter punishment may have been given. A glance at the Punishment Book would show the following:— "Thomas J—, talking in chapel, one day bread and water; ——, dancing in his cell, and marking the prisoner's sheet of rules, one day of close confinement on bread and water; five men for talking on the exercise ground, bread and water, ——, being in bed at two in the afternoon, one day bread and water; ——, defacing his cell wall, one day bread and water; shouting to each other in their cells, one day close confinement on bread and water; disobedience of orders, in running oakum through the hammock ring (an easier expedient than teazing it with the hands), one day's confinement with bread and water; E. P, unnecessarily ringing his bell, repeatedly kicking his cell door, singing and shouting in his cell, one day close confinement in a dark cell on bread and water; Charles M—, continued refusal to work, one day dark confinement; a boy going into another prisoner's cell, resisting the officer, and most insolent in the yard, two days on bread and water." In regard to one of the offences in the last-named case, we were told that in telling the prisoners off along the landings some of them will slip suddenly, if they possibly can unobserved, into another's cell, and tear a leaf out of a book or do some other act to get him into trouble — not from ill-will towards the other prisoner, for they are not supposed to know each other, but from sheer mischief. One day a prisoner was engaged in cleaning the floor, and walking along with the bucket for that purpose, he was caught in the act of ringing the bell of one of the cells, and the number of course flew out. The occupant of the cell might be punished for unnecessarily ringing; and no motive can be supposed for such an act but that of wanton malice. The old gaol birds know that their comfort depends upon their good behaviour, and it thus often happens that the worst characters outside are the best in; but there are some of ungovernable temper. We heard of one man who was often in. "We shall have him here again in a few days," was the quiet observation of one of the officials — and he is noted for all kinds of tricks. He was in the gaol 16 years ago; and once when brought before the present governor for breach of one of the rules, which was pointed out to him, he impudently remarked — "What do you know about it? I belonged to this gaol, sir, before you did!" He has never been brought in for a shilling's worth of dishonesty, but always for rows with the police. On one occasion he broke his cell windows, and was told he must take the consequences, that he must go back and occupy the same cell. It was in December and there was no artificial heat in the place. He begged to have the windows mended, but was made to suffer for three days the consequences of his outrage; and the windows were then repaired on an earnest promise from him that he would behave himself for the remainder of the time, and though he has since been frequently in prison he has not so offended again. Contrary to what would be supposed, when it is remembered that a large proportion of the female prisoners are prostitutes and characters of that kind, there are fewer breaches of discipline amongst the females than males. Their invariable offence is, "talk" — talking at exercise, talking on the landing after being cautioned. The governor has the power to hear complaints, and punish for prison offences by privations or otherwise. It is also his duty to attend personally along with the surgeon all inflictions of corporal punishment; but the lash is very little used, only in extreme cases and when ordered by a magistrate. He has no power to put handcuffs or any other description of irons upon a prisoner except in case of absolute necessity, and has then to enter in his journal the full particulars, and give notice of the fact forthwith to a visiting justice; nor can he continue the irons upon any prisoner for longer than 24 hours, without a special order from one of the visiting justices.

To a timid person, confinement in the dark cells, even for one day and night must be a very severe punishment indeed. The place contains no article of furniture whatever, and the only bed or bedding consists of a wooden bunk in an inclined position. When the door is closed, Cimmerian darkness reigns within, and the cells are so situated in the basement that the prisoner cannot hear the slightest noise to break the solitude. His only food is bread and water; but he is of course visited from time to time. The most refractory soon become obedient under this punishment, and therefore with old prisoners there is very little occasion for the dark cells to be used. We have heard of a young woman who when imprisoned there created a great uproar, and on being visited she declared that the Devil had visited her in the cell! A search was made to ease her mind, and it was discovered that a cat had got accidentally locked in when she was taken down, and creeping up to her when she had laid down, had occasioned the fright.

We may get a pretty clear insight into the management of the prison by a glance at the rules which are laid down for the guidance of the governor. Some of them seem a little curious. In addition to other specified duties, he has not to be absent from the gaol without leave, except when unavoidably necessary, then to record the cause of his absence in his journal; not to allow visitors to officers to sleep in the prison without the permission of a visiting justice; he has "to exercise his authority with firmness, temper and humanity and enforce the like conduct on the subordinate officers;" to inspect the prison frequently, and cause every prisoner to be seen at least once in 24 hours, and occasionally and to occasionally go through the prison at an uncertain hour of the night; not to allow trees against the outer walls, or implements likely to facilitate escape; to direct that prisoners wash themselves at least once every day, and their feet once a week; to direct that all prisoners to have a tepid bath once a month, except debtors and misdemeanants of the first division; to see that every prisoner be supplied with clean linen at least once a week, and clean flannel once in fourteen days; to see that the bedding is well aired every day;, to direct that the prisoners sheets be washed once a month, and for those under medical treatment once a fortnight, and that those used by one prisoner are not passed on to another until disinfected; to direct that prisoners have three meals a day, and at least two of these to be warm; to allow prisoners before trial to maintain themselves, giving them every facility for that purpose.; to direct that Jews are not to be compelled to work on the Sabbath {Jews will thus have two holidays a week); and to give notice of the death of any prisoner to a visiting justice, to the coroner, and the prisoner's nearest relative. An inquest has to be held in the case of every death occurring in gaol. The governor has also to prohibit gaming of every kind among every description of prisoners (debtors included), and to seize and destroy all instruments of gaming; to inform the relatives of prisoners under the age of 16 years the day and time of their discharge &c. He has to inspect, or cause to be inspected, all letters and parcels to and from prisoners, except such as are addressed to a visiting justice or other authority; but confidential communications, prepared as instructions for defence, may be personally delivered by prisoners to their legal advisors without being inspected by the governor. The matron has an almost precisely similar set of rules for the government of the female portion of the prison, and has in addition to report daily in writing to the governor the general condition and conduct of her department. She is placed, indeed, for all general purposes connected with the management, under his immediate supervision and control.

It will necessarily be supposed that such an extensive establishment as the gaol at Walton requires a large staff of officers for its successful management; and aided by the corporation accounts of the past year, we find that the officials consist of Mr William Jameson, the governor; the Rev. Thomas Cater, chaplain; Mr Francis Archer, surgeon, who has also a resident assistant; a chief clerk; two other clerks; a head turnkey and first-class turnkey; taskmaster and taskmistress, with an assistant each; matron; three schoolmasters and three schoolmistresses; a day and night watchman; male and female storekeeper, cook, porter, servant, with a tailor, rope-maker, bricklayer, smith, and plumber. There are also in all fifty-five "discipline officers" or turnkeys, male and female — the yearly salaries of the former being £1489 16s., and of the latter (twenty-one in number) at £294 16s. The salary of the governor is now £550 a year, with a free house; of the chaplain £400 a year, with a like privilege. The surgeon gets £200 a year, and his assistant £103 8s. 7d. A row of about forty very neat cottages have been erected for the male turnkeys and other officers, outside the walls yet in the immediate neighbourhood of the prison; but, with the exception of the schoolmistresses, the whole of the female officers reside within the gaol. The general government and regulation, of course,reside primarily in the magistrates for the borough, who at the quarter sessions appoint two or more justices to visit the prison during the ensuing quarter. The visiting justices meet the week after the quarter sessions, for the purpose of making convenient arrangements for their subsequent visits, which must be monthly at least; and on these occasions their duty is to inspect the several wards, cells, infirmaries, yards, solitary and punishment cells, and other departments of the gaol, and inquire from time to time of each prisoner whether he or she has any complaint or application to make. They also inspect the several journals, registers and account books of the prison. All officers may be suspended by a visiting justice, but their dismissal must be by the same authority by which they were appointed. The appointments are made by the magistrates, subject (as regards the subordinate officers) to the confirmation of the town council. The visiting justices are to call at the cells of each prisoner once a month at least, oftener if necessary. They have the power to allow particular prisoners food, clothing or other necessaries, besides the usual gaol allowance, to suspend any of the rules for misdemeanants of the fist division, reporting the fact to the Secretary of State for his directions; and they may direct that prisoners under sentence of transportation be kept to hard labour if their health permit.

The visiting justices have likewise the power to report any offender who may have shown "extraordinary diligence or merit" to the quarter sessions, in order that the magistrates may, if they think proper, recommend such prisoner to the royal mercy, and to give to meritorious offenders on their discharge such a moderate sum of money as will enable them to return to their homes. A larger power is bestowed on them for the punishment of refractory prisoners than is vested in the governor; and they are required to make a report in writing to every quarter sessions on the state and condition of the prison — of what repairs, additions, or alterations shall have been made or may be required — of any abuses they may have observed, or of which they may received information, in the management of the prison; as well as of the general state of the prisoners, as to moral, discipline, employment, hard labour, and observance of the rules.

The subordinate officers, male and female are instructed strictly to conform to the rules of the prison, to obey the directions of the governor, and to assist him in maintaining order and discipline. They are directed to conduct themselves towards prisoners, "with firmness and self-respect, yet with kindness and humanity," and to observe a strict impartiality in enforcing a complete observance of the rules. They are expected to exhibit a correct moral deportment before the prisoners, and at all times strive to acquire a moral influence over them, so as to promote their improvement and reformation. No officer is allowed to strike a prisoner, except indeed when compelled to do so in self-defence; nor must they threaten or taunt those under their charge with any allusion to their situation or previous character; nor in any manner treat them with harshness, or address violent or abusive language to them. They must listen patiently to a prisoner's complaints and requests, giving him or her a civil answer, and reporting the application if necessary to the governor. If a prisoner should wish to see either a visiting justice, the governor, chaplain or surgeon, they are required immediately to report the fact, so that the request may be complied with as soon as possible. They are never unnecessarily to converse with a prisoner, nor are they to allow any familiarity on the part of the prisoner towards themselves. They are also enjoined carefully to abstain from any connection or intimacy with prisoners when discharged.

All subordinate officers are required to pay strict attention to cleanliness of person and dress, and always when in prison to wear their uniforms. They are on no account to take out of the gaol any keys with which they may be entrusted, but always on leaving to deposit them with the officer appointed to receive charge of them. Of course they are debarred from having any pecuniary dealing with prisoners; and all gossiping and unnecessary conversation about private matters or otherwise between officers while on duty is forbidden. The governor has the power of imposing fines on them, not exceeding five shillings in amount, for any breach of the rules. It is also a rule that no officer shall on any account enter a prisoner's cell at night, unless accompanied by a colleague, and then only in case of a prisoner's sickness, or other emergency.

The chief warder is one of the most important executive officers of the gaol. He would act, should occasion call, as deputy governor, and has to reside constantly at the prison. Amongst other matters he has to instruct the other officers and servants in their duties, and the keys of the departments on the male side of the prison are under his charge. He has to satisfy himself, before the prison is locked up for the night, that everything is safe and in good order.

The other warders or turnkeys are responsible for the maintenance of proper order or discipline in such parts of the prison as may be assigned to them. They are to pay particular attention to the ventilation of all cells, corridors, and passages in their respective wards, and see that thermometers are placed in different parts, both inside and outside the cells, returning the degrees of temperature in the daily reports which they are required to furnish. The taskmaster and taskmistress have the management and charge of the labour carried out in the gaol, and are to make themselves acquainted with the nature of such manufacture as may be introduced, and to give their opinions when required upon any contracts, purchases or sales within their departments. The male storekeeper receives, examines, and keeps an account of all stores connected with the victualling, clothing &c. of the prisoners; sees that empty casks, boxes, &c., are duly returned to the proper parties, and that the usual allowances are made in the bills sent in for the articles so returned. He delivers the provisions to the cook, sends and receives all articles to and from the wash, and is required to promote economy in every branch of the establishment. The reception warders and female storekeeper receive prisoners on their arrival, search them, and see them duly bathed and clothed, and are enjoined to prevent any prisoner being stripped or bathed in the presence of any other prisoner. They have to enter in a book kept for that purpose all money, watches, rings, or jewellery taken from any prisoner, transferring them to the possession of the second clerk; but all other property is kept by them, and they are personally responsible for any deficiencies which may afterwards appear. The infirmary warders have charge of the sick in the hospitals, and are enjoined frequently to visit the patients confided to their care. They must see that prisoners take the medicines which have been ordered for them; give notice, so that the medical officer may be apprised, when sick prisoners are worse; keep such lights burning during the night as the governor or medical officer direct, and take care all bottles, &c., issued be returned to the surgery. The cook has to manage the cooking for the whole prison, and is responsible for the cleanliness of the kitchen, the coppers, cans, and all other utensils or things in that department of the prison; as also for the right mixture of all ingredients, and the sufficient boiling and preparation of the prisoners' food. He is expected immediately to report any defect in the quality of the provisions, and has carefully to lock up and keep out of reach of the prisoners assisting him any description of food which they might be tempted to take.

The gatekeeper or porter is an important officer in such an establishment as a gaol; and in attending to his most specific duty of turning the lock, has to see that subordinate officers record the times of their coming to and leaving the prison. He has also to enter the stores brought into prison in a cheque receipt book; has not to permit any wine, spirits, beer, snuff, tobacco, or other articles prohibited by the rules to pass into the prison without an order from the governor, and has power for that purpose to search baskets, &c., and the clothes of male visitors. He has also to inspect and keep ready for immediate use the arms and ammunition belonging to the gaol. The assistant gatekeeper is the officer in special charge of the male debtors; and he also attends to the receipt and distribution of coals and coke throughout the prison, taking care there is always a sufficient supply on hand.

The night watchman is on duty from eight o'clock at night till six o'clock the following morning. After commencing his round he has to keep patrolling around the prison, within the boundary wall, from that time until he goes off duty. He must pull the outer watch clocks; and in the morning, at half-past five 'o'clock, he rings the large bell for the prisoners to rise and the officers to assemble; then proceeds to the place where they are deposited for the keys of the gates, and finally, at six o'clock, as he is leaving off, rings the bell for the prisoners to begin work. The night watchman also attends to putting out the gas outside the prison; and any occurrence of importance in his watch, whatever the hour, must be immediately reported to the governor. The gaol is locked at ten o'clock every night, when when the principal keys are deposited with the governor. After that hour no subordinate officer can pass in or out of the gaol. A certain and sufficient number of the male officers sleep within the prison by rotation every night, and by them the night watch in the interior is maintained the night through, relieving each other every two hours.

The engineer has charge of the ventilating and warming apparatus, the steam engine, the fires, the pumps, locks, bells, and other matters and things which ne may be required to attend to from time to time by the governor He also has to see that all work denominated smith's and tinman's work be regularly attended to, and to inspect various scales, weights, and measures in use in the prison. The plumber has charge of the cisterns, gas fittings, water closets and taps, and has also to see to the glaziery of the windows. The tailor, shoemaker, weaver, roper, bricklayer, mason, and other trade officers employed are to instruct the prisoners in this work and manufactures carried out in the gaol, and see that all prisoners under their care are supplied with all necessary tools and materials.

Are prisoners allowed to see their friends, and if so how often? The rule depends entirely in its modification upon the class in which the prisoners are placed. Those committed for examination are allowed to see one or two persons, their friends and relations, every Tuesday and Friday, between the hours of ten and twelve o'clock. Prisoners committed for trial are allowed to see their friends, but on Tuesdays only, between the same hours. Prisoners convicted (unless at the sessions) cannot see anyone until after the expiration of the first three months of their imprisonment, and subsequently at the end of every three months. A relaxation, however, of the strict rule is made in case of sickness or other special circumstances. It must not be supposed, however, that the interviews are private. An apartment has been fitted up in the gaol for the purpose. The prisoners are introduced into narrow compartments, partitioned off, with close wire grating in front; their friends occupy a similar box opposite, equally grated, and there is a passage about a yard wide between, where the turnkeys stand to prevent improper communication. There are about eight of these compartments on each side of the room. The grating is so close that it is scarcely possible to recognise each other's features, unless, indeed, the face be pressed very closely to the wire, and the distance being such that all must speak loudly in order to be heard.

A few years ago, when some Chartist leaders were tried and convicted of sedition at the Liverpool assizes, one of the men, who appeared to have his wits about him, asked leave for them to be treated as first-class misdemeanants. "Very well," said the good-natured judge, "I see no objection." Very few in the court at the time knew the extent of the privilege which the was thus conceded. No prisoner can be placed in this division except by order of the judge or court before whom he or she is tried. Those of this class are not to be placed in a common reception cell; and having been searched on admission that they have no dangerous weapon upon them or article calculated to facilitate escape, they are then permitted to retain or subsequently receive any money and effects, provided that in the opinion of the governor "the effects" are not improper or dangerous. They are not to be placed with any other class of prisoner, and are permitted to wear their own clothing. Prisoners in this genteel division are also permitted to maintain themselves, or to receive at reasonable hours any food, clothing, bedding, or other necessaries, subject only to such examination as will prevent "extravagance or excess." Moreover, they are hospitably permitted to procure for themselves a very liberal allowance of wine or malt liquor — the wine not to exceed a pint, the liquor a quart, in the course of each twenty-four hours.

These privileged persons are not required to do any work, except to clean their apartments and make their beds. At their own request, however, they may be supplied with or procure any employment, and the necessary materials and tools to execute it which the governor may deem safe and not inconvenient. They are allowed exercise in the open air either alone or with other prisoners of the same division, without even the supervision of an officer, unless the governor should consider it expedient. They can have at their own expense any quantity of books or newspapers not of an objectionable kind; and can see visitors, so that they are not of a bad or suspicious character, for a reasonable time every day. They may write or receive letters ad libitum, subject to the inspection of the governor, and can only be punished for disobedience or abuse of any of the prison rules. Not a very bad life, provided he or she be wealthy or have good friends outside.

There are not many debtors confined in the Borough Gaol at Walton. The average will be about a dozen. There were only twelve in at the time of our visit, and one of these was a female . The small wing which has been fitted up for them is in the neighbourhood of the reception ward. They are confined in separate cells so far as sleeping is concerned, but have a day room in common, and an exercise yard to themselves. There are two classes of debtors — those who are destitute, and those who are enabled to contribute towards their own support while in gaol. On admission they are placed in a reception room by an officer appointed for the purpose, where they are examined but not in the presence of any other prisoner, in order to ascertain that they have no dangerous weapons, &c.; liquor, tobacco, or other prohibited articles, after which they are assigned the cell or room they are to occupy. They are required to make their own beds, clean their cells, dayrooms and airing yard every morning; to keep the furniture and utensils appropriated to their use clean and neatly arranged; to keep themselves "clean and decent," and to conform to such regulations for that purpose as the governor may lay down. When not receiving any allowance from the prison, they may receive from their friends or purchase food and clothing, and debtors of this class are allowed a pint of malt liquor a day. Articles of food can, however, only be received once a day, between the hours of twelve and one on week days, and between twelve and two o'clock on Sundays — the supply of food so sent in to be "subject to such restrictions both as to quality and quantity as the visiting justices may deem proper, in order to prevent extravagance and waste."

No part of the food, malt liquor, or other articles is to be sold or exchanged with any other debtor. Any one transgressing this rule has his drink stopped for a time, and is subject also to such other privations and restraints as the justices may lawfully impose. No debtor whatever is allowed the use of tobacco, spirituous liquor, or wine unless by a written order of the medical officer.

Debtors are permitted to work and follow their respective trades and professions, provided their employment does not interfere with the government of the prison; and such debtors as may find their own implements, and are not maintained at the expense of the gaol, are allowed to receive the whole of their earnings; the proceeds of the labour of destitute debtors is subject to a moderate deduction. They are all required to attend divine service when performed, unless prevented by illness, but are accommodated by themselves in the chapel, being cut off by a curtain from the observation of the other prisoners. Those who are exempted from attendance are confined to their wards whilst public worship is going on. Debtors are allowed to see their friends or relations three days in the week, subject to regulations as may be considered necessary to prevent improper communication, especially between persons of different sexes, and to prevent the introduction of forbidden articles. They may write to and receive letters, but the governor may withhold and inspect any letter when he has reason to believe that it relates to an escape or any breach of the rules. Their own clothing is worn, and it is against the rules to place any of them in separate confinement; but the governor has power to hear complaints against them touching disobedience and such offences as an assault by one debtor upon another; profane cursing and swearing, any indecent behaviour, or irreverent conduct at chapel; and may punish such offences by ordering any debtor guilty of them to close confinement in the refractory or solitary cells, and by keeping them upon bread and water for any term not exceeding three days.

We now approach the duties of the medical officer. He has himself to visit the prison once a day at least, and oftener if necessary; and twice each week either he or his assistant must see every prisoner, whether criminal or debtor. As a general rule, prisoners, if only slightly ailing, are treated in their own cells, and he reports to the governor any variation of diet which may be necessary. The wing of the gaol devoted to the hospital is limited in its extent, and very prison-like in all its arrangements. The cells here are approached by a passage so narrow that more than two men could scarcely walk abreast. There are convalescent wards, where the separate system is somewhat departed from, and the invalid prisoners are grouped together for mutual aid. Once in every month, in the presence of the governor or matron, he makes a "searching and minute inquiry" into the health of every prisoner committed or sentenced for three months and upwards, and must daily visit prisoners in solitary or close confinement for prison offences. He has a general supervision over every arrangement of the gaol likely to affect the health of the inmates; he has a large discretionary power with reference to the diet of the prisoners in the extremes of youth and old age, and must see that no prisoner under punishment is subjected to such a reduction of diet as can tend to the injury of health. Additional clothing or bedding may be ordered by him; and whenever he may have reason to believe that the mind or body of a prisoner is likely to be injuriously affected by the treatment or discipline, he reports the case to the governor, with such directions as he may think proper, and the chaplain's attention is called to those whose state of mind appears to require his special care. He has to make a daily record respecting sick prisoners in "English" and not in the usual "dog Latin" of practitioners outside. All prisoners before release are examined by him, and none are discharged from gaol labouring under any acute or dangerous distemper, unless the patient himself requires it.

The total number of applications for medical relief in gaol in the year ending September, 1856, was 5681. A very large proportion of these were of the most frivolous character, stimulated by the hope of improved diet. During the same period the greatest number of sick at one time 52 and the daily average number 28. Only 289 of the total number of patients treated during the year were sent to the prison hospital, and diarrhoea appears to have been the most prevalent complaint. There were also 45 cases of itch. The total number of prisoners put on extra diet for the year was only 39. Two prisoners were removed to lunatic asylums, and one pardoned on medical grounds. There were five deaths during the year. There were also, in 1856, fifteen births in gaol; the year before there were fourteen; and the surgeon , in his report at that time, expressed his sorrow that in some instances the same persons had given birth to children in the prison more than once before. Are we to assume that a certain class of women, when they find themselves in an interesting condition actually commit some petty offence for the sake of a cheap accouchement in the gaol?

The system of separate confinement has a most depressing effect upon the mind; and it is a melancholy fact In connection with the new gaol at Walton, that although it has only been in operation for two years, there have already been for suicides, besides numerous attempts. On the 22nd of December, 1855, a boy named Joseph Davies, aged 12, hung himself in his cell. No motive whatever could be assigned for his having done so. He had been about three weeks in prison, and had only five weeks to remain. His conduct had been good and orderly, and on the evening preceding his death the officer who locked him up observed him to be cheerful. In October, 1856, a man named John Lloyd, who had been sentenced to six years' penal servitude, also hung himself in his cell. The third case occurred in July of the present year. The body of a lad named William Scarry, also only 12 years of age, was found suspended in the cell in which he had been confined, life being quite extinct. The last case occurred only a few weeks ago. It was that of Robert Lovett, 24 years of age, son of Mr. Lovett, eating-house keeper, Williamson-square, who committed suicide by suspending himself with one of his braces to a hook in the wall of his cell. The charge against him was that of an aggravated assault upon his mother. In all these cases a verdict of felo de se was returned, and the burials took place in the dead of night, without any religious ceremony, in the new cemetery at Walton. Some prisoners simulate insanity, or feign attempts to commit suicide, for the purpose of being removed from separate confinement, but the imposition is very easily detected. Two prisoners attempted to commit suicide — the one by throwing himself over the iron railing in the uppermost ward of the division, in September, 1855, and the other by attempting to hang herself on the 8th of March, 1856, but both recovered. Within the same period six other prisoners feigned attempts to hang themselves, but there was no clear evidence they had no such intention. The time when these attempts are most frequent is immediately after committal or after conviction at the sessions.

It is the duty of the schoolmasters and schoolmistresses immediately to report to the chaplain any case of peculiar depression of mind which they may happen to observe; and if he shall be of opinion, either from their report or from his own observation, that a prisoner's mind is likely to be injuriously affected by the discipline, he is required by the rules immediately to report his impressions in writing to the governor, the surgeon, and one of the visiting justices, recording the fact of such report in his journal; and a similar responsibility rests upon the governor and surgeon likewise

The governor himself, in his last report, says, "Out of the number of persons who are from time to time committed to this prison there, will be some who are predisposed to insanity, or whose minds are weak, or who are subject to delusions or other mental affections; and it is very probable that the separate confinement of such may have a tendency to cause their maladies to be more fully developed."

Whatever may be the advantage of the separate over the associated system — and we believe it to be great — its adoption can scarcely be said, judging from the list of re-commitments, to have had any appreciable effect in deterring old offenders. To be sure, the new gaol having only been opened for two years, there are scarcely sufficient data yet to afford a positive comparison; but the governor, in his last report, states his belief, founded on continual personal inspection of the prisoners, that at least certain classes of offenders, such as for prostitution, drunkenness, fighting, &c., have been re-committed to the present gaol almost, if not altogether, as frequently as to the old prison. Of the 9139 commitments last year to the borough gaol, 3588 of the prisoners had never been there before, 972 had been once before committed, 590 twice, 471 three times, and 2906, or more than 34 per cent., had been previously committed four times and upwards. Of the 2906 four or more times previously committed, 840 were adult males, 1880 (more than double) were adult females, and there were also 186 juveniles. Of the 1880 adult females committed four times and upwards, the greatest portion had been sent for prostitution, obscene language, indecent conduct, and drunkenness. The prostitutes materially swell the number of re-committals, many of them passing eight to ten times through the gaol in the course of the year. The suppression of vice and immorality thus becomes a ratepayers' question, even if there were not higher grounds of action. As the governor well observes, the only places open to receive them on their release from prison are their former habitations, where through necessity or the worse influences of the keepers of these houses of infamy, they are forced afresh into dissipation and profligacy, and consequently speedily find their way back to gaol, which becomes in one sense their home. When a woman has become a prostitute, it is not only very difficult for her to regain a respectable position in society, but the lamentable effects of her depravity generally lead her on to a greater amount of vice and crime, until she has lost all shame, self-respect, and hope of recovery.

Confinement is a punishment even to the most hardened; but nearly the only hope of real and permanent reformation to be achieved resides in the earnest efforts of a good chaplain, addressed to juvenile offenders and those not habitually criminal, but who may have been committed for a first offence, and this can only effectively be done by keeping them on the separate system, free from the contamination of more hardened criminals.

Amongst the appointed public duties of the chaplain of our Borough Gaol are that he shall on every Sunday, Christmas Day, and Good Friday, and on public fast and thanksgiving days, perform the appointed morning and evening services of the Church of England, and preach a sermon. He has also daily to read prayers, to be selected by him from the liturgy, together with a portion of Scripture, in the chapel, and in case of his sudden or unavoidable absence this duty is provided for in another way. The sacrament must be administered by him at least four times a year to such persons as shall be desirous to receive it, and whom he may consider in a proper frame of mind. As far as possible he is to see every prisoner in private, in order to direct his advice and instruction; but in the case of prisoners before trial it is understood that he shall refrain from any inquiries which may tend to draw from them admissions of guilt. He has also frequently to see the sick, and attend at all reasonable times any prisoner who may require his spiritual advice and assistance; to pay especial attention to juvenile offenders, and daily visit prisoners in solitary or close confinement for prison offences. If he observe that the mind of a prisoner is likely to be injuriously affected by the discipline or treatment, he reports the fact to the governor, surgeon, and one or more of the visiting justices. He directs the distribution of books to the prisoners, and sees that there is a proper supply of reading lessons, slates, copy-books and other materials for instruction. The schoolmasters and schoolmistresses act together under his direction and superintendence. Amongst his duties is hat of making an annual report as to the religious and moral instruction and condition of the prisoners.

There are three schoolmasters and three schoolmistresses in the gaol, who act under the orders of the chaplain, and they are more like scripture readers or home missionaries than secular instructors. The schoolmasters and mistresses reside outside They go to their duties at eight o'clock in the morning, and leave at five, having an interval of an hour and a half for dinner. They go from cell to cell, instructing and conversing with the prisoners, and each man or woman is visited at least every second day. The prisoners are taught reading and writing, having for the latter purpose the use of the slate; there are no copy books on the male side. In some cases, the schoolmistresses read to a prisoner, but the masters do not. They will go, say to cell No. 15, and will find that the prisoner scarcely knows his letters; they will spend perhaps ten minutes with him and show him what to do till they see him again. Going to the next cell, they may find perhaps that the prisoner is already tolerably instructed — will explain any difficulty that may have occurred in the reading, and then pass on. They will have sometimes a talk with the prisoner in reference to his conduct, but are not allowed to communicate any news, or to be the bearer of any message to him. A rule has been laid down for the teachers' observance by the chaplain, which is never deviated from, namely, prisoners who can read are to be supplied as follows: Those sentenced to one month and under, Testament and prayer-book; two months and more than one, Bible and prayer-book, with the use of slate and pencil, if requested; three months and upwards, Bible and prayer-book, library book, slate, pencil, and book of arithmetic. All persons who are unable to read the above-named are to be supplied with such elementary books as are suited to their capabilities.

The vast proportion of prisoners are committed for very short terms of imprisonment — from 73 to 76 per cent., in fact, for terms not exceeding a month. Taking the 9139 prisoners who passed last year through the gaol, and deducting the 612 remanded prisoners who were subsequently discharged or committed to Kirkdale for trial, we find that 6263 were sent for terms not exceeding a month, more than a half of these being adult females; 935 for periods above one and not exceeding two months; 777 above two and not exceeding three months; 159 above three and not exceeding six months; 141 above six moths and not exceeding a year;, 39 above one and not exceeding two years; 63 were sentenced to penal servitude, 9 transported, 69 left for trial, and 72 were acquitted and not prosecuted.

The female prisoners are employed in sewing, knitting, sorting wool, washing and cleaning, and occasionally they have oakum given them to pick. There are only 407 cells on this side of the gaol; but as at one time there have been 600 women in, the separate system has in a large measure had to be departed from, and 200 of the women have had to sleep with 200 others, thus placing 400 in association. But as at one time there have been 600 women in, the separate system has in a large measure had to be departed from, and 200 of the women have had to sleep with 200 others, placing 400 in association. There is not such a pressure on the male side for accommodation; But it is quite full, and there are several instances in which three prisoners have had to be placed in one cell. It is not lawful to put two male prisoners together; there must be either one or three. Females, however, may sleep two in a cell. A fearful proportion of the female prisoners are of course prostitutes; and curious to ascertain the most common places of their nativity, we took from the book one day's committal, consisting of 20 names, and found the result as follows:— Five gave Liverpool as their birthplace; then the entries as to the other 15 ran respectively— Galway, Hull, Mayo, Queen's County, Glasgow, Whitby, Belfast, Newry, Dublin, Carnarvon, Birmingham, Kilkenny, Bury and Londonderry. One of the twenty females was entered as having been eighty-two times previously in prison!

Opening another page of the admission book at random, we found that it comprise 30 names. Of these only 8 had never been previously in prison, 3 had been in once before, 3 had been in twice previously, 2 three times, 1 five times, 1 nine times, 2 fourteen times, 1 fifteen times, 1 sixteen times, 1 eighteen times, 1 twenty times, 1 twenty-one times, 1 twenty-three times, 1 twenty-four times, 1 twenty-eight times, 1 forty times and 1 fifty-six times! Fifteen, or exactly one half of the whole, had been sent the present time for drunk and disorderly conduct. The remainder of the charges were profane language (the delinquent in this case was entered as a "sempstress"), indecent exposure, not accounting for property, stealing cotton, stealing a dress, illegally pawning, stealing a watch, obstructing the streets; one had been sent on an information under the Sanatory Act, and two for fighting. To nearly one-half of the names there were one or more aliases attached.

About thirty prisoners are released each morning. The males are sent out about seven o'clock; the females, for an obvious reason, not until an hour later. They are simply put outside the gate,and then left in absolute freedom. Confirmed thieves and the worse classes of criminals have generally some "pal" in waiting ready to welcome them back to their old haunts, and to rub off by laughter any sanctimonious expression of feature which they may display. The whole gang leave the gate in a body, and are generally noisy, uproarious and disorderly as to be a nuisance to the residents along the whole line of road. The dwellers in the quiet little village of Walton have no reason to be thankful to the corporation for carrying the Liverpool gaol out in that direction; and the evil is much aggravated in the winter months, the prisoners being released at an hour whilst it is yet dark. There have been several cases of robbery both on the road to and in the village of Walton, committed by these liberated incorrigibles.

The case of females who have been in prison is still worse in respect to the chances of reformation than that of males, from the more adverse circumstances with which they have to contend, and the difficulty of again succeeding in life when once the character is gone. "My interference" says the chaplain in one of his annual reports, "has very frequently been sought by both sexes, but especially by females, to obtain for them an asylum suited to their circumstances, or the means of employment on their discharge from custody. My experience has taught me not to be too sanguine even under the most promising circumstances; but I have seen enough likewise, when appearances have been in the last degree discouraging, to justify the hope that were public interest and sympathy awakened in behalf of such unfortunates to a greater extent, and some effort made for their protection in the earlier stages of their crime, many might be saved from further degradation, and from the almost hopeless wretchedness incident to their mode of life." "It is true" he adds, "there are the Penitentiary and the Benevolent Institution for such characters, and the County House of Refuge for discharged female felons to whom the additional reproach of prostitution does not attach; the two former, however, are quite inadequate — the first mainly from the extreme, and I think needless, stringency of its rules, the second owing to want of funds." We believe that the stringency of rule referred to in respect to the Penitentiary is that admissions are allowed only one day of the week, (Tuesdays); and supposing a prisoner who is disposed to enter that institution to be discharged on any other day — and the chances are five to one that she will be so — there is the danger in the interval of her falling under the influence of one of her own companions. The Benevolent Institution is situated in Toxteth-park. The Magdalen Asylum is also open, on recommendation, but the establishment from which the chaplain receives most assistance in his benevolent efforts for the reformation of his criminal flock is the County House of Refuge, situated in Mount Vernon-green, Edge-hill, an institution admirably conducted, and most effective in its exertions to restore many who were "ready to perish" to usefulness and happiness.

Prisoners who may live at a distance are generally on their discharge allowed a very small sum out of the gaol fund to help them on their way home. Sometimes one-half the cost is allowed by the parish; and the chaplain has a good arrangement with Mr. Rounthwaite of the City of Dublin Company, for passing on at a diminished charge, on their release, such prisoners as may belong to the sister isle. Occasional grants are made in aid of any very special case out of the money of the police court poor box which is jointly administered by Mr. Mansfield and the Mayor, but, unfortunately, this fund has so many pressing calls upon it that it is always at a low ebb. With the exception of these few small sources of uncertain revenue, the chaplain to give effect to his systematic benevolent efforts for the reformation of criminals, has everything personally to beg; but the best of friends gets weary of importunity, and we suspect that he is largely out of pocket by the aid which he is continually rendering.

The chapel at the gaol is situated immediately within the inner gates. Although somewhat limited in its accommodation, it is a very fine and appropriate structure, plain, but decent; and lacking, to the extent of baldness, in any attempt at ornament, it may yet be pronounced beautiful, from the harmony of its parts and the evident excellence of the workmanship and materials. The body of the church is large enough for the accommodation of the whole number of male prisoners usually in gaol; and there is a gallery at the west end appropriated to the females, but very limited in its dimensions. A small side gallery, or rather a large pew, has been put up on each side near to the eastern entrance — one for the use of the governor, the other for the chaplain's family, and so situated that they command a view of the whole interior. The church is lighted by eight sunburners, but as hitherto there has been no evening service they have not been required: the ventilation in summer, assisted by open windows, He is all the most wholesale and perfect character. There are two services each Sunday. The male prisoners attend both; but as the gallery will accommodate little more than one-half of the prisoners of the opposite sex in gaol, a moiety attend the morning and the remainder the evening service.

About ten o'clock, the prisoners are released from their respective cells, and marched, under the charge of turnkeys, in single file, into the chapel, where they are told off into the various seats. All this is performed with mechanical accuracy and surprising quiet and good order. A few debtors — we counted nine — may be seen at one side, cut off from the view of the other prisoners by a blue curtain with brass rods. Privileged gaol aristocrats they seemed to be. A number of turnkeys, turning their backs upon the pulpit and facing the prisoners, mount high stools, some of them right in the midst of the prisoners, and from their commanding position are enabled to scrutinise the behaviour of every hapless wretch before them; and woe betide the one who shall turn round, or exhibit restlessness, let alone the slightest approach to disorder. There are some dozen of these high seats in the body of the church, and each turnkey appears to have assigned a certain number of prisoners to be kept closely under his eye. The system is certainly most efficient, and absolute silence reigned during the whole service — except when an old woman seemed seized with an hysteric affection, and was immediately and quietly removed. We must congratulate the Rev. Mr. Carter on the extreme orderliness of his flock; but, apart from the restraint, there was an evident attention paid to every word which was uttered, quite new and startling in its effect.

There are a choir and small organ in the chapel, the Town Council having now provided for the psalmody; and in all the accessories of decent worship the prison chapel is as well provided as any church in town. Precisely at half-past ten o'clock the Rev. Mr. Carter mounted the reading desk, and gave out the first hymn, "Awake, my soul, and early rise, And pay thy morning sacrifice." The prisoners arose as one man at the appointed time, we suppose in consequence of some signal, which we did not observe, even before the organ began to peal; but very few, if any, joined in the singing of the hymn. The service proceeded, and the responses to the litany were intoned; but although each prisoner had a prayer book in his hand, we observed very few to joined. The whole of the assigned prayers were gone through, including the communion service, precisely as in any other church. The reverend gentleman took his text from the 15th chapter and 28th verse of Matthew — "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." The sermon, as may naturally be supposed, did not consist of lofty oratorical flights, but was a plain, practical, and beautiful discourse, in exposition of the truth that true religion influences that conduct for good in every way. The sermon over, and benediction pronounced, the prisoners were marched back in the same order to their cells.

Roman Catholics within the gaol are excused, on special application, from attendance at the chapel. Amongst the defined duties of the governor is one "That upon the special application of a prisoner of a religious persuasion differing from that of the Established Church, he shall allow such prisoner to absent himself or herself from chapel, and in accordance with the spirit of the law, shall allow a minister of such persuasion, at the request of any such prisoner, to visit him or her in order to give him or her the instruction and counsel which he or she should otherwise receive in his or her class or private cell from the chaplain — under such restrictions to be imposed by the visiting justices as shall guard against the introduction of improper persons, and prevent improper communications."

The sacrament is administered by the chaplain at least four times a year. Formerly, when notice was given of it, a large number of prisoners wished to communicate; but no such profanity could be permitted, and the number admitted each time rarely exceeds 20. The chaplain, astonished by the number of applicants for this Christian privilege, makes it his duty to inquire not only into the state of minds, but the motives, of the applicants; and it turns out that the general idea is that those who are communicants will be immediately be placed upon a better diet! "Why do you wish to receive the sacrament now?" asked the chaplain searchingly of an Irish prisoner. "Well, sir, I will just tell you," was the reply; "I was in a hospital some time ago, and took the blessed sacrament, and I got strong in the ankle joints, and well soon. I have been in bed now for some time bad in my back and stomach, and I thought if I took the sacrament it would do me good perhaps" "And why do you wish to receive the sacrament?" he asked of another. "Well, indeed sir," was the answer, "I have received a great deal of kindness whilst here, and I thought it only a proper compliment to pay you!"