The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-07-04 00:00:00

LVTERIAL PARLIAMENTL WOUSE Or LORDS —g wry aim v, v Lir el, 'The Lobo Ctt►ICELLON, t►e Deka of Moxtbose, sod Lord W• Let , sat se His Majesty's Colosais. shown, whew the Assessed Tasos 11.11, the Apropriaties Bib, :sod eines other Bills, received the /sweat; , by Comoissioo ; after which the House' HOUSE OF 40ASIONS. The WNW having met at three o'clock Wiser the Royal Awns rives to several Rills by Commission, a Hcrsaße from the Leeds batiwased site House their Lordships had is,,srsed tithe Appropriatioe Act, the Assessed Taxes .Anissid meat, the Life Anouity, Scotch Judges' Pewit*, Stamp Du ty, and Oyster rishery Mils, without any amendment ; mid the Sugar Distillery, SiIIMMILIVIMIC Rectory, and Scotch Ju. di:stairs Bills, rids amendments. These amendments were Oro mod sod agreed to, Mb the motion of Mr. Dc x Oas t sod lattice them( ordered to be sent to their Lordships. . . Mr. DUN DAS owe to complain of a very strange and unusual infraction of the privileges of the House of Comiuons, respecting the Sugar Distil lation Bill. which had, by souil unaccountable pears% been altered or Mill 1)&41 after its passing thr , ,,, g b thi s 'louse, which aitiend , i.ent being cell tr.try to the spirit of the rest of the bill, occasioned maattier amendment in the House of Lords, in or ri.r to correct the error into which the Legislature wolil,l have fillen, had the matter been permitted coointie VA it hail been, whet) introduced into their House. As thin had occurred in a Money Bill, it might perluipt be thought their Lordships bad exercised a right the Commow should not re cognise. Yet should it appear they had only re duced the bill to its original shape and intention by tbis alteration, it might - fairly be a subject, retpiir- Big the exertion of the discretionary limier of the Howe. The change which had taken place in the Sill, was the substitution of the words Great Britain" for England. The latter was that origi nally in the Bill, when it ieft the 'louse; the filnner that which was oliacovered in it, when ecnw mated in the Lords. This amendment was er•i dead)• surreptitious, and a gross violutina oldie priile4e of the House. lie !raped the flame would exprese, in the most unqualified instiller, its tesentrwriit at such conduct, and that early in the next Session it would take into its sim,itleration the . hest mesas of punishing die offender, and perveliting a similar eieliiiqueu - ey. . The SPSAILIM observed. that no Rill of Sun pl.: aboald sudergo any alteration after it left the Coin. aeons, except their Lonlahips shoalol discover some zinendruresi. which might farther tell the intention of the Commons io pairiug the Bill : in such a cense it would yet rest with the Houma whether the ameud ment should be agreed to. The question now he ' fore the Jimmie resolved itself into two ennui durations : let, It would be necessary to ascertain, erhetner there had soy amendment of this nature taken place in those stages of the Bill wherein such amendments might be made, viz, the committal and third reading of the Bill ? If it should appear none such bad been than made, the second consi deration should be, what notice the Haase should talcs of the matter of offence ? This would rest with the Members themselves, should the culpa ble conduct at .one individual or individuals be proved. The Journals, at the Srsa LEI'S commaid, were tken read, and the word England ascertained to he that which stood in the Bill in its original state, when leaving the House. Mr. DUNDAS then moved, o That the flonse theuld, early in the next se inen of Parliament, tike i n to its consideration a matter of a very com plex onto re."—Ordered. The Ream being somnietied by the Deputy Usher of the Sleek Rod to heat the Royal Commission read, several Pub lic and Private Bilk reistived the Royal Assent On the SPEAKIIII'I return to the Douse, he Wormed the HMISe that the followino Bills had received the Royal Menet by Con anlosion :—the Consolidated Peed Appropriation, New Stamp nuts'. Asseswd Taxis Aaseadisset, Ale-knee Ll aeon" Scotch Judged Annuity, counalevemers of Lend Ts:, Caen of Sessions, Stuck Transfer, Oyster Fishery, Danish Prise, F.arl Manes Estate, sod genital Private Bills. Stveral Papers eine laid ea the table parsons to a notion fur their production. • The CHANcy;LI.OR of the EXCHEQUER stated, that in pursuance of an Act of the 39th of the pre scot reigu, and the economical management of those appointed us Commissioners to superintend the expenditure in the offices of the Houses of Par- Inciient, there was now in their handv, and at the diapo.al of Parliament, a sum amounting to 16881. 7a. 6d. The certificate of the Commissioners to tins effect being read , he moved— That ,tba a of instal: be paid oat of the said sarplits to Richard Wharton, fur his services as Chairman of the Supply sad Ways sod Moms. Mr. lifsoutro objected, not to the grant alto gether, but to the sum about to be given. He considered it more than sufficient for the trouble attached to the office ; as the person who filled it most necessarily attend his duty in that House, hence the additional trouble was scarcely worthy of being takes ioto account. lie compared the duties of this easy office to the laboricrui and continued la bours of the Comnais..roners of Excise, who were obliged to attend the execution-of their duty for the whole year round, whereas the present office motioned het for the fieseiurt. He concluded aith =pressing bis disapprobation of the quantxm of salarjr, as sat proportioned to the labour of the si t nation. The CRANCRLLOIS of the Esc/learnt replied, that he lied only propesed to the [lnure the same grant al had been usually made for helpers, years p. 4. It therefore rested with the Honore to maintain the grant, or to wake any re trenchment it might think toteessui7. The onotlou war then agreed to. The CNA ncELLOR ads* Excismic Elt then moved the following sinus To Jobs Clerneutson, Esq. Deputy nerjesut of Anne, toil., the samstorn ufextra (cis and expenses titans taLiug renews irrta custody, pursuant to dm order of the novae. ToJoho Richness. Esq. Secretory to the ColololifilllloPlll fee regulating the Otiret s of the Douse, tool , for his trouble Jo smakiag up the accounts Tn J. Dyson, Esq. Clerk Assistant of the House, 4000 i. °Jain H. Ley, Esq. Second Clerk, Isnot. To John Clansestwia, Esq. such a sass, as, with the fess tif his /Airs, oboakt arn”aut r.a noel. 'To Gorr VI kite, Esq. C. rk of public Cominittev., fie assking as !title% to the Votes of the 'House, ssul. With tie other **sal grants of the year. Sir Jona SINCLAIR hoped the House would secede to the trillon , r g; ant he was about to propose, ski lie hoped it would he attended with the greateit advantage to theacricultisral interest ofthe country, It ers• fult.od absolutely necessary, in order to form. • g.3a end reisert en this subject, that the Agrica toral Bard altettltt Attain from various quarters of the kiiigtloin a uumber of local reports. Tile sum siertasary for obtaining those reports, the ..oard had c.ounnissioned 6itu to apply for, which sus stated at iool.; he therefore ',weed " That the irid stun I,e gr.nited for that puroone." This was tilos agreed to STATE imisoNErts IN IRELAND. Mr. SIIE LP KIIN—" la 111 'lllliaHee of a notice which stood for yesterday, but which has expired, 1 now take the liberty of rising to address the !louse in behalf of those individuals confined in the „nuts in Ireland, who have preseuted Petitions to this house. 'filer' can be no doubt of the import ance of this subject, mid I should, Nora such an occasion, enter into it at greater length, were I not convinced that my intended motion will be acceded to without any opposition. It is on that account that 1 would rather wish to avoid touching upon matters that would teal to excite feeliugs of horror and disgust. It is a question, Sir, that has nothing at all to do with Party ; Ministers might take it up themselves; and I mikes I should rather wish to see some procetaliti4s come from thnt quarter, vo luntarilvalian that ii should be extorted from them. It is that rooted, that inborn hatred of tyranny and oppression, which has ever been inherent within tne, and which, I trust, has been evinced by every act of my life, cud will be to the last hour; it was that which made me first solicitous of a seat in this House, and it is that induced me thus to bring the matter before the Ilonse, in order that a remedy may be applied, as speedily as possible, to the evils e•euplained of. There is this year a Report from the Inspector-General of the Gaols in Ireland ; yet, although it has been presented to the House, and lies ups. your table, I do nut believe that five Mend/ens of the H o use have ever looked at it. It is upon that ground that I rest tie motion which I am to se`, 't, and which 1 trust will be complied with. A similar Report was ordered to be printed upon the 26th of April, 1805, and since that period a retura has becu annually made, hut followed by no motion to print the sane. Many Members perhaps suppose that the susi.ension of the Ha beas Corpus ..tet in Ireland enabled the Govern ment to seize and retain persons as long aetbey chase, ithoat any infirm:unto o p en oath, or elsargroir any pretence whatever being stand for se doing, or any dispontien being shewi to bring these unfortunate individuals to trial ; it was not, however. by this act slope, het a nwt:a act, which vested in the Lnit! Lieutenant, anti the Government of Ireland, the power to accuse any person, upon imapicion, of conspiring against the Government. It will he with difficulty credited, but it is a fact now ren dered notorious, that 1700 people were crowded into the gao.a to Ireland, and yet there was not one in 500 of diem, in regard to whom information was stated upon oath." Mr. Sheridan here alluded to the cooduct of Mr. Sandys, Major of Brigade, who was implicated with Mr. Suer, in an action brought by Mr. Heavy, for false imprisonment, in which the Plaintiff recovered damages. This Major Sandys was the Preset-Keeper. or Governor of the previa prisons and prison ships, and it ap peared, that although the prisoners were scarcely preserved from starvation, yet he was paid by Government tile NH allowance for 937 prisoners, and this, notwithstinding that many of their friends had come forward and contribnted liberally towards their ar,iitattec ‘• I wild). Sir, to have these papers, in which the various cMes of op pression are detailed, referred to a special Committee, se as not to be mararated by any minute public statement. Here is also the teepee tor-General's Report of the State of the Prisons in Ireland, for Iso7, laid upon your table, and al though it has been printed, I do not believe that 6 Members have ever looked at it ; and I am not surprised at it,wben I consider the laborious Session and the late hours to which Members have bee.* detained in this House; but I should have expect ed that the Government of this country would haw. directed the Irish Government to pay a strict attention to the remedying these evils. Mr. Archer is the Inspector-f;eneral of all the gaols in Ireland. Ilessys in his Report, in speaking of the gaols of Car low —g. This orison. though new, is insecure; it is toe small for the present times ; it was built by lump en contract, and is another instance of the imprudence of that method of executing public work. The gaoler is obliged therefore to keep all his prisoners ironed, a measure of great severity ; the Inspector being &Gentleman of extensive prac tice, is unavoidably obliged to be often absent. Allowance of bread to the criminals is liberal, but the debtors, alas ! in this county, do not get any." Upon the pri s on of Cavan, he observes, " Com plaints are incessantly made of the gaoler, who seems callous to remonstrances, from repetition, and the Grand Juries seem quite indifferent as to his conduct ; 'the Local - Inspector obliges this inhuman fellow to .allow the prisoner* to air themselves two hours each day—a duty he never performs but by coinpidsion, and when that Gen tleman is present." is the fourth time that a similar Report has been made as to this gaol.—. Upon the gaol of the county of Cork. he says, " have so often reported upon the frauds committed on the buikling of this gaol, that to repeat them would appear the impulse of malice, and not a de sire of reform. I'o save the trouble of reeurrence, I shall now only observe, that this prison began to he erected in 1793, that it is not yet finished, that everal escapes have been mode from it, that the old gaol is not yet surrendered by the Commission ers to those who purchased suppoee, because the gaoler thinks .t more secure than the costly new one." The next account is that of the gaol of the city of Cork, and from it too it will be seen that it is tint only the c,E.duct of the gaoler, but the fraud practised building the new gaols, that is complained of. lie says, ‘• Tlw Commissioners for building a new gaol advertised, offering pre miums for plans; :ea encelleut one has been im psetially selected. From the draughts sent in by many artiste, that of Mr. Itobiirom of Kilkenny, has been preform,. I had hoped tkat this mark of disintere.tedness in the out set a.)!114 have Lein fol lowed by us impartial' of sitiintinn. I have been grieved to find that it has been insole dieted/ departed from—and that a m nab s a hieli is frequently overflowed by titles and is d floods. has been, by a inni9rity of tile Co.ntimi , ,ion,ra, pre ferred, notwitlistm•tina the adine.lo:tifias of several Centlernen ui sei,:a-f! and tuefhtal 'kill. I exa lniut4 this intended situation, last August ; it was thee, even in the dog-days, floclel. What an ac cumulated exiwiise will be requited by tusking a foundation iu this swasnp ! 11 hat agues and fe vers will be created! From this it appears that jobbing and avarice have no tenets. ”—" Now, I would ask, (continued Mr. SliAidaii), is it lit, Sir, that this grievance should he allowed to exist, when such predictions are contained in the Report of your own hispecito. ? With regard to the count• gaol of Dublin, the Inspector states, that " an escape of a criminal charged with a ca pital crime having lately occurred, the former gaoler was removed. Au escape from this pri , ois is a matter of extreme difficulty, except it should arise from corruption or negligence in the gaoler or his deputies. The late gaoler pleaded, in ex tenuation of the charge, that the salary of tlrd. per annum did not afford him the means of emoloying proper assistance, he was therefore obliged to en trust a prisoner with the charge of an inner door, by which cin.umstanee the escape of both was perpetrated. These poor and coutcuiptibls salaries, given to officers in important trusts, are always pleaded in excuse for corruption, inattention, and negligence." I shall next 'call your attention briefly to what he says as to the gaol of the town of Galway, which he had also ir.spceted last year ; for it must be retnetithured, that this Inspector's Report is annually delivered to Go vernment, although ho remedy has yet heen af forded. Ile says, " I inspected this gaol in May last, and it is still in such a state that I would not be surprised to hear that the roof had fallen in on the heads of the wretched prisoners." Is this, Sir, a state of things proper to exist ? As to the gaol of 'fralee, in the county of Kerry, he says, " This prison is, from the lownewi of its situ*, ation, and its neighbourhood to a rapid river, sub ject to a shocking casualty, that of being frequent ly flooded to the height of three feet, which leaves an immense quantity of mud and dirt in the yank, and some even in the cells. On such occasions the centinels are obliged to quit their posts, and the guard their guard-room." With respect also to the food of the prisoners, there have been many com plaints, of which this is a sample : Of the gaol of Mullingar, comity of Westmeath, the Report says, " At my last visit I found this gaol . clean and regu lar, except an apartment wherein .was a most out rageous female maniac, who destroyed every thing within her reach. It is too common in Ireland to send such wretchedcreatures to gaol, who are there by made worse ; the prisoners toe often, for amuse meat, tantalise them ; besides all mischief perpe trated on tl e bedding, windows, and walls, is said to be committed by the insane person. The assize of bread being irregularly struck in Mullingar, and generally at the baker's discretion, the loaf was scandalously sm all. Several prisoners had been at that time committed from AtMoue, distant twenty miles from their families and friends; having there fore no other subsistence but the gaol allowance, not three-fourths of a pound of boas& per day, were almost famished." The Report on the shate of th e gaol of Dundalk, county of Louth, is titactly simi lar ; it says—" The prisoners complained of the smallness of the loaf ; I had one weighed ; the weight was one pound and a half; the price of it six pence. Like almost all the country towns in Ireland, there is no assise of bread struck here ; the wretched prisoners and the public are therefore at the mercy of the baker." Several other iustattees might be adduced upon this poiut, but it would lie disagreeable to go through theta all. In the report upon the state of the Longford gaol it is stated, " That the Local-Inspector, being a surgeon of re pute, and in extensive practice, is obliged to be often absent; the office of Inspector is necessarily committed to a deputy, who neglects his duty. Bar-bolts are, notwithstanding my repeated remon strances, still used, which are an itidilfereet ture, paidul to him that wrote them, and if got cot; of the hobs are a two-fold weapon, to break the gaol or the gaoler's head, as has been sometimes done by desperate men irritated by hard usage." These, Sir, and many other facts of enormities and grievances, I might adduce and enlarge upon, on this occasion, and these too stated in the Report al ready before you ; but I trust I have said enough to sliew that Goveriament should make it serious inquiry into the whole of these complaints, and produce some remedy for them. 1 cannot how- Bier forbear directing the attention of Government to the county gaol of Dublin ; I mean that of Kil maiahana ; and to the conduct of a man called Dr. Trevor, who has been arraigned, as being capable of every thing that is base and infamous. I wish his conduct to be investigated. I could rend such a mass of evidence agoisist that man's conduct, that would strike every feeling mind with horror and disgust. It may be questioned why I did not bring this matter forward at an earlier period? and my answer would be ' that I did not deem it pro per to bring forward such serious charges against individuals, until 1 had completely authenticated them, and got them vouched by those individuals who had just reason to complain of them ; is short, I hadsmyaelf becousa convinced that these charges were founded in truth. I have now pro enredsuch docutuentinn tides the hand writingofMr. Tandy, Mr. Mason, Mr. Coyle, and many others, whose cases I shall not partieularly instance upon this occasion, as I trust shall meet with a thorough investigation in that Committee, which I shall conclade net!' moving for. I shall merely allude to the pamphlet of Mr. Tandy, and also the statement of Mr. Mason, and I pledge myself the there is not one word of misrepresentation. After stating the scene* of misery that this man went through, during a con:inement in which he wits deprived of every comfort, and obliged to lie upon straw and filth of every description, shocking to humanity, and exceeding credibility, he goes on to rhew, Undid! his and his companions' harsh treat ment was solely to be attributed to this Doc. tor Trevor. The word. of that Pamphlet are : " The source of all our afflicting trestuient is glaringly to be traced to a person alto aas as superintendelit of this prison, a Dr. Trevor ; of whose inhuman, hardened, and malignant disposition, we want words to convey the deep imprettsinn which has been forced on us.— This man executes his office iu a manner at once mean mill malicious ; he pleads, for all our sufferings, orders from Goreramnit ; of which in deed he represents himself a metuber, always speaking of it in the plural we. 1 k receives our complaints with coutumelious langhter, and has in sultingly answered a cemplaint against an attend. suit, by an invitation to a pugilistic decision with him ; be insults with word., looks, taunts and threats. us and our ftiends• with the zeal cud igno ranee of an iuquieitot, he Personates and detains our books ; he orders whom lie chooses into irons, and to the felon aide of the prison ; care to observe that each irstine•e of such treatiner.t should he one of cautronerry terror to all ; Lis tree!. meut of all, bet partici:early of one titifertunate State l'risorier (a female), is shocking to liuwahit... -, anslexc•ecils credibility." I need not allude t o fur ther particulars, as, to the conduct of this Dr. 'lre yi,r, as surely a fitter mode of tines' ieetion of tan,l conduct will be in a Committee, thait by stitch ing upon the aubject.—lt is sufficient to say, that every one of these statements is under the hand* w riung of individual, who have suffered. I hese, Sir, in lily hand, a document relative to the death of a buy of the ileum of James Devine ten ye an cf age.--lt etates, that " he is the boo of !Secant Devliii, mid, with his father, mother, brother, - m i d sisters, had been a state prisoner, and was liherated; his father, brother, and sister, still d taiiied.-- The family being reduced to the utmost proverb., the boy was permitted to reside with his father in Kilinaiuhain gaol. to share his allowance; hie sister, iced eine: other female prisoners, got s ick, sai d acre removed, by order of Dr. Trevor, to old Kit muinhans did —:Jarnes was also unwell, but hi s disease did - not seem dangerous ; he was gettiug better, when George Thum, the tmekey, and at present gaoler in that prison, opened Bryent'e cell, after ten o'clock at night, ordered the boy. who was then in bed with hi. father, to arise, and go with him to the old prison, (a distance of nea t ly h a lf a mile) the father objected to the son's removal, urging the danger. he then being considerably bet ter, and in a profuse perspiration. Dunn insisted he should go, it beimg the express order of Dr. Trevor; the father still objected. Dunn was in. exorable ; but to qualify his barbarity, he told Bryant, that the child should be wrapped up in blankets, and carefully carried to the place of his destination. - The boy was at ! m eth compelled to arise, and put en hie trifle of clothes, but of shoes and stockings he had none. The miveryof his pm ents had deprived him of such necessaries. In this state he was (so far from being wrapped up in blankets and carried) obliged to walk, accompanied by Thomas Brown, another turnkey, and servant to Dr. Trevor, to the aforesaid place, and (as the boy told his sister) got so very Lad on the way, that he wasobliged tout down several times, tad when he could have the advantage of a wall, to lean by it, and crawl along. When arrived, he said to hissimer, that he was eueeesively ill. and that he believed he should die ; and notwithstandivag every care and attention which she could bestow. be died in two et three days, and there cannot be a shadow of doubt but his death was occasioned by this barbarous re moval, at tie late an hour, exposed to the night sir and dew." This document is certified by the fa. ther e and signed by Mr. Edward Kennedy. Ido must wish, Sir, to irritate, or to excite inflammatory feedings against this Wien, Dr. Trevor ; as a Right Hon. Gentleman opposite seems to think, by his gestures, Le should first be heard in his defence; but I cannot help repeating, even sow, that there are many cases of direct murder, which may be solely attributed to him. Of suc h description are the case of Mr. Cemusky, a state-prisoner, elle died in Kilmainhain Gaol, in the mouth of April. 194/3 ; and that of Mr. Poole, who died in the Marslialema prison, on the etth Feb. Both of these cases aincunt to absolute murders. 1 happen to hold in ray head a document as to this latter per son, signed by seven of the Jurymen who sot upon the Inquest, which says . " that the said Wilhite Poole came by his death in consequence of a de rangement of his intellects, which occasioned him to strip himself of his clothes sad bedelothes,in con sequence of which, and of the inclemency of the sea son. became by his death." A a amemintent was pro- posed and adopted by stereo out of twelve of the Jury, that after the word season, the following words should be inserted, "he not receiving the accommodation which the prison afforded, came by his death." I shall conclude, Sir, with moving, " That an hatable address he presented to pis Majesty, praying, list he will be resonate, phased to direct, that a Special Commission shank! be appointed to inquire male, md inspect the eaulitioa and goveromeut of the State rrisons sad other Gauis is the city and county of anti nth other Cook in.lreintid as they shall this& proper to direst their attention to, and to inventigate the treatment of the PA/WWI% therein confined, sieve the year t 791, where ground of europiaiat shall be preferred; sad also to examine into the coudoet of those entrusted with the rink and govern• tarot of the said 'rigour, and to report thereon." Col. .1141TISSW seconded tilts tuolloth and ex presmal his satisfaction at understanding it was not to be opposed. He could irietance many more enor mous eases of atrocity and cruel barbarity then those nlluded to by the liigt.t Hon Mover ; but he should content himself for the present by leash:3e the whole matter to the investiention of that Com mittee, which he trusted would be appointed for the purpose. The CHANCELLOR of the Ficneeveft- 4, not rise 44 make airy objection to the motion toe proposed by the Right lion. lieut!”mon, h•:', cannot hells regretting that he has delayed beei - Mg it furwind till this late period of the “"salon, the neore especially as air period who is entrusted e. 'ii the uffairs of Ireland has left this part of the cum - try. Ile (alluding to Sir Arthur Wellesley) dad expressed himself to me, us if he had tin doubt that the motion was to be of a different nature. 1 lee.. therefore, that 111 V silence, or that of the upon the vitas stated, a ill not be conertis r! i •t•• entire vequiescetice a ah every part of tie seal ::11.•i; that has now been male, as, wider the presort ! ruin ti nines, it is to meet them with ei coanter-etatenient. 1 hopet!..tr the Muse :10 conclude, from what has been meted. that the Klement and dateatiod of persons elii ri ngtherelie.le in Ireland, were improper. becauee they were vet terwards proseented by law. That there was go evidence moinst them it , a watvotow npnit his port, and it vas rot to follow tilat - ment were not juetutled in decal oier et.:1;j•I F. 1115 upon arave vroti,, , i- ref Psi the i ii. (;:•, ment, indeed, would 1 1 11 nard,M111 the ha u l not &tabled tree., Red it %mild • leeei imprudent to bring th To to • ?•:*:: 1•1111P1 of persons. tr. glee evolving . 3ga i Ile. 1:'• would have lieu d!.selesed. ni.d lieihaps ti•• I .' thereby enderigered, it mu snot theme toe 1 , 1