The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-22 00:00:00

THE NEW GAOL BILL.

The new Bill for the regulation of all prisons, and "to
authorise Magistrates of small jurisdictions to contract with
Justices having charge of county gaols for the care of pri-
toners, and to prevent untried prisoners from being com-
pelled to work on the triad-mill," has been printed, as
mended on re-comtnitment by the Select Committee, and'
is now before us. We have given in another column the
different regulations for the prisons throughout the king-
dom, and for the clasaificatiou of all male and female pn-
toners, as estallished by this Act. Many of its regulations
are judicious and humane. It enacts that no untried pri-
soners shall be compelled to work on the tread-mill; and
it proscribes the arbitrary use of fetters within the gaol,
ordering that they shall not be imposed on prisoners at all
except in extreme eases, and then for a limited period and
under great restrictions. The first clause of this Bill
gives a power to Justices of the Peace, or any two of
the in, or other persons having the government or order-
ing of any gaol or house of correction, in any city,
town, borough, port, or liberty, to contract with the Justices
of the Peace, having authority or jurisdiction in and over
any such gaol or house of correction, or any two of them,
fur the support and maintenance of any ptiseners commit-
ted to the same, on an order for that purpose being made at
some general or quarter sessions, or gaol sessions, having !
jurisdiction in that behalf; and every such contract may'
either be perpetual or limited to a certain number of years,
as the panics mutually may agree ; and during the exist-
ence of such contract, every prisoner, who would otherwise
be confined in the gaol or house of correction of the city,'
town, or borough so contracting, may be lawfully commit-
ted to, or removed and confined in, the gaol or house of
correction so receiving him or her under such contract; and
all prisoners so co:Ili:led by contract, this clause enacts,
shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as if
they were committed by any of the Justices of the county,
riding, or division, and shall be liable and tried in the same,
manlier as if their offences had been committed in a part of
the county, siding, or division not within the city, town, or,
borough from whence such prisoners shall cotne. The
next dense provides for the means of paying the gaol cx-
penscs under the contract, alia enacts that the monies to be
paid nude? any such contract shall be raised in the same
manner as the funds for defraying the expenses of the gaol
or house of correction for which a substitute shall be pro-
vided under such contract. This clause further provides,
that where a difference of opinion shall arise between the
parties interested in the several funds applicable to the pur-
poses of the prison, as to the prepornon in which those funds ,
shall contribute to the sum to be raid to the county,
riding, or division, for the use of its prison, and such
difference shall not be adjusted by agreement between j
themselves, it shall he lawful for either of the parties
to apply to the Justices of Assize of the last preceding
circuit, or of that next succeeding, or to one of them, who
shalt by writing, under their or his hands or hand, nominate
a barnat r at law, not having any Interest in the question,
to arbitrate between the parties, and such arbitrator may,
it' he shall see tit, adjourn the hearing from time to time
for farther information, and determine by his award in!
writing, the proportions in which such parties shall con-
tribute towards the expenses of such goal, and his award
shall be tine! and conclusive between the parties; and he !
shall also assess the mins of the arbitration, and direct by .
wham, and out of what fund, sa:ne shall be paid. Strong
objections we think may be male against these clauses. A
contract of this sort will soon be turned into a
,j,,b by i
the justices making it, or the parties connected with
them. Our risers should not Lc supplied by this
means. It will afford the cause cf eternal complaint, ,
sod constant mis:ert sclitation. The allegation will
soon be set up that the miseries and sufr'erities of thou-
scuds of unhappy prisoners confined in the tiitferLiti gaols,
and hoescs of c.:rrection throughout the kOnnlotti have'
hen ennead ir.tn sonmli of i.rontab:c Inotierdy and traffic
by the comractites Justices, or thoce connected with
them. It would lie much better that the gaols were sup_
plied by the courty, tore!!, or borough where they are situ-
ate, ender proper t•;:itro!, than that eohtra,.lo, as this Bill
provides, :etenhl h riven, wit;: a large attendant profit,
into the liamls of soy indivi'luals who u ill not take the::
without the certainty of such a profit. The Act, it is nue, .
controls the nianag,ittert supply of all gaols by enact-
ing, that the MagiFteatt! having the management or.
superintendents* t:f arty sac% gaol or house of correction
shall tral::;in it, •" eays art: r the termination
of moll sessitm, to one of hi, Secretaries'
of Stan., a true at;.l correct L.,...,:tutt of their proceedings,
fee carrying this At t Lo etl, et. :.,t also a copy of all such
rules amid reulitti,,ns as snail be then in force for the
goveimiant of every such prisen. A fonm for this
annual return is For by thv Act. which GM( rs that it
sled! specify total nutninT of I riont.ut within the
geed ; the nunther of dclitors, male soul female ; those
confined for n:isditneenen!s, end those for felonies; the
psn:otiers tried Nod untried ; what propertion of them are
above ytars of r le or v:iltsr the prisoners employed
within the wells, . c. hawar or employments

'of a different description : the Schedule is further to state
the punishments for offences within the prison ; whether
corporal punishment, confinement in irons, solitary con-
finement, or any other restrictions have been inflicted •
the number of solitary cells and apartments holm;
ground ; and the cases of sickness and death occur.
ing within the year. The Report is also to detail
under whose jurisdiction and superintendence the gaol or
I house of correction is placed ; the number of officers, and
how appointed ; the number of classes, wards, or diritions,
work rooms, day rooms, and airing yards. and whether
the same can be extenden or increased; the dietary, or
other weekly allowance, and the weekly cost of the prison-
ers per head ; the allowance of clothing and Ltilding, and
the charge for each individual ; the description of employ-
ment and hard labour within the prison ; the hours of la-
bour and exercise ; the amount of earnings, how applies(,
and in what proportion to each clan of prisoners, whether
to the officers of the prison or to the fund applicable to the
maintenance of the gaol. It must further mention whether
the classification required by the Act has been observed,._
if' not, for what reasons; and what measuns have been
taken to remedy this defect ; what duties are performed
by the chaplain, what provision made for initructioa, and
whether prisoners are supplied with bibles and other buds,
It is also to be particular as to the attendance of the sue..
von ; and whether separate buildings or apartments ire
provided for the sick. Reasons must be given for the net.
employment of prisoners, and for punishment* by solitary
confinement, whipping, or irons. The return is also to
state, whether any insane prisoner is in confinement ; the
name, age, and offence of the individual ; how long be or
she has been in confinement, and how long insane. A ge-
neral report, founded on the reports of the visiting magis-
trates, on the reports of the chaplains, and on the califi-
rates of the keeper of every prison, is to be prepared at the
first session after Michaelmas in every year, end signed hr the
the Chairman of such Sessions, and by him trammilted,
together with a copy of the schedule delivered by the paoler,
and detailing the particulars we have mentioned, to one I
his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State ; a copy of which
report, with the schedule attached to it, is to be laid before
both Houses of Parliament within one month after the
transmission, if Parliament shall then be sitting, or within
a month after the period when Parliament shall sit. These
salutary provisions certainly must form a decisive control
on any abuses that may spring up, from the contracia for
th a maintenance of such prisons being given into the
hands of individuals. But we confess we cannot get
over, even with such a check, our strong objections to
these contracts. Monopoly of this sort is odious 1:; any case,
but doubly so within the walls of a gaol. Many of the
provisions of this Bill, however, are conceived in the very
best spirit, and will, we are sure, be found most effective
and salutary. Our gaol and penitentiary system needed
that reform, and the promptness with which it has been
effected is highly creditable to Mr. Peel, under alas_
administration, since he entered on his present high office,
the most unvarying and impartial attention has been pail
to every concern connected with his department, and the
most beneficial reforms in many instances, all through
the kingdom, have been introduced. The following are
the principal regulations introduced by the new prism
bill :

And be it further enacted, that in every use where any city,
town, borough, pun or liberty, bound to maintain a prison, shall
not contract for the use of the county prison, and shall build or
maintain a ;limn for itself, such prison shall have no underground
cell, and shall have at leaat four separate wards viz. one for male
debtors; one for male criminals ; one for tamale debtors ; and ore
for female criminals ; and at least one airing ground ; and the pri.
loners in each of such wards shall be kept entire! separate from
those in each of the oilier ; provided nes, , that if any
such contract as hereinbeforc-mentioned shall be made with any
county, by those who have the control or management of any ;tn.
' son, fur maintaining any class of prisoners who would otherwise
have been separately confined in such prison, it shall not become
mammy to provide a se; arate ward in such prison tar the ems
of priaonen for whom such contract has been made.
And for securing an uniformity of practice in the management of
the several prisons it'oretaid ; be it further enacted, that the follow.
ing rules and rc,gulations shall be observed and carried into effect in
every prison is England and Wales, which ahall be mainlined by
any city, town, borough, port or liberty, as a gaol •• house of ".
rection, so far as Audi rules may be applicable, or can be applied to
the particniar &steamiest or elms of prisoners confined in such gaol
or house of correction

I First.—The keeper of every such prison shall reside therein ;he
shall not be an ender sheriff or bailiff; nor shall be concerned in
any occupation cr t -ade whatsoever; nor shall sell, nor shall any
person fur his benefit or in his employment, sell or derive any ail.
vantage from the sale of any article to any prisoner, nor shall be,
directly or indirectly, have any interest iu a..y contract or agree.
moot for the supply of the prison.
rieeend.--A matron shall be appointed in every prison in which
female prisoners shall be confined, who shall reside therein ; spit
it shall be the duty of the matron constantly to superintend ee
female prisoners.
Third.—Tbe keeper shall, as far as may be practicahle, v_:;
every ward, and sec every prisoner, and inspect every cell, once at
torus in every is enty.four hors; and when the keeper, or ary
other officer, shall visit the female prisoers, he shall be acemi.
pealed by the matron, or in case of her unavoidable absence by
tome female.

Fourth.—The keeper shall keep a jOUTTARI, in which he shall re-
cord all punishments inflicted by his authority, or by that of the
visiting magistrates, and the day when such punishments sti
have taken place, and all other occurrences of uuponance within
the prison, in such manner as directed by the regulations to be
made under this Act, which journal shall be laid before the Ju-
nesa at every General or Quarter Sessions, to be signed by he
Chairman, in proof of the same having been there produced.
Fifth.—Due provision shall be made in every prison for the en-
forcement of hard labour in the MIMI of such prisoners as may be
sentenced thereto, and for the employment of other prisons.
The moans of hard labour shall be provided, and materials reqii.
site for the employment of prisoners shall be purchased, nailer
such regulations as may be Inside for that purpose by the justices
in General or Quarter sessions assembled. If the work to be per-
formed by the prisoners be of such • nature se to require Pre-
vious instruction, proper persons shall be appointed ts deed the

ricitth—The male and female prisoners shall be coshed in Ka-
rate buildings or parts of the prison, so 111 to prevent them from
seeing, conversing. or holding any intercourse with each other:
and the prisoners of each sex shall he divided into two classes at the
least, namely, debtors and criminals, who shall not intermix with
each other.

Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall beconstrued
to extend to mercnt the 11110s:rates having the superintendence. or
numagtment of any such prison, train authorising at their discnten
the tnyloyment of any prisoner in the performance of env menial
office within the priton. or for the purpose ot irstructirg d
provided also, that if the keeper shall at any time de= it Improper
or inexpedient for a prisontr air associate with the other prisoners of
the class to which he or she may belorg,, it 4:4 be lawful tar him to
confine such prisoner with any other class or description of prison-
ers, or in any other part of the prison, until be can receive the direc-
tions of a visiting magistrate thereon, to whom he shall apply with
as little delay as possible, and who in every such Mamma shall
ascertain whether the rearms assigned by the keeper warrant such
deviation from the established rules, and shall give such orderstly
writing as he shall tnink tit, under the circumstances et* the par-
ticulst ease.

Seventh.—Female prisoners shall in all cases be attended by
female officers.

Lightl—Every prisoner sentenced to hard labour shall, tiniest
prevented by sickness, be emplerd to many hours in every dar,
rot exceeding ten, exeluaire et* the time allowed fle meats, as
shall be directed by the rules and mulattoes to bn made under that
Act, eseept no Sundays, Christmas-day, mad Gond Fri,lac„ and
on any days appointed by public authority for fasting or thanks-
. . . _

NiEth.—Divine service shall be perfo:-med by the Chaplain at
least every Sominy, and prayers, t:t be stleeted front the Iltutrr of
the Church of England by the Chaplain, shall be read at least
every morning by the Chaplain, the keeper, or by acme nther per-
son, as by the radlcs and regulations shall be directtd ; and inrttorA
of the saviptures shall be read to the prisoners, whet iwyviobl,tl for
instruction by the Chaplain, cr by such person as he 'cry al.point
or authorite.

Tvolt.—Provision shall be made in all prisons for the instruc-
tion of prisoner of both sects in reading neat. ►riling; snit that
inN:ruction 'thrill be alr,ioed under such rules and regolatitos.
to such extent, and to such pric)ners, as to the visiting Magistrat;s
maz scent exintlieot.
Eleventh.—Prisoncrs order charge or conviction of any erim
shall attmd Divinc Service on Sundays. end on other skis when
ouch service k ptrionned, unless prevented by illness or by etlnr
reasonable cause. to be anoacd by the keeper; •or unless their
attendance shall be dispensed with by one of the vltiting 31:2-
gi•traMs

privnrer shad pot in irons by the keeper of
any prism, except in rave Vf oloolitte neori.viir : and the parti-
eiders of every such cese toelts Olt er.toed in ti•e keeper's
journal, end notice tin thwith git en thereof to one cf the visaing
j 31agistrates; and the beeper shall not continue the use of 'Terris oil
any privni.vr leourer than four dais. a ithout an order in writing
, from a ri.iting Magiatrate, speritying the canoe thercef; which
°nit he preserved by the .oeptir, as ha warrant tor the yarn!.
•I'i)irteenth.— Every prise:ter maintained at the experse of any
eliPi town. borough. pert or liberty. ',hall be allowed a vuthrient
quantity of ploiti and wholesome foOel, to be regulated by the n.a-
biatratos in tie;.eral or Quarter Sessions assembled, ro-,;rirt! heirg
ad (so tar as way reifies to roorieic:l pivot:era) to the -ware at
tltc labwar requir-d mon or !`, nerltiril by such prisoners, so that
tile allowance of Inod may b. duly apportioned thereto: read Is.
shall lie lawfol for the lagliorittes :o order for such priooreniot
evay description. as are not able to work, or being abbe eavno: Pro-
t ure employment sufficient to stevizin Mauve:re. In. their Melts:ay.,
or who may not Ito others ise provided for. arch allow:ire: 01
bald. as the said !tlaciatrate shall front time to time think r.ecri-
aary for Cr: vie:Tort Itad:!: : uralcr the care of the our

en
ell
ntl
m,

;e,
ho
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ve

gam shall be allowed tech diet as he pp direct : are shin b 3
token that all provisions supplied to thempuYeweea be of row qua-
airy and weight : scales and legal weights and mensuree shall be
provided, open to the use of any prisoners, under such restrictions as
shall be made by the regulations of each prison.
fourteenth—Prisoners who shall not receive any allowance from
the city, town, borough, port, or liberty, whether confined for debt
or before trial, for any supprund crime or offence, shall be allowed
to procure for themselves, and to receive at proper hours, any food,
boding, clothing, or other necessaries, subject to a strict exami.
:union, aid under such limitations and restrictions, to he prescribed
by the regulations to he matte in manner directed by this Act, as
may lie reasonable and expedient, to prevent ex Irsvngiince and
usury within the walls of a prison ; all articles of clothing and bed.
ding shall be examined. in order that it may he ascertained thin
such articles are not likely to communicate infection, or facilitate
escape.
fifteenth.—No prisoner who is confined under the sentence of
any court, nor any prisoners confined in pursuance id' any convic-
tion before a Magistrate, shall receive any food, clothing, Of reef,
saries, ether then the goal allowance, except under such regulations
and restrictions as to the Magistrates in general or splatter sessions
instinbled may appear rspetlient,with reference to the several
classes of prisoners, or under spend circumstances, to be judged
of by one or nave of the Magistrates.
Sisteenth.— line provision shall be made for the admission at
proper times, and under proper restrictions, of peraarts with whorl,
prisoners committed for tnal easy desire to ; and
such rules and regulations shall be made by the Magistrates in Re.
petal or quarter sessions assembled, for the admission of the friends
sir convicted primmer., as to such Magistrates may emit expe-
dient; and the Magistrates shall also itinnes such ri.strietions upon
the communication and correspondence of all such prisoners with
their friends, either within or without the walls cif the prisen,
err
they shall judge necessary fur the maintenaumeof good order and
discipline therein.
seventeenth —The surgeon shall essniine every prisoner aho
shall be brought into the prison, before he or she shall lit pass,d
ism the peeper ward : And no prisoner shall be discharged there-
from, If labouring under any acute or dangerous distemper, nor
until, in the opinion of the surgeon, such discharge is safe, mile.%
such prisoner shall require to be discharged. The scoring apparel I
of every prisoner shall be fumigated and purified, if requisee, shit
which the mine shall be returned to hint or her, or in elate of the
i!isufficiency of such clothing, then Other IttlfliCiellf elotiorg shall
br furnished, suseonling to the rules and regulations thereof; but
no prisoner before trial shall be compelled to Wear a prison dress,
unless his or her own clothes he deemed insufficient or improper.
or necesoary to be preserved for the purposes of justice ; and no
prisoner who has hot been oanvicted of felony shall be liable to
be clothed in • party-coloured dress ; but if it be deemed expedient
to have a prism rheas for prisoners not convicted of felony, the
same shall be plain.
Eighteenth—Every prisoner shall be provided with suitable bed-
ding; and every aoale prisoner with a separate bid, han ttttt
cot, either in a separate cell, or in • ecU with nut his titan two
other male prisoners.
:Nineteenth The walls and ceilings of the wards, cells, room.,
and passages used by the prisoners throughout every prime, shall
be scraped and lime-washer:l at least once in the year ; she day moms,
work rooms, and sleeping cells shall be washed or tie:Ward
once • week,POsts'lolre'ner, if requisite: convenient places for the
rrsoners to wash themselves shall be provided, with an adequate
allowance of poop, towels, and combs; and each class shall have
the use of a privy.
Twentieth.—All prisoners shall be allowed as much air and
e-:erciee as may be deemed proper fur the preservation of their
dealt h.
Twenty-first—No tap shall be kept in any prison ; nor shall
spirituous liquors of any kind be admitted for the use of any of the
'prisoners therein, under my pretence whatever, unless by a written
order of the widgeon, specifying the quantity and for whom, use:
no wipe, beer, elder, or other fermented liquors shall be ad-
mitted for the use of any prisoners, except in such quantities, in
such manner, and at such dines, as shall be allowed by the rules
hereafter to be made in }romance of this Act.
Twenty-second.—No gaining shall be permitted in any prison;
and the keeper shall sew and destroy all dice, cards, or other in-
struments of gaming.
Twenty-third.—No money under the name of garnish shall be
taken front any prisoner on his or het entrance into the prison, under
any pretence whatever.
Twenty.fourth—lipon the death of a prisoner, notice thereof
shall be given by the keeper forthwith to one of the Magistrates, as
sell as to the Cermet. of the district, and to the nearest relative of
the deceased, where practicable.
CIASSINICATION fIF PRlsoNEfts.
First.—ln all such gaols the male and female prisoners shall be
eunEneel In separate wards or parts of the gaol. The male prisoners
shall be divi,ted into five classes: Ist, debtors, and persons commit-
s d for contempt of court on civil process : 2d, two classes for pats
suers convicted ; the convicted prisoners may be put into either tel
these classes, as to the visiting Magistrates nitiy seem meet, refer-
ence being thul to the character and conduct of prisoner., and the
tinture of their offence: 3d, two classes tor risen:Ts roinniitted ;
prisoners may also be put into either of these two
classes, as to the visiting Magistrates may areal Inert, reference
being had in like manner to the character and conduct of the pri-
a nees, and the nature of their offence.
Tile female ptisoners shall be divided at least into three classes ;
First, debeirs and persons committed fiw contempt of court on civil
process I second, prisoners convicted ; third, prisoners coneniitteel
fur trial.
Second. —in An Ruth bosses of correction, the mule and female
prisoners shall also be confined in separate wards r parts of the
hrnse. The male prisoners shall be divided into five classes :
%so classes ter primness convicted; prisoners convicted may be
put into either of such classes, as to the visiting Magistrates may
seem meet, regard being had to the character and conduct of psi_
sun es, and the nature of their offence : Second, two classes for
prisoners committed ;in all houses of correct where such pri-
sm:vs are cervical, well prisoneis to be also put into either of these
classes a. to the visiting Magistrates may :tent tticot, regard
bee% hail, as already mentioned, to the character ni.tl conduct art
the prisoner, a, d the nature of his offence : Third, one Clara for
v ante.
In places where the gaol and house of correction are united, the
male prisoners shall be divided into six flosses at least : First,
debtors and prisoners conimitted foe contempt of court on civil pre-
s.: Seemed, two classes for convicted prisoners, sod two for th,,ne
onnolitted for trial; such prisoners to be assigned to either of these
dames of prisoners convicted or committed res:wctively, as to the
visiting magistrates shall seem meet, regard being always had to
the character and conduct of the prisoners, and the nature of their
offence : Third, Gee clam for vagrants.
The female prisoners, in each of such I sea of correction,
shall be divided into three classes : First, two claw. for prisoners
convicted ; the prisoners to be put into either of such classes, as to
the visiting magistrates shall seem meet, regard bring had to their
charrcter and conduct, and the nature of their ollencc vagrant.
shall be assigned to one or the other of these classes, as the nee
Osmium, in their discretion, may see meet : second, where femnt ."
ore committed to any house of aeration bes.e trial, they shall'
In kept in a class by themselves.

A private letter from Paris states. that in the event of a
Congress of the Allied Powers, the fate of I:re.•ce will form
a leading subject of discussion. It is helievi'd that the re-
cognition of the Independence of r;reece will form the
basis of this discussion, and that the only dillicul•y will
be the choice of a Sovereign—the Allied Powers having all
put forth p•rete:tsions to this nomination.
An I trdinane • relative to French subjects Tee( iving Fo-
reign t /viers, without due permission, has
•just been issued
at Paris; the preamble quotes the laws forbidding these
privtices, and states that the King resolves that the penal-
ties shall be limeeforward strictly enforced. The Attor-
ney-General is directed to prosecute all pasons wearing
orders without the !toys! permits: .

I)sii r ut FRANci:.—The proposed reduction of the
public debt of Franco is to be fully tlisouskail in the Cham-
kr of Deputize On the •.:tth inst. On Srturday M. l:iranliu
expressed his dissent from the plan, aril accused the g..-
verinuent of int: tiding to rub the ants of a third
portion of Ilion- ino M. de ropli• 11, that Cie
ff's:r of 103 francs for stock which had boon bought at he-
Creen fifty and ninety, could not be called .1 robbery of the
rockholders. M. Casimir Perrier, a Paris banker, called
for a copy of thc agreement entered into between the
Minister of Finance and the great capitalists of Europe, to
enable the gotcrtiment to execute the great operation for
which they s:dicited the concurrence of the Cliainher. No
answer wa:i xi'. it to this demand, which erected a can-
Sitlerahle Eensation in the assembly.

Letters received front Malta, dated on the -rad of March.
state, that the n port of the appointment of the Marquis of
Iliwinga to the Governorship of that Island had anivtal
lay the way of Marseilles on the 13th of the same month,
anal that it hail boni rixeived with the greatest satisfaction,
Milieulady as the co tttttt and had been made distinct front
that over the lonian Islands.
A letter P..otit Lisbon, datol April 10, received by an
eminent tiverentit.!e house in the Cit.: yestenlay morning,
states that an expedition of in./101/ men was preparing to
act out fur the 11;ards. As the Lesiti Papers du out mention
auy such preparation, we doubt the accuracy of the Mae-
ligence.
PIIVSICIANIL—The physicians of China, by
feeling thi ants of a sick man in three places—to observe
the slowness, the increase, or quickness of the pulse—can
jud;e of the cause, the nature, the danger, amt the dura-
tion of his ilisordt:. Without their patient's speaking,
they ti veal infallibly what part is infected. They ur: at
Suite Physivisitts and apothecariis. composing the rout dies
t!tcy proscribe. They are paid when they have
a cure; but they receive nothing when their reimates do
not take effect. European physicians. it must be eon-
leaked. sre by no means sat sktltial as the Chitiere ; hut in
on,.i thing they bare the advantage twir them, which is in
taking their fees before they have performed the cure.
Thus unlearned pltysieiaiii rd: in their chariots in Lon-
eon ; while learn:al ems walk en iu Pek:u.

TO TIII: EDITOR. OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

I beg to request the favour of your inserting the inclosed
in your l'Aper, as soon as you possibly call. I pre►ume,
that as a public journalist you will publish both sides of a
question, and leave the public to judge. The inclosed is
10 answer to a letter which appeared in your journal of
Ow 17th. 1 am, sir,
_

Your most obedient Servant,
!Anil April, Is2t. Z.
_ ST. CATHERINE'S DOCKS.

Si a —ll would not have iittertered with the question
which has !nought forth so much discussion among the
mercantile uutt and ethers of this metropolis, concerning
the construction or new ilockl at St. Catherine's, but a
letter I read in the columns; of your paper of the 17th
instant, sigte..l :14. M. NI. tempted me to ask the favour of
a placir in your paper for a feet remarks on it. Every
statement that has yet been laid before the public, in
favour of this. docks, has been stated as " plain facts,"
although I tittuly ltel:cYc, nulled I know, that the prin-
t ipal part of the assertions made are either erroneous or
false ; but I soppese the St. Catherine's Dock proprie-
tors and supporters thitik, by making good sound aaser-
Mills, true or not true, and stating them to he facts, to
gain to their inter. st the Mirsisterial and other Members,
who have neither time nor inclination to probe the matter
to the root, but trust. their voting to Ministers or the
public voice.
In the first part of Mr. M. M. M.'s letter, he sagely re-
mit:Ls that i: non, i-ar that the snore Insurance
Ciniqemies thinc are, the tome business there is for the
elil ones to du. N•.w this WY be notorious" Dock Logic,"
as he calls it, but I say that it is notorious not.mense,
therefOre not worthy of a remark; however, I will not
dispute, that aseil facilities und diminished dues
toil attract additional foreign busitess to this port; ;
but that is nit to say, that before that can be done,
additional deo-!.,s must be constructed, as there is al-
ready abundance of aectanit.odation on tle. banks or the!
c !br the t rage of the port. Let Mr. M. NI. M. consider
how many wharfs have fire igo stifferaisers and extensive
premises. but do not take advantage of those privileges,
because there is not trade sufficient to support the establish-
tnent. I .1111 within limits %At n I say that not one-fourth
of them laud foreign gasps ; indeed there are only four
principal wharfs besides the ligith quays, viz. :Maim. Bell's,
‘tr mum's, brown's, and Schneiders; and upon inquiry I
that do y could and would Wye acco 1111 l iodation for
double the cut:tiskit Intsiniss they transact at present in
foreign goods, provided they saw a fair prospect of getting
it. Resides, alter the vat ious dock charters are expired,
all the fin eirm sufferance wharfs that can will then take ad-
vantage of their priyilews; and, by this immense addition
of comp( (item, must naturally decline and plenty
of accommodation be found for the foreign trade.
In studio r rat of that brilliant production, Mr. M. 111.
states that a pi :Ilion has been presented to the House
of Common! its favour of the St. Catherine's Docks, signed
by of the first firms in Loudon. 1 will not doubt
the respectahility of the si:rnattires to that petition, but I
will doubt whether more than one-third of them gave the
matter due vonsideration before they signed it, or troubled
themselves in any way to ascertain the trittli of the asser-
tions made therein, viz. that there is not accommodation
in the port of London for the traie now resorting to it, or
what eta;: be ; but I verily believe that the prin-
cipal part of Cie houses who signed that petition, did so
either to oblige friends, er knew no harm in signing it,
thereiOre rested on the assertions of the " ritfhleen gentle-
r/Ira aal aha f' wit c to le directors of this new Dock,
for acir hat right ill signing it. Now, Mr. Edi-
tor, I leave the I..„:islature and the public to say whether
this p• tition, ou which the St. lit th, rive'a Dock supporters
piaci so muidi stress, should he given forth to the world as
" Me de, i.I i 1. a ! re, d opinions of Nee Inerehanfit
Louis." Besides, I deny that the principal or most ex-
tensive part or the merchants of London are in favour of
this It.b. I only wish that the St. Catherine's Deck pm- 1
prietors would act fairly, and before they make such asser-
tions, Lotaill scud persons round to the merchants ill gene-
ral. to get their assent or dissent to this speculative scheme,
an .I the ma;ority woula shcw Parliament the feelings of the
merchants, aim let the !till be treated according to their
wishes.

There is a pitiful. nay a spiteful statement, composed
and published, I told:l,mnd, by Mr. J. H. (and no doubt
with tin a oilstone,: or this wonderful elmeidaior, Mr. M. M.
M.) ageiost the London Doak Company, which should he
beneath the Secretary of so respectable a direction as the
St. Catherine's I arks. wherein lie cried down the manage-
ment of the Directors of that respectable Company, for
buying twenty acres more land than they required; and
this same Mr. M. Id. M. hit on the same point. But I will not
make a remark on this, as I ant not acquainted with the
cause of that land being purchased; but can easily suppose
that they looked thrwatd to the time when the West India
Hock charter would expire, when they would receive ad-
ditional business, their premises being so much nearer the
metropolis than those docks, and thought it prudent there-
fore to take the ground when Parliament was disposed to
give it them. lint what I wish to say on this iv, why
should the Legishiture allow two parishes to be disturbed,
and the inhabitants injured, when the houses which stood
on twenty acres of laud have heti) alreaAly knocked down,
the inhabitants of course turned from their dwellings,
and a Hoek Company °tiering to make use of that
land. It is very tav Gar the St. Catherine's Duck
people to answer, and this by saying that they will
het p up their charges ; but I contend that if Go-
vernment would ;rant the privileges of legal quays
to cotaiii wharfs that have for;itot sulk:rances, the Lon-
don !hick Conpany ina,t then either rt duce their charges,
or have little or no busints:. 0111)os:thin is certainly good
for reducing charges, but all the opposing subjects should
be in play before a now opposition Coll:IllelleeS, and not
lying dormant fer a certain time, as they are in this case.
Mr. NI. NI. M. asserts ilea this Dock Company comes for-
ward under " the immediate auspices- of the Legislature.
Ilut it this ia true (whielt I presume it is not)• how was it
that the two Print:h.:l Seeretaries of Soite, ?.Ir. Canning and
Mr. Pc,:l, left the while the diseussion about their
lid! was going on, and dill pm/ vote on either side of the
question? In my opinion, that kx)ked as if they did
lint approve of the however, to say the least, the y
must be cool about it, mid I suppose did not like to
oppose Mr. M'allace in his endeavours to procure Mr. J. 11.
a good birth.
'!'hilt man also says in his eoistb:, that lb.? St. Catherine's
Pocks propri, tors as no privileges, but I would rem:n-
ut nil him to look into the copy of their BBL and he will
find there, ti ::t the pi iviloos of legal quays arc requested,
w:iich ahc mit allowed to wCarti:gers on the riot r, althou4l
c.ey are muter heavy hoods to the Customs and Excise ;
y.a this lb els Company have the audacity to call out to the
public, Vie/ lair clomp.l,le t is di tiny want.
Ile also aaserts that the Hock CAnpanv are content to
pay fur what they acquire ; if they are, why did they nut
agree at INICO to insert tie clauses asked for by thus Chair-
HUM of the parish of St. Catherine, which, I am authenti-
cally informed, were perfectly flmmable, and purely
tended to provide for the seenrity of the property of the
parishioners, iontead of leasing them to the mercy of a
deint Comp illy. who profess great economy, until
would, prelohility, be stiagy in their compensations
to the ha tide they ii.jure.
Mr. M. NI. NI. .dso wishes to make the public believe, 1.
that the I bneto:.: of this ern al Company have
propounded their sdictu • so 'wonderfully clever, that
slur. s cannot le sohl t r jobbed in ; but any ulna who
is acquithiroa W1:11 the 1111,1111':S, or has a truth part al
the sells.' r. Nl. M. leo displayed in his letter, knows
that a eel liealt .:;ratit.al to A, purporting that he is,
the roioiteer if ..ft to mere • hares, call be sold to lt,
B as, 11 knowing that A could mit have procured that eta--
title:lle wilmot tirst prang tl:e deposit; and it is a fact
that the S:.( atherin, s Ikal shares have been sold on the
Stock Fo.change, every day, in commou with the shares of
utlwr new scheme It. _ _

The eon:y:110We ovcrlay way in which this gnitletnan
of the plod:It:on and houses being disturbed, very
titsinly shows :hat h. is unacquainted with what be writes
about. I would wish to mk him, where the whartingcrs,
whose s this Pock i',..irrahy wish to demolish, are
to move their business to, es their connections sod busi-
ness ire not worth a jut without they have premises on the
!liver, and as adjacent to the 'ity. Mr. M. M. M. will please
to recoil• ct that there arc hard-headed, sensible men, in the
Legislature of this country, who will not be gulled by such
irothy atguments as he has put forth.
Before 1 conclude, I beg to remark that the Pool is the
may i i;.• iu the Xver that is ever nowded with vessels,

and then nM to obstrutt the navigation ; but this could be
easily rectilled,if the Harbour-masters would do their duty,
by ordering a portion of the vessels to moor lower down
the River.

lam, Sir, your very obedient Servant,

. - .
lath April, 1821 - --
Z.
••• Thourh our own views on the suhject of the St.
Catherine's Dock may be in accordance with those of our
Correspondent M. M. M., we shall on this, as on all other
I wealjons, admit the fair and free discussion of every sub-
ject, and have therefore, at the writer's request, given the
above letter the earliest insertion.

TO THE EDITOR OE '1 HE BRITISH PRESS.

Ste—l have carefully perused the letter of your cor-
respondent, signed, " A LOOK Ell oe," in your paper of
the 3th instant ; and I concur, in the main, in the justice
and importance of his observations ; but there are some
points, comparatively minor points I admit, on which I
differ from that writer—for instance, with respect to the
Irish not sending spirits to this country, he says, that
" The profit to be obtained under the present duty not
being equal to the risk." This is, I think, at variance With
the statement of the excessive monopoly profits of the Eng-
lish distillers, being at least Is. 6d. per gallon, in which he
is correct; for if the law would allow it, grain spirits
would be furnished by the Scotch distillers, of the very
best quality, delivered in London, with the duty of
los. ad. paid, at Its. per gallon, which is Is. 6d. per gallon
under the English price; and the Scotch distillers would
most readily engage to execute -orders at this price.—
Again, " the profit to be obtained under the present
I ditty not being equal to the risk." I should be in-
clined to state it thus, that the Irish distillers had either as
good or a better market at home, that prevented them send-
ing spirits to England; or, perhaps, the Irish distillers may
again have mails an agreement this year, as they did the
lett, with the English distillers, to send a given quantity
of spirits into England, to be rommiited to the care of the
English distillers themselves to sell, on purpose to keep up !
the monopoly the English have so long possessed, and for
which I refer to the statement made by one of the English
distillers, when examined before the Parliamentary Corn-
ruissioners of Revenue Enquiry, 23d January Ise% and to
be found in page 36L of the Appendix to their Report,
ordered to he printed by the House of Commons.3oth Islay
11v23, No. 405. Another error is the price in that country,
3s. 34., compared with that of England, .Ss. Two of the i
largest distillers in that country, that work for England, have
also each about the largest (one of them certainly the very
largest) works for the Scotch mork:t, where, instead of
getting 3s. 3d. for their grain spirits, made at more expense
than those for England, they have he:n selling at prices
that will not leave them much over 2s. Gel., being one half
of the price (five shillings) that Me y, by the monopoly in
England, get for those spirits sent to that market. Surely
this state of things requires only to be known to Government
to be remedied. The Scotch distillers have certainly a
right, in justice, to the same privilege as the Irish distillers,
who are permitted to send their spirits to England ; and
under the liberal principles of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer himself, the proper thing would be a pet-teeny free
trade all over the United Kingdom, in home made spirits
the same as In corn, and these allowed to be made of the
best quality, and go into consumption at any strength
buyers may wish. If this was done, and the duties re-
duced in England, it would prevent all smuggling of
foreign spirits along the cast coast of England, a hich is
supposed to amount to several millions of gallons yearly ;
and save all the expense of the preventive, or water guard,
along the coast, which is said to cost about half a million of
money yearly, and it is believed would even yield an in-
crease of revenue.

Nothing can exemplify the effect of low duties in a
stronger point of view, than the reduction of the salt duty in
England ; and accounts just printed in the House of Com-
mons, shew the quantity of home made spirits that paid
duty ha Scotland and Ireland, in the year ending 9th Oct.
last, to be 30-'6,1419 gallons, and the quantity from then
to 22e1 February, in Scotland. and 6th March in Ireland,
6,317.319 gallons, being an increase, for little more than
one third of a vcar, of 2,590,699 gallons over the whole of
last year. And I should think it fair from this to
infer, that at the expiring of the year, the quantity might
be fully 15,000,000 gallons, which at the duty of Is. is
1,300,0001., against 3,1410,11119 gallons last year, at 4a- ed.
1,051.9551. as. 61—making an increase of revenue of
415,0741. ISs. 6d.

This occasioned, as fairly stated by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, in pages It: and 13 of his speech, '23d Fe-
bruary last, not by an increased consumption of spirits,
but by bringing all consumed to pay duty. The decrease
he states in same page 1:1, and refers to Appendix No. 4,
as arising on sports in England, stands thus: the whole
quantity of English, Irish, and Scotch made spirits paying
duty in England on the average of the three years ending
sth January, IS•21, ISYSI, and 1823, was by that, when
rightly added, 4.955,609 gallons, while for the following
year ending Sth January, 11+24, it was only 4,V.23,361; this
decrease of 6312,2t1 may not only be scribed to the mo-
nopoly that subsists among the English distillers by keep-
ing up the price, but also to the bad quality of the
spirits.
By the population returns in Session 1821, Ireland and
Scotland contained 8.938,963 persons, England 11,977,663
persons. Taking spirits for these in Englsnd in the pro-
portion already shown for those in Ireland and Scotland,
the quantity would be upwards of 20,000,048) gals. This,
at a duty of '2a. rid. per gallon, would be 2,300,0001., while
that on the 4,W3,361 gals. in the year ending .sth January
last, at Ills. 6d. per gallon, is only 12.117.'1611. 10s. fid.
These quantities together, for all the United Kingdom,
would be 35,000,000 gals. But allow them only to be
30,080,000 gals., the whole to be put under one law and
one duty, at the rate of 3a. per gallon, would yield inure
revenue than is belie veel ever to have been got from all the
distilleries in the l!nited Kingdom upon any given average
or )cars. It is therefore well worth the consideration of
those enlightened and liberal Ministers, the First Lord of
the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Pre-
sident of the Board of Trade, and also of the landed
interest, to w boor it would create an extended demand for
nearly an additional million quarters of grain yearly.
As to allowing ruin to be us.d by the recall:Ts, there
certainly can be no solid objection to the measure, for if
goods pay all the duties Government impose, the owners
should be allowed to manufacture or prepare them for sale
in any way they can turn them to the greatest account, ex-
cept to ally purism.: that may lessen the revenue by their
subsequent application, atter having paid the first duty
(tor instienci., as malt into beer or spirits), or that may be
hurtful -vo society, none of which app.ies at all against
allowing rum to he rectified. Thy only interest it would
interfere with is the monopoly or the English distillers,
and perhaps the barley grower a little, but not materially.
Regarding the duty, however, there has always been a dis-
tinction, 'which it would be equitable to continue.
I am, Sir, &c. X. Y. Z.