The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-03-18 00:00:00

MOUSI or COMMONS

BRIDGEWATER COMMITTEE,
■ALIATT6D TIM MM.
t. Wilbraham Bootk, bn. T. Eloressk woe►, .q.
Creme Litsekeit, Glair Onermitisk, Es q.
lion Richard Stuart Lard Vise. Direrbiatteselt
Sir J Cottrell, Bart. hogs Dims* Pi* slier, Esq.
Lev.' Louvain, Sr Jetta Seleight, lost
William Wynne, Esq.

_
Nosoncrs.
James Farquhar, Egg. Huts Edward Herbert.
Sir CalßLcs Pates pens etted • rectified Petition how
the Merchants trading to the Continent is Cottalswessl, is
how of the Orders to Council, which, after sow shier-
ensisiss Roan Mr. Wiatotsta• and Mr. 1.111111111, wr
erdered to be laid upon the Tat*.
COLD PATH FIELDS PRISON.
Mr. Suiststa rose and stated, that be had for-
merly intimated that he meant to make •
motion upon this subject, should the Right
Honourable Gentleman opposite (Mr. Sheridan)
tint be disposed to take any steps as to the
Petition which he had presented to the !louse.
In doiiw, so, be did not nub to take the matter nut
of that tt*ht Hon. Gentleman's bands, and there-
fore be tower wished to know, whether or not he
(Mr. %eridan) meant to take auy isutnediate steps
regarding it'
Mr. Simatisait answered, that be only delayed,
in order to nweestain if Ministers meant to take
it up. for if they did not; he sliould.—So
far from ahriaking from the subject, he could
*sante the Honourable Gentleman, that under-
atandiog that he was intending to submit some-
thing to the Douse relative to it, he bad procured
some of the Gentlemen who had signed the Peti-
tion to attend this day. and they could be got
within five minute. from the time he was speaking.
Mr. Seitil Ell observed, that as to the expecta-
tion which the Hight lion. Gentleman had thrown
out, in, to 'Ministers bane, up this question, be
knew that tin v had not Lien inattentive to the
sii/iect. Previous to the petition being presented,
tlie: been fotiiiingir commission. intending to
act under the saactron of the Great Seal, and
ompreed of tirmy metalt.m who formed the
rtit1101:014).1, and ho believed that the

delay tl.at I:ed Deemed :had been occasion-
ed by, the dilatlrinase. of those Who +ad ,been
recluired to give answers to intetropitoriix. lie
thought that the Petitioners had failed in their
duty iu tlictirst instance, au litatiug that they were.

(hand Jurpruen, whca, is inct:7their futetion*

had ceased some days previous to their signing the
Petition, and they bud only viewed tile prisoa
as private individuals. Whet. they occupied the si-
tuation as grand jurymen,_ they were bound to in-
vestigate those abuses, and to male a presentineut
to the Sessions, which were fully competent to re-
medy the evil. They having chosen to pass over
that opportunity, the next mode they ought to
have adopted. was to make an application to the
Secretary of State, and if he had dielined to ii.-
terfere, then, and not till then, he (Mr. Stunner)
thought they might have had a just ground fur be-
. ing heard at the bar of the House. lie did tint
believe that they came there from any doubt that
those other parties were either unwilling or inade-
quate to remedy the evils, but inertly fur the pur-
pose of gratifying their feelings, and rousing the
public mind upon a subject which every one wr.bed.
not to reiteo. The Petition, therefore, remained

as a libel upon the table against the Magis-
trates of the Comity of Middlesex; and if any
one was ,entitled to respect from that House,
it was those Magistrates, who rendered their ler-
vices griiii*ously, and who expected their charac-
ters to bejadged of by their work. It was in order
therefore to clear their characters that he, was 811%•

ions to propose immediately the most regulax and
coostituttonal mode of proceeding upon this sub-
ject, namely, the appointment of a Committee by
the House. He meant to move that a Committee
above stairs should be appointed to investigate the
whole complaii►ts as to that prison ; and that the
Petition.uow on the table, ttgether with the pa-
pers he should afterwards move for, should be re-
ferred to them. did hot think it incumbent
upon him to give individually an opinion upon the
subject of•those charges, as it would come with
greater propriety /nun that Committee. The first
Motion he should make would be, " That there

be laid before the House a copy of the report of
the Magistrates of 3litidlesex, to whom was refer-
red a Copy of a Letter from Mr. Sheriff Phillips to
Alaiwearing, Esq. complaining of the
abuses that existed in rey,artl to the distribution of
bread, sad the light weirdos, and various other
grievances of the prisoners in the Cold Bath Fields
pnson ; and alstt the Copy of any Presentment
made by the timid Jury to the Sesgious relative
thereto."

The ('HANCYLI.OI of. the EXCHEQUER said, he
did not think it would he i'roper to entertain such a
Motion, for it would only make it appear as if
Covernn►eut was not disposed to take the matte! up.
The only cause of its not having been investigated
sooner,was, that the Secretary of State did not think
there was a sufficient examination or statement of
facts, to induce him to make such an inquiry.
One reason that a further examination had not
taken place was, that the Member for Dorsetshire,
(Wm. Morton Pitt, Esquire,) who was one of the
Commissioners, had a ionbbetlety to discharge, in
attending the Assize* of that county, and had de-
sired that the Commission might• not be set on
foot till l►e returned. The character of the Go-
vernment was in his opinion as necessary to preserve
as the characters of the Magistrates. The appoint-
uleut of such a Committee would be casting a sus-
picion upon Geveriussent, which was wholly unme-
rited, seeing that the House had already expressed
an opinion, that the Government ought to have
taken up this particular business, and redress the
grievances complained of. lie therefore should ,
suggest that the House ought not yet to interfere,
and that the lion. Gentleman should withdraw his
motion, as being premature, upon this'occasion.
Sir FRANCIS Buluntrr said, he could not coin-
cide with any opinion he t►ad heard expressed upon
this subject. He entered his protest against the •
doctrine, that these were grievances that ought to
be submitted solely to the Government of the
country. They were flat complaints of a trivial
nor inconsiderable nature. One Hight Honour-
able Gentleman seemed to be of opinion, that the
Petition stating those grievances being presented
to the House, was casting a reflection upon the
Government of the country ; while another Ho-
noarable Gentleman thought it his duty to vindi-
cate the character of the Magistrates of the county.
These seemed to be the only objects in their view,
whits the object of the House ought 'solely to be
to redress the grievances complained of. The
Magistrates of the county, as a body, were not at
all Duplicated in the business. There were par-
ticular .Nl4,,,iatratet, appointed to superintend that
department, at the I►ead of 'chow was Mr.
Mainwaring, who presided at Hicks's Hall, who
alone had their characters concerned iu it.—

The Petition had been tint objected to mere-
ly on account of muse informality, and next
on account of wine alleged improper motives of
the ?retinues% in wishing to make the booms&
more public than was really necessary. What oc-
casion, he would ask, has the Home of Commons
thus to be cavilling about words, as Lawyers
would do about. flaws in an indictment? To do
so, appeared to.hins to be a very harsh mode of
proceeding. What reason was there to attribute
impropen motives to the Petitioners, merely be-
cause they had not exclusively applied to the Sec.
of State for the Home Department ! It appeared to
him, that the House *lout was the proper tribunal
wherein to constitute that inquiry. Ever since
the year 1799, had not this matter been reposed iu
the bawls of Government? Nothing having vet
beeu done, he thought the House could not do Get-
ter than iinitittite a Committee of I ouniry. That
this Committee was opposed he was not sit all asto-
nished at, after the quibble that he had heard used
by certain Gentlemen, as to the Petitioners not
being of the Grand Jars. The tact wasn that the
Grand Jury did actually demand peruiission to
visit Cold Bath Fields prison, which permission
they did not receive from Captain Drummond,
till their. functions. as Jurymen, had ceased.—
It was, however. well known, th;t they- were gen-
tlemen of respectability, who were summoned upon
the Grand Jury, nod therefore entitled to atten-
tion, confidence, and respect, although their com-
mission under the King did set entitle them to
go retrospectively into any inquiry. They had no
power to investigate ail those shocking sc.t,nrs
which he (Sir Francis Burdett) was able to uti,ty

the House actually existed. They had only a
Puwee to give an op pion as to the present state of
that horrible prison, alter the Choler had taken
cure to have it mouth to prepare the prison for !Erie
ret-eptioa. Their report, howeso r, did ye
Itligth of stating:. that no ate:it...sr was paid either
to ei:e orders of the Mugiatmey, nor to the known
and ez-tsblislied rules and regulatio...; of the pi i,on.
They did state that every thing had been disci,
rmi,a by this Gsciei, %shy. set at nought the au-
thority, both of the Magistrates and of the blur.
—They stated that they found false weight,,
and innocent persons toothed in irons,
ought to have been discharged by Proclamation.
'Grey found that this terrific Gaoler was in the
habit of beating his )wisoaent, and of borrosiing
eusuey front those miserable wretches, to the
amount of I tool. and upwards; nay, they even
found wore than all this, they found that this
Gaoler was in the habit of getting bribes from rte
prisoners, as he (Sir Francis Bar&tt) could prove,
by reading an extract froth' the lieport (liter '
hear ! Arse I Not only were the Prisoners strew.
Wined to suit their wants to the wants of die Caoler.
but they weiw alas forced to suit their wants to
those of the Oortraor's daughter (Hear I hear
/wee!) He did trust and hope, that the House
would, for mice, think themselves hound in duty,
even against the opinitra of the Hight Hon. (;eutie.
laan opposite, to investigate these matters, by the
appointment of a Committee, who, he had en
doubt, woold,take up a correct view of them. It
wits but -enact of huntauity and justice, which wns
important at all seasons, but peculiarly so and r
the present circumstances of the country.
Sir Cneants Patcs endeavoured to sheer that so
far from there being any dbliciency.• there was cc.
tuallv increased weight of bread; and that there-
fore *what had been stated in Mr. Sheriff
letter was not well founded.

Mr. SHFRIDAN thought that this mode of pro.
ceeding was one of the'usost extraordinary that ever
had occurred. The Honourable Gentleman oppo-
site (Mr. Sumner) had first limn merely for the
purpose of asking him a question as to whether or
. .

Trot he (Mr. Sheridan) meant to- proceed further
in this business; and after receiving an answer that
he meant to bring forward precisely a similar mo-
tion to that new proposed, that Hon. Gentleman
bikes upon himself to sulemit the appointment
of a Committee to the House. He (Mr. Sheridan)
wished to have had an opportunity of proving the
facts at the Bar, acting upon the instructions of
the Petitioners themselves; but now that Hop.
Gentleman opposite seemed to wish to take the
business out of his hands. However much hr

(Mr. Sheridan) might approve of appointing a
Committee, he should certainly object to one al.
pointed by Government, or by the Hon. Gent.
who now proposed it. He could not deny that the
la* Commission war composed of men'of respect-
ability and character, and that they executed their
duty faithfully, as far as they had powers given
them, but nobody could have believed it possible
that Government would have allowed these abuse,
to continue. or that Governor Aris should fe.,
been allowed to remain Governor of the Cold Bath
Fields Prisop. Judging from this, therefore, was h,
not to be jealous of any Commission appointed by
Ministers ? Was he not entitled to think that a Par-
liaineutary Committee would be preferable to one
appointed by those who bad already totally disre-
garded the iteport of their forme( Commissioners ?
The Geutlemen whom he had seen this morning
had had as yet no answer from Government, as to
whether their complaints were to be listened to or
aot, and therefore he could by no means pledge
himself that they would be satisfied by a second
Commission being appointed by the Crown. He
could not at present attenn• to set the Ilan. Bart.
(Sir Charles Price) right, who had pet into detail
upon the weight of tweed, by any other evideare
than a Report he held in his baud, which. in point
of fact. corroborkted every evil complained of by
the Grand Jury. In that Report it would be found
that the head cook stated, that never was any such
thing as a pound weight used in the prison. He
would not, however, slater thou into detail upon
this subject, but he should still say. that he could
not possibly divest himself of what was set forth
iu the Report already =Wt upon the subject. He
could riot banish from • his mind the recollection of
the care of an unfortunate g rl of the name of Ma,
Rich, who was contintal is a most lonesome and
dark part of the dungeon. • lawyer haring been
charged with an assault to commit a rape, and she
being unwilling to give het testimony alto the Fact,
it was apprebeuded the delioqueot would escape,
unless she were ceafined till the trial cameos. Ac-
cordingly she was thrown into this doageon, sod
vigorously treated, under the expectation that her
father would come forward and Wet money to pro-
cure her release. In fact she was almost starved,
and when she was brought forward to give her tes-
timony, she could neither stand nor sneak. When
inquiry was !Dade into this chard', it eas said that
. the fkthcr being only a button-muker, could
not 14 see given her better food, although she had
been kept at his own house. Cpon a considera-
tion of the whole of them grievances, he thought
them so abominable, that lie should upon au sans
day submit a proposition to the House.
*Mr. MELLISM contradicted the allegation. that
the Governor's son had got a young woman o ,:h
child in the prison, as it occurred is months ahyr
she was at large. As to the charge ebeut the
bread, he believed that Gentlemen were I,ot aware,
that by the Act of Parliament soinething was
allowed for the loss upon stale bread, or such al
had been kept for a day and a hail or two days-
There might be instances of one loaf beiug ouster
weight, .but there would also be ot,-ers of its being
over weight. He had an opportunity of miming
the gaol aloe g 'with several others, mud ulca
weighing Soy loaves they y ielded 815 lbs.; '4
that there enuld be no accusetion brought against
the Gaoler for starvinut the prisoners.
Mr. Scottie said he slid not believe that there
was an, fault on the part of the Magistrates, bet eJ
the coutrare the investigatioJ would teud to the';
honour. 'the Honourable Geutletuan then rec.
creded to name those ti-nitlemen whom he eirib'
to appoint upon the Committee.
Mr. SEINSIDAN spoke to order, as it 'rvs
par to name a Conlon:- re; nefune the House 1(4
consented to its ppo.nt•nent.
Tire
Report,tiueat;° and e nattast:lrec'etl t. part
as
to
:he
polar
ofi

tJ

rye

AI

-kei
tllr
tec

;
e
[r
I,e
le
ir
,te
hr
It -
ue
ug
to
of
Le
nd
Fie
Cl.
ui
tee
jut
by
tnd
tcli
He
ion
old
,rth
lb
i of
ft'T

~'

g a
4-
eat.
the
eft-

licit
wen
ihit
LISC.

lath
he
1M
one

6 ;
g 'YE

t tlwe
bot
o
n'r•r
i

izrr:

re eti

•
Upon the qnestii:: as to the redact:du of the
Presentment made by the Grand Jury,
Mr. SittatDAN stated, that this Paper did cor-
roborate the most material facts coahuned in the
Petition. 'lt would appear, that a foreiguer had
been committed up 1.11.1 suspicion of a crime,
although no crime had actually been committed,
aim feat he became deranged. Another poes;mau
bud been struck by a person appointed by the
gaoler to attend upon him. He should take upon
himself to say, that this person had neither been
reprimanded uor removed. As to the ease of se.
Suction, it had not taken place till after the yonng
woman was confined.
Mr. Melanin observed. that it was true there
was a foreigner of some rank, who, it was said, bad
become deranged daring his confinement. and who
pre.ented a memorial to them upou his knees.
The fact was,, however. that this foreigner had
been confined as a spy. for which there was a law
in this country. There were very great doubts as
to tins man having really lost his senses or not ; it
was lather believed that ha merely pretended to be
so, in order to get released. Instead of being con-
fined in a solitary cell; as was alleged, he was
.kept in a large room, with a very good fire, and,
therefore, such accusations were not to be lie-

timed to.
Mr. ‘Vll.i.tats Weser said, that the man
al-
-lutTad to ass one whom it was thought dangerous
to allow to remain at large in this country, or to
hold conou tttt ications with others; and at the saps
time it was thought also dangerous to send him out
of the country, as it might endanger the lives of
others.
Sir FRANCIS BURD6*--" Sir, I do not mean at
present to question the propriety of the confine-
meat of tins foreigner, the only question being
whether this statement in the Petition can be
proved ? It is quite impossible that I can forget
that Mr. Aria himself coafessed that he had bor-
rowed money from his prisoners, that he whipped
them, and took bribes from them. These are ac-
tions that are directly against the law and the re-
gulations of the prison. I should hope that there
would be no Committee who would decline taking
a retroapective view of these things. I should ra-
ther wish the Hon, Gentleman to leave the in tttec
in the hands of those from whom he took it, in
order thot some justice might be done to those tin-
fortunate beings who suffer under the oppression of
that gaol. When I hear Gentlemen may that they
visited this prison. I would like to know how many
cells they inspected ? There me upwards of 300
cells in this gaol, which would require some person
zealot's io the cause of humanity to visit. It would
be necessary to visit theta in the morning,. to see
bow money is extorted from theta, or their bread
with-held. 'Phis scanty allowance is a pound loaf
n-day, which, if the gaoler choose, he may with-
hold from any oufortuaate person under coutine-
meat, sad starve him for 24 hours, or longer, as he
pleases, so as to affect his healtu, and bring him to
the grave; and yet this is Moughtioo trivial to Of
stated. It is, Sir, the sort of inkirisontnelit here
adopted that I complain of as being contrary to
the Constitution. This prison was, at the time of
its erection, a perfect novelty in the country,
and introduced entirely as.en experiment, whits's,.
has completely failed, and therefore the old
law of the country ought again to be tried...—.
The gaoler has ton snitch power to inflict punish-
ments, ten Are daily made as to these
itomole transaction:. There is something pecu-
liarly inyster:Jus as to the protection afforded to
this particular gaoler. II: is a man of notorious
bad character. lie seems to be introduced upon
the same groan is as a certain Poet introduced a
Lawyer, who had upon occasion been led to the
performance of a good and begged it
might be concealed, lest hls ;food charicter *mould
rum his business. I am not afraid, however, of
this. man going even this length, as I suspect
he
.is incapable of perform's% use good action.—
This man having embtxxiell the parish massy, he
was recommended to the situation of gaoler, in the
hopes that the parishioners might be reimbursed
their minim-. This is.the sort of man under whose
contronl there were generally 100 or 30) prisoners.
With this before our eyes, is it possible that we an
be satisfied ? It is not, however, upon that account
alone that complaiuts are to be made to this House.
It is not merely sought to expel this Governor
Aris with all his crimes; but I should wish to put
an end to that new and scandalous system of Ml-
pnsounieht, introduced by adopting the system of
a man. meaning well, and intruding to benefit his
species--I mean, the late Mr. Howard. His sys-
tem. however well be might be disposed, was not
that which ought to have teen in the view of the
Legislature ot that day, sod ought not to actuate
this lionise at the prisent period. His view of the
subject was of this kind :—He, observed. in those
receptacle:, of misery which he visited at home and
abroad, that, there was a constant habit of intosieo-
rpm and an improper connection of male and fe-
male prisoners, by their being kept mixed together.
His ohret. therefore, was, to separate the prison-
ers, which he conceived mold only be effected by
cutting them off from these temptations sad
profligate courses, and consequently recommend-
ed solitary confinement. He however also re-
commended every kind of alleviation that could
dianinieh the severity of that severest of pu-
u,shiceuts that man can endure. He Impel that
by this coarse the most hardened culprits might be
li,nught hack to habits of industry : but we cannot
sued in his book ill the other severities that can he
iiivented,
.joined with that of ?solitary confinement.
1:1 regard to this gaol, we thud that that part which
ought to be dct feed to the exercise of thb prisoners,
is appropriated by the gaoler for feeding his hogs
and hi. chickens. If any person will be pleased to
go and visit this prison, they may be convinced
of these and such like abuses. The, person
of a prisoner, it must be recollected, is under the
eye of the law as much as that of any other man in
the thiploia. What can we say of the fellow who
eau Mat men in chains! Yet this is the con-
• duct of this Governor Aris, as they choose to
tali him. When I visited this abode of wretch-
od.less, there happened to be a turnkey, who had
more humanity than this Governor Aria, his
son, or his son-in-law, for there is a whole family of
Pelves, who, as it were, monopolize the whole ex-
tortions*of this gook This turnkey confessed, that
the Prisoners were not ellowed.to see their wives,
th,ir children. or friends, esuept in the presence

or this head vsoler, their tortnentar, nor bad they
an opportunity to get tam eud inl to write their
grievances. The whole place, Sir, is a place of de-

. .
ception. It is •to the visitor airy and sweet,
and a man may think it better to be there
than to be in Newgate. This is apparently
the case to a persmi unacquainted with the wiles
iind deceptions that are practised. 'Chem is
a very fine chapel, and sovend very good
rooms; bat as to the filthy and miserable

no man can possibly conceive what they are, unless
he use mesas to succeed iu getting into them. I
had Nisited the prison two or three times, and
. .

there were some of them that I never knew of, fill
by mere chance I got secret intelligence of them.
1 re-visited it, and 1 remember of a person of the

name of Joned, who was confined nia dark cell.

It takes more than a whole day. to see the prisoners.
asked to see this sua;r. and I was at last taken to

him. He was a miserable object, apparently in the
utmost despair. liis head oar bound round. He
said that 4ria bad beaten him unmercifully a con-
siderable brae before, and that be had spit blood

ever afterwards. Aris did not deny it, bet merely
said, that he would best every maw in a similar
manner, who behaved so insolently as he had dour.
I wish the House therefore to consider what are the
circumstances attending this ne* system of impri-
sonment, and it cannot fail to have its due elect

upon the minds of the public."
The Cstanciituntof the ter IlfeSililraMi Stet
Government was not connected with the appoint-
ment of Governor to that prison. What the Hon.
Baronet had stated was not the subject of the pre-
sent inquiry or complaint. There was every dis-
position on the part of Government to make every
inquiry, and it was not necessary to erect the
House into a Court of Inquiry upon such occasion.
The late Government might have as well redressed
these complaints as the present or antecedent one,
and therefore there could be no particular ground
of complaint against the present Government, the
last one keying evidently slept upon their posts.
Sir FRANCIS •BURDETT added, that he had for-
merly stated these grievances and coniplaints to the
antecedent Administration ; and they thinking the
circumstances extremely strong, institutea an in-
quiry, wishing that Gocernineut should be per-
mitted to remedy the evil. By this means it
went out of his hands; but so far from these
grievances being redressed, it. had not been put
into the power of the Commissioners so appointed
to inquire into them, so that they actually stood
in the same situation they formerly Were.
Lord FORICESTOSIN trusted the Howie woUld feel
the necessity for the appointment of a Committee,
and that the Honourable Baronet near him (Sir
Francis Burdett), who had interested himself so
much in the affairs of thir prison, would be ap-
pointed a member of it.
Mr. Witecaroces irlid, when he looked at the
names of those who were appointed AS Commis-
sioners for the regulation of this prison, and the
removal of abuses that might exist in it, he was
thoroughlf convinced there could be no Commit-
tee appoiuted that would be more ably qualified
to remedy the evils complained of.
Mr. Houroaa did not mean to deny that a
cell, such as ...sled by. t Honourable Baronet (Sir
Francis Bitrdetl II;•- ,mi exhibit the evils UO
jzt
planted of, but he h never heard of such, and
never did sae a prison which exhibited such ac-
commodation, sack cleanness, and such neatness.
lie conversed with mu* of those confined in this
prison, and did not meet one who complained of
ill treatment. The complaints were against the
coelinement, pot against the treatment,
Mr. WILLI 411 WITH contended that the con-
tinuation of the gooier, Aris, sifter the complaints
made against bun, was • proof of the greatest
abuse ; unless on tae principle of. party feeling, it
was som:eountabie. The Commissioners appointed
to remedy the ivils complained of we had every
reason to be dissatisfied with; as the mine coin-
pleiub continue to be made that were before their
appointment. He had examined the Report of the
Grand Jury of Middlesex, and found it completely
in unison with the statement of the Hon. Baronet.
The mode of Committee was incomparably better
fitted for an inquiry of this kind, than any other,
and it therefore met his decided approbation.
Mr. LItYCIATi.N did not mean to prolong the
debate, but could not help saying, that he never
tiitnessed a man more harshly and severely treated
than the person who was the subject of this discus-
sion, Mr. Ans. He went through the prison, for
the purpose of information, and he never saw one
more regularly and correctly conducted.
Mr. ilaisar SMITH considered Government
guilty of no neglect towards the complaints from
this prison. If time abuses stated by the Hon.
Baronet (Sir Francis Burdett) were founded, it
was strange they had not made their way to the
public. Ile wished the House to institute an in-
quiry into them, and to punish, in the most exem-
plary manner, any guilt that was detected.
Mr. Baan• preferred a Committee to a Com-
mission, for two reasons: first, it was more public
sod satisfactory to the people ; and, secondly, a
Commission having felled in removing those abuses,
a Committee should be resorted to:
Mr. Somoza comadored the prison well cal-
culated to give every accommodation to those con-•
fined in it, and doabted whether there was such a
cell as mentioned by the Hon. Bement (Sir Francis
Burdett.)
SirJoHE NEWPORT maintained, asthe grievances
complained of evidently existed, it basins the
duty of Parliament to interfere. It appeared that
Commissioners were appointed, and reported many
abuses existing in that prison, and misconduct
upon the part of Aris, to which he pleaded guilty,
notwithstanding which he is still cositinued in of-
fire. If the Report of these Commissioners did not
get an obnoxious character like this removed, we
hail no reason whatever to expect that eny Otter
!could. He therefore considered the ibterferentie
of the House indispensably necessary to the remo-
val of those abuses, and trusted that a Committee
would be appointed for that purpose.
The motions of Mr. Seneca were then put and
agreed to.
Mr. SRBRIP AN said, he found it necessary, in
consequence of what had fallen from an Hotsens.
able Gentleman opposite, to state be had no porn.
cular preference for a Committee rather than a
Commission, to examine into the abuses complain-
ed of. This treasure was not of his seeking; it was

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
FRIDAY, Mmica

An interesting debate took place last night in
the House of Commons on the subject of. the Pri-
son in Cold Bath Fields.

We are still without intelligence from America,
or any authentic account of the Rochfort squad-
ron. These two subjects excite very much interest
in the public mind at the present moment.

Baron Jscont, late Prussian Minister at our
Court, is expected at Dover, on his return to Ber-
lin, oia France. _

The General Offirers comprising the Court-Mar-
tial on the trial of Geo. WHITISMCILE, mrt spin
yesterday at the Board Room, iu Chelsea Hospital,
for the purpose of taking the evidence into eonsi-
deratiou. The Jonas ADVOCATZ being recovered
from his indisposition, attended, and the Court sat
several hours, but we do not believe that they have
yet settled their sentence, as stated in some of the
papers. General Wairteocee is under no per-
mute' restraint. He is only nominally under west.
ID a letter from Mr. Filmic'', late British Con-
sul at Denmark, to a gentleman in Dundee, dated
Helsinzborg. !Ist January, he says, " The Are-
Anse, Rem. and Speedwell, Slur. both of Dun-.
dee, are last upon Jutland, and the Masters, ea
well se the crews, confined at the depot of prisoners
et Randers. I am, bower's. glad to learn that
they are all wall, and receive good treatment.
The mama that they-cannot write to their friends
is the strict adhereoce of' the Danish Government
to -the edict prohibiting correspondence withareet
griesie."

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Yesterday the Anniversary Dinner of the Denu-
volent Society of St. Patrick, was held at the Free-
masons' Tavern. About six o'clock Ear, Morra

entered the room, amidst the unanimous plauoi.,s
of his countrymen. The feeling wits s►ucere, be-
cause it was deserved : it was the genuine effusion
of the heart. The dinner was sumptuous and well
arranged, and the wines were escelfeut. When
the cloth was removed, the Earl of Moira save—
The 'Leah—Mae Ike ever continua the Sovereigs marl the
Ihthcr of • happy, ruital, free, anti grateful people. Desalt
with amssiterfos. . . . .

The Earl of Motu next proposed the unwearied
fricist to the Benevoleut Society of St. Patrick, and
the invariable advocate of humanity and benevo-
lence, in the most extensive acceptation of the term.
He felt assured that it was needless to mention the
Prince of Wales...-(fitressant appiatise.)—He had
been on every aecasioa prompt to support their cha-
rity ; but highly as he was grateful to the company
on that consideration, he had still the higher
claim of being the general friend to the wants, the
ueolowitiev, and the dip/Teases of every branch of
British subjects. He had only, in conclusion, to
observe, that in the accustomed liberality of his
Royal ifiglines., the Society had again to recog-
nise tke douation of one hundred guineas from the
Prince of Wales--(Load applasse.)
" The Priam ef Weles."—Eattrualantkeity.
" The bake of Tea aed :he Amy." Three times throe.
"The Date of Cisreace and the Man." Land meow.
" The btakc of heat, the Patron of the Seelety."—Fr.
I nutty.
" The Duke of contherlaad."—Mute.

The Eon of Bessscraouun rose to propose the
health of the steady friend to charity. and the arta-
tnetit of every public benevolent institution. He
hat no necessity of sayiug to whom he alluded, be-
cause Moira was the term for every honourable
and generous &cling and exertion. The health
was received with the loudest expressions of appro-
bation. Indeed the peals of applause were so re-
verberated, that it re•pired some time before the
Nellie Chairman could command attention. He
then expressed his inability to answer • the else.
rester attributed to hint by his friends, end
particularly by his Noble Friend wbo
of
him. As a steady friend to the shanty of St. Pa-
' trick, he would yield to no man. Indeed it called
forth the genuine passions of human nature, it fob-
' tared nation' affection, anal tended to exact from
the gratitude of those whom they protected, Mau-
tnerabk benefits, independeut of that proud con-
sciousnese of haviug acted fairly towards those for
whom it was impassible not compassionately to
feel.—The beneficent act would repay itself. For
who saw these iuteresting children, supported
by this charity, that did not feel a proud
resection on the national good that he had for-
warded, anal the personal happiness thst be had
increased ? Revisit; said so Nano of *lt Chavf:
he had view to taunt. to &Jolliest is +AA -41
people of his country were most materiany is
ed. It had been asserted by the enemy, that is the
discoutents of Ireland the Emperor of France de-
pended for mart powerf•il support. From my
soul," said the gallsnt Earl, 1 believe them to
be unsupported, and the charge incredible; be-
cause I (eel that, when the clouds of distress hang
heavy upon Englund. the generous feeling of my
cuuntrymen will lead them to fix the shield of their
protection over it, even were it a destitute enemy,
touch more alien it is the participator of civil
• blessings, and the honest and undeviating friend to
the general principles Of constitutional liberty."
Several songs were Sung by Mr. Dignum and

111 r. hitzsimmunr.
The Spri; of Shillefah and Shamrock so Green,
by Mr. We:do, called forth reiterated applanses.
The heaths of the Stewards unit Vice-Presidents
were severally drank with three times three ; and
the Noble President had only to account for the
absence of the leadi in: Irish Members in Parliament,
by the necessity of their attendance, as questious
of material importance were then under considers
idiom

The health of Mr. Sheridan was next proposed
by the Chair, ad the Earl of Moira read a let-
ter, inclosing him the usual grant of ill. in addi-
tion to 3(..n1. previously advanced for the benefit of
the institution. Most enthusiastic applause fol.
lowed this toast.
The company did riot exceed 250 persons, and
the suliscri.itious amounted to SOUL
On the Earl of Moira's leaving the Chair, he sub-
stituted the Earl of Mountilorris in his place. The
evening continued to he enjoyed by. the friends to
charity and national feeling, until a tate boar.
The principal persons w-ho attended were
The Earls of Moirs, lksebsroux:‘, Moustnerns, and
Claaders; Visissentltaseladfla; Iles r. Rock•, Sabre, Du.
comidiail/2 &awe", Lone, awl Arcialearva

Mr. Coenca'a Sir Perinea: Mae Sycophant, and
The Bead Boy, attracted an overflowing house•to
Covent-Garden Theatre laid night.
The Cebiaet and J ORD an's Lady Racket, is
Three Wert. ifler 41/arringe. &twitted a most
brilliant aid frirtrflowin2 audience last night. Mr.
BILARAX wac in tine voice. loud received several
mud rapturous eatores. Mrs. hinges never ap-
pals/ad to more advantage, in higher spirits, or re-
ceived greater applause.
bliss illlGan sang at Argyle-attest Rooms, ou
Monday, and IV s greatly miaowed in the Duette
(MS) Legg, Orate, with Signor Stamm The
usual att. iidiuw subscribers were present.
The now Duet, introduced into Mr. Di/lulu's
entertainment, lin, a very great effect ; and, added
to the excellence ofthe evening's amusement, gives
a strength and a merit to the whole that hit Amp-
ad the perfornini..ce as Fop:ilar and respectable.
The Marchioness of LIP ittensaanatct a
grand rot,' last night at I.er house
which was nuineron.ly attendcd ; a.nonsist the
compazy were—
The Discheaset No: • heir Aellsevt, Ealtoo, •14 Versa ;
the MarrlaiAbeemes.:s 1,. .hire L'ae
Cosner/we of Chohnor.,i::•,,, E+rx. Csehird. was, Edtdge-
ws"r• lienue4 Deee.4i,v.. :4• and Cowper . Vorosoesse•
‘feleuerue ; Ladies Li, salmi S. Cocii. reser.
fl Suith, azd