The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-10-05 00:00:00

THIRD REPORT

OF THE COMMITTER OF THE SOCIRTY FOR
THE IMPROVEMENT OF PRISON DISCIPLINE,

AND PON ?Rs
REFORMATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

(Continued film err Papa, e perterdey,)

At the Millbank Penitentiary, a mill has been
erected for grinding corn consumed in the esta-
blishment ; also a machine for raising water; and
another mill, with a similar machine, is to be
erected for, the employment of other prisoners,
in a distinct part of the building. The amount
of the prisoner►' earnings, during the last year, was
4,0471. 44. _ _ _

- -
At Shrew*ltry, a mill has been erected, which
employ► eighteen men at one time, and the pri-
soners change this labour three times • day ; the re-
maining prisoners are employed in weaving laces,
making list shoes, &c. The female prisoners are
employed in baking, washing, spinning. knitting
stockings and glover, also making the sheets and
wearing-apparel consumed in the gaol.
At Stafford, all the prisoners. excepting those be-
fore trial, are employed in dressing flax, spinning.
weaving cloth for prison clothing, rugs, blankets,
knitting major. heading pins fur the Birming-
ham manufacturers, shoemaking, tailoring,. and
grinding corn.

At Lewes house of correction. the prisoners are
emplu}ed in deeming flax and beating hemp.

In the house of correction at Warwick, work
appears to be curried ou with much spirit and in-
dustry. The mill for grinding corn employs
twenty men or upwards, mud from s bakehouse ad-
joining supplies of excellent bread are regularly
cotpveyed to this and the county gaol, and the
saving to the county from this •lone is estimated at
some hundreds of pounds per 8111111111. Wire-
drawing is also cerriell on, and the 'prisoners per-
form the whole process. They are also employed
in a woollen manufacture, which is very successful.
Hugs, blankets, horse-cloths, carnets, girth., and
other coarse articles, are alpo merle. The females
are chiefly employed i i spinning and carding wool.
At Devizes, some of the plisimerm. in their work-
ing-cells, are employed 111 knitting their own stock-
ing., milking gloves, shoes, straw hats, weaving
shirting, blanketing, and cloth. Another class of
prisoners is employed et various kinds of work for
the use of the prison—tailoring, shoemaking, &c.
There is a coru-mill, at which sixteen men work at
one time. _ .

...._ ........
At Worcester count• gaol, the system of employ.
meta is admirable. Every article of dress worn by
the prisoners here is made from the raw material ;
sacking and bags are the only articles made for
sale. Much coin is ground tier!; and so excellent
'save been the effects of the will, that the Maga.
trate. are about to erect another. . . .

At Wakefield and Beverley. the prisoners have
been Wily employed on the extensive works cur►ied
nu in the new houses of correction at these places.
At Ninthle.cli. Gusvint, Huntingdon. and Louth,
mills have becu erected fur the purpose of employ.

-s
ing.tbe prisoners. although not on the tread-wheel
system.
It is with great satisfaction the Committee State,
that further experience has fully confirmed the
hope. entertained of the effect of the tread-mill,
described in the Satiety's last Report, as haring
been invented by Mr. Cubitt. of Ipswich.
To shew the berretts of this description of labirur
on the moral conduct of the prisoners. the Com-
mittee heg to quote the following extract of •
letter, which they have received from a very active
and intelligent Magistrate of the county of Hert-
ford :
" I feel the greatest satisfaction in being able to
assure yen. from own observation, that very
comidera Worms t has already taken place.
Formerly, permits of all description.. and of all
ages, were iudoscriniinutetp usized•together, there
bring but one yard, aid one day-room. Not
having labour of any kind. the time of the pri-
soners ass by necessity spent in idleness, no re-
source bring left them but the miserable one of
forming plans for future mischief, and instruct-
ing the less depraved though unhappily will-
ing learners, in the ways of wickedness and
vice. Quarrels also among them were very ire.
(pent. All is now changed. The prisoners
are divided into four classes. Each class works
by itself. nor can any communication between
the classes take place. The men. instead of
being riotous sod noisy, are (generally speaking)
well-behaved. orderly, and quiet. That they go to
their daily labour with reluctance must be con-
fessed, for they have • horror of the mill, and
would sooner undergo, as they all declare, any
fatigue, or suffer any deprivation, than return to
the house of correction when once released. As a
proof of the truth of this, I have known only one
instance of • recommitment since the Ist of last
August, when the mill ass set to work. Previous
to this, the recommitment of vagrants, as well as
of others, was • common thong. Hard labour has,
however, effected the cure; and I shall be griev-
ously mistaken if more than a very few ever return,
after one month's trial in our present bridewell."
This gentleman adds—" It is gratifying to me
to be able to report two cases of notorious poachers.
as well as bad men, who were committed for three
months for not prying the penalty after conviction ;
but who, in consequence of extreme contrition and
good conduct, were. at the intercession of the cler-
gyman of the parish, released before the expiration
of their term of punishment; and upon leaving the
house of correction they declared that they had
been completely brought to their senses ; spoke with
gratitude of the benefit they had derived from the
advice of the chaplain ; and promised, upon their
return to their perisholims •shey would go to their
minister, express their thanks for his Interceding
for them ; and moreover, that they would for the
future attend their duty regularly at church." It
is pleasing to add that these promises have been
faithfully performed.
The mill at Bury gaol has continued to produce
the best effects. The calendar in the last year was
very light; and this reduction of the commitments
has been attributed to the introduction of hard la-.
boor into the prison. The prisoners dread the
work. Shortly after the erection of the mill, • man
was committed, in default of the payment of a pe-
nalty : lie had not been in confinement many days,
before he told the Governor that if he was to be put
to the mill he might as well pay the money. as he
could but work hard out of prison ; he accordingly
applied to his friends to assist him, paid the money,
and was discharged.
But classification, however extended, and em-
ployment, however constant, cannot alone be ex•
pected to reclaim the guilty. As reformation of
character must be grounded on religious principle,
so no system of prison discipline can be efficacious,
in which religious instruction does not form a pro-
minent part.

If the diffusion of relieious knowledge be inclis.
pensable to the well.being of society, how much is
its importance inc►eased iu • gaol, where the mo-
tires to good conduct are less powerful ; " where
the awe of the public eye is lost, and the power of
the law is spent ?" The necessity of an essential
change in this branch of prison management will
be at once evident, by referring to the defective
nature of the existing arrangements. In some pri-
P9lO, particularly iu gaols under corporate juris-
dictions, uo divine service whatever is performed ;
in many, the labours of the clergyman are confined
to the performance of service once on the Sunday ;
and even in the best-regulated prisons, will' few
exceptions, prayers are read but occasionally during
the week. CID such limited services be expected
to make a deep irnpre•sion on characters, merry of
whom are of the most hardened dispositions, and de-
void of all previous instruction P
There are few stations more eminently useful
than that of a Chaplain to a prison. His duties
are numerous. They require the entire application
of his talents, and surrender of his time. There is
one indispensable qualification for the office : he
must not only feel deeply concerned for the welfare
of his charge, but be able to convince them that his
earnest arid zealous efforts are devoted to their best
inte►ests. This is indeed the grand secret by which
the affections of the vicious may be gained : coer-
cion may often he necessary to restrain the violent,
firmness mina be employed to subdue the obdu-
rate; but there are occasions when all other means
will prove inefficient, and when the mild offices of
benevolence will alone prevail. Kindness will then
be found to act as • moral talisman—" the key that
open the wicket to the human heart."
The ties which usually subsist between • pastor
and his flock are much more strong and binding in
a prison community. Here the Chaplain alone is the
representative of religiuu, the sole herald of truth,
consolation, and peace. Neglected by him, what
other means has the prisoner of deriving instruc-
tion P Thar deprivation is particularly felt by the
minified and possibly innocent, end by hiss who is
committed fur his first offence ; for whilst his
ias-
prisooment necessarily places him iu corrupt society,

how awful the responsibility ! And, how effeclios
is the consideration riot the prisons of Great Bra.
tam are *Schist is religious iseeretetiew to so ex-
tent that is deeply injurious to the best interests of
human nature, mad most disgraceful to the profess
lion of a Christian country.
The Committee find that, in France, this subject
has excited much attention among the friends to
prison discipline; end the views which are stated
in the Report of the Prison Society of Paris upon
this subject, will be read with much interest, in the
Appendix. They justly observe, that it is contrary
to common sense, that the chaplain of a gaol should
only perform the offices of religion two or three
times a week ; and that if the prisoner has no oppor-
tunity of learning end valuing the character of his
Minister, and of observing the effects of religion in
his life, it can scarcely be expected that he can re-
gard casual instruction with interest, or respect the
observance of the duties which he enjoins. They
recommend, also, that Ministers of different de-
nominations of Christians should be 'admitted into
the prisons, with full liberty to communicate in-
struction, in order that every prironer may have en
opportunity of learning the way of amendment.
The Committee cannot refrain from extracting
from the Report of the Paris Society, the interesting
anecdote of the excellent Pe►e Jutarsony, who being
sent by the Consul at Algiers to minister to the
slaves, fixed his residence in their prison ; and,
during a period of thirty yews, never (pitied his
port. Being compelled to repair to France for a
short periud, he returued again to the prison, and
at length resigned his breath in the midst of those
for whose interests he had laboured, and who were
dearer to him than life.

In offering these observations, the Committee
beg that they may not be understood to convey the
slightest reflection on any Gentleman who may
now fill the office of Prison Chaplain. The evils
of which the Committee complain are well known
to arise from defect of legislation ; the remu-
neration authorised by law being so inadequate as
to reader it iiecessary that the Chaplain should
undertake other professional duties. The Prison
Bill now before Parliament has, however, provided
in some degree, a remedy, as will be seen in • sub.
sequent part of this Report, by authorising such
allowances as will enable the Chaplain to de-
vote his whole time and attention, exclusively,
to the duties of the prison to which be is ap-
pointed.
In many prisons, the instruction of the pri-
soners in reeding and writing has been attended
with exce lent effects. Schools have been form-
ed at Bedford, Durham, Chelmsford, Winches-
ter, Hereford, Maidstone, Leicester House of
Correction, Shrewsbury, Warwick, Worcester, &c.
Much valuable assistance l.aa been derived in this
department from the labours of respectable indivi-
duals, especially females, acting under the sanc-
tion of the Magistrates, and direction of the
chaplain. There are indeed many matters, in
which the interests of the prisoner are nearly con-
nected, which, although incapable of being made
the subject of direct legislation, are of consider-
able importance—works of usefulness, in which the
Magistrates, Chaplain, or Governor cannot be ex-
pected to engage; but in the performance of which
• Visiting Association might be rendered highly
beneficial. No one will dispute the benefit of
such labours, who has witnessed the admirable
exertions of Mrs. Fry and her benevolent associates.
The Ladies' Committees visiting Newgate, and

In Scotland but little change has taken place
during the past year in the geoeral condition u(
the prisons. Many of the buildings are old and
defective, and the iniudicioue construction of
others precludes the introduction of a salutary
"stew of prison discipline.
There is reason to hope, from communicating,
which have been received, that a society for dif.
fusing information on the subject in that part of the
kingdom, will, at no distant period, be formed rt.
Edinburgh ; a measure which is essentially needed.
and could not fail to be productive of much good.
The judicious system of employment carried on it
the bridewell at Glasgow is particularly deoerving
of notice. During the last three years, the profits
arising from the labour of the prisoners have so
nearly defrayed all the charges of the estahlt.h-
meat, that the annual expense of each prisoner
has not exceeded ten shillings. The particulars aro
inserted to the Appendix.

The Committee have much pleasure in stating.
that a warm interest oo the subject of prison dis.
cipline has been ezcited in the sister kingdom, nod
principally by the indefatigable labours ot! the
Dublin Association for the improvement of prisons.
• society which was formed in the year 1818, unw
der the patronage of the Right Honourable
Charles Grant, whose enlightened zeal in promot-
ing this object entitles him to the gratitude of his
country.

In obtaining information on the state of th•
gaols, the Committee of this Association have been
much indebted to the members of the Irish bar,
who have given Reports of the various prisons in
their circuits ; and from answers to a series of quer.-
tions which have been circulated, the Association
have, within the short space of two years, procured
accounts of the couditioo of uearly every gaol in
Ireland.

This investigation has given publicity to many
scenes of suffering. Of one gaol, the Committee
write, •• We found some of the prisoners lying on
straw. In one cell, 75 feet by 7 feet, three nun
slept every night. In every part the dirt was mo•t
disgusting. The want of classification is horrible
in its effects. The worst felons are seised with
those guilty, and even accused only of petty
misdemeanors. Great numbers must have passed
through this gaol within the last few years; cosh
ma►► forced into temporary contact with •ice, in its
most abandoned form, and then sent house to
spread tip pollution through his family and neigh-
bourhood."

Of another prison they say, " It is scarcely t,o -
aible to conceive a combination of comics less c.,1,•t.-
lated to correct, and more liable to corrupt
holy and mind, than that *Melt this ga..l eslutut .
Committal to it inflicts an immediate a. d a ticaty
I punishment, which, through disease, may amount
to actual privation of life."
Adverting to another gaol, it is remarked. " Be-
yond locking up the prisoners in their sleeping
cella, no means of separation err affordtd fur either
males or females. debtors or felons, old or young,
tried or untried ; and the melancholy effects use
daily visible in corrupting the innocent, and harden-
ing the criminal. Instances are by no means rate,
of persons committed for venial misdemeanors.
when turned out, becoming confirmed ritiroden.."
To these accounts the Committee might add
others equally revolting, but it is unnecessary to du
so ; they will, therefore, submit a few of the many
improvements which have taken place is the pri,oos
of Ireland, and which have, is several instances,
been effected principally by the medium of Visiting
Committees.
(For contiosiotien no last p.m)