The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-06 00:00:00

TILE.% 11-W ti EEI..

Sir T. LETIIIRRIT4It; ;aid, that ile had been requested to pre-
sent • petition, to which he begged to draw the attention of the
House. It was from Sir John Cox llippriley and liriscoe,
Esq., two Magistrates of the county of Surrey, against the use
of the tread wheel. Ile did not know who he was selected to pre-
sent this petition : for his own part he rather considired it as •
wholesome sort of punishment, though he confessed that his opinion
had been smnewhat staggered by the bunk lately published by Sir
John COX Ilippesley, and which he knew had had great effect in
producing a similar change of opinion in the minds of others. It
WAS certainly a subject well worthy of the notice and consideration
of the Committee on Prison Discipline, upon whom he was de-
sirous of pressing it. The petition stated truly that the tread-wheel
was a punishment not known or recognised by either the common
or statute law. It was a novel invention, respecting which the
law was silent, though it actually tenni-it an essential part of the
discipline of many girth; and thus a punishment which the Judges
were not authorial to inflict was imposed by the Magintrac, who,
in that respect. raised themselves to a power above the Judges.
The petition also coiled the attention of the Howie to the serious
accidents that had occurred from the introduction of this punish-
tnent. Several lives had been lost, and extensive injury Mote to the
health of the prisoners, according to the medical reports that had
been publishes'. In conclusion, the petition adverted to the opi-
nions given by some foreign governments, in particular to an
able Itcport by a French Commissioner, who had rejected the
tread. wheel as an absurd and cruel instrument of torture. The
petition prayed that the house would not sanction this mode of
punishment, and that the Bill now before the House, relating to
this subject. might not pass.
Mr. DE N ISCIN felt himself called upon to says few words, in
consequence of the presentation of this petition. Ai the last Qom-
ter Semitwei for the county which be had the honour to repriment,
Sir John (Oa II tppesley had presented a kind of memorial on this
subject. The reception of the document was objected to, because
it was not considered right that a magistrate should send his opi-
nions written on paper, but that it was his duty to come and deliver
them in person. 'I here would otherwise be an end to all busint.. ;
for it was impossible to foresee what might be the number or len;:th
of the memorials that. might be mot few perusal. tic (Mr. Mul-
lion) *mad not then go into the general discussion of the tread-
wheel, but would content himself with remarking that it had re-
ceives! the almost unanimons approbation of the wag:or:mu of
twenty-four or twenty-Ilse counties; and that wherever introdue-d
it html been found the best mode of punishment. I. kept prisoners
to hard labour, as the law intended, without breaking their spirits
or injuring their health. At the last Surrey Quarter Sessions, the
other petitioner, llr. Briscoe, had brought forwent some clops
which lie could not substantiate, respecting two soldier', who, in
a state of inebriety, heal insulted and attacked the gaoler and two
turnkeys. They were in consequence put into/40144.7y Gollfilleelltnt,
where, aft. r remaining two days, they nitrous' of tits it nit-acne p
conduct, and were allowed to return. There was nowhere greater at-
tention green to the treatment of prisoners than in the county of
Surrey. Ile was p,:ad that Mr. Briscoe Intended to bring the ques-
tion before the House, because every particle of the charges against
the 3lagistrates of surrey could be disproves' ; and it would appear
that in no gaol were the prisoners treated with more :monism. The
surgeon toes sss ill ed them once or twice in the week ; and he hail the
power to tinier them to discontinue work whim their health required
it, and to give them any provision he pleased, to any extent whet-
ever. Ile (Mr. Denison) was confident that no lwtter mode of
punishment could be found. Ile was rather inclined to the opiniosi
that women ought not to be sent to the tread-wheel; but he was
satisfied that every endeavour had been used to prevent that from
becoming torture which was only intended to be hard labour.
Mr. 110B110CSE said, that they were all aware that this pi-
nishnosto lint) been much abused in one sue two immures. Ile
would not for into the merits of the, case, to which the lismourable
Slobber Cm Surrey had alluded. Ile would only remark, that it
became the magistracy to keep a watchful regard to their conduct.
Ile slid not believe it was likely that an gaol would be mism.-
venual Deer which his lion. Friend (fr. l)etioni i had power.
There secnicd to be a great mistake as to the punishment of the
tread-wheel. Because it attached disgrace to those who soft red it,
it was considered good for all occasions. :Now he t Mr. (loom)
told that it slundel be one object in inflicting punishment. not en-
irely to disgrace the sufferer. If be was deprived of his self.
respect, it was impossible that he could again become a Inch.'