The National Register.
London, England, 1815-12-31 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER:

DEC. 31 .

have nee'n guilty of negligence; the second is suspected of hav-
ing the prisoner's escape.--(Journal des Debars.)
DESCRIPTION OF M A RIE CHAMAND DE LAVALETTE.
Aged 4:i years, born at Paris (the Department of the Seine), in
height 1 metre, 68 centimetres, hair and eye-biows grey, high fore-
head and bald, brown eyes, large nose, small mouth, round chin,
round visage, pitted with the smallpox.
A letter horn • 'ount Angles, Minister of Police, orders all
householders, &c. in Paris, to give in,within twesrty-four hours,
a declaration of al! the persons lodging with them without being
furnished with regular permission (titres.) A 1 I those, without
excet‘tion, in whose houses criminals pursued by justice shall-
he found, and who shall not have made their declaration within
the time prescribed, subject themselves to the penalties of A rt.
248 of the Penal Code, and of the law of the ,29th of October
last.

PARTS. DEC. 23.-It seems that nothing has yct been disco
vexed relative to the escape of M. Lavalette. His wife, it is
said, is still at the Conciergerie.—(Journal de Paris, Dec. 23.)

—sp.—
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

The following is a private Letter from Paris, Dec. 20
" The Duc de Raguse has been long the friend of Lavalette.
I informed you, in a previous communication, of his eflbrts in
his behalt. lie gave yesterday another, perhaps, indiscreet
proof of his attachment, but which generous minds will readily
find an excuse for. An order was given to the gardes du
corps, since the affirmative judgateut pronounced by the Cour
de Cassatton, not to sutler Madatuede Lavalette to penetrate into
the interior of the Thuilleries. The Due de Raguse presented
himself yesterday at the grand stair-case with the unfortunate
Lady. '('he sentinels informed him of their consigne. Ile
in treated—they were inexorable.—Well, said the Duc, I take
all the consequence on myself; I may be wrong, but my brave
comrades dames can never be inhuman. Madame de Lavalette
was fainting on his arm. The Duc was their C-Jptain, and
they suffered them to pass. It was thus they reached the private
Cabinet of his Majesty, and both threw themselves at his
feet. The Due declared that this favour, this act of Royal
clemency, would be the noblest and should to the sole co-m-
-yensation he would ever require for all his past services ;and the
mute grief of Madame de Lavalette was more heart-rending
and eloquent than even the animated supplications of friend
ship. Judge of the distressing position the King was placed
in, to 1e thus taken unawares ; judge how deeply he must
have been afflicted at his ministerial engagements preventing
his giving way to the natural impulses of his benevolent
feelings—engagements that placed him in the impossibility of
complying with the request of a faithful warrior and a despairing
wife."
A Paris letter of the 23d inst. says,—" Just previous to the
Ring's going to mass, no person is permitted to enter from the
great staircase into the Salle des Marechaux, through which he
passes from his own apartments to the chapel. At this moment
a Gentleman and Lady, in mourning, presented themselves to
the national guard who was on duty at the door, and wanted to
go in. They were prevented. •` )o you know me ?" said the
Gentleman.—" I have not that honour," replied the guard;
" but my eiders are to admit no one."—" Call your Officer,"
said the other. " He is in the guard room, and it is impossible
for me to suit my post.l—" Pray then call out one of the garde
du corps from the hall." The national guard knocked at the
door, and one of the King's guard came out.—" Can I not go
in ?" said the Gentleman.—" it is impossible," replied the Offi-
cer. " Do you know who 1 am ?" said the former. " I have
the honour to know you very well, Marechal," added the garde
du corps, " but 1 also know that no one is permitted, to enter at
this door now." The Marechal then took the Officer aside, and
after about a minute's conversation, he, the Officer, and the
Lady, went into the hall. The Officer, who was the Marquis de
Bartillac, left the Marechal in the hall, andwent into the adjoin-
ing room ; and while he remained there, there seemed to be some-
thing
in agitation. W hen the same Officer came back, he addres-
sed hi niselfto the Marechal, who was Marmont, and said, "Mare-
chal, it is impossible for you to remain."—" Have you received
girders to turn me out ?" replied he. Indeed you must not re-

main."—" Tell me," repeated Marmont, " have you been or-
dered to turn me out?"—" Certainly not," replied the Officer.
" but yet I cannot permit you to stay."—" Then," said the
other, " I will not go !"—" Marechal, you have not kept your
promise to me," said the Marquis de Bartillac. and turned upon
his heel.
" The King, Monsieur, Madame, and the usual escort, now
entered the hall in their way to the chapel. The Lady who
carne with
.Mai mont, and who was Madame Lava!ette, now
rushed forward, seized the hand of the King, and, falling ar his •
feet, exclaimed, " Pardon, pardon, Sire!" The King could
not refrain from tears. But, after looking very severely towards
Marmont, he said to Madame Lavalette, " I had hoped, Ma-
dam, to have been spared this painful scene. In thinking you
could save your husband, you have done you• duty. But 1
must also do mine, as a King." He then disengaged himself •
and passed On, evidently much distressed. Madame Lavalette
then attempted to get the Duchess d'Angouleme to intercede;
but, overcome by the potency of her feelings, she fainied on the
floor, and was carried out of the hall. The whole of this scene
had such an effect upon the Duchess d'Angouleme, that she
was ill and fainting for near two hours, and did not recover the
shuck of it for some time."

LONDON PRISONS.
REPORT of the COMMITTEE of the HOUSE of COMMONS.

•
ECONOMY OF THE FLEET PRISON,
Abstracted from the evidence of Nicholas Nixon, Esq. the
Deputy and sole Acting Warden.
Mr. Nixon has been in the office of Deputy Warden 26 years,
and since 1801 has solely transacted the business, as Mr. Eyles, the
Warden of the Fleet, then became, from his very great age and in-
firmities, incapable of acting any longer. Mr. N. resides perma-
nently within the prison, save sometimes in summer he leaves town
for about a week or ten days. At those periods the (1!:ty of the
office is performed by W. Woodrotfe, his clerk, who has a salary
from him of loot. per annum, and has besides a fee of 10s. bd. on
each inquiry into the qualities of securities taken on persons going
into the Rules. The other officers within the prison are, three
turnkeys, one watchman, and one scavenger; they are all paid by
Mr. Nixon. The turnkeys are paid one guinea per week each, and
they each have a room within the prison rent free; part of these
are partitioned off by the turnkeys, and with a bed, are occasion
ally let to the prisoners.—They have in point of fact no fees. The
watchman also acts as crier to the prism, in calling for and bring
ing down prisoners to inquirers. He is paid ios. 6d. a week for hie
duty as watchman. He farther acts as a scavenger in keeping the
staircases and prisons clean ; for this he is allowed some additional
emolument, and also for lighting the lamps in the prison galleries
—This person is a prisoner, and has a room in the prison. He i;
found perfectly competent to the performance of these duties
His duty as watchman, within the prison, is not severe.

Mr. Nixon enjoys no salary, his remuneration is entirely from fees
and perquisites, hut these do not accrue to him as Deputy Warden,
but from his additional offices of Clerk of the Papers and Chief
Turnkey. The average amount of his fees on these, for the lase
three years, is about 8101. Us. 4d. per annum. By an arrangement
with the Chief IVarden, on his declining to act, he also receives the
fees of that office, out of which he (Mr. N.) pays him 5001. per
annum, in monthly payments. The average nett amount of the
Chief Warden's fees for the three last years, is about 15611. 15s. 4d.
per annum, after defraying the expenses of the prison; and this
amount, after deductinr, the annuity of 500/. to the Chief Warden,
remains with Mr. N., who, however, is liable to the Chief Warden
for all escapes that may take place, The whole, on the above ave-
rages, tbrms an income of between 18001. and 19001. a-year.
The out-goings of the Prison consists in all manner of taxes—these
on the dwelling-house and prison amount to about 3681. ; payments
to the Chaplain and Clerk 401.; Servants wages 313/. ; Scavenger
and Watchman about 43/. ; and Lamps, Candles, and Coals fur the
Prison, Office, and Lodge, about GOl. per annum. Mr. Nixon also,
out of his own emolument as Clerk of the Papers, supplies the
Office with books, stationary, &c.
Nothing can be publicly sold within the prison without the autho-
rity of the Warden or his Deputy. The beer and ale coming into
the prison and sold at the tap, is on the credit of the Deputy; no
brewer would trust any of the prisoners. The licence for selling
vine kas been many years disceatinued. The sale of all skArituoits

-,-4

liquors within the prison is prohibited by Act of. Parliament ,
There is is a penalty on their admission. The Cook and the Racket-
master being Officers of the prisoners, are elected by them; they
are elected twice a-year. 'lke priority of Chummage (or admission
to rooms in the prison), is by rotation ; seniority among such pri-
soners as have paid their entrance fees. A few among the very
oldest prisoners are exempted from elnimmage, i. c. from having
any others put into their rooms. When a prisoner cannot pay his
clearance out of prison, the fees are always paid by some of the
charitable societies. Prisoners who are superscdable have their
rooms taken from them. The distinction between the Master's
side and the Common side is, that for the former the entraaeo fee
is paid, for the latter no fee at. all. Prisoners who swear they are
not worth 51. in the weed, are allowed the benefit of the begging
grate : there are but few of these. In some years this source of
aubsistenee has produced nearly 3001. The entitled prisoners take
in rotation, each man 24 hours. Besides this, there are sometimes
tataritable donations, which are distributed among the very poorest
prisoners. The 503!. per annum granted by the Act, is distributed
aistoug the poor prisoners indiscriminately. Some of the poor pri-
soners wait upon the wealthy ones, and gain some relief that way.
The room rents on the Master's side are 15d. each ; they are in ge-
neral paid for weekly; but a prisoner cannot he turned out of a
seam for non-payment, unless a quarter's rent be accumulated.—
The Racket-masters, who are paid so much per game, make about
a guinea a-week each, by their situations. The pastime has been
approved by the Court as healthful pastime.
At eleven, oil, candles, and fires, are ordered to he pot ont in the
can Tee-house and tap ; but riots and irregularities are frequently
complained of. Every thing practicable is done to repress those.
Since the passing of what is called the " Three Months Act," the
prisoners are less moral than they were before, for prisoners in ge-
neral contrive to procure money 4o maintain them during the three
months, and they are less careful of their behaviour. St; angers
are obliged to quit the prison some time between ten and italGpaA
ten o'clock. Loose women f •equently remain with men in the pri.
son all night. The separation betwen male and female prisoners is
only as to rooms, and not as to position. Two clubs are established
in the prison; one on Monday nights, in the tap-room; the other
on. Thursday nights, in the collie-room. Strangers are admissible
to both.
The prison is nearly secured against fire, all the rooms but those
On top gallery being arched with brick. The Chapel is very badly
attended ;•there are no means of enforcing the rule for the attend-
&Mee of the prisoners. The prison gates are locked during Divine
Service; at other times, upon an average, the key turns about oace
in a minuta. The number of prisoners within the walls, and in the
rules for the last three years, averaged about three hundred. Theft
is common among the prisonerse the stolen articles. :lie always
tried ; but there was once a crier who was detected in stealing
things for the purpose of crying them for the reward. There is
no official medical attendance allowed : he (Mr. N.) has often as-
4isted poor prisoners in that way at his own expense. Very few
deaths take place within the prison. The Court of Commou Pleas
sends an Officer of their own four times a year to visit. the prison,
immediately before each Term. The,prison is white-washed as often
as it appears. necessary. The prison is repaired generally every
three years. The circumference of the Rules is about three-fourths
of a mile. Prisoners are entitled, on giving sufficient security, to
eke Warden : this is done by an inStrument npon alas. s:anip
addition, is the inquiry fee, and the per tentage upon the alumna of
the debt. There are Day Rules iu Term time, every day the Court
sits. The ordinary expellee of a day's Rule to a Prisoner is 21. 7s.
for the whole, if the charge be under soul. in addition to this, 4s.
lid. is paid for each day. No fresh security is required for a Day
Yule from one already in the Rules. Several of the Prisoners live
inost luxuriously within the walls, as well as in the Roles, and this
they allseem inclined to do, as far as their means will admit.
IMPROVED REGULATION IN THE PRHIONs.--It has long
Teen a subject of regret, that the unfortunate and the atrocious
sliOul4, to the injury of public morals, associate in the same
• 'risoas The multitude crowded into our London jails has also
ssen matter Of concern, as exposing the capital to perstilential
disorders. As all prisoners are removed for trial to Newgate
Who are within the jurisdiction of the Sessions hctl.icn at the
Oid Bailey, sometimes nearly a thousand persons are immured
Within that receptacle of delinquents. We are happy to an
pounce, that within the last week these evils have been remedied
It new Prison in Whitceross-street is now devoted to the ex-
eltc•ive accommodation of debtor., and 130 persons of this des
ipVnt, as already stated) wctc temoved thither flow Newptc

Inn

~-; -x ~::

DEC. :341.

on Friday last; others, in the like cirettenstances, were transfer-
red from Giltspur-street •with those debtors, being freemen of
the city of London, who were confined.in Ludgate; an i these
last, in respect to their iintnunities, have a separate wing.tssign-
ecl thew, where they will be allowed some exclusive adywi rages..
Thus Newgate will be appropriated to felons; Giltspur stteet
Comptor will be converted into a Howie of Correctibm ; and
LudFate, we understand, will be principally devoted' to the-re-
ception of nocturnal disturbers, and the disorderly, prior to
their full and permanent commitment by the Magistracy of the
Police The City is much indebted to the exertions of those
who have effected these salutary regulations; and we, perhaps.
cannot give a more striking view of the mischievous. collision in
Newgate, than by stating the single fact, that there are at this
moment moo convicts, male and female, under sentence of
portation, within that establishment