The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-26 00:00:00

STATE OF \'EWG.ITE.

Sessionhhouse, Old Bailey, London. Jan. 19.
To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and other his Majesty's
Ju.tices, presiding at the Court of Sessions now Is Idcn at the Old
We the Grand Jury of the city of London, h viug reported
the several bills of indictment presented to us in tine form,
stud being informed by the proper officer, that so others ar
forthcoming, do wait upon the Court fur the purpose of re
c civil% our discharge ; at the same timoi we «lilt to ob.erve
the great pleasure we have derived, in perceii lug that nn
bill has been found My its for otturtlne, nee any one of a crone
of a pectsliarly atrocious nature; a circumstance very grati•
lying to the Jury,
In the progress of our duty we visited the prison of New.
gate, and especially directed our attention to the state of that
prison ; and we lamest to record, that from the great Wits
of prisoners, it is hardly possible to keep them in a state of
wholesome cleanliness, a circumstance we deeply deplore, a..
putting together all descriptions of offenders, an evil easily
obviated in the opinion of the Jury, (and in which opinion
they are borne ont by Mr. Brown, the keeper of the prison,)
if more space could be allotted, whereby a chweificatiou of
the prisoners might be t tfected to the evident improvement
of their health, comfort, and morals.
The vat: number of juvenile depredators in confinement,
and the melancholy circumstance oiktuurbeing under sentence
of death in the condemned •eells, and in lions, the youngest
only nine years of age and the oldest twelve, connected with
the circumstance of: very many of them previous to trial as-
sociating with the protligate, It:sale:fed,. and abandoned,
presents te ins the idea of the improbability of a reform,
which a mere judicious and attentive confinement might pro-
doer.
The deplorable situation of the male prisoners, with respect
to clothing, particularly the juvenile part, trade a melancholy
impression on our minds. Many were without shoes or
stockings, others without shirts, and one almost in a state of
nakedness—cirettinstances we earnestly recommend to the
consideration of those who arrange and manage the general
birsiness•of the prison ; and we are of opinion that the gene.
tat health. of the prisoners of both sexes would be materially
improved, it' as allowance of soap was granted for that pur-
pose.
Ia visiting the infirmary, the Grand Jury feel great pleasure
in announcing that every necessary attention appears to be
paid to the sick, and those in a convalescent state, and to the
general health of the vrisoners.
We further keg leave to state to the Court the gratifying
pleasure we received in witnessing the exertions of Mfrs. Fry
and the ladies who so kindly, assist her in attending to and
instructing the female prisoners, whose reformed deportment,
and cheerful acquiescence to their wishes, demonstrated with
a force no language can describe the affection these unfortu.
nate wonten entertain for these humane, intelligent, and actve
-females, JOHN GANNi
Foreman of The Grand Jury.

!FRANTIC CONDUCT OP A SOLDIER. OR SOTIdaV, daring
tic tame of divine service, the neighbourimudof IVestinisi-
sterwwythrowit into the greatest alarm and courtivion-,•hv a
beadier of the Coldstream guards, who was earning about
the streetsaw a state of madness, breaking the windows of the
inbabitents,and cmnmittiug other acts of violence. In one
hand he eatried his bayonet, anal in the other a large knife,
which he kept brandishing to the terror of the inlabitatits,
and defying any person to take I • . His conduct at length
-became so outrageous, Shins:he neighbours, fearful it would
'be attended with fatal consequences, sent information of the
circumstance to the officers on duty ut the Horse Guards,
-and ptesetitly after a detachment sifabont ten or twelve men,
ander the command of serjeaut K Hum, was sent to secure
the unfortunate maniac. They fiamil hint as described run.
ring abort in a state of madness, and although lie refused to
4u/resider to any civil authority, yet Le no sootier saw. dhe
soldiers that, (asif recellecting his situationOtealirew dowirthe
murderous instruments, and lOW a house, tiew tip
*lairs and thi ew hitusclt frail) the third floor into street,
by which lie i/Inkt: his thigh, and was otherwise dreadfully
injured 'flit eireitinstaiirc drew from the speetatois a _
ntentary burst of horror. The sergeant and his followers
were the ii-rist to approach the unfortunate Mitn, WllOlll they
recognized so be one of alivir.couspanious in :anis, iiaiiird
Biker. He was in drCignity butt, that it W.III (OLIO Iteces-
bary to b.tve him conveyed to the Westminster Infirmary,
where he hue without hope .of recovery.
ZTTEMPrbu Suicewe.—Ontibunstay umallt la t.a young wo-
man. nanit.:l Rebecca Arcly.,r, was charged' by a 34. Long
with ste.iling his bat, and she was consequently taken to the
watch house of St. George's, Southwat It, where she suspended
herself by her garters from the grating, she WAS ou.so•di.Oriy
.eutdutvq, but tau 'WM., AlAinteli betinc atont.tttosi was re.
stoesql, was taken mite futhissiiig morning bFlorethe Soirey
1414giaU•ate, and bit'. it•,l aiyeett.l44; laeter eh:lige,
she was I.) II tit/ 1.471().it f,.r $4141/Alii,
Aa Veamesisy morning, M. ithaw., of seise. tad hem in
.a
islar state of health In; some time, fell down op the ship public
louse, in Church Laue, and died ou the spot. .llc sra 31 yews of

NATIONAL REGISTF.X.

POLICE.
GUILDHALL,
A youth of genteel family and connections, 13 year. of
age, was on Wednesday, charged with breaking and entering
his sister's apartments, and stealing a guatitit) of wearing
apparel. The lasedlorti of the house in which the prisoner's
sister resides stated, that on Tuesday evening, heating a
noise, he placed himself upon the watch, and observed the
prisoner issue &tun the apartment occupied by his sister, who
was then absent, with a large bundle under his arm. On•
being interrogated, he seemed much confused, and said he
was g • ato take the bundle to his sister; but afterwards con-
fessed that he did not know where to find her. The sister
en interesting married female, about 20 years of age, was so
deeply affected as fur some ;trinities to be tillable to speak.
She at !eolith stated, that her brother had been a Midship-
man in the Navy ; but having been discharged at the con.
elusion of war, his mother bad since apprenticed him tot-,
book binder. His master had, however, of late been ailabie
to find stitticient employment fur him, and he was compelled
to come home to his mother. To add to this, the latter had
lately failed in business, and was barely able to support
His behaviour had been uniformly respectful and atteutive to
his parent until within these few days, when lie suddenly
became rough and abusive in biaeoudiact, and had stopped
twice 'all night from I t re. Enquiries had teen matte; and it
was ascertained that lie liast.forined a conuection with several
had characters, at whose instigation it appeared the present
offence was Cwillltlitled. During this recital the prisoner was
bathed itstears,iiiist said nethism in defence when called upon.
The Magistrate having ascertained front the sister that she
, ilid not intend to • proceed against the prisoner, discharged
Li ii, with a suitable admonition, anti Waded hint over to the
care of his mother.