The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-14 00:00:00

THE HOME SECRETARY AND COLDBATH-FIELDS PRISON.

At the last meeting of the magistrates a letter was received
from Sir George Grey, Secretary for the Home Department,
enclosing a report from Mr. Perry, Inspector of Prisons for
the Southern District, in which he made serious complaints
of the overcrowding of Coldbath-fields prison, as being cal-
culated to make the criminals in that prison permanently,
bad, from their association in such large numbers, and sug-
gesting that two prisons should be provided, he deeming it
undesirable that so large a number of prisoners should be
collected together in one building. These documents were
referred to a special committee, and to-day they presented
the following report :

" It is hardly necessary to remind the Court that a plan
for the extension of the prison was submitted to tho Court
in 1857, and embraced the very buildings the erection of
which is now urged. The visiting justices were now of
opinion that these works should be put in hand as soon as
possible, and they recommend that the prison be enlarged
by the erection of the two wings, at an estimated cost of
£40,000. These buildings, if authorised by the Court, will
provide 396 additional cells, and which will enable the visit-
ing justices to dispense with the use of dormitories referred
to in the inspector's report, and to which he strongly ob-
jects. Without entering into the question of the justice
of the strictures made by the inspector on this subject
further than to say that the extent of the mischief of the
present system is, they think, somewhat exaggerated by
him, they concur in the opinion that the prison at Cold-
bath-fields ought to be so constructed as to admit of every
prisoner having a separate sleeping cell. They have, there-
fore, instructed the architect to prepare plans to provide
accommodation in separate sleeping cells for 2,000 pri-
soners altogether. The number has been adopted by the
visiting justices, as well because it accorded with their
own views of the capabilities of the site, as because it had
received to some extent the sanction of the Court by a re-
solution of the 16th of July, 1857. The architect has been
directed in preparing his plans to consider to what extent
the old felon prison and other buildings, erected previous to
the recently-built wings (which will form part of any future
design), are applicable to the purpose in view, in order to
avoid imposing upon the ratepayers of the county any un-
necessary outlay ; but he has been requested at the same
time not to lose sight of the important object of constructing
the whole of the buildings of the prison, as ultimately de-
termined upon, in one comprehensive and, as far as possible,
systematic arrangement. When the plans shall have been
considered the visiting justices will again report to the Court
and enter further into the subject of the prison inspector's
report, stating their views upon the course to be adopted in
case the county should be under the necessity of providing
for a greater number of prisoners than 2,000. Meanwhile
they trust that the report nowlraade;will be found sufficient
for present purposes."

Mr. TURNER, Chairman of the Committe of Coldbath-
fields, said that the necessity for enlarging Coldbath-fields
prison was so obvious that only a very few observations
would be required from him in support of the motion with
which he should conclude. The subject of enlarging the
prison had been contemplated so far back as 1857, and since
then two now wings had been erected, and they now pro-
posed to carry out the whole of the original plan, which was
by the erection of two other wings, which would give them
the accommodation of 396 additional. cells. There would
then still remain the question for consideration of sleeping
accommodation for the whole of the inmates of the prison,
but that must remain for future discussion. To enable,
however, the works to be at first commenced he should
first move, "That the standing order of the Court requiring
notice of motion for the grant of money be suspended, so far
as regards the grant of any money which may be requisite
for any works or buildings at the House of Correction, Cold-
bath-fields, wbich the committee of visiting justices of that
prison may recommend to the court in the report."
The motion was seconded and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. TURNER then moved—" That the plans for the en-
largement of Coldbath-fields prison, by the erection of two
additional wings, be forwarded to the Secretary of State for
his sanction thereto."

Colonel ELSEY seconded the motion, which was put and
agreed to;

Mr. TUILNER then moved—" That a sum of £40,000 be
granted from the funds of the county for the erection of the
two wings shown in the plan, and that the committee be
authorised to superintend the erection of the same."
Mr. H. HARWOOD HARWOOD seconded the motion.
After a few words from Mr. Kemshead, the motion was
put and agreed to.
Mr. TURNER then moved—" That the sum of £3,500 be
granted by the court, and that the Visiting Justices of the
House of Correction at Coldbath-fields be authorised to ex-
pend that sum in sinking a well and providing the necessary
pumps, cisterns, and gear for providing a supply of water for
the use of the prison."

The motion was put and agreed to.
THE COMMITTAL OF PERSONS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF FINES.

Mr. TURNER said ho saw by the newspapers that Earl
Granville, in answer to a question put to him in the House
of Lords in reference to the refusal of the prison authorities
to receive persons committed for the non-payment of fines,
had thrown the entire blame upon the Middlesex magis-
trates, whereas the authorities of the City prisons were equally
involved in the question at issue, which had yet to be deter-
mined by the Court of Queen's Bench. He said the City
authorities were very tenderly alluded to, whereas upon the
Middlesex magistrates all the blame was thrown. '
Mr. N. LAURIE said the present state of things was a
great scandal, and the subject then dropped.
The other business of no public importance was disposed
of, and the Court adjourned.