The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-22 00:00:00

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRMIL

GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning.
Arrived, Aug. 21.—Sovents, from Kathammarsoick ;
Industry and Elizabeth, both from Dantzic ; Enda, from
Christiania.

Arrived, Aug. 22.—Fille de Air, from Havanna.
DEAL, Tuesday Morning.

No arrivals.
Sailed.--james Shephard, for Shanghai.

THE CONVICT PRISON AT Wroma.—Last week
Mr. C. J. Woods, the coroner for the western divi-
sion of the county, held an inquest at the oonvict prison,
Knap Hill, on the bodies of three convicts. The cases of
themselves were simple enough, and it was clear to all that
the three men had died from natural causes ; but the inves-
tigation was a veryprotracted one and lastedupwards of five
hours. It was evidently the intention of the coroner to bring
before the jury the entire system Carried' out in'the prison,
and to make them acquainted with the exact manner in
which convicts were treated. This course was most pro-
bably adopted in consequence of the very startling statements
made by a convict named Jarvis, who was convicted at the
present Croydon Assizes of stabbing a Scripture reader at
Campbell),(Ray.
the prison. The governor (Captain Warren), the surgeon
(Dr. assistant-surgeonte),
with (r.
other Bla k
officerse r ),
andthe
chaplain Mr. Blath
way
several • convicts, were summoned as witnesses, and exa-
mined on the different points mentioned by Jarvis, and in
no instance was anything adduced which corroborated a
single particle of his extraordinary story. The bill of fare
for each day was submitted to the jury, and excited their
astonishment, clearly evidencing that the convicts fared
better than the hard-working men outside the walls ;
whilst the dietary of the poor in the different unions is
not more than half as substantial. The dietary for sick
convicts is exceedingly liberal, and they are allowed
comforts which men in a respectable condition in society
scarcely expect to enjoy, including, for example, steaks,
chops, jellies, wines, and other luxuries. When in the re-
fractory cells convicts are expected to reply to the warder
every three hours, and if they do not give some reply to
his summons they are visited by two warders. This is
adopted in consequence of the prevalence of suicides
amongst the refractory gaol-birds. Of the abominable
offences so frequently alluded to by Jarvis, it appears that
there is only one case on the prison records. Tho impression
which existed in the minds of the whole of the jury appeared
to be that the convicts were too well treated by half, and
that they fared much better than the mechanics and labourers
who contribute to maintain these gentry in idleness. The
jury returned a verdict of "Died from natural causes" in
each of the cases alluded to, and they were then discharged.
The knife which Jarvis used against the Scripture reader is
preserved at the prison, and instead of its being the small
instrument described by him, it has a blade of more than
four inches in length. We aro informed that the directors of
the prison have been carrying out a strict investigation in
consequence of the sLi,tainent of Jarvis, and that they have
arrived at the conclusion that the chargeS he male were
totally unfounded.— West Surrey Times.

COLLIERIES IN GREAT BRITAIN.--There are, it
appears, 3,220 collieries in Great Britain, and the number
of men employed last year was 307,542.