The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-27 00:00:00

TII E LAYING OF TilE FIRST
STONE OF TuE NEW CITY PRISON.
Yesterday the first stone of the great City Prison
at Holloway was laid by the Right Hon. the Lord
M tyor.
His Lordship left the Guildhall soon after two
o'clock, in his private carriage, for the ground,
accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Catley, his Lordship's
chaplain, Dr. David Williams Wire, the chairman of
Prisons Committee of the corporation, and Alderman
Challis, chairman of the committee of the Court of
Aldermen. Several carriages, conveying the sheriffs
and the sheriffs elect, members of the Court of
Aldermen, and members of the Prison Committee
and officers of the corporation followed, and the
cortege arrived at the tent erected on the area ap-
p,Jinted for the ceremony soon after three, and were
received by Mr. Bunning, the city architect, under
whose superintendence the stupendous building is to
be erected. Many of the visitors were surprised
upon approaching the twelve acres and a half which
constitute the area of the building, to see the gover-
nor's and the chaplin's houses and the wall by which
the sshole building is to be surrounded already
raised. The governors and principal officers of the
great criminal prisons of the metropolis were present
during the ceremony.
Upon approaching the stone, the Lord Mayor re-
ceived the various coins of the present reign which
were to be deposited in the stone, and the trowel, from
the hinds of Mr. Bunning, who at the same time pre-
sented Mr. D. W. Wire with the mallet, and Mr.
Alderman Challis with the level.
Mr. HENRY WevroN, who officiated for the town-
clerk, then said : The following is the inscrip-
tion engraved upon the plate to be deposited in the

stone :
" The first stone of this building, erected by and at
the expense of the city of London, intended for the
reception of convicted prisoners, was laid on the 26th
day of September, 1849, and in the thirteenth year of
the reign of her Majesty Queen -Victoria, by the
Right lion. Sir James Duke, M.P., Lord Mayor,
assisted by David Williams Wire, Esq., chairman of
the committee of the Court of Common Council, and
Thomas Challis, Esq., alderman, chairman of the
committee of the Court of Aldermen, appointed to
supsrintend the work, and the members of the Court
of Aldermen and of the Court of Common Council
Upon the Prisons Committee. May God preserve the
City of London, and make this place a terror to
evil doers.' "
The stone, which weighed four tons and a half, was
then slowly lowered, and his Lordship having used
the trowel in a singularly skilful manner, it was ac-
curately fitted to its destined position by the architect.
Mr. Wire then struck the stone with his mallet, and
Mr. Alderman Challis ascertained with his level that
the operation was perfect.
The LORD MAYOR, standing over the stone, ad-
dressed the meeting in the following manner :—I hope
I may be excused for making a few observations upon
this remarkable occasion. I have been honoured, as
the first magistrate of the city of London, by an invi-
tation from the Prisons Committee of the Corporation
to lay the foundation-stone of perhaps the largest and
most expensive building ever undertaken by them.
The corporation of London have been always desirous
to do all in their power to promote the public welfare,
by adding to the security of life and property, as well
as by co operating ',in other ways for the accomplish-
ment of great national objects. They therefore
yielded to the wishes of the Government in under-
taking to erect the building which I have just com-
menced. It is no source of congratulation that there
exists a necessity for a prison of more than ordinary
dimensions. It is far otherwise. But it is a source
of gratification to be assured that the moment the
melancholy necessity had arrived, the city of London
entertained too deep a sense of its duty to hesitate as
to the adoption of measures calculated to meet the
exigency. I cannot, however, help saying that as
this is to be a place for the reception of other cri-
minals besides those who must be punished as
offenders in the city of London, I expected that
the Government would have made no trivial contri-
bution towards the payment of the heavy cost
it entails upon the corporation.—(Bear, hear.)
This prison is to be the substitute for one which was
built as a model prison by the City under the
superintendence of a great philanthropist who tra-
velled into distant countries with the noble object of
ascertaining the means of alleviating the sufferings
of his fellow-creatures. Giltspur street Compter was
considered by Howard to be admirably adapted to
the intentions and wishes of the benevolent towards
their unfortunate fellow creatures. A day, however,
has arrived in which defects appear of such a cha-
racter as to call for extensive and permanent altera-
tion, and I hope and trust that the structure we are
now engaged in raising will afford us facilities of im-
proving the prison system, by enabling us to classify,
so that the reformation as well as the punishment of
criminals may be more satisfactorily carried into
effect.—(Hear, hear.) It may be supposed that as
we have been called upon to build a spacious prison,
crime must have greatly increased; but if we look to
the increase of the population we cannot arrive at
Such a conclusion. If, too, we look at the compara-
tively easy and prompt detection of crime by an ex•
perienced and well-regulated police, who catch hold
of and expose the very smallest offences, we cannot
assert that those of greater magnitude have become
more numerous; on the contrary, we may congratu-
late ourselves on the fact that though a heinous de-
pravity now and then starts up to shock and afflict
us, the crimes of the present day are not of the fero-
cious character of those of former periods. This
softening down of the practice of iniquity is chiefly
attributable to the diffusion of education, more parti-
cularly of religious education, impressed and incul-
cated as it is by the zealous teaching of our clergy,
who are incessantly pointing out to men the essential
points of their duty to their Maker.—(Hear, hear.)
I have said thus much to show that though there is
occasion for more accommodation, the necessity does
not arise from the increase of crime. I do not see
that there is any necessity for detaining you longer
by any remarks of mine. I hope the Almighty will
look down with a blessing upon the object we have
in view, and I hope that this structure w ill be pointed
at as a memorial of the philanthropy of the corpora-
tion of London, and that it will not only be, as the
inscription indicates, " a terror to evil doers," but a
means of accomplishing the blessed work of reforma-
tion,—(Cheers.) I now give way to my chaplain,
Mr. Catley, who will read to you a prayer which he
composed for this occasion, and with which this
ceremony will terminate.
The Rev. Mr. CATLEY then emphatically read the
following prayer, which was listened to with the most
solemn attention
Almighty Lord God, the preserver of all men,
the Saviour and sanctifier of the world, look down in
mercy upon this solemn ceremony, at which thy
humble creatures unite in prayer.
" We confess that, in proportion as we have multi-
plied as a nation, we have also multiplied in crime.
But, conscious of thy righteous indignation against
sin, we would erdeavour to restrain its power and to
avert its terrible consequences.
" We deplore the necessity of the institution which
will be raised upon this foundation-stone. In this
solemnity we are reminded how we all deserve thy
displeasure, and how earnest should be our personal
endeavours to strive to enter in at the straight gate of
thy gospel kingdom.
" But we heartily join in a prayer of faith, that
through the increase of knowledge, through the
preaching of thy word, by the efforts of individual
philanthropists, through the union of all believers, and
through the meditations and prayers of thine ancient
people Israel, the time may come when our beloved
country may turn heartily unto thee 0 Lord, when
crime shall be abhorred, when the sorrows of the
prison-house shall be known no more, when moral
misery shall cease and godliness and virtue abound.
" And while we pray that this our labour may be
abundantly rewarded, grant that the day may come
when these abodes of misery and these cells of woe
may be deserted and untenanted, and be viewed only
as memorials of a state of society long passed away.
" Accept our earnest prayer for our most gracious
Queen, for her Majesty's Royal Consort, and for all
the branches of the Royal house; for all assembled
here, the Lord Mayor, the Aldermen, the Sheriffs,
and for all that bear office in that body ; and may our
voices ascend, oh, heavenly Comforter, to the footstool
of thy throne, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord."
The moment the prayer was concluded the Lord
Mayor, aldermen, committee, and officials entered
their carriages and drove to town.
The proceedings gave great satisfaction to all pre-
sent.
The prison is intended for the separate confine-
ment of 400 convicted prisoners, and has large work-
rooms attached. It can also be made available for
the confinement of prisoners on the congregated
system. The building is to be in the castellated style
of architecture, and the main fronts are to be faced
with Kentish ragstone.
A tower of considerable height will form a pro-
minent feature, and by it the whole of the prison is to
be ventilated. On each side of the main approach to
the prison, and fronting the Camden road, a hand-
some dwelling-house, faced with red brick and
Caen stone, will be erected as residences for the
governor and the chaplain. The entrance gateway
and the porter's lodge will also be in the castel-
lated style of architecture, faced with Kentish rag-
stone. The front portion of the main building, which
will stand at a considerable distance from the road,
will consist of a centre building, containing in the
basement reception cells, bath rooms, examini
rooms, fumigating rooms, furnace rooms, and the
principal staircase to the ground floor, which will
contain offices for the governor, the magistrates' room,
and rooms for the medical officer and chaplain, and
also separate visiting places, in which the prisoners
may be allowed to see their relations.. On this floor
will be a spacious corridor leading to the portion of

the prison to be appropriated to adult prisoners, and
above will be the chapel, arranged to contain separate
enclosed seats for the prisoners, so contrived as to
prevent the possibility of communication, either by
sight or converse, during the service. There will be
also in this compartment an organ loft and a gallery
for the governor and the officers of the prison.
The right wing of the front portion of the building
will be appropriated to the separate confic ement of
female prisoners, containing reception cells, matron's
rooms, bath room, punishment cells, and the laundry ;
and the left wing will be fitted for juvenile prisoners,
with workrooms and schoolrooms attached.
Connected with the centre building, and diverging
therefrom, will be four main wings, which are to be
appropriated to the employment of adult male pri-
soners, containing in the basement the kitchen
department, officers' mess rooms, punishment cells,
plunging baths, and store rooms, and the ground floor
and two stories above containing separate cells for
confinement. Each wing throughout the prison will
contain a condor the entire length and height of the
building, wish a projecting gallery on each story
above the ground floor for access to the cells, and iron
staircases leading thereto. The whole of the building
appropriated to the confinement of prisoners will be
entirely fire-proof, and the floors will be formed with
a-phalte, with which alto the roofs of the cells and
corridors will be covered. The cells will be well
lighted, and thoroughly warmed and ventilated by
means of flues formed in the walls, and each cell
supplied with water and other conveniences for the
use of the prisoners. A well has been sunk, for the
general use of the prison, into the chalk, so that a
constant supply of spring water will be afforded.
Attached to the prison will be spacious airing yards,
and the whole area, which contains about twelve
acres of ground, will be inclosed with a high boun-
dary wall.

WEST SURREY ELECTION.
It will be recollected that the nomination for this
division of the county of Surrey took place on Sa-
turday last, end that the days of polling appointed
by the Sheriff were Tuesday and Wednesday, the
25th and 26th instant. The result of the first day's
polling having left the Liberal candidate in a small
minority, it appeared that he declined to pursue the
contest farther. An intimation to that effect was
made to Air. Evelyn's committee, and, as it would
appear, to the High Sheriff, for the polling. booths in
the various districts were without the usual officials
to receive the votes of electors on Wednesday. Such
was the case at Godalming, as would appear from
the following statement and protest of Mr. Low, of
Gracechurch•street, who contends that the return of
Mr. Evelyn is vitiated by this laches on the part of
the High Sheriff:—" I went this morning to vote
for one of the candidates for Member for West
Surrey, and on proceeding to the polling booth I was
told that one of the candidates had resigned. The
Sheriff took upon himself to close the poll at the end
of one day, the law requiring two days' poll for a
courty. I therefore served the Sheriff with the
following I, James Low, of No. 30, Gracechurch-
street, in the city of London, a freeholder of the
western division of the county of Surrey, in the
presence of James Foster, of Godalming, grocer,
proceeded to the polling booth in Godalming, ap-
pointed to-receive the votes of the voters for that
division, for the election of a Member to represent
the western division of Surrey in Parliament, to
tender my vote, on Wednesday, this 26th day of
September, 1849, at ten minutes before nine o'clock,
A.m., and found neither returning officer nor poll-
clerk to receive my vote. In consequence of which I
hereby protest against the legality of the said election.
The Sheriff naming the election to commence on
Tuesday, the 25th of September, from nine o'clock,
A.M., to four o'clock, P.M., and on Wednesday, the
26th, at eight o'clock in the morning, finally closing
at four o'clock, r.si , dated this 26th day of Septem-
ber, 1849.
" To William Francis Gamal Farmer, Esq.,
Sheriff for the county of Surrey, Nonsuch Park,
near Epsom.
" Witness—J. L. Foster."

" ' JAMES Low.

MR. MORE O'FERRALL.

TO THE EDITOR OF TUE DUBLIX XYZNING POST.
Sir,—As Lord John Russell's reply to Mr. Hume
may be regarded as the end of the controversy, I
wish to condole with the Morning Herald, and ad-
minister to him, or the Old Lady, all the consolation
I can on the loss or withdrawal of so fruitful a
source of filling-stuff during this dull Parliamentary

recess.
For the last two years the Herald has, from time
to time, been personally abusing and attacking Mr.
More O'Ferrall. From the very commencement the
writer descended to the calling of all sorts of names ;
and pertinaciously inquired, over And over again—
" Who is this Mr. O'Ferrall ? Who ever heard of
him until he was pitchferked from the Bog of Allen
into the Treasury, the Admiralty, and finally ap-
pointed Governor tied Commander-in Chief of
MMalta ?"
Now, Sir, any person at all acquainted with the
history of cur gentry knows that Mr. O'Ferrall is an
Irish gentleman of ancient lineage and highest family
connexions, possessing large hereditary estates, which
are so managed, under his direction, that while they
are highly valuable to the proprietor, the tenant lives
in comfort, security, and independence, and the la-
bourer in full remunerative employment. The young
people are educated with care, and the aged are
cherished with the most considerate benevolence. He
is a Roman Catholic gentleman, not ashamed of his
religion, but, on the contrary, rather scrupulous in the
observance of the duties it enjoins; at the same time
that he has been living all his life among Protestants,
many of whom are his most intimate friends, on
terms of unrestrained confidence.
Thus much for the first interrogatory of the
Herald.—Now for the second—" Who ever heard of
him," &c. &c. To answer this fully and satisfac-
torily, I beg to refer to an authority to which I am
sure all the employee in Shoe-lane will bow with due
deference, and behold how egregiously their master
has put his foot in it. Please, Mr. Editor, just turn
to the file of the London Morning Herald, of 26th
August, 1830—nineteen years ago—and see how his
Irish Correspondent notices and reports the gentle-
manly bearing and intelligence of the newly-elected
Member for Kildare :
.6 Mr. More O'Ferrall, the new Member, is a young
man of prepossessing appearance, and gifted with con-
siderable abilities. lie is going to a place where, no
doubt, his talents will be fully recognised and appre-
ciated. But, however that may be, be certainly has
many of those qualities which constitute a very useful
Member of Parliament. Coul, clear• sighted, and per-
severing, he also briugs to the details of business a fund
of good sense and integrity, which has already gained
him the respect and confidence of the country, in the dis-
charge of the various and important functions of a
magistrate and member of the grand jury. He has a
good oemmaud of language, and the sentiments
which he expresses fluently, if not elegantly, he
can defend with a gallant modesty, more persuasive than
all the flowers of rhetoric: he is a Roman Catholic, but
goes not to Parliament as a sectarian. The clergy of his
Church, it is true, have displayed a warm and very
allowable share of exultation at his success; but he used
no solicitations, nor put forward any anti-Protestant
professions. to enlist them on his side.
There, Sir, is the London Morning Herald's re-
port and announcement of Mr. O'Ferrall's return
or the county Kildare nineteen years ago.
Your's, very faithfully,
As OLD ELECTOR.

THE PROPOSED AUSTRIAN LOAN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING ADVERTISER.
15, New Broad street, Sept. 26, 1849.
Sir,—The enclosed letter from Mr. Cobden, on the
subject of the proposed Austrian Loan, is at your
service for publication, if you should deem it of
sufficient interest.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
EDMUND FRY.
" Oaklands, near Sedlescombe, Surrey, Sept. 25, 1849.
"My dear Sir—l have this moment read in a
London paper the prospectus for a new loan, issued
by the Austrian Government. Now is the time for
the friends of peace and disarmament to raise their
voices in condemnation and exposure of the system
by which Austria and the other powers maintain their
enormous armies, and carry war and destruction not
only into their own provinces, but into the territories
of their neighbours. A public meeting should be im-
mediately called in London to denounce this attempt
to levy upon the savings of peaceful industry the
means of paling Llaynau and his Croats for their
butcheries in Brescia, and their atrocities in Hungary,
There is not a friend or admirer of the oppressed and
slandered Magyars or Italians who will not press
forward to swell the chorus of execration at this
audacious proposal to borrow from the European
public the money with which to pay the price of suc-
cessful violence and injustice. It is a matter upon
which every man is called to express his opinion, for
all of use are, by the terms of the prospectus, invited
to become subscribers for the loan. is there a Jew
in London who will not be eager to attend such a
meeting, to repudiate all connexion with the projected
loan, and to denounce the authors of those atrocities
against his co-religionists at Buda-Path—atrocities
in which Haynau has surpassed everything that has
occurred since the persecutions of the middle ages ?
I will be in Town on Thursday to meet a committee
of the friends of peace, and if it be decided to hold a
meeting, I •shall be there to take a part in it, and
believe me, " Faithfully yours,
J I "B. Fry, Esq." "RICHARD COBDEN,
tog

SUPPOSED MURDER.—On Sunday evening a num-
ber of Irish reapers in the town of Dunse quarrelled
among themselves, and either on that night or early on
Monday morning, a murder seems to have been com-
mitted, as the body of a man—one of the reapers—was
found yesterday, t( rribly mangled, in a field near the
Preston Station. At present, however, we can furnish
UP additional particulars.—,North 136444 Mail.