The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-15 00:00:00

KINGSTON QUARTER SESSIONS.

Yesterday these Sessions commenced before
BARNARD, Esq. the Chairman and a full
Bench of Magistrates. The Calendar presents
but a few cases, and those of no interest.
THE TREAD MITA/.
The Act of last Session respecting the regulation of prisons,
directing that the 'Governors, Chaplains, and Surgeons, who
attend the several. County Prisons, and Houses of Correction,
' should give in quarterly Reports to the Bench of Magistrates,
on the subject of the health, morals, itc.' of the prisoners, the
greater part of the day was occupied in the consideration of
those Reports, and of some other matters of mere local inte-
rest. Amongst the Reports handed in was one presented, by ,
the visiting Magistrates of Brixton Gaol, where the celebrated
Mill was first erected. It stated that the prisoners enjoyed a
good state of health generally ; that, they , were kept regularly
at work, but by no means in such a manner as to cause any in.
jury to health. The prison was not intended, when it was
built, to receive so many inmates as were constantly sent to it,
and the excess had rendered an increase of the antes 'from
six to ten necessary. Much had been said in opposition to
the labour of the 'Tread Mill, but not one of the objections•
enumerated had any application to the Brixton Mill, and,
doubtless the defects of other Mills, built upon the same'
Principle were also much exaggerated. In fact, health, clean.
liness, and good order prevailed in the highest degree, and were
attributable to the excellent discipline, superintended by the'-
Governor, Surgeon, and Chaplain. The duties of the Surgeon
were represented as extremely severe, and his salary as greatly
disproportioned to his labour, perseverance, and skill. One,
of the difficulties under which he was said to labour was that of'
distinguishing between those prisoners who were really and in-
evitably ill, and those who endeavoured to be so, in order to^
avoid the penalty of labour.., The persons who came under the:
professional care of this gentleman amounted to no less than
500 in one year. The visitors, represented .the necessity of in'..
creasing his salary, as his labour is double what it used tote,
or what it was intended to be. They represented, that notwith.'
standing the great benefits derivable from the Brixton Gaol
Discipline, it would'still be an evidence of enthusiasm to sup:,
pose, that the majority of those who underwent the punish-
merit prescribed would abandon their evil habits. A de-
sultory conversation, which it was extremely difficult to
catch, took place among the Magistrates, who seemed to con-
sider the -subject one of the utmost' importanie. After some
observations upon the necessity of ascertaining whether a per-
son who has some ground dose by the jail, is not encroaching
upon the Act of Parliament by building tenements, a proceed-
ing which may, in the opinion of the Bench, militate against
the health of the inmates, the subject -of the Tread-mill
alluded to. It was generaUy admitted that the health of prison-
ers was a paramount- object. A complaint hail reached the
Bench that the wheel at Brixton was so constructed, or rather
so defective in its construction, as to occasion a painful jerk,
and that the prisoners found this defect a considerable obstruc.
thin to their efforts, and a most rigorous addition to their
ptinishment. Several of the Magistrates inquired whether this
defect actually existed, and why, if it did, the person who
made the wheel had not been informed of the fact ? It was.
replied, we understood (the conversation was rapid and in slow
tone), that the constructor had been written to upon the sub-
ject, notwithstanding which no remedy bad been applied.
Mr. TROTTER, who occasionally takes the 'Chair at the
Sea:ions-House, Newington, said it was peculiarly necessary to
guard against any complaint of this kind, as, should 'any acci-
dent happen, exaggeration must be expected.
Another MAGISTRATE observed, that the, complaint about
the wheel had been made by a person who afterwards contra-
dicted it, The general opinion of the Bench, however, appeared
to be, that the Brixton wheel was liable to the objection of in-
flicting an unnecessary and rigorous degree of punishment.
Mr. DENISON, the Member, expressed his surprise that the
Maker of the wheel, who was under obligations to prevent it
from becoming oppressive to the prisoners, had not remedied
the defect. It was, he added, necessary to give the constructor
of the wheel notice, and if lie continued to pay no attention to
the-direction, to aux him for theyenalties. this opinion the
Bench acquiesced ; and Mr. Lawhin, The'Claik of the Peace,
was directed to _write to the Manufacturer, to the above effect.
In the Report concerning the County Prison, it was repre-
sented that the plan-of putting the prisoners in irons being die-
pensed with, the facilities of escape were increased, and it
therefore liecarneuecessiiiy Co have gratings` thrown over' thee
airing yards, out of which eyeo priscniers an irons contrived to
escape ; of course prisoners '
wish 'free limbs would find less tiff-
ticeity in becoming their own masters.
Nothing of any intereit is expected during the Sitting.

AccroeNT.--Yesterday morning about eleven
o'clock, as the hacknercoach, No. 1,117, was proceeding with
a fare down Holborn-hill,-.witb two gentlemen Inside, the ale-
tree suddenly broke short in two, when the coach was imme-
diatcly overturned, and the coikinnan precipitated a consider-
able distance, and very near into Parr's Equitable Office for
servants. The gentlemen tbrtuhately escaped Without much
injury, although both the glasses were up at the time, neither
of which were broken. It had a singular appearance to see the
parties, after their fright was over, making their exit out of
the opposite window of the coach, before It was restored to its
former position.

•
About one o'clock yesterday 'as a gentleman's
servant on horseback was proceeding along the King's /toad,
near Gray's-hmolane on full gallop, 'his horse, a fine spirited
animal, suddenly fell, and threw NS rider a considerable dis-
time, when the-horse, (mat the violence of the fail, rolled seve..
ral yards ; but neither the grocm nor the horse, we understand,
sufilTed from the accident. • • "

COURSE OF 'EtCrIANGE, Otcober 14.
A :USW dam - it 10 C. F.
Ditto, at Sight
Rotterdam ' lii' II
Antwerp
lioniburgh • '3B 2 21 1-4
Altoiltr .
Paris,: Day's sight
Ditto ... ....
lourdeduz, ditto
ihrtin 7 10
frrank fort mr the Blain ..
Petersburg],
Vienna ... . . ... I o 24
Trieste,....
%laird . 36/ Effeztive
Cadiz 46i Effective
Rilboa
•••••• 36 Effective
Rarcelona l5
ieville .... '
Gibraltar
Leghorn'
Gel 4 'lt • a..... •.• 4 af --- Vetii t• e , Ital. Liv, ia to
Malts .... 46 .--Naples 3Bi
Ptiternto
Lisbon
53
Oporto .......
Rio Janeiro
Bahia • 46
Doblitt .... 91 Cork 94 pei Cent.

' BULLION.
Portugal Gold, in Coin L.O 0 0 pet 03.
Foreign Bold, in Bars 3 17 6
New Dotibloorni '
New Dollars... 0 4 ;►
Silver In Bars, Standard 0 4 II