The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-09 00:00:00

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRISONERS.

The following correspondence had taken place be-
tween the Visiting Justices and the Rev. Dr. Baldac-
coni, of the Royal Sardinian Chapel, respecting the
supply of bibles and other religious works to the Ro-
man Catholic prisoners :
" ESTEEMED Sett,—l beg leave to forward a parcel
containing one dozen of prayer-books, one dozen of
New Testaments, and two dozen of first Catechisms
for the use of the Catholic prisoners who are confined
in the House of Correction. In doing so, however, I
do hot intend'to ask -any favour on your own responsi-
bility,'but request you will have the kindness to lay the
matter before the Visiting Magistrates. After obtaining
whose permission, if necessary, you will be pleased to
distribute them amongst the Catholic prisoners accord-
ing to your prudence and discretion.
" The necessity of reclaiming our unfortunate tell ow
Christians, both by private and public instruction, will
,dead, I hop,, my apology for thus trespassing on your
Ainciness.—l have the honour to be, &c.,
" A M. BALDACCONI, Senior Chaplain.
" Royal Sardinian Chapel, Sept. 3, 1840.
" G. L. Chesterton, Esq."
To this letter the following answer was returned by
Cie Visiting Justices :

"Sessions-house, Clerkenwell, Sept. 18, 1840.
" Sir,—l have the honour to forward, by direc-
tions of the Visiting Justices of the House of Correction,
Coldhath-fields, in answer to your letter of the 3d inst.,
addressed to the Governor of that prison, the following
copy of a resolution of the Visiting Justices at a meeting
neld there this day, viz.

" Resolved—That the Visiting Justices partake the
desire of the Rev. A. M. Baldacconi, for the adoption
f all proper means for reclaiming all prisoners of the
Catholic denomination in the House of Correction, and
-herefore will comply with his wishes that the New
Testaments forwarded by him be kept for the use of the
Catholic prisoners, or given to them at the discretion of
the Governor ; but that as to the other books, the
Visiting Justicesdeclined to determine on them, and will
prefer that, whenever any prisoner shall require the at-
tendance of a Catholic priest, such gentleman be au-
thorised to present such prisoners with such Catholic
hooks of devotion as he shall select, subject to any
future direction of the Visiting Justices thereon.'
" C. W MG HT, Clerk to the Visiting Justices.
" Rev. Dr. Baldacconi."

Mr. BEs.tAatiN HALL said, that as he had not been
able to find a seconder to a similar motion in the Com-
mittee, he would give notice that on the next court day
he should move—" That this Court recommended the
VisitingJusticesof the House of Correction to permit the
Roman Catholic Priest, authorised by law, to attend
when required by the Roman Catholic prisoners, to dis-
tribute, from time to time, as he may judge most eon-
01usive to their religious and moral instruction, and as
most efficacious for their edification and reform, such
copies of the Holy Scriptures, and other Catholic books
of devotion, as are or may be sent for their use and be-
nefit."

Mr. LAURIE said that he should be hippy to second
such a resolution.

Mr. POWNALL intimated, in reply to some inquiries
respecting the detention of lunatics in the House of Cor-
rection, that the Marquis of Normanby had already au-
thorised the removal of the lunatic at present confined in
that gaol, and that he would be conveyed to the County
Lunatic Asylum, at Hanwell, to-morrow.

PARKHURST PRISON, ISLE OF WIGHT.

The CHAIRMAN, in the course of some observations,
said that he had visited the Government prison for the
reformation of juvenile offenders, in the Isle of Wight,
during the last fortnight, and from what be had seen he
felt quite certain that any Magistrate would be amply
repaid by a visit to that establishment. The order
and discipline that prevailed throughout were
admirable, and an excellent plan of moral instruction
was pursued. Of the result as yet nothing certain could
be stated, but its present efficiency justified the most
pleasing anticipations as to its ultimate success.