The Sun.
London, England, 1824-10-20 00:00:00

SURREI

Yesterday the Surrey Magistrates asseinbleAl at Kingston, for
the purpose of transacting a great deal of the county busittesA.
BENJAMIN BARNARD, LSI. in the Chair.
The reports of the state of the gaols were severally presented
to the Court.

The Surgeon's report upon the condition of the prisoners In
Brixton gaol, stated that 9I out of 189 of those confined, were
allowed extra food.

Mr. HOLME SUMNER asked why so geat a number were
allowed that indulgence. It was, he observed, extremely un-
usual to have more than 11 tW 12 out of such a number upon
the extra food lig.

The Keeper of the gaol was called upon to account ter this
apparently unnecessary distribution of food, and he said it
had been thought necessary to give the indulgence On account
of the loss the %4 persons had sustained in weight ! (at the

Mr. Su itNEn—" It strikes me as extremely improper that
soldiers contined in the county gaol should be put to work on
the tread-wheel with t'44.lous. .4 hope ..Mr,..,-;itinnet (turni-ng to
Mr. Grey Bennet) that y- . will give 'tun yc.ar assistanco in
bringing in a bill to prevez such a practice next Session. I
shall propose a different house of. Correction ter the military."
Mr. BEN NET did not at all sec why any distinction should
be made.

Mr. S U3I N E a—" Surely you would not like to see soldiers ut
the wheel with common felons ?"
Mr. LENNET—" Certainly not if the soldiers were not
felons. After all, a soldier is no • more than one of the people
with a red coat upon him."—(A laugh.)
Mr. DENISON submitted to the bench the motion of which
he had given notice on a former day. He wished it to be 'dis-
tinctly understood that he bad rot the slightest wish to render
the situation of persons confined in prison an enviable one, or
to grant them any indulgence which was' not perfectly consist-
ent with justice. He wished to avoid the opposite extreme—
not to ttcat them with too much severity, nor to exercise to•
wards them a more harsh discipline than was in practice in the
neighbouring counties. The debtors were a class of persons
suffering in consquence of misfortune, not of crime ; and as
long as they were in safe custody, they were entitled to all rea-
sonable indulgence. It was his intention to move for a.com-
mittee, and if that were granted, he intended to submit a mo.
tion for the extended admission of the friends of those confined
for debt, and also for extending the period of the admission of
food into the prison. His next object related to misdemeanours
committed before trial—those who were suspected of misde-
meanors, and who could not find ball. He advised the appli-
cation of the old principle of English law to cases of this de-
scription—" Every one was presumed innocent until proved
guilty." He would have these persons permitted to purchase
a certain quantity of food and beer; in moderation, of course.
The third class comprehended those misdemeanants who were
convicted, but whose cases, so far from being-aggravated, were
sentenced to the penal.y of imprisonment alone. To those per-
sons it was but fair to give the liberty of procuring food and
beer in moderation. Such a regulation would, he believed, not
trench upon the law, and it would be an act of humanity not
to let the measure of punishment exceed the crime or the sen-
tence—a thing but too frequently done. Ile concluded by mov-
ing " That it be referred to a committee to consider and report
at the next sessions whether any amelioration or amendment can
be made as to the regulations dr the county gaol, with 'respect
to debtors, doe."
Str I.lttostas TuRTON seconded the motion.

. -- ..... .......-
rll . Kc2.4n icic disapproved of any amelioration in the treat-
ment of prisoners ; but he was open to conviction, and should
not object to investigation. He thought that the ctmunittee
should consist of 23, in order that the business might be done
etrec . and he hoped the committee would meet at Epsom.
sirtvlmlyomas
TUItTON was convinced that the appoint-
ment of such a Committee would be A complete check upon
the business.

!dr. t:T thought the pri*on regulation were in the
greatest need of revision. It was not only necessary to make al-
teratione for the sake of the prisoners, but for the sake of the
public feeling, which ought to be respected,and bad been abused.
Ep should he-fixed upon as the
Iptcdlt riot e
elofiOeerincgtiYe why surn
,eZeeeptin the case ()traces. London was the
most proper place. _

.
Mr. rtr.utT was of opinion, that the third proposition of
Mr. Denison would promote the formation of gangs who' would
support their fellows in prison.
Bittgcot: supported the motion, upon the ground that
by the present regulations the loss of liberty was attended with
many other bitter disadvantages.
Mr. Suatxrn said, that the former Committee had exerted
themselves to the utmost to revise the county gaol regulations.
It was admitted upon all hands, that all the objects of the pre-
sent discussion had been gone into in the fullest possible man-
ner, and that all that could be done had been done ; and now
a motion was brought forward, denying those facts, and con.
taining indirect, but heavy charges against the Committees.—
This was frittering away what had been confirmed by the Court.
He could never consent to it.

Mr. MABEILLY concurred in what had fallen from Mr. De-
nison. Notwithstanding all the regulations that had been made,
the unfortunate persons confined complained of hardships. In-
quiry should be made. If the Committee should be granted,
lie should move to exAmine. into the expediency of introducing
warmth by steam, or some other process, into the gaol, for upon
visiting Iforsemonger-lane the other day, he found a great de-
ficiency in that respect.
Mr. BEN NET said, they were bound to correct it in defer.
ence to the public feeling, as well as from a sense of justice.
He had been in the Chair upon the occasion, and he cer-
tainly observed a disposition to dispose of the business as easily.
as possible.
Colonel DELAP said, there was no necessity for a Commit.
tee. He did not approve of making drawing-rooins of prisons.
Those who were confined were more comfortable than the poor
of tho couhtry.
The motion for the Committee was then negatived.
Mr. DENtsoit then moved, that the Debtors' Petition,
praying for what his proposition embraced, should be referred
to a Committee.
Mr. 13ENNET hoped his Hon. Friend would again bring
forward his motion, and petsevere, notwithstanding defeat.
Mr. DENISON gave notice to that effect for next Session.
The Committee was appointed to consider the Debtors'
Petition. •

•
lintscor gave notice of a motion for the abolition of
the treathwheel, as far as regards leinAlett.

THE LICENSING tiIfSTEN.
Mr. Dnu•st scorn) said, the present plan of licensing public-
houses was the most corrupt and abominable, and there was
reason to suppose that brewers, distillers, magistrates, contriv-
ed the thing amongst them. He did not mean to involve the
whole bench in the censure, for he knew that many acted with
the 'nest honourable impartiality. Here the case of a
licensed Victualler who was refused a license, the particulars
of which we some time ago mentioned, was given in, and
several facts were stated in continuation of the truth of the
charge. The powers of the Magistrates had been interfered
with in many cases by their brethren, who were interested in
houses for which licences were sought. The emoluments of the
Magistrates were, in fact, enormous. Another evil was, that the
licences were not granted in proportion to the wants of the
neighbourhood, but in proportion to the desire of the Magis.
trutes to finward the interests of those Whose cause they espoused.
alathat the
i:irate of the
The houses supported by such interest were the scenes of the
livehe remedy t
nonce
ee t
op reovpeo;ye
d county of the time and place at which it was intended to grant
Linrerikhor tliibelePevaiccee. shouldT
licences.
Colonel GASKELL said, he had no objection to the motion.
A tler some observations front Mr. RENNET, who bore testi.
Molly to the extent of the abuses, and front other Magistrates,
the motion was carried.
Mr. BZNNET asked Mr. Kenrick, whether the repent spread
abroad respecting his treatment of a man named Franks were
true. He would be guided by the answer in the manner of
treating Mr. Kenrick as a Magistrate.
Mr. 11. Suatisra objected to the question, and as angry dis.
cession arose. It was finally decided by a show of hands, that
the question should not be put.
The Magistrates, of whom there were CO on the bench, then
adjourned fur the day.

IllonwAirwomEN.—About eleven o'clock on
Thursday sennight, as 31r. llatclifi. ,e a travellerfrom
Wolverhampton, was returning to his inn, he was httaikettin
llack,Piceadilly by a number of females, who, pinioning !urn
against the wall, tore open his waistcoat, and after a rade iecirca
into the secret recesses of his wardrobe, succeeded'in'Plllap,ing
him of bills and cash to the amount of I001,—( 4111Mehester
Gazette.)