The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-23 00:00:00

THE CHARTIST PRISONERS.

At the Quarter Sessions for the North Riding of
Yorkshire, on Monday last, the following correspond•
cote, which has taken place between the Home Secre-
tary and the Visiting Justices relative to William
Martin, a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for a se-
ditious libel at Sheffield, was produced and read, and
after a long debate on the subject, was handed over to
the reporters for publication.
(No. 1.)
" Whitehall, July 8, 1840.
" Gentlemen,—The Marquis of Norrnanby, having
received an applieAtion from William Martin, a prisoner
in the House of Correction at Northalerton, in which
he alleges that he is kept to labour, I sin directed to in-
quire whether this statement is founded in fact, and, if
so, under what authority he is so dealt with, it appear-
.rig that he was not sentenced to labour.
" I am, &c. S. M. PHILLIPS'S.
The Visiting Magistrates of the Gaol, Northallerton."
(No: 2.)

" House of Correction, Northallerton, July 15, 1840.
"My Lord,---I have the honour to acknowledge your
Lordship's letter of the Bth instant, requesting to be
informed whether William Martin, a prisoner in the
House of Correction at Northallerton, is kept at
labour, and if so, under what authority he is so dealt
with ? In answer to which I beg to state, that William
Martin is a convicted prisoner, and does not maintain
himself, and by statute 4 Geo. IV., c. 66, s. 38, it is
enacted, Whereas persons convicted of offences are
frequently sentenced to imprisonment without being
sentenced to hard labour, it shall be lawful for two or
more Visiting Justices to order that all such persons,
confined in such prison in pursuance of any sentence
or conviction, except such prisoners as shall maintain
themselves, shall be set to some work or labour not
severe.' The same order forms part of the ' Rules and
Regulations to be observed in the House of Correction
at Northallerton,' as directed by the Court of Quarter
Sessions, and duly approved by two of her Majesty's
Judges. The work at which William Martin is em-
ployed can scarcely be deemed labour, it being merely
picking old ropes in pieces to make oakum.
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
" WM. DENT,
" Chairman of the Visiting Justices.
" The Right Hon, the Sec. of State, &c."
(No. 3.)
" Whitehall, July 28, 1840.
" Gentlemen,—l am directed by the Marquis of
Normanby to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 15th inst., relative to the case of Wm. Martin, a
prisoner in the gaol of Northallerto❑ for sedition, and
to inform you that his Lordship recommends that the
prisoner should not. be compelled to labour.---I am, &c.

,
" S. M. PHILLIPS.
The Visiting Magistrates of the Gaol, Northallerton."
(No. 4.)
" House of Correction, Aug. 7,1840.

"My Lord,—l have the honour to acknowledge
your Lordship's letter of the 28th ult., recommending
that Wm. Martin, a prisoner i❑ the House of Correc-

tion at Northallerton, and convicted of sedition,
should not he compelled to labour ; and, ha-
ving submitted the same to the Visiting Jus-
tices, I am directed by them to state the following
as their unanimous opinion, and to assure your Lordship
that it is their anxious wish to pay the utmost
deference to every recommendation coming from so high
a quarter. In a former letter, of the 15th ult., I stated
to your Lordship the ground on which the Visiting Jus-
tices, in conformity with the rules of the gaol, and under

the authority of statute 4th Geo. IV., c. 66, s. 38,
held themselves bound to nut Wm. Martin to some
labour, not severe—viz., picking oakum. There are in

the House of Correction at this time ten other con-
victed prisoners, who, not maintaining themselves, a,re
employed at the same work ; and the Visiting Justices
are not able, from anything that appears before them, to
draw a distinction between the case of Wm. Martin and

that of any other convicted prisoner, who refuses to
maintain himself ; and they submit that if they were
without some more direct authority than a recommend-
ation, to relax the discipline of the gaol in favour of
William Martin, they would be acting with unfairness
to the other prisoners similarly circumstanced, and incur
a serious responsibility with the Magistrates in Quarter
Sessions. If your Lordship sees fit to interpose your
official authority, either in favour of William Martin,
or of all the convicted prisoners, and issue an order
that they shall not be employed, it becomes at once the
duty of the Visiting Justices to comply with it. At

the same time they consider it no less their duty respect-
fully to state that such a regulation would, in their
opinion, be highly detrimental to the discipline of the
gaol. I have the honour to be, &c.

" WM. DENT.
" To the Right Hon. Secretary of State, &c."
(No. 5.)
" Whitehall, Aug..lo, 1840.

Sir,—l am directed by the Marquis of Normanby
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th
inst. I am at the same time to inform you, that
Lord Normanby cannot issue an order that the class
of prisoners to which your letter refers should not
be employed ; and if the Visiting Justices feel that
they would, by remitting employment in the
case of William Martin, incur a serious responsibility
with the Magistrates in quarter sessions (a circum-
stance which did not appear to Lord Normanby to be
at all probable,) his Lordship must leave the matter in
their hands. " I am, &c.

" S. M. PHILLIPS."

The Home Secretary having left the matter in the

handi of the Bench, they nearly unanimously confirmed
the decision of the Visitinr, Justices. and poor Martin
(unlike his lucky friend Feargus O'Connor) is now
seated on his stool picking oakum, and preserving a
total silence.