The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-17 00:00:00

THE GAOL OF NEWGATE.

Alderman SIDNEY moved a resolution to refor to
the Gaol Committee the consideration of the pro-
priety of effecting further alterations in the internal
arrangements of this prison. He observed that the
existing arrangements of the gaol could not be
allowed to continue. Sonic time ago the Court was
in communication with the Secretary of State re,
specting the gaol, and he (Alderman Sidney) was
entitled to say from what then took place that the
Government expected that the internal arrange-
ments of Newgate would be completed upon the
same principle that had been adopted in the nor-
thern wards of the gaol. The classification of
the prisoners had been greatly facilitated thereby,
but they were now in the unfortulate position
of having one-half of the gaol upon the old prin-
ciple and the other half upon the modern and
improved principle. The only objection to modern- ,
izing the other half was the cost, persons thinking
that t he expenditure ought not to be incurred,on ac-
count of the state of the funds of the corporation.
Nov, he should be very sorry that an important
matter of this description should be decided upon
such a narrow basis. Although the corporation had
compromised its revenues, it was not in a position
to make this a consideration in deciding upon so
important a matter as the improvement of the gaol.
Alterations had been effected on account of the re-
monstrances not only of the Government authori-
ties, but also of the prison officers in their annual
reports to the Court. Considering the expense in-
curred in improving one half of the prison, he could
not conceive why the other half should be suffered
to remain in its present condition. He therefore
asked the Court to refer the matter to a committee,
when the whole question could be gone into in all
its details. (Hear.)
Alderman CUBITT had great pleasure in second-
ing the motion. The cost of effecting the necessary
improvements would not be very serious.
Alderman LAWRENCE was surprised that a mo-
tion having such a large object in view should be
framed in such general terms. He protested against
spending £B,OOO upon the gaol at present.
Alderman SALOMONS—The information which is
necessary to be obtained upon this subject cannot
be arrived at unless we first send the question to a
committee to investigate and report to us. Here-
after, when that committee shall have inquired and
reported, everybody will have an opportunity of
fairly making their objections. I protest most
strongly, as a magistrate and for the honour of the
corporation, that it should be the onlyioneiretles.
that
lyres
not a detentive gaol upon improved prn
have now a gaol for the detention of persons accused
before trial, that may vie with that of any other
county or city in the kingdom, Having made ar-
rangements for males, I do not see why they should
not be extended to females. Can we doubt that the
system carried on at Newgate up to this time has
been a means of propagating crime on account of the
association of prisoners together ? Take the case of
the passers of counterfeit coin. Can there be any doubt
that persons of that kind associating together before
trial must necessarily lead further to the means by
which base coin is put into circulation ? How much
better for the public and the prisoners that
they should be kept separate before trial, instead of
being associated, that they may concoct crime to-
gether when they return to society after th•* •t '
erms
of punishment have expired. I have frequently been
applied to by foreigners and strangers when they
visit the rolropolis to see our gaols. I have been

ht toe
r them,e3,
o
u
will see a pri ,on that reflects honour ashamed to give them an Ord& to visit Newgate,
because I have thought that the intelligence of the
age as regards the prevention of crime has not been
,_ upon the
country." I think it our duty to adapt IN
p,,rpopoenr,lty
goexteoreNi seeNdv.galteh;mg-eo
arilalobNlvyasto ;,iwd
females in the same manner as arrangements have
been made with regard to mates.have great
ewgate for
pleasure in supporting the motion.
Alderman ROSE said he was most anxious that
the whole subject should be taken into considera-
tion. The alterations lately effected in Newgate
had made it the most complete, as it was the most
modern, prison in the country. The expenditure
had not been at all out of proportion to the results
obtained. He trusted that his brethren would come
to the conclusion which he himself had arrived—
namely, that very great alterations were necessary
as regarded the approaches to the court and the con-
venience and comfort of witnesses during the sessions.
Alderman and Sheriff HALE said he had arrived at
a precisely -contrary: view to that of Alderman Rose
as regarded the projected arrangements in the gaol.
If you once began to make alterations; you would
never know where to end. He conceived that quite
sufficient money had already been expended on the
gaol, and trusted that the matter would not be re-
ferred to a committee.

Alderman GABRIEL decidedly disapproved of the
expense proposed to bo incurred in altering the
gaol. An expense of £lO,OOO ought not to be in-
curred. for the accommodation of a dozen or 15
women.

Alderman LAWRENCE said he should like to ask
the governor of Newgate -what was the average
number of female prisoners in the gaol.
Mr. WEATIIERHEAD—From sto 30. Those arc
the extremes. There are 17 rooms.

Alderman SIDNEY replied.
The motion was carried.
Adjourned.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MONDAY EVENING.
TnE BILL FOR MAYNOOTII. _

The Freet;;;'siournal, as the accredited daily
organ of the Roman Catholic party, again repudi-
ates the proffer of £300,000 as compensation for the
Parliamentary endowment of Maynooth. This
would be but 10 years' purchase—too good a bargain
for Sir Culling Eardley and his friends and fol-
lowers. Nothing short of a capital which would al -
nually produce the present grant on a sound in-
vestment will satisfy the Irish people. But if the
Government propose 25 years as the basis of the
purchase, then, perhaps, only perhaps, negotiation
may be possible. The State alone, however, will be
dealt with, and on no account are the Dissenters to
have a finger in the Maynooth pie. Thus stands
the case at present. -