The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-15 00:00:00

The Gaol of Newgate.

A report by the Rev. F. E. Jones, the ordinary of
the gaol of Newgate, in reference to the prison, pre-
sented by him to the Lord Mayor and Court of Al-
dermen, and by them ordered to be printed, was
yesterday made public. Some of the statements con-
tained in it are of an interesting character. After
observing that it was with some diffidence he ad-
dressed himself to the task of preparing an annual
report, first, on account of the short period which
had elapsed since he commenced his duties, and,
secondly, because he knew how perspicuous and ex-
cellent were those reports which came from the
talented pen of the late ordinary, Mr. Davis, Mr.
Jones says :—" It seems to me that the prisoners
may be classified as to their religious and moral con-
dition, and according to the nature of the offences ;
that is to say, particular offences are committed by
particular classes, distinct in their habits, tone, and
education. Of these, with whom dishonesty is, and
always has been, their means of living, these whom
I find to be generally the lowest, morally and
religiously, are the utterers of counterfeit coin ;
as a rule they are dissipated, drunken, and dirty,
and they have a great aversion to work or exertion
of any kind. They pursue their dishonest course
with apparently but one motive, viz:, to obtain in
the easiest manner to themselves the means of gra-
tifying their low and vicious inclinations; they have
but little regard for anything or anybody besides
themselves. Another class which offers but little
chance of reformation is that to which the professed
thief belongs, and for this reason. With few excep-
tions they appear to have abandoned all hope of
doing right. They are aware that they have no
character, and therefore that there are great diffi-
culties in the way of obtaining an honest living.
Those who leave prison with good intentions, fail-
ing to get employment, and meeting with old
acquaintances in crime, soon relapse into their old
habits of dishonesty, the excitement of which also
lends its charm. Many of these men can read and
with the first
owrite p
lwell,ow publications
ctaht
oi their literature
deficient i
n consistsmoral chieflyand reli-
giousof
of the. very oppo-
siteslig.ht, picked
sentiment, and, generally
tendency; their acquaintance
very up at
principles of religion
only in prison.
a ragged school, often d They never
enter a [place of worship,
they have
perform any
private acts of devotion ;
or sense of accountability to Him. In many cases
this condition is the fault of the parents, in many
others to their miserable homes, from whence the
children are driven into the streets to fall victims
to the example and influence of the bad com-
panionsthe meetere.
th The rev. gentleman
goes on to say that it is his conviction, after many
years' observation and experience, strengthened
by what he had observed in the gaol of Newgate,
that more good would be effected if, besides
building so many new churches, and sending
so many missionaries and Scripture readers into
poor populous districts, to adults, amongst whom,
comparatively, little success was met with, more
schools were to be established, and by these
means a greater and more extensive influence,
both religious and moral, was brought to bear
upon the young and pliable minds of the rising
generation ; that this should be followed up as much
as possible by improved dwellings for the poor,
where space is given, habits of decency may be ob-
served, and comfort be afforded. As it is, there is
no space, no decency, no comfort, so that whatever
finer feelings may have been implanted at school
the circumstances and habits of home soon destroy.
Young lads and girls were driven out of doors in
the evening, when their day's work was over, to
publichouses, low concerts, and cheap theatres,
where drunkenness, vice, and profligacy reigned, and
they were the victims. .Another class of offenders