The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-09 00:00:00

TILE GAOL OF NETVGAT.E.

The following interesting report upon the condi-
tion of Newgate, by the Rev. Mr. Davis, the ordi-
nary of that prison, has just been printed by order
of the Court of Aldermen. It is addressed, as usual,
to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen.
The report, slightly abridged, is as follows :
" I am happy, at the end of this yeas, to be able
to congratulate you on the completion of the female
side of the prison on the separate system. The build-
ing is now finished, and is about to be furnished as
soon as the proper authorities give their official
sanetion that it may be used for the purposes for
which it was erected. It is greatly to the credit of
the city that they have expended such large sums
of money on these improvements without imposing
any rato whatever on the districts benefited.
" The advantages we hope to gain on the female
side will, I doubt not, be in proportion quite as ex-
tensive as we have now experienced for three years
in the male division. But on looking into the effects
produced by keeping the prisoners separate, the
evil that is stemmed is not so apparent to ordinary
observers as it is to those who had to witness the
demoralisation of the old associated system of im-
prisonment. When we look at what Newgate is and
what it was three years ego, we cannot but feel
thankful that so much has been done and applied to
such good purpose. As much as, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, can be expected to be done for the
benefit or punishment of offenders is now done in
Newgate.

" The effects continue quite as beneficial as I
have already reported to you, my lord and gentle-
men, the last two years. The old offenders, whom
neither kindness nor severity can reform, are de-
prived of their long-practised habits of corrupting
and demoralising less experience) delinquents by
their conversations and recitals ; none of these sad
scenes, both by night and day, which gave so much
uneasiness and regret, can now be witnessed. The
giddy spirit of lightness is subdued, and even the
depraved become serious and apparently thoughtful.
As a rule, these men behave with regularity and
order in separate confinement. They are glad to
get active employment, and the necessary duties of
the prison are willingly discharged by them when
they are permitted to follow them. Their constant
work of picking oakum is performed punctually and
correctly, and the rules of the prison are constantly
and correctly obeyed. There are among these pri-
soners men who have been two or three times pre-
viously sentenced to penal servitude or transporta-
tion, It is such persons, who seem to have made up
their minds not to give up a life of crime and self-
indulgence, whose conduct as prisoners is cora-
-1 mendable and regular ; and a very curious fact is,
that under rule and discipline their demeanour
should exhibit the perfect contrast that it does to
their habits when liberated. When their habits
have been thus formed, the only reasonable and
effectual .course to adopt is to keep them perpetually
where they behave well ; they see the influence that
conduct of a regular character produces, and avail
themselves willingly of its instrumentality to lead
them to advantages which cannot otherwise be ob-
tained. Could they do the same at liberty, many
besides themselves would be benefited. This is the
great object that prisons should aim at, and of late
much has been done towards its attainment. The
care taken in the prisons under the control of the
Government has a happy effect upon the men ; and,
as far as I can judge, the number of this class is
lessening.
" Newgate receives, however, a considerable
number of great criminals, who are once detected,
tried, and sentenced for long periods for offences
springing out of circumstances by which they are
surrounded. Extravagant habits and indulgence
in pleasures beyond their means have been the ruin
of a number of young men during the last year
whose conduct had never been previously suspected.
Young men take houses and furnish them, of a
character better suited to their masters than them-
selves, and they fall into associations quite incon-
sistent with their true position. The result is either
forgery, or embezzlement, or destructive debts; the
latter too frequently the prelude to the former. The
first attempt to relieve themselves by dishonesty
unhappily proves successful, and it is repeated until
a disclosure takes place, and the law is put in force.
"Drunkenness has, I regret to say it, sent offen-
ders to this prison of a very serious character.
Two men, during the last year, have been tried
and executed for murder arising out of drunken
ferocity. The effect of drink in impairing the
memory, is very sad. We have had cases where
deeds of this atrocious character have left no corre-
sponding traces in the recollection. Surgeons tell
us that men occasionally, under delirium tremens,
have no idea when the fit is gone of what they have
said or done. And I remember two cases ill which
foul murders have been committed, and the offenders
had no recollection of the act. Both men were exe•
cuted ; but such was their declaration to the last.
" I bear glad and willing testimony to the diniP-

line of the prison, which le under as go*d mantle'
nient as such an establishment can be. All the real
wants of the prisoners are supplied, and their obe-
dience is encouraged, while their faults are corrected•
"Our numbers during the year have been small.
The total number imprisoned has been 1,272, but of
these, 914 only were committed for trial; 191 have
been discharged by the magistrates; and 165 of
the remanded prisoners have been sent to
Hol-
loway prison under summary convictions. We
have had two cases of tax collectors committed
as defaulters; and during the same period two
other prisoners have attempted to appear lunatics•
Both were discovered and tried. They refused to
plead ; but were declared mute of malice.' One
had nine months' imprisonment for passing bad
money, and the other four years' penal servitude as
a dishonest letter-carrier."