The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-15 00:00:00

PRISON DIETARY.

The Howard Association, instituted under the patronage
of Lord Brougham, for the promotion of the best methods
of penal treatment and crime prevention, issues a circular
urgi: g the necessity for an inquiry into the subject of
prison dietary and general treatment. It cites the
evidence of the witnesses and the opinion of the
jury at the recent inquest on the body of the man
Barrett, whose death was stated to have been accele-
rated by the low diet on which he was kept in
the House of Correction. One witness, who had been
imprisoned in Coldbath-fields, said that for seven weeks
"he had one pint of gruel and six ounces of bread for
supper. He had no meat at all given him for these seven
weeks." The association thinks that while prisoners
ought not to be pampered, they "should be so treated as
to be discharged in a physical, and, if possible, moral con-
dition for obtaining an honest livelihood. It may be
remembered, too, that some men will starve on what
will sustain others, and that even the difference of
soil and of employment in various prisons renders
a varying treatment necessary." As regards prison gruel,
it has already been condemned by authority, the Govern-
ment commissioners on Irish gaols having recently
recommended its discontinuance, its nutritive value being
next to nothing. The association is of opinion that on
the whole those prisons which are under the control
of the magistrates are better managed than those
under the control of the Home Office. "At
Pentonville and Millbank, for instance, which are
in the latter category), an increase of attention is re-
quired in respect to the infliction of prolonged cellular
confinement, even though limited to nine months." Such
confinement drives many of the prisoners mad. The chap-
lain of Pentonville, writing in 1866, says : " I watch with
anxiety the not improbable consequences (of this con-
finement) upon certain temperaments of mind and
body. My impression is that the numbers on the daily
sick lists have been greater than of late years. I have
noted amongst minor cases three of attempted and two of
affected suicides, several prisoners with symptoms of
idiocy, and others of insanity." Upon a late occasion at
Millbank there were observed as many as a hundred
imbecile and'epileptic convicts confined in long galleries,
padded several feet high with thick matting to prevent
the prisoners from injuring themselves against the walls.

The reported death of Dr. Elliotson is contra-
dicted.

Dr. W. H. Russell goes to Ireland to chronicle
the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales for the
Times.

Her Majesty has presented an autograph copy or
her " Journal in the Highlands " to the Royal Edinburgh
Asylum.
A Mr. Collins and his wife have made the over-
land journey from Bangkok to Moulmein in 43 days. The
distance travelled was 650 miles. Mr. Collins says the
journey ought to be accomplished in from 15 to 18 days.
THE REV. B. SPEKE.—This gentleman has been
in town for a week. He has quite recovered, and is allowed
by his medical adviser to return to his vicarage and under-
take the duties.

THE FREE CHURCH MOVEMENT IN LIVERPOOL.--
At the Easter vestry held in Liverpool, a resolution was
adopted to the effect that Sunday evening services should
be held in the two parish churches of St. Peter and St.
Nicholas, free to the people—rich and poor alike.
WORKMEN'S TECHNICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
—Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor of the Navy, has
consented to give a lecture in connection with this com-
mittee, formed under the auspices of the Working Men's
Club and Institute Union.
ILLNESS OF THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY.— We
regret to learn that Dr. Hamilton, Bishop of Salisbury,
was on Monday taken so unwell that his medical attend•
ants considered it advisable to require him to abstain from
work for the present. His lordship has several pressing
episcopal engagements on hand, which will probably be
taken by some of the colonial bishops now in England.

WORKMEN'S INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1869.
Mr. John Cheetham, M.P., Mr. G. Price, M.P., and
Lord Wharncliffe have become vice-presidents of this
undertaking. Mr. J. C. Buckmaster, 8.A., F.C.S., con-
tributes to the fund for preliminary expenses, besides, with
Mr, J. S. Nettleford, Mr. J. W. Probyn, the Rev. Main
Walrond, M.A., and Lord Wharncliffe, joining the list
)f guarantors.

THE FOREST-HILL MURDER. —The prisoner
Richard Bishop, who was on Wednesday found guilty at
the Old Bailey Sessions of the murder of Alfred Cart-
wright at Forest-hill, and sentenced to death, was on the
same afternoon conveyed to Maidstone Gaol. Since his
confinement there his demeanour has been quiet. Accord-
ing to the usual arrangements the execution will take place
on the 30th inst.

TEE LAW AS TO APPRENTICES OF AGE.—John
widdiam, an apprentice with Mr. James Tasker, a Liver-
pool ironmonger, was summoned before the Liverpool
magistrates for having left his master's service and violated
his indentures. The plea of Wickham was, that he had
attained his majority, and was not, therefore, bound by
the contract ; but Mr. Ta.sker's solicitor contended that
the 30th and 31st Vic. (the Master and. Servant Act,
1867), cap. 141, section 9, provided for this contingency,
and required an apprentice to serve the prescribed term.
Wickham refused to go back except at higher wages, and
he was therefore ordered into custody, He was re-
mandect,