The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-16 00:00:00

MILLBANK PRISON.

The inspectors of Mil!bank Prison have presented
their report of the state of the prison for the past
year, dated the 21st ult., and bearing the signatures
of J. Jebb, Lieutenant-Colonel D. O'Brien, and 11.
P. Voules. The following are the more important
heads in this document :
FORMER AND PRESENT APPROPRIATION OF THE
PRISON.—At the paricd of our appointment, and for
some time previous, Millbank Prison was used as a
depot for all prisoners, male and female, under sen-
tence of transportation from England and Scotland,
whose state of health at the time of their
reception in Millbank justified the belief that they
were capable of uudecgoing the material portion of
their sentence; and they remained there until dis-
posed of by removal directly to the colonies, to the
hulks, to Pentonville Prison, or, as regarded the juvenile
prisoners, to Parkhurst. Under the present arrange-
ment, however, Millbank is to bear its part in the
general system of convict discipline and manage-
ment, the details of which have been fully set forth in
reports presented this year to Parliament on other con-
vict prisons. It is intended that about 700 cells shall be
used for the detention of prisoners passing their proba-
tionary period in separate confinement, previously to be.
ing sent to penal labour on public works; but the period
of separate confinement in Millbank. owing to its pecu-
liar local circuinstAncee, and the unfavourable influence
they exercise on the health of the inmates, will not
generally be continued beyond eight or nine months, in-
stead of twelve months, which is fixed as the period of
detention in Pentonville and otter prisons of the: class.
The above general arrangements would bare been now
complete but for the breaking out of the cholera in the
spring of last year. leading to the removal of 500 pri
sonars to Shorncliff, and stopping the receptions from
the other prisons. The unsettled state of the prisons,
owing to these circumstances, has materially interfered
with the general plan, but it will be gradually brought
into operation, and we trust with good t ffect. In addition
to the prisoners that have b:en mentioned, any who mis-
conduct themselves at Portland and on board the hulks
are transferred to Millbank, to be placed under stricter
and more penal discipline than can be carried into effect
in those establishments. Female prisoners sentenced to
transportation are gradually assembled from the dif-
ferent gaols throughout Great Brituin, and when a suf-
fic -nt number is collected they are embarked for Van
Diemen's Line.
OCCUPATION OF SHORNCLIFF BARRACKS.--In the
mon.b of July the cholera became so serious in the pri-
son, that is was decided a large portion of the male pri-
soners should be removed, if a place to receive them
could be found. For this purpose, Shorncliff Barracks,
near Folkstone, in Kent, was placed at the disposal of
the Secretary of State by the Board of Ordnance. It
had formerly been a barrack for field al tillery, but was
subsequently used as an asylum fur military lunatics.
Captain Groves, the Governor of Millbank, was en-
trusted to make and carry into eff,ct the necessary ar-
rangements, which he did with great energy and ability
in a very short period of time. When they wore as
complete as circumstances permitted, the prisoners were
the
bat k ,
removed there in two bodiea, under the charge of Mill-
bank officers, the first detachment proceeding to its des-
tination on the 21st day of July, and the second follow-
ing it a few days afterwards. All the stores were sup-
cliff was intended to last only so long as the epidemic
anindAlthilas the occupation of
establishmentShorn-
and
was regarded as a tempo-
raryprevailed at Millbink, the same offi;:ers remained in
pchliaerdgfer,o
appendage to the metropolitan prison. Captain
Groves exercised a gene'ral superintendence under the
inspectors, and chief-warder Hudson remained in the
immediate charge of the place. Mr. Yerburgh, the
assistant-chaplain of Millbade, accompanied the party,
and three schoolmasters acted under his orders. Mr.
Rendle, the resident surgeon, was likewise transferred to
Shorncliff. Complete success attended this measure.
Though twenty-five cases of cholera and choleroid
diarrhoss occurred at Shorncliff, only three proved fatal,
while a marked improvement in
and condition of the prisoners was observed; and not-
withstanding the absence of nearly all the ordinary
means for the safe custody of the convicts, discipline
was enforced and order was maintained to an extent that
reflected the greatest credit upon those who were en-
trusted with the execution of the anxious task of guard-
ing and controlling them.
DETENTION OF FEMALE CONVICTS AT MILLBANK
PREVIOUS To EMBIRKATION.—Wo only advert to this
subject in reference to the question as to whether it
would not be more desirable to retain the females in the
prisons to which they were committed alter trial, until
the period of their embarkation arrived, than to congre-
gate them at Millbank. The former arrangement might
be less expensive, and, if it were carried into effect, a
greater amount of accommodation for male prisoners
would be afforded in the prison. But in doing so, the
advantage of bringing the female prisoners into proper
subjection before they are thrown together on shipboard
would be lost, and this is a consideration of great im-
portance. We observed on board one of the ships a
marked difference between the deportment of several
women who, owing to peculiar circumstance', were em-
barked almost immediately after their reception in Mill-
bank, and all the others who had been inmates of the
prison for some time. On their passage in the steamer
'to Woolwich the conduct of the former was riotous in
the extreme; on going on board they were difficult to be
managed, -and their language was abominable; while,
-on-ek sikertsitins that have come under our notice, the
conduct of the latter has been orderly and respectable;
thefY have been readily :settled into their respective
places, and there has been nothing said or done to offend
gl4m,tiviftvcie` are of opinion that it
propriety. On these
is more advantageous to
,keep up the female plan at
Millbank. •

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of Gibraltar.
THE NEW LORD CHANCELLOR —lt was generally
understood that the new Lord Chancellor (Baron Truro,
late Sir Thomas Wild -9, would have been sworn in, and
taken his seat in the 01.1 Hail, Lincoln's Inn, after re-
coieing the Great Seal from her Majesty yesterday at
Buckingham Palace, but up to half-pant three o'vlock his
LordLordshiphnd not ar• ivied at the hall, and it was then
annouuc_ed that his Lordship would not take his seat be-
fore
Monday next.
TEE FeitmEE OUTWITTED.—Soon after the Coper-
nican system of astronomy be
,an to be generally under-
stood, an old farmer went to his parson with the follow-
ing inquiry :—" Dr. T. do you believe in the new
'24),trY they tell about the earth moving round the sun?"
' ies, certainly." ~ Do you think it is according to
quoth-the parson, " Joshua
the Scripturgt? If it's true, how could Joshua command the
commanded the sun to stand still, did he? " "Yes." " Well,
it stood still, did it not?" "Yes." "Very well. Did you
ever hear that he set it a-going again ?