The Sun.
London, England, 1821-11-19 00:00:00

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'Strong drinks; and that .gle,at numbers of persets
bute spiritUoits litlititr4 for gain, ii-ithout even the s2mblance of

a pretext. These, with the numerous public resorts of prostitution,

which many cireuristanees prove to exist in this city, are, in
the opinion of the OrancT jUry, some of the principal means
which Contribute to the increase of crime.

The Grand Jury have reason to believe that the influence
which the execution of the laWs ought to have in retire Ming.
crime is materially diminished by the uncertainty and hope of

impunity, which are disseminated in consequence of the nume-
rous commitments which haVe been made on slight or inSuffi-

ient grounds. The accusations upon which these commit-
ments are founded unavoidably fall through in the course of
the subsequent proceedings. If the persons committed were
innocent, they are, nevertheless, in some degree confounded
in public opinion with the guilty ; their discharge is not unfre-

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quently ascribed more to a deficiency of proof, a defect of form,
or incapacity or partiality in the Jury, than to their perfect in-.
nocence. If they were really guilty, the evil is still greater.
In both cases, an opinion goes abroad that punishment does not
even follow detection the innocent are degraded, or perhaps
corrupted, in the gaol the guilty are emboldened by past suc-
cess, while the witnesses and others on the part of the prosecu-
tion are harrassed and discouraged by an unavailing loss of
time and heavy expences.
The natural check to this evil is the right of redress which
belongs to the party committed; but when it is considered that
these persons are generally strangers, entirely unknown and
unfriended in the country, or poor and ignorant, it can hardly
be expected to operate.
The Grand Jury think it their duty to bring under the eye
of the Court the following, among the instances of what ap-
peared to them unnecessary commitments or detentions, which
have come to their knowledge in the course of their present
' investigations.
[These cases are then enumerated.]
The Grand Jurors, as connected with their duty generally,
visited the Common Gaol of this District on the 24th instant,
and humbly submit their observations to the Court.
They found it crowded with Prisoners beyond what its size
and distribution admits of, with a view to the proper classifica-
tion of the persons detained therein. The Cells, excepting
those destined for prisoners of the very worst character, uni-
formly open into a common room, where Convicts of different
grades of crime, and persons of all ages and characters merely
under accusation, freely mix together. If those of the latter
description are held innocent in the eye of the law, and many
of them may be perfectly so, it is to be feared that in this
daily intercourse, if there should be some well-disposed per-
sons among the number, that, far removed from the influence
of good advice and examples, and exposed to the effects of
wounded feelings, and the idea of a lost character, and what to
them may appear injustice, they may finally yield to the at-
tacks of temptation, and fall in with the hardened and aban-
doned, the worst and most daring of whom, as experience seems

to justify, may be supposed to be hatching new Crimes.
The Grand Jury observed that a bad smell, apparently pro•
ceeding from the Privies, prevailed in the Debtor's Room, and
indeed throughout all the upper stories. The whole of the
apartments are also deficient in the means of ventilation, which
renders these smells permanent, and more dangerous to the
health of the prisoners. 'There are in none of the common
apartments any bedsteads, and in all a deficiency of bedding
and benches for the prisoners to sit upon. In respect to the
latter, the Grand Jury were informed by the Gaoler, that those
which had formerly been provided had been destroyed by the
prisoners. With respect to bedsteads and bedding, the Grand
Jury were shewn an iron bedstead with a mattress in one of the'
cells, which cost together about four pounds, and which seemed
to be well adapted forthe use of prisoners. If two rooms, fitted
with those bedsteads and seats, were allotted, one to the fe-
male prisoners, and the other to the male prisoners whose ap-
pearance and character are the least unfavourable, the Grand
Jury are of opinion that it would be an important improvement
which would justify the expense; particularly as it would afford
an inducement to decency of comportment and good conduct
among the prisoners. If it were possible in every room to se-
lect, with the consent of the prisoners, some from among them-
selves, who would maintain order, cleanliness and good beha-
viour, their authority ought to be firmly supported by the Gao-
ler, and their regulations enforced, allowing them some reward
in proportion to their success.
The Grand Jurors observed, that the persons condemned to
the House of Correction are also confined in the Common
Gaol ; nor was it possible for them to distinguish between the
prisoners of the different descriptions. Indeed, while the Gaol
continues crowded, the distinction seems to be nearly im-
practicable.
The Grand Jury are fully aware of the impediments to a
proper management and discipline of the Common Gaol, arising
from its plan and insufficient extent ; but the public interests
require that no effort for improvement should be left untried. At
present the Gaol, in the opinion of the Grand Jury, is little
better than a Seminary of Crime. The situation of the pri-
soners is at the same time worse than a proper regard to hu-
manity ought to permit. The Grand Jurors, as some allevia-
tion to their situation, recommend that a smaliqurintity of fresh
slacked lime be thrown down into the privies weekly • that an
additional door be placed on the passage to each of them, and
that some coarse clothing, and mattrassts, for the use of the pri-
soners, be placed at the disposal of the Gaoler.
The Grand Jurors particularly recommend a redoubled vigi-
lance upon the introduction of strong drink of any kind into the
Gaol ; that no idlers from without be suffered to loiter therein ;
and;that the use of intoxicating liquors generally, be entirely pro-
hibited in the prison, excepting in such quantities as may be al-
lowed to any particular person by order of the Medical Attend-
ant, and that the yard be restored to the purposes for which it
was originally destined, under the direction of the same Gentle-
man.
The Grand Jurors have every reason to be satisfied with the
humanity and general care of the Gaoler, in a situation at all
times difficult and distressing, but particularly so under all the
present circumstances of the Gaol.
The Grand Jurors on their oath present, that the duties of
their office have been impeded by the absence of witnesses who
were bound by recognizance to appear.
(Signed) CHARLES DELERY, Foreman.
F. Tetu, aJs. Voyer.
Win. Pemberton, F. Quirouet,
Pond. Fraser, Win. Sudden,
Wm. Newton, J. IVl‘Tarish,
B. Lemoine, Jos. Roy, •
R. Brown, J. Manger,
J. S. Shaw, M. Berthelot,
R. Relievre, • J. Neilson.