The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-18 00:00:00

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410

FOR THE SUN.

ON PRISONS.--(No. IV.)

MR. EDlTOR—Classification and inspection
being admitted as the basis of prison discipline, I
shall proceed to detail my ideas on Gaol police,
but the requisite regulations under this denomina-
tion are so multifarious, that my letter may be ex-
tended beyond its usual limits, in which case I
request your indulgence for a little more space in
your interesting publication.

A competent person being selected as Gaoler,
the next object is to engage assistants of humane
but firm
dispositions, individuals well reconi-

mended as sober, honest, steady, and if possible
of some education ; they ought not to be under
twenty-five, or above forty years of age at, the
time .of engaging, except in very rare instances.
Their salary should be liberal, but not profuse,
'enough to keep them above bribery or meanness,
enough to make. them value their situation, but
not sufficient to elevate them beyond their sphere :
the County being thus provided will, through the
visiting Justices, communicate a system of, prison
government or police to the gaoler, who, if he
understands his duty, will diligently adhere to,
the rules. for his direction, never venturing an
opinion unless desired by his superiors to do so ;
hithertoit has been the misfortune of the country,
(with few exceptions) to appoint improper per-
sons to this important service, and therefore it
behoves the Magistracy to be exceedingly c:lre-
ful not to leave discretionary power in the
hands of their servants; the gaoler should
act to the letter his instructions ; a good ser-.
vant will not require more, a bad one is not to be
trusted : supposing the prison_ building secure,.
the next step is the preservation of the prisoners'
health. It must be remembered that disease sel-
dom originates in well conducted gaols, and that
much of the illness which rages there is intro-
duced by new corners ; but this may be effectually
prevented, if prejudice will give way to humanity.
I am aware that some cersons think it cruel to
take the dress from a man cominitted for trial;and
oblige him to wear prison clothing ; it is called
depredation before guilt be established; but surely
such sophistry will vanish if we reflect that there
is so much presumption of guilt as to confine the
person, that in the event of honourable acquittal
he has his remedy against the prosecutor, that
his prison dress is different from that worn by con-
victed prisoners, that4fis wearing the county
clothes is the means of preventing his fellows
receiving contagious disease, that if acquitted he
will, on his return to society, have his own cloath-
ing without injury, and .consequently that his pri-
vation has been reduced as much as possible con-
sistent with the public good ! Surely, Sir, such
reasons are sufficient. to warrant the coun-

ty clress being invariably used in. the, Com

mon wards of our gaols, without fear of
censure from the thinking part of the commu-
nity. I say nothing about prison dress preventing
escape, vigilance being the best antidote in this
particular : on the entrance of a prisoner he
should be admitted to a reception-cell, be ex-
amined by the Surgeon, clothed and passed into

his class, where he mill soon he informed that
the mode of treatment is ,in proportion to con-
duct. The day after admission the prisoner
should be put to moderate work (all persons in
custody with the exception of those committed
on a charge of mitqler ought to labour), and his
conduct be strictly watched, so as to enable the
assistants to discover .his disposition, and report
accordingly to -the Gaoler, who should enter such
remarks in the character-book.

These suggestions do not apply to debtors or
other, prisoners than those in the common :cards qi
the gaol; to the former, or the unfortunate gen-
tleman on a criminal charge, far other treatment is
necessary ; as moderate labour in this instance is
not proposed as punishment, but as the best re-
gulator of the mind of the lower orders, which
will be further, explained in my_letter on that
subject.

It should be an invariable rule that every
ling in the gaol be regulated by the hell,
hat the cells be opened at s,un-rise not earlier
hats a certain hour, and locked at sun-set, not

later than a given time ; this regulation will afford
the prisoner leisure for reflection, and introduce
him to habits of regularity, which will produce
cheerful industry.

It is not my intention to dilate on the duties of

the Surgeon •or Chaplain; suffice that the first
should attend every day, and •the other as .fre-
quently aspossible,not so'much to read service and
then leave the prison, as to confer with the pri-

s•oners i❑ 'private, gain their confidence, and be-
come (if 1.
.may use the expression) their friend !
As to prisoners receiving visits, I would recom-
mend .that
.previous to trial stated hours should
be fixed for the purpose, with the exception
of their .Solicitors, who ought to be admitted.
at any .reasonable time; but convicted
..pri-
soners ought to be entirely cut off from .all
external communication, unless dangerous ill-
ness, certified by the.surgeon, warrantsdifferent
treatment. This is The law of the land*, but has
in many.instanceS been suffered .to remain a .dead
letter ; it cannot ..be expected that
,gaols Will be
.places of terror if The convicted felon, or other
offender, .be permitted to pass his hour of dalliance
when his honest neighbour cannot afford time .for
such enjoyment.

Fetters- ought-MA:to be used ,except in .case.of
attempt to escape, or very. disorderly cotiduct,
and even then the gaoler should make an entry
in his journal, and report the circumstance to a
Magistrate .for his .sanction or rebuke ; the diet
for prisoners has .cauSed much .couiroversn,
perhapS :the habits o'f (different ..coutitiei .do not•
c. 170.

PRICE SEVENPENCF.

admit a general rule in this particular, but local
circumstances will guide a judicious Magistracy ;
prisoners should have sufficient plain wholesome
food, and the best criterion for the. description is
that commonly used by the lower
.Orders of their
' neighbourhood; before trial they may receive extra
food, but after conviction ought to subsist on the
gaol 'allowance, yet, in no case except sickness
ought they to be permitted any other beverage
than water ; this suggestion, if followed, Will
produce a regularity of demeanour not to be Cal-
culated upon except by those who experience the
effect. Swearing should be punished by limit-
ed solitude ; most of the lower. class, utter oaths
because they are impressed with an idea that they
are more readily believed if they swear to an as-
sertion, and I assure you it is -not difficult to
convince them of their error. .It should be the
rule of a Gaoler never to pardoa au offence, but
the punishment ought to be in proportion to the
clime.- I understand that there are advocates for
empowering the keeper to whip his prisoners,but
I trust that such authority will never be sanctioned
in this country; hard labour, degradation from
One class to,another, distinction of dress, by the
introduction of a habit for the purpose of mark-
ing disorderly individuals, limited restriction of
food, -so as not to injure health,. and solitary
confinement, are surely sufficient weapons in his
hand ; if he requires an auxiliary on particular
occaslmis, let him apply to the Magistrates, ,who
have very properly a discretion of more coercive
means.

The Gaoler ought not to be the busy body of
his prison ; he should 'obServe the conduct of his
'assistants, 'and receive their •repo- rt .on the va-
rious subjects of the establishment: it is essen-
tial that - he should be upheld in his office, and
the prisOners should be taught to-;consider him as
one very mtich above the situation of turnkey;
but he is to be responsible fOrevery thing within
the prispii and ought not to shrink from
his trust. It he knows how to draw the line of
being sfrict witbont severity,- he will be feared
and respected by those under" his charge, and
ultimately have. the gratification
.of reclaiming
many a wanderer from ruin ; his example ~c ill
cause a change far beyond thecontemplation of
thoseunacquainted with his situation.

Every well regulated prison ought to have its
watchman, who should be admitted subsequently.
to locking up, and leave the- gaol previous to
opening the cells, so that he should neither see
or converse with any of the prisoners; be should
have access to a bell connected with the Gaoler's
chamber, where the alarm-pull ought to be fixed.
All ashes, filth, and dirt, ought to be removed
from the prison every n:orning—neither ash-pits
nor dust-holes should he allowed.

. •
The above, Sir, are the outlines of prison po-
lice, the which, if assisted by labour, cannot fait
to produce that regularity which must diminish
crime, improve the morals of the lOWer order of
society, and contribute to the prosperity of the
country ; -but prison labour is of such vast im-
portance, and so intimately connected with gaol
discipline, that in my next letter I shall address
you upon that subject.---I ain, &c.
May 17, 1321.

CLAVIGER.

•,R" We have been induced by the intereking and important
subject of these Letters, to insert them with all convenient
speed; and we hope the humane, candid, arid intelligent Writer
will publish them in a collected form, when he has concluded
them, as they cannot but •be highly conduire to the peace and
good order of the country. •

CAUTION. TO THE HEAD-MASTERS OF Punic
Scnoois.—We sincerely congratulatesthe Public
on the vigilance and success i%ith which the So-

ciety for the Suppression of Vice," have, at the
last Quarter Sessions for Bucti, iteld at Ayles-
bury, prosecuted to conviction a profligate wretch
of the name of Bianchi, an -Italia'', who, under
pretence of selling knives, pencils, &c. intro-
duced among the pupils of one of our Public
Schools, snuff-boxes of the most obscene and
offensive description.

SACIiLLEGE.-Wednesday night, or early yes-
:e rday tnorning,.soine villains, by ineans of break-

ing open one.of the back windows of St. George's
German Church, in Little •A,liel.street, C oad-
man's-fields, entered it, and forced their way
into the vestry-room, where they broke open a
large iron .chest, which was treble locked, but
fortunately contained nothing except .some.pa-
pers, which they strewed about the floor ; they
also burst :open the poor box, which is suppose Ci-
- have .contained a good .sum of. Money, as ithad
not been .opened. since Easter week, s.nd ripped
the gold lace from off the beadle's' bat, which,
together with the cot-Wet-Its of the Poor ',box, :they
carried off. The sehurclywas:entered about four
weeks before, it is.supposed bys-the same ip4.rty,
and .robbed of:a .large.c arpet; ,a hearth-rugoable-
coyer, three plated candlesticks,-a box .of .mould
candles, and many other articleF.

Tuesday afternoon, at four,o'clocic, a heavy
• hower of rain 411, ..which, froth the .of the
:hail-stones; hasAont :much inischief to:the
,Mass
in ,the garden -near .town. The 'shower was ifol-
loiVed by livid lightning and Amid :thunder.

.rriela:np.holy :orcuruence ,tn:Sa-
.turday raorLuing last, ~:rt :the EroWn Inn, kray-
don,..Surrejc,. A stranger, iTho ,Ilad _taken -A ;hilti
'there, put an end ..to his •existence .by.shonting
fin tinknovin:to any.,rne in :the
neighhourhond; and has :nothin!,.; about •bitu
to IPad tp his .name, .or
He is of genikinanly api eArantie,'wore.powder,
about 40-years" of ttge,. s:teet•gin'ehei high,•of a
'fair.complexion, iitritly•.ildir, and 'his little:finger
on his r4.4,1tt hantl•turnkl.barl ; dressed in.a
isokt andpantarooni, and his neclihandkeithibf
Marked

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PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS, Alty 17.

Evidence was taken in a Committee of Privi-
leges, in the caie of the Molesworth Peerage,
and further proceedings were postponed till this

day .gee c.

The Dudish and Irish Militia Pay Bills, the
County Rate Bill, and several Private Bills, were
brought up from the Commons, and read each the

first time.

The Ahnshoase Exchange Bill and the Irish
Notaries Bill went through the Committees and
'were reported. _ _

The Irish Courts Regulation Bill was read the

Second time.

The Marquess of LANsnows, on moving 'the
-second readings of the Irish Gaol Fees Regula-
tion Bill, the Irish Privately Stealing in Shops
Bill, and the Irish Bankrupt Laws Amendment
Bill, observed, that as they were all intended to
assimilate the laws of Ireland with those of Eng-
land, he
_was relieved from the necessity of tres-
passing on the time of the House with any further
explanation ; lie should therefore content himself
with simply making the motions.
The three Bills were then read the second
time each, and ordered to be committed to-mor-
row.—Adjourned till to-morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MALT DUTIES. .

Captain Wr.3l-Yss presented a Petition from the
Noblemen, Freeholders, and Justices of the
Peace, of the County of Fife, praying for a reduc-
tion of the rate of the Duty on Malt in Scotland.

Mr. CU WEN trusted that the Committee which
had been appointed by the House would not
come to any decision in favour of a reduction of
the Duties on Malt in Scotland without extend-
ing the same benefit to the Counties of Cumber-
land and Westmorland, which were equally, if
not more, entitled to it than Scotland. If the
duties on Malt were reduced in Scotland alone,
it would enable the farmers of that country to
undersell the growers of grai❑ in the counties lie
had before mentioned. He trusted, however, the
committee would not recommend an act of such
gross injustice.