The Sun.
London, England, 1819-03-13 00:00:00

SALT TAX.

Mr. CALCRAFT said, that on Wednesday next he
should move for papers relating to the Salt Tax,
On which occasion be should declare his determi-
nation respecting it ; and an opportunity would
then also be given to other Gentlemen to express
their opinions on the subject.
'the Holyhead Road Pitll was brought in, and
read a first time. To be teal a second time this
day fortnight.
NE WGATE.

Mr. Shetiff Roberts, at the Bar of the House,
presented a Petition from the Corporation of
London, complaining of the crowded state of the

Gaol of Newgate, by the influx of Middlesex
prisoners.

Mr, Alderman Woon stated, that the City of
LonAoh did not so much complain of being obliged
to maintain the criminals of Middlesex as well as
of London, but rather of the crowded stare of
the gaol, which was now such, that 47 priso-
ners were under sentence of deaih, while there
were Only 15 cells to confine them in It was
also mentioned as a fact, which sheaved the
shocking consequences of the crowded state of
this gaol, that 16 persons, convicted of an infa-
mous crime, were all confined in one room If
any prisoner was sent from that 1-louse, or any
person of rank superior to, the common pri-
soners, he was necessarily .confined among the
felons. The wish of the City was to have the
Petition referred to the Committee on Gaols.
The Petition having been read, on the motion
that it do lie on the table,
Mr. WILBERFORCE said, that one of the cir-
cumstances referrM to was so disgraceful and dis-
gusting, that some' immediate steps should be
taken to. remedy the evil. lie suggested a sepa-
rate Committee instead of a reference to the Com-
mittee on Goals.

Mr. Alderman Woon stated, that every possi-
ble means had been taken to place these persons
in a different situation, but it was in the present
state of the Gaol impractieahle,
Mr. BROUGHAM Was convinced be spoke the
sense of every Member in the House, when he
said, that unless the City of London had been
utterly destitute of the means of removing the
evil which existed, it was to be lamewed that
they should present a petition on such a, subject,
Whether there were means of altering the internal
arrangement of the prison, or funds for enlarging
it, he was not competent to speak, but he trusted
the City had satisfied themselves on these sub-
jects hefoie they had applied to the House. As
the matter was betore the House, he' concurred
with the Hon. Member for l3ramher, that sonic
immediate step should be taken.
Mr. Alderman WooD said, the fault was not
in the City of London, but in the Middlesex Ma-
gistrates, whoobad sent these wretches to such a
gall as Newgate, where there were only 15 cells,
while there were actually 47 persons under sen-
tence of death. They were not London pri-
soners, as there had been no crimes of that kind
in the City since the men were exposed in the
pillory. The sending of these men to Newgate
was more strange, as there were several hundred
separate cells in Clerkenwell. Prison.
The motion was agreed to.
A motion was made to grant leave of absence
to Sir H. Parnell on account of urgent private
business.

Mr. M. A. TAYLOR said, that while above stairs,
he understood some observation was made, dis-
approving of the abolition of the punishment of
the pillory.
The SPEAKER observed, that the Honourable
Member's allusion had no reference to the ques-
tion before the House.

Mr M. A. TAYLOR expressed his readiness to
vindicate the measure to which he had alluded
against an attack from any fp:trier.
The mo!ion was agreed to.
Ordered, on the motion of the CHANCELLOR of
the EXCHEQUER, that the House should, at its
rising, adjourn to Monday next.