The Sun.
London, England, 1818-08-20 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.

REPORT PROM THE CONVIITTEE ON TETE PRISONS
OF THE METROPOLIS.
The important Document respecting the stare
of the Prisons within the City of London and
Borough of Southwark, which was ordered by
the 'louse of Commons to be printed, has been
just issued from the Press. The minutes of evi-
dence extend to a very great length. The fol-
lowing is the result of the Committee's investiga-
tions, with regard to the principal prison, NEW..
GATE, as expressed in the following statements :
" On the whole, therefore, it appears to your
Committee, that so far as the construction and
extent of Newgate will permit, the treatment of
the prisoners generally is such as meets with their
approbation. The prison fare does not appear
worse, or more severe, than is consistent with
such an establishment, or injurious to the health
of the prisoners.

" The attention of a former -Committee was
Arco ed to the crowded state of Newgate, which
at that time was the place of •confinemeut, not
only for criminals but also for debtors. The new
prison in IViditecross-street has relieved Newgate
at the debtors ; yet, with the conviction of the
importance of classification and separation, which
your Committee cannot too frequently or too
strongly preis on the' attention .01 the House,
they consider the accommodations of this prison
as still altogetherinadequate. • •
" When .the local position of Netrgate is con-
sidered, and the great expense already incurred by
the city of .London, it cannot be expected that
the present 6aol should he pulled down, and a
better constructed, more commodious, and a more
extended prison erected in its plaCe, which could
only be effected at a most enormous expense.—
Your Committee, therefore, must confine . their
suggestions of improvement to a change in the
appropriation of the present Luildings.
" It appears to your Committee, that very
material improvement may be facilitated with-
out any great or unreasonable sacrifice. The
regular and immediate removal of convicts-'after
every Sessions would give scope for many
important alterations ; and provision ought
to be made for that purpose by an establish-
ment, where, instead of being in a state of
filth and idleness, the convicts may be use-
fully employed. And they may further remark,
that if the larcenies were tried at the Quarter
Sessions, as in other counties, instead of being
tried at the Old Bailey, a considerable influx of
prisoners would be prevented. But, if -your
Committee might vent tire to suggest what
appears to them the most expedient arrange-
ment, they would recommend that Newgate,
as attached to the Old Bailey, should 1;"e exclu •
sively appropriated to prisoners for trial. On a
review, then, of the whole evidence concerning
Newgate, as well as from the observationa 'they
were able to make while inspecting the -prison,
your Committee are decidedly of opinion, tha t
the public interest requires a speedy altera-
rion in the • condition of Newgate. They 6-
pure no blame to the present keepex (Mr. BroW1.1),
and the orders and regulations be-has•adopted un-
der the sanction of the City Magistrates nre a great
improvement ; but the want of snificient room:40
classify the prisoners—the entire absence, as far
as the men and boys tire concerned, of all employ-
ment—the promiscuous asiemblage..of persons of
all descriptions, ages, and characters . of crime,
have deeply impressed your Committee with 'the
opinion, that no one can enter the. walls -of
Newgate without going out from. thence more
depraved and corrupted than when first com-
mitted thereto. And though the MagistratAss
of the City of London have slim!) a praise-worthy
disposition to remedy the grievances complaiiiejl
of in former times, yet from the over-crowded
state of the prison, and the conflaed accommo.
dation for its numerous inhabitants, the main and
prominent evils cannot be removed ; and still less
would it be possible so to regulate its interior ar-
rangement as to fit it for those plow,. s of refAr-
niatory punishment which the good of society re=
Tikes."