Star.
London, England, 1825-01-12 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

Yesterday, the General Quarter Sessions for the
county of Surrey, commenced at the Court-house, New-
ington. Previous to opening the Court, the Magis-
trates assembled for the election of a Chairman in the
room of the late Thomas Harrison, Esq. when John
Scriven, Esq. of Camberwell, was elected. As soon
as the election was over, the Chairman, and twenty-
three Magistrates came into Court, and took their seats
on the Beach. The Court was then opened in the usual
form. The Riot Act, and his Majesty's Proclamation
against Vice, Profaneness, and Immorality were read.
The Grand-Jury were then sworn, after which the
Chairman addressed them. After the Grand Jury had
retired—

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Mr. TnowEß said, he wished to know whether the
prisoners in the several prisons of the county were in-
structed as he conceived it was the intention of the
Legislature they should be? He intimated that if the
answer should not be satisfactory, he intended toinake

a motion on the subject.
After several Gentlemen had delivered their senti-
ments, a resolution was agreed to—
That it be recommended to the •isiting Magistrates of the House
of Correction to carry into effect the regulations for instructing the
prisoners, and to report the effect of the same.
Mr. SUMNER moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Hedger,
for the able manner in which he had performed the
duty of Chairman since the decease of Mr. Harrison,
which was carried unanimously.

Mr.DRUMMoND gave notice of a motion next Ses-
sion, for an application to Parliament for liberty to ap-
point a Chairman, with a salary not exceeding 8001.

a-y ear.
Mr.IIABERLY said; he had given notice of a motion
for the appointment of a Committee to inquire whether
the county jail of Newington might riot be tendered
more healthful, by being kept dry by means cf heated
air? He was led to give this notice in consequence of
a Petition which had been presented to the House of
Commons, complaining of the damp state of the cells:
He (Mr. Maberly) had examined the cells in which per-
sons were confined for felonies and misdemeanours, and
found the description to be just;—they were on the
ground—brick walls, and Boors of stone, and a window
without glass. The constant washing of the floors,
which was considered necessary, kept them all the win-
ter in a state of dampness ; and they had no fire. The
Honourable Gentleman concluded by moving for the
appointment of a Committee.
Mr. PALMER and Sir THOMAS TUNTON both rose to
second the motion.
Mr. SUMNER thought there was no ground' for the
motion. If the pre:eut state ('f the prison affected the
health of the prisoners, he would agree to it, but it ap-
peated by the Surgeon's Reports that was not the case.
The motion was then put—Ayes 10—Noes 14.
1116 TREAD•MILL.

Mr. Bniscoe said he rose to make the motion, or
which he had given notice, respecting the unfitness and
impropriety of tread-mill labour to the character and
constitution of females. In every civilised country, and
particularly in count' ies enlightened by Christianity, a
milder punishment was• inflicted on female than on
male offenders; indeed, the treatment of females fnrmed,l
no bad test of a noble or ignoble mind. It was also
found, that when females were discharged, after having
been degraded by working at the tread-mill, they were
generally unable to provide for themselves by any re-
putable employment, and were in a. manner compelled
to the commission of crime as the only means of sup-
port, and, in consequence, their recommittal became
much more frequent than that of men. It also appeared,
by the Reports of 24 Houses of Correction in which the
tread-mill was used, that women wei e not condemned
to it. The Honourable Gentleman concluded by moving
that a Committee be appointed to inquire into the
propriety of abolishing the tread-mill labour as a punish-
ment for females.
Mr. SUMNSR said, he gave credit to the Hon. Magis-
trate for goodness of intention, but this was the fourth
time he brought forward his motion before the same
Court; in one instance it was negatived by forty-nine
to one, and in the other instances the result was nearly
the same. It was stated that Mrs. Fry's system of pri-
son discipline had diminished the number cf female
prisoners 40 per cent. but the tread-mill had diminished
their numbers more than double. He used to see 60,
70, even 90 females at the wheel ; he now never
saw more than 20 or 25. Mrs. Fry's systen► had cer-
tainly done wonders in Newgate, but it was owing to
her own superintendence; and in no other hands would
equal effects be produced.
The Surgeon% Reports sheaved that the tread-mill
was not injurious to health ; indeed, a Lady's doctor had
told some of his friends, that if they would get up pri-
vate tread-mills in their houses, they would keep their
wives in better health than he could—( A laugh.)
Sir THOMAS TURTON considered this question quite
different from those formerly•brought• forward by the
Hon. Magistrate (Mr. Briscoe); the former motions
were for the total abolition of the tread-mill , the present
was merely to inquire whether it might not be dis-
pensed with in the case of females? - That inquiry, he
thought, was nut unreasonable, and he would give it
his support.
The question was then put, when the numbers were—For the
motion 4—Against Itl2.
The Court adjourned at half-past six o'clock.
.ant, assts

CUSTOM-House.—The state of the new Custom-
house becomes more alarming every day; the centre
arches have given way, and it is seriously contemplated
that the business of the establishment must be removed
to the Commercial Rooms, or some other huge range
of buildings. The repairs necessary are estimated at
£60,000. The ground on which the Custom-house is
built is principally composed of sand, into which enor-
mous piles bad been driven to support the arches, on
which the building' rests; but owing to the high tides
which have recently taken place, it is supposed that the
water has penetrated through The quay, and sunk or
carried away the sand, so as to leave some of the piles
eabedded. It will probably be necessary to take down
As east wing before the foundation can be made secure.