Star.
London, England, 1827-09-22 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PAPER.

The Seventh Report of the Committee of the Society for the 100-1
provement of Prison Discipline, and for the Reformation of
Juvenile Menders.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
• *IMAM COUNTY MOWS Or CORNICTION. MAY 1826.

The wards of the prisoners are not under the inspee-
tion of the Governors and officers from their apartments.
There seldom being more than three or four female
prisoners at one time, they are employed in repairing
the prisoners' clothing and bedding, in washing the
linen and assisting the matron its cleaning the rooms
and cells when the male prisoners are at work.
The number of prisoners employed at this time is
twelve males and one female.

Number of prtumers (30th April 1840.)
/dales. Females.
1 0
4 0
1 0
3 0

Peloin, tried
Ditto, untried

1

tried

Ekbtors . . .
Vagrants, pauper, bastardiei, Sce. con-
victed at petty Sessions . 12
.

22 1
The labour of the tread-mill is confined to convicted
mile offenders.
The tread-wheel is placed so that the men are under
_ _

the inspection and controls' of the Governor from his
apartm nrs ; he has a •iew also of the mill, which, to-
gether with its machinery, is under the superintendence
ef the miller during the hours of labour. " A break"
is put on the wheel to keep et at work when there is not
any corn to grind.
The number of prisoners usually employed at the
wheel is eight on, and four off as relays; but it some-
times happens that there are only a sufficient number to
seep the wheel going; they then work fifteen minutes
and rest ten minutes.

The hours of labour on the wheel in summer are
'from eight to twelve in the morning, and from one to
five in the afternoon ; and in winter from nine to twelve
in the mornbg, and from from one to four in the
,afternoon.

The number of steps taken per minute is thirty-nine.
'the wheel making Its revolution three times in two mi.
'mutes, and there being twenty-six steps on the wheel.
The distance from the top or one step to the bottom of
another is six inches and a half. Corn is ground for
tire at fourpence per bushel. The earnings last year
'were Si. 'l2s. Ind.
-A gyrotneter, made by Mr. Bate, 'is affixed to the
'te'', for tfiguhrting anal computing 'the -amount of
labour performed.
No prisoner has 'hitherto teen tnown to suffer in
health by the labour of the tread-wheel; an the con-
trary, acme of the prisoners hare alleged that theyl
'would much rather be at work than in their tells or,
airing-yards doing nothing. The Magistrates have been
repeatedly applied to by debtors and untried prisoners 4
d'or permission to go on the wheel.
An additional quantity of bread has been allowed to
risoners committed to hard labour on the wheel ; meat
and broth with other sufficient sustenance isgiven to the
-sick, by order of the surgeon, when required. The
average cost of food amounts to about Ss. 6d. per week
*for each person.
The service of the church (prayers and a sermon) is
regularly performed on Sundays, and the prisoners uniii
Plormly attend at chapel with marked attention and pro-
priety; such of them as can read are furnished with
prayer-boots-and bibles, and thetretter educated assist
in teaching the less instructed. The discourses are
adapted to the feather circumstances of the audience,
and when any apparent opportunity of usefulness pre-
sents itself, a prisoner is addressed in private. it is ob.'
`,ions that when intercourse of this kind is judiciously,
maintains], especially on the-Sunday (with its weekly
'recurring cleanliness, rest, and devotional excitement,)
good effects may reasonably be expected. Books or
'tracts may sometimes be advantageously distributed,
'but greater reliance is to be placed on individual and
personal communication, in which the appeal to mpg-
ence, admonition, and counsel, will be snore direct and
efficient. f'tisoners although lost and degraded as
'they open are,tecome sensible of say kind attention,,
and by feeling that they are not altogether cast off, they.
• ate taught to respect themselves—a treat step towards
-the amOlioration of their character.
The rules contained in the act 4 Geo. IV. c. 64, have
*teen adopted, as far as the nature and vatent of ibis
visor) render them practicable.
'lrons are never used except by order of the Magis-
trates upOn the reportof the governor.
The female risoners are node. the superintendence
coftbe governor s wife, and are-prevented from having
sew iorepeousse with the male risomen. &panne apau.,

MOM are provided for the sicE.—Nomb.r of prisoners
in confinement :
At lAkiminikt, :sec At Ilteltaamot,l9ll.
]lake, remain. Males. Females.
iteloos, tried ./11 . 5 1
Ditto. untried . .0 0 1 0
.
Misdnonsabts, triad 1 0 0 0
Debtors . 5 0 5 0

Other prisoners, as va-
roots, for bastardles,
5 5
kc. convicted at petty
sessions.

1 2

--•
siali.

14 4 7 3
The greatest number of prisoners at one time in the
last year was thirty-two, and the total number commit-
ted, including the debtors, was one hundred and forty.
There were only three persons re-committed during the
year. The classes consist of debtors. convicted offenders,
and untried offenders. There is only one large working
room, one day room, and two airing yards; there are
twenty-two separate sleeping zooms and cells.
(To be continued.)