Star.
London, England, 1827-10-08 00:00:00

math lepert of the Committee of the Society for 1
proweisset et Priwe Discipaloe. and for the Reformation of
Jatenile Offender.

'ARLI A

PAPER.

dAOL ATM
a,-1826.
The construction of this prison does not admit
that direct inspection from the apart-1,6.0t, of the keep
and other officers of the establishment, which priso

1101113 Al

more recently erected expressly provide for.
Since the last Report, a gallery or parsare has been
completed, which is so connected with the central build-
ing as to form an easy communication with the several
wards or courts, and it is so constructed as to afford at
all times an unobserved inspection into the principal
.courts, including those wherein the two large tread-_
wheels are placed, through small apertures concealed
by sliders.
Since the visit in 1823 this prison has undergone
considerable improvements: several new classes with
yards and day-rooms have been added, partly by
taking in some of the garden ground within the boun-
dary Wall, and pertly by dividing the courts for the
use of small classes.
It is, however, to be regretted that more space can-
not be readily obtained for an increased number ofl
night cells, which are much wanted. •The debtors also
;mar to require the usual classification of master and
common side wards, there being at present only one
department for both descriptions of prisoners. The
*king yards are now neatly covered with gravel, in
the place of garden beds; and during sukry weather
their surface is occasionally watered, a practice found
advantageous at prisons in warm situations. It is ex-
pected that the wooden palisade boundary to these
courts will shortly be replaced by ore of iron.
No share of earnings is allowed to prisoners sente-.eQ
to hard.labour ; a considerable profit arises trona the
work performed by the prisoners who work volunta-
rily I but there has hitherto been a loss on the grindinA
at the treadmill, after charging it with the miller s
wages and other attendant expenses.
The amount of earnings from Midsummer 1823 to
Midsummer 1824 was 6751. 16, _ _

There ate two large tread-wheels, one for the felons
sad the' other for the miscirmimants ; and one other
wheel, 4ivided into two compartments one used for
the vagrants, the other for juvenile offer:tiers.

41 eery proper regulation is now adopted with re-
gard to. the working and resting men at the tread-
wheels, in the two opposite seasons of summer and win-
ter. In the former season, the prisoners work two thirds
on and• one-third off, the wheel being at work ten hours;
but its the winter, they work three fourths on and one-
'fourth off, the wheel being at work eight hours; the in-
termediate tine is regulated in prpportion.

The mill is employed in grinding for the prison and
for the peblic, and in throwing up water ipso the cis-
terns of the prison. The diameter of the wheel is five
feet; the distance between the step-boards is seven
inches: the health of the prisoners has not suffered from
the employment. There are fewer prisoners now on the
Wheel than at any other time since its introduction.
No females have been placed upon the tread-wheel
in this prison for the last two years, the M4gistrates
having resolved to discontinue the practice, as it is con-
sidered unfit work for women. They arc fully occupied
in washing, mending, and making the prison linen, ice.
The prison is very healthy : in the infirmary there was
found but one sick prisoner.
• The only alteration in the dietary has been the addi.
tiQn cf 1 lb. of potatoes per diem to each prisoner em-
ployed. The cost of the weekly diet is 2.1. 111 J.
per head.
The chaplain is in daily attendance at the prison.
He reads morning prayers, and performs duty twice on
Sundays. The school for the juvenile prisoners is super.
intended by the chaplain.
Rules, ae prescribed by the Act 4 Geo. IV. cap. 64
have been printed and adopted. Irons have been dis-
used generally in compliance with the etatute, and no
particular instance hu since 0CC91114 IQ requite their
application.
Tt.e commitments for some years hare appeared to
hlcrt ate very considerably, but principally in the classes
of debtors, poachers, smugglers, and disorderly women.
The laws against these three last classes are probably
rn••re severely enforced now than heretofore, which
may in pats account for the increase of commitments.
'quinces not unfrequently occur of benfit arising from
the attention paid to the instruction as discipline of
the prisoners.

The small local jurisdictions within the county all
contribute to the county rate, and send their prisoners
to the county gaol except the town and county of Poole,
which has a separate jurisdiction and a prison of its own.
Number of prisoners in confinement

At Michaelmas, At Michaelmas
1823. 1824.
Main,. Females.' Males. Females.
Felons and Mi..
deineatiants 91 li 93
tried
ino. voided . 15 3 h 6
Lk Mors . . 9 0 ii
Total 125 14 121

a
a
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At Michaelmas,
112$.
Malec Females.

10$ 17

12 S
13 ' 0

133 20

The greatest number of prisoners at one time is the
year 4824 was 203; and its the year 4825, 183. The
total number committed during:the-year 1824,was 484;
and tn the year 1825, 49'.
The number of re-committals during the last year
was eleven.