The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-03-14 00:00:00

PRICE SEVEN PENCE.

produced, the subject could sot be perfectly understood,
and as the evidence would be printed and published in
the course of* few days, it would be better in every re-
spect, and more especially for the parties most iMtnflii-
ately concerned, that they should abstain from going
into it now. He begged that be might not be stipposeil
to stand up for the purpose of vindicating any of the ir-
regularities which had occurred. He viewed with regret
those instances of misconduct which had been priicril
lie tbbeght, with respect to the treatment of the pri-
soners in particular, and more especially with respect to
the course pursued towards one to whose head a blister
had been applied as a punishment, there could be hut
one opinion. When it vies seen that a member of that
profession, whose duty it was to offer consolation in
disease, was thus called upon to exercise Lis art to pu-
nish a refractory prisoner, he thought it was impossible
to read the statement without feeling indignation
against the officer who could demand such a punisb-
ment, bat still more against the medical man who had
complied with the wish. -But these circnmstances
ought not to hurry the Hsu. to paw sweeping cents •
and geseral reproaches on the Magistrates. At present -•- '
be would only ask the House to suspend their opioialt -•
till the subject came more regularly before them. Novi:,
with respect to the ease of Mr. Bout, lie would remark
that the circumstances ought to be very special and
strong which could indace him to think of calling for
lb* interposition of the Royal prerogative in favour of : • •
an individual in his (Mr. Hunt's) situation, and siped-
ally now when a motion on that subject was so shortly .
•
to be brought before the House. He had, however, wade
loquiry into the present situation of Mr. Hunt, and
wished the house to understand what it was. Mr. Hunt
occupied at present, he believed, two rooms in the pet-
eon. These had certainly a northern aspect, hut, the
circumstances of the prison considered, were not incom-
Modious. There was another room adjoining in which
two prisoners waited, whose business it was to attend
ysis Mr. Hunt. He was allowed to walk in the factory
yard at particular hours. Though contradictory orders
had been issued with respect to Mr. Hunt, lie saw no-
thing that indicated any unworthy motive on the part of
the Magistrates. He referred Gentlemen to the evidence
and the report on this @object, from which it would be
seen that various alterations had been made for the ac-
commodation of Mr. Hunt. He now understood the
High Sheriff bad taken upon himself the resins-
lability of admitting visitors to Mr. Hunt under the
resolutions originally acted upon when Mr. Hunt
first came to the prison. He would read one paigraph
of the Report to the house, that the indignation of Gen-
tleness might not be directed to improper objects.—
This stated that "it was in evidence that great pains
had been taken, and considerable sums expaaded, to
make the Gaol commodious ; and though in some re-
spects defects still existed, they by no means went the
length of saying that success had not generally attended
the attempts of the Magistrates; and it was consoling to
know, that many of the defects which at present existed,
from the alterations now in progress, were in a fair way
of being promptly removed. floe;) time since he (Mv:
Peel) had thought it Ids duty to write to the Clerk of
the Peace in that isoniiirop lbw subject, and he had
Sonaitleat a Oidellamillittboau appointed to correet
dm alma whidb oduend as far as pesible. That there
Wanes sues MOM on the part slime Magistrates, he
readily simittod ; bat, under all MI eirennistances, this
was not unnatural considering the high character which
the gaoler bad bone for a long time. In the report it
wookeleani than dm aseditet efAbm Individual had in
some instances enammoded ad siraaioa Alt the time
when the typhus favor raged in the prisobilt was impos-
' able that the coadrt dewy man could be, better than
his was on that omission. The high character with
which the gaoler went from the hulks to Ilchester, and
tb• praises which his conduct hail received, were calcu-
'ated to throb, tad Magistrates off their guard, • The
circumstance would prove a useful itainkg lb Other* in
similar situations, not to place too myiclo cispfidenct in an
Individual on account of what his ilaracter, had been.
That his conduct had been good wit; to be inferred from
what the Hon. Gentleman
.apposite had said in his ra-
port on the gaol. Wired thus expressed himself—" I
had not the good fortune to see the Gaoler, but the as-
pect of the prison convinces me that he does his duty to
the Magistrates who employ him, and that they have
nobly done thein to the country." He did not defend
the neglect which had been proved, but he bad thought
it right to say so mach in explanation of the eirciim-
stances noder which they had been imposed upon him,
and he implored the house to suspend their opinion for
the present.
Mr. BENNET would be as ready as any man to reral
censures too hastily pronounced, but every thing tended
to confirm hint in the opinion that those which lie had
formerly bestowed on the visiting Magistrates were
just. lie believed theta to be unfit for their situations,
and had it in contemplation to submit a motion to the.
Maw for their removal, considering them to have broken
their trust ; if the evidence turned out as he expected it
would turn out, be should take the step which he had
announced, if no other Hon. Member brought the sub-
ject forward.
Mr. HUME thought, as lie had stated before, that se
Veld of the Magistrates had appeared destitute of hums
sky. He concurred in the view which his Hon. Friend
(Mr. Bennet) took of this subject. Unwilling to pass
hasty censure, he approved of the call which the Right
Hon. Gentleman made on them, to suspend their opinion
till enquiry, could take place ; and he regretted that Mi-
nisters had not acted on this feeling in another case,
where a Gallant Officer was concerned. It aas nut well,
that Ministers should adopt this principle in some cases,
madam in direct oppositioo to it in others.
TboSOLICITOR•OENERAL said, at different pe •
riodi, when the affairs of I Ichester Gaol had come before
the house, reference had been made to the orders sup-
posed to have been made by certain Learned JU.lfel for
the regulation of that Gaol. He bad in consequence
takes occasion to desire that these regulations should be
sent up. He had seen them in their original state, and
as they were afterwards intended to be be acted upon.
In the original there were three or fonr harsh rules,
which ought not to be used for any Gaelic the kingdom.
Bat he was in a situation to state that these had been
disallowed by the Judges, and those subsequently al-
lowed were not only such as the law sanctioned, but
they were not open to any objection in other respects.
He mentioned this, as an idea had gone abroad that one
of those learned persons hid sanctioned regulations'
which were harsh and severe. Such as they a ere, be
was confident that they would be considered satisfactory
by the house.

' ...,,'"

'f

The Petition was tEen brought up, and ordered to be
printed.
Sir R. WILSON presented the Petition from Roell,l4le
on the same subject, wbich was read, and ordered W ho
printed.

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