The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-08-25 00:00:00

illal

„,

MR

:'

• ,
, •
-7 •
•••
•
us. of fel we can only he justified when necessary
Inc the purposes of safe custody ; and in a prison
where the (tlon-convicts are unironed, the fettering
risoners who are under examination, is, in the
opinion of your Committee, unwarrantable.
Vlstriwo MAGISTRATES.—A Committee of Ma.
giStrales meet no thorlday previous IA the Session*.
and -thoThuraday neat hut one after them ; they as-
sertiblel7 times a.year ; fix or nine generally meet,
cod they go round the prison personally itospablin(,
; at other times, individual Magistrates visit the,
priane ; a journal is k•ot, hot observed/ma are hard—
ly ever made in ft. The Committee's meeting ofteha
wo d the 'emetics., are entered in a hili,k) which is in
the possession of the Clerk of the Peace.
'IIICLIGIOtIa ArrEena:vca...—The Chaplain (Mr.l
ituell) performs Divine Service once on Sunday.
Wednesday, anti Friday •, he generally ellen& him.
'lBll two da)s a.week, and his Curate once ; he states
to sour Committee, that he goes round the jail once
* week et least ; he attends also the school, rate-
• and hears the boys read. Your Committee
10111 to observe, that in their opinion it would he ex-
• wdieut to prbvide a schoolmaster to take charge of
tbe boss ; it is of' importance that he should be a per-
• Sort of irreproachable character, and on no account
a prisoner for any offence. The establishment of a
Armors; school in the prison, would also to their
mind he a salutary measure. The Chaplajn circulates
among the prisoners religions tracts, and there ore
.several Bibles in each yard ;..he keep' jouroal in
which he enters the time of the performance of Di-
vine Service, and he makes sometime; remark' on
,the conduct of the prisoners ; a copy of this jour-
sSal is laid quarterly before the Magistrates,—
I Though the attendance of this Chaplain is thus re.
.golar, and the performance of his various duties
, highly meritorious, yet, in the opinion of your Com-
mittee, the Sabbath-day is by no means well on, ployed
. this prison. The service begins soon after oboe
,o'Clock, and, of course, is over before 12 ; from
that hour till night, the poisoners have neither refl.
gious nor moral instruction:, they are left entirely
to themselves; and the Chaplain states, that he has
never on that day gone round the yards. Your
COMMittee think it would he elpedient to perform
the service twice on Sundays; and that if a school-
master was appointed, some portion of the slay which
• is now spent in idleness; and in loose and unprofitable
conversation, might be more beneficially employed.
•.—The Chaplain informed your Committee, that here
also he has never administered the sacrament, nor
, has he ever rollmop() it to the sirk or the (4 fug ; hut
, visits once a. week the infirmaries, and if wattled is
sent for. Jobs, Wright, the Surgeon's assistant, in.
formed your Committee, that of the so persons who
base died there during the fifteen months he has
been a prisoner, the chaplain visited and prayed with
rattly eight or nine.
ft:, Your Committee think it right here to add, that
Hotber pets, ns in the same situation as the above .pri.
wner, have reported the attendance of the Chaplain
jus be regular, and the pevformance of his religious
duties earnest and esemplary, but your Committee
„lye' that in fact he has more writ) than hetan, well
.10e,1110flO ; he has in attend the two prisms. in
.the
yjltot of which 4,063 persons, and to the Cold Bath-
... Ads Boum ofhpossection„ 3,667 were cOrateitted
•
41014 the last twelve months. la the i'ipioion of
Committee,. Pi,iag Service ought to he read
leek of these .pciaOns twice every liabhath-day.
• le prison estahlithed as a ,house of correctioto
thttploist, is of the most important Ha-
.ltgrei opor,;ebtt: Ike rests • almost exclusively
. the moral a,nd ; reM$W! instruction, and ennap.
evieetly the reformation of the torisoners; the whole
time andlinronittiog, attention of a person ought to
▪ _be
given to abedischarge p( these duties; and though
Dour Committee are awaie of the smallness of the as-
-2,--iary allowed by Act of Parliament, yet the Magis-
_ Vales have the goower, by the asvignment of a bodge
oind other advantages, to. pike up to the Chaplain
'such an addition to his volory.as shall hold out in-
Aucenteots to a petrualu,ly,qoalified, and who might
, , thus be led to desote his, ttetorted labour to the cor-
rectional Poke of the prison. From the present Wade-
, tistatetiajsry, Mr.ltuell is compelled to look to other
0t professional relent'.: and the Sundays
mhich ought exclusively to be devOted to the prison-
frit,
ors under his care, are taken up in the performance
Jo
of she sacred duties of lit% office elsewhere; the ex-
._
4w/tient:it of srpor Committee has satisfied them that
tAbggliorgymen ought to give his exclusive and WI.
b jod,ual &doggiest to the prisoners under his care; and
elhat unless that is done, the race will clegtoorate
eMplittle else than, the mere performance of the cere.,
onies of religion, which are heard with indifference,
.rnikd Yorgotteto as soon as ended.
js Mr. ituell seems to be swore of the evils of the
'Vele system • and your Committee deeply regret
~tbat be is unable from the circumstances of his rim-
( Pota to carry tido 'effect those plaits of reform and
..silersOcest.tif the utility of which be seems to be
4117 COO, illet4 •
ItatostwArsolf.— Your Committee cannot refer to
this subject Without great pain ; the experiment of a
rrouse df correction has here entirely failed; they
are, 'however, 'glided that the failure is to be evil.
*,boleti to the battens of the system adopted, to the
wino of ibe proper separation and classification of
prisoners, to the departure from the principle and
enactments of the Acts of the 19th and 31st of Gen.
111. and to the almost entire absence of employment,
so essential to carry into effect the intentions of the
Legislature, in passing the above-named Statu
who
tes;
and they remark, that out of the 356 proners
were in the Cold Bath-fields, on the 10th April, 47
bad been committed there before.
The Governor informed your Committee that the
prison, at present, " is ant exactly a house of cor-
rection; and he is afraid that most of the prisoners
who have been confined there are as bad when they
go out as they are when they come in, and some a
great deal worse ; and that this is in consequence of
the great number *lto associate together."
The Chaplain says, he is decidedly of opinion,
that from the discipline of the prison, it corrupts
more than it reforms; and the Surgeon who has been
there 23 years, expresses his sorrow that K. cannot
say he has ever seen much improvement.
Out a review, then, of the state and management of

1

-206*

foIMOW'

prison whir,(tom all they have
Ord Worn, are, regolaev atfettlive,lei
prisoners tentaisteil id; ithOis err.:,
correpion without flies And regola
the spirit, and in many inlttances, •
of those Statutes which parlismei
opon those 'subjects, are -liirit`n'eirt
ther cot ruplion and. not reformetiou ith
s e Mb
mod through which above 3000 persona
ly, is, in the judgment of your Committee, an este..
blishment, the continuance of which, under its press.
sent system, is calculated to augment• the mischiefs
it is intended to diminish : and to spread that 'dispo-
sition to commit crimes against the property Salt
peace of society, which, from whatever causes!'
II arising, is, unhappily for -the country. so univer.l
sally prevalent. Your Committee batting thus etsa.si
mined into the present condition of two of the prin.
cipal prisons of the Metropolis, and the House of
Correction for the county of Middlesex • taking also
into their consideration the acknowledge:l deficiencire
of the county anti city prison of Newzate, cannot
refrain frr.m calling the attention of the House to the
deplorable state of all these.places of confinement.
It appears that no less than 10,371 persons have
pissed through these three witi-ns, during the last
twelve months, of whom 1,714 were under twenty
'Para of age; from the manner in which these 10,000
persons were confined, they worst all of them have
been more or less corrupted by the company in which
they were associated, and rendered Winge members of
society, by the means which the law proposes to make
them better. As, however. from the small accommo..
(Jailor, which each prison affords for the purposes of
classification snit the separation of offenders, no ef-
ficient plan can he expected to take place in the prj•
sons, your Committee *WI to propose the classifica-
tion of the prisons themselves. and they can see no
rational objection to tech a plan being carried into
esecotine, on the nest assembly of Parliament. New.
gate might he appropriated solely to all charges of
felonies before trial. Clerken well for misdemeanants
sod fines for misdemeanants, and for prisoners
under re-elimination, and for session cases before
trial. Felori.fioes to he committed to the Cdld
Bath.fields prisorr, as well as those misdemeanors
that require solitary imprisonment. The debtors
from all the prisons to be removed to the New
Prison ; and further accommodation to he provided'
for the vagrants within the • area of the present
House of Correction, *so that they should have
nothing to do with the interior"' of the prison...-.
Tothill.fields prison to he used for re elaiiination
prisoners committed from the' different Mites,
misdemeanors. and misdemeanor.
.fines.—In this
way great additional accommodation would be af.
forded in each prison, and a mode of discipline
might he adopted suited to the condition of each class
and description of offenders. The rules of rigour
that are proper, fur coevicierl prisoners, are surely
improper to be applied to the untried ; and the fine
for a misdemeanor cannot in jnstice be subject to the
'same severity of, discipllne.shick n applied Ire the
correction of the Mori. - Beside*, it is well known,
that much additional. accommodation is required is
ISTrO go:to and in the prism. 4.1 Tothilf:fieldo.
,our Conimitioe 1'44 therefore, disposed to seg.
gest the propriety of building a new prison, solely ,
for the females: to that 'nisi's', where, as to the
Saint Lazar., at Paris, all the woolen who are con-
victed of offences, as well as the disorderly in the
Metropolis, ma. he at once Cnntmilled ; they should
all he made subject to a discipline moral and re.
ligious; and, az...ye all, trained to such habits of in.
dostry as would give them at !roost a chance of re.
gaining that sto in society which they had lost
by their misconduct. The @sample of Newgate,
under the cave of Mrs. Fry, demonstrate how much
Can he dime, even antler every discouragement.
Your Commineeare sorry to be obliged to remark,
that though were is no subject upon which the best
'interests of society more depend, than the preven-
tion of offences and the reformation of offenders,
yet, in this country, none have received so little
attention; and that while every civilized nation in
Europe is hrisigisig into active operation the principle
of that sound and rational policy, designated by the
penitentiary system, this country alone has, until
the last few years, been content to pass two Acts of
Parliament, the 19th and 31st Geo. M. and to re•
main indifferent, if the salutary enactments of those
Statutes were put into esecution. Your Committee
beg leave to direct the attention of the House to
these Acts of Parliament, and they trust, that early
in the ensuing Session, some additional legislative
measure may be brought forward, to carry not only
the letter but the spirit of those Acts into immediate
esecution.
Your Committee, in pursuance of the Plan which
in the Second Report of the Inst. Session of Parlia.
mem, they lay down as a guide for their future con-
duct, proceed to the consideration of the other sub.
sects which have been submitted to their itivestigatioit.

I-

• .
Mr. Nswwast, Keeper of Newgate, speameg of
the effect of capital punishment, says, twenty is the
greatest number he ever knew suffer at once. There
were 21 intended for one day, but only 19 were
execoted. There were two executions following
each other—one 19 the other 20. These were after
the riots in 1780. Mr. NEWMAN says, from his ob-
servation, the effect of capital punishment has not
been to serve as an example to the Public. Persons
of bad disposition embrace crime as a dangeroan pro.
fession—a game in which they may get prizes ss
well as blanks; and when they are unfortunate,
these is a sort of heroism attending it, and they do
not wish to appear cowardly. Ile remembered one
instance many years ago; • boy of the name of Cox,
who had been tried at the Old Ileney several times,
entitled received many addresses from the Coed, and
he used jokingly to call the ttecoiDti " God.
father." lie came to be executed at last, end the
night before his execution, he amused himself by en•
graving out a plain halfpenny, the picture of it man
hanging. and W. C. on the other side. He wag not
above 19 or 20 at the time of his death. When
young, he used to go about with a pin.s.fore,• and a
ball or top in his baud, which he used to IhroW down
areas, and by that means gain admission to the house,
and steal something from it.—(Police Report.)
Lin-Thishire cows were driven list

this louse of Correction, your Committee feet it A lot of Cit
%eir duty"to declare it to be their decided opinion, week to Norwich marker, and sold at 401. per head.
that the whole system followed therein requires to be 'No-droves of Wrich vonieS were also'sbown; which
%tinged; they impute oó blame to the officers of the produced from four to five pounds each.

• • .-

4tiitursitii, 2.5,

)44.-
_ Cettort.epienefe hare re.
turned to their
mempel,owymhoenhed madet,attbe a
old
simi
dpriicents,oveendr.
some hoodteda more,
fere, were to resume working yesterday. Thii my
be true, end we sbeeld be glad to see it conireek
bet the Manchester Papers, which we received j
terday, and from which we made extracts, do ,
lead os to expect any such termination to the rlia.
pules between the workmen and their employers...
In consequence of the minions made by those "he
are still disposed to be refractory to prevent the rest
from resuming their labours% a reward of 9.ogeime
has been offered, on the conviction of any penal
guilty of such malpractices. A sort of counter.
statement to that made by the Spinners, has heee pat
forth, which will be found noticed in an article is
another column.
The names of the Commissioners for Erigalihit
into Charity Abuses are at length publishekteite
the universal astonishment of the Public that of MI:.
BROUGHAIK does tint appear among them! Bat em
conclusion will. be dra an by the whole countr) fret
so remarkable an omission. All men will plainly
perceive that no real effectual enquiry is meant to be
instituted, and they will lament the issuing oia
Commission which can only tend to saddle theme.
try %lilt a great &editions, 'apace. Other Mak.
mom may be rema,ked in this list of names. Tie
two G.nilernen, Mr. PARRY and-Mr. Itsq Temp
mended by the. Committee, are left out ;
ad
in their place are pot men recommended rattly
by their connection with the Ministers! This
is cert.iinly as barefaced an attempt to stop en.
quiry into proven and glaring abuses as we have wit.
nested moil's. conduct of even the present Ministry,
hut moiling betters' *es' to be expected from the fow
term of corruption end the protectors of injustice.

The rumour which we noticed 'Warder of Com-
mhsinorra being appointed to mike some -new ar.
tenements between this country and America, in re.
garrl to trade, appears to be correct. We'are now
informed that Mr. GALLATIN, Ambassador from the
United States to the Court of France, and Mr. Rum.
American Ambassador in this country, are appointed
the Plenipotentiaries for this purpose, on the pat! of
the United Stater. They held a conference with
Lord, CAsTLEREAon on Saturday, at his Lordship's
seat, North Cray, Kent, at which Mr. ROBINSON,
of
the Board of Trade, and Mr. Gousettne, the Co-
lonial Secretary, who, we understand, are the Pleni-
potentiaries appointed by his Majesty's Government
to negociate with the American Plenipotentiaries,
assisted. In Mr. ROBINSON'; hands, we doubt not,
the important commercial points thus to be adjusted
are safe; but it is plain, from the little attention which
the Congress Negotiator has paid to the trading irate-,I
rests of the British Nation, that his forte lies in another
way. The object of the conference thus held is
stated to have been for the purpose of renewing and
extending► the Commercial Treaty already existing
between Great Britain and the United States. Are
our Ministers at length disposed to acknowledo the
propriety of granting to America, by a solemn
treaty, the sante privileges in regard to the Hight of
, Search, in case of disputes between nations, which
our Treaties of Navigation and Commerce guarmttee
to other States?
This question may still he allowed to sleep; but if
no satisfactory understanding is established on the
subject in die cool moments of pe‘ce, all other at.
rangements may go for nothine when war in any
quarter gives occasion for a renewal of the old dis.
pules. The e•euts and measures growing out of the
inurtk American contest, nff,ird much reason for de.
siting a clear understanding between the Govern-
ments of Great Britain and America on the subject of
their maritime rights.

We find by intelligence from Washington to the
Isth, received with B4ltimore Papers to the 17th,
that the Spanish Minister and the American Secretary
at %Var bad been holding repeated conferences, and
that the arrival of the l'esstocov at Washingtotrwes
daily looked for. The official Journal still..speeks
with much doubt as to the conduct of Gen. JAcason,
and the Mobile Gazelle complains of itifrictions by
the Americans of the terms on which Pensacola ca.
pit elated. If, as is stated in an article from Mobile,
all kinds of property have been seized in the Spanish
port, end transported for adjudication to the ter-
ritory of the United States, there certainly is in
•
that extraordinary measure every appearanct of
war between the American Government and the
Court of Spain; but, apon the other band, the
politicians of America seem disposed to deny the
competency of General JACKSON to proceed in the
manner he has ventured to do, and assert that neither
ruts War Department nor the Executive were autho-
rized to empower him so to act. Pensacola is repre.
glinted as being in its customs and institutions so on.
sailed to those of its conquerors, that nothing less
than the omnipotent hand of Congress will be scfli-
cient to consolidate their union. We doubt much
whether these are the sentiments of tbkinhabitants of
Florida. Their interests es a state, whatever may
become of their customs, are certainly more likely to
be advanced by en incorporation with the American
Union than by the absurd, rapacious, and intolerant
policy of the Spanish Government. .
The noted Pirate, MITCIICLL, had four boats sta-
ll off the mouths 'of the Mississippi, boarding,
and plundering the viesels hound to end fro..-1 New
Orleans. Judge nLAND, -the American. Commis-
sinner, who had been left by his colleagues at Buenos
Ayres, had gone over-land to Chili, whence he is ex-
pected to retort' by nest December, in the Ontario
sloop of war, which has been lodge time lying at
Valparaiso. A piratical schooner, iiith a Spanish
prize, having on board a cargo worth 200,000 dol-
lars, had been. captured off Cumberland harbour by
an Independent privateer.

~-

The Duke of WELLINGTON, We find by the Flan-
ders Papers, continues to be occupied in inspecting
the fortresses erecting on the Flemish frontier.—
BONAPAIRTII has shown that all these expensive rrec•
lions are not of much use in the way of defence
'against military firmer and good Generals ; but they
are convenient depots for troops, and garrisons are
convenient assistants to despots who want to keep
their subjects in sutsjection. No other means of
strengthening their dominions and preserving trait.
quillity ever seem to occur to the restored remnants
of the old school but the old practice and the old
wespons—huilding ramparts And castles and fora-
, cations. They seem to imagine that peace ,catr only
I be secered by a cliertax of the symbols of was, and
think of uotbing but exhibiting on all occasions

.....a. —...

.

•••

. .
Thene,•onnt at the health of the Quer( yesterday •
wss—" The QUEEN continues better."
Y•st•rday 'unrolls./ the luggage of the Duke sel
Dareese'of CASISNIGOT, end their Suite, was re.
moved from Cneihritige..boute, in a WO caravan sad
cart, to Deptford, to be put on board, a ,tranopirt,
to be conveyed to Hanover. The herees of' their Royal
ilighnpmes will be removed this day from lowa to
Deptford, for the Warne porptvee. ~ ott. .s. .1.
Friday evening the Inter frigate, Captain I.
FounesT, C• 11.. 111141111104 to POrlSoloolls from Noe.
foundland, having taken out Vice.Admirat Sir C.
Hams:rote, Sart. who took spot% him the hovers.
meat of that Island and iii deroutienctes ou the 20th
of July. . •v .
.
Relf•AdfnitAl °TWAT hnleten hisflag on Friday ,
afternoon, at Portsmouth, in the Phaeton, Captain t),I
DILLON, under the usual seletes, tend sailed Skilvi.
(lay afternoon to take the comosaw4, at Leith. It is
rather a remarkable occurrence that the Reor•Ailwi. v,
ral should 'hoist his flag, for I fie: first time, in the '''.,,!
same ship in which he first embarked fur sea its
midshipman, 35 years sinc,. The Phaeton wallies
commanded by Sir JOHN COLPOYS.
The Alexanderand Isabella (two of the Northern-
.i
Discovery expedition ships) were spoken with on the ~
7th ult. in lat. 73. 41.10ng. 45. by the Andrew Mar•
eel, arrived at Mull from the Davis's Straits Fishery,
and were in sight on the 15th, persevering to the
northward. If unsuccessful in the first instance, it
was understood they would put back Lieve Harbert,
South East Bay, and winter.
Many rumours have been afloat respecting the fate
of young Guy, in the service of WHITLARE and Co.
who was entrusted by them with a considerable
sum of money to purchase wool with. It now turns
out that tin violent hands have been laid on him, St
'some suspected ; he has absconded, and is gone to a
distant clime. e may give some further particalus
!at a future day.—(Nottinglau»s Review.)
Twenty-five thoosatid melt of the Army of Oars.
1 pation, it is said, 'hill be reduced on its return fres
Franre.
On the 6th inst. was executed, at Baden. cgt
Vienna, a young peasant gill, who had poisoned her
mistress, in eider to marry her master (an old matt),
who was in love with her.
We lament to find, from the Papers received jet•
teiday, that the typhus fever is on the increase in se•
aar'i parte of. Irelasid. le Dublin thereinto been ss
awful increase singe &larch last. Waterford in the
South, and Sligo- iw the West, suffee severely from
its malignant spread.
According to private accounts from Msitchrster,
upwards of 500 of the refractory cotton-spittak
have returned to their employment at the old print;
and some hundreds more, who had made a Oa"
overture, were to resume working yesterdslee•
( Times.)
LEAMINGTON SPA.—The demand for houses at NI
very rapidly rising watering-place is most astonish.
lag; and not withstentling they have doubled the env
her of lodgings within the last twelve months, the"
is not sufficient accommodation for the amazing ins
flu: of visitors. Among the late arrivals We noti"
the following distinguimhed characters, eit.:--Tht
Earl and Countess of Chatham, the Ertl of Aylef•
lord, the D 9 ke of Grafton and family, the Bishops(
Meath and family, the Right llntinurahle Lord Wel•
pole. the Duchess Dowager of Rutland snit sailer
Sir John Stilton, Sir D. 13avley, Sir John Seingters
Lord Mouse, and the Esti Red Countesi of War
I and family. The new hotel nun building well 041
%sick
upwards of 16,0001.
On Monday a Meeting of • large body colliers ern
held at Kersal Moor, who came to some restdotioa'
on the subjwct of an advance of wages. The Meetil
was conducted in regular form, and certain iudin•
duals made Speeches on the occasion.

this nous
. their chit!
that the
changed

• J.,..Q.. Jjk
..i_. ! -N,.- - .V_ .stAlko-ic----4.A
4. c.:
•, , e
_tyr, sry4 4rrFP‘T AN .
• _ .... -....." ' • r,
'464 mfgh•y prectivs are to protect his Netherland
-- , .. . ,
.----
...ma. - • men a•• hi iv , eso I' iirl • *word:,
been able' to see pn 1 c„k:,, tre s 4s• g.ti THIS
51)piterY06A;..k.”1!'...
......;
.1 :
r• ..LATIN!,
liorl kin' (I to Vie .11.4.6.1.4111„,;(45. . .761
14V%
Bt a bonse'v 5 I,),Perrt,:"-co, ' iti,o)dni:rovil I 1 L. liiiJallt) in his "Ceil, aggraudiaemenle, bnOloas
oations, ie which sit peters.. .: i. . Elck."(ll!er •-- -- . BOLL is the chief COtttribiltor to ahe expellee dins ifs..
• • • ""~'l' for Aec.itiir Ossitna,3e . .
nearly the letter
. 4 per Ceot. 95ii . . tarred .
t..,2,..,
vnt have enacted . . 7 I.
.- -....war....mi....
OS-011- "glifliiiiiir:* , - , ---.-. _I---- -- - - -- , .
• Aceordloi to some private accounts ,441T.P.141 *
iou is the result.; ... it (WM
t-Se
itirSM.44iVe.
A_____been received frlrlMilifttStelr yesterday, spiiiatds
2./.'..a.t.-.l_ . ' _____ . ........----•••••___—... 4........7"."'. ... .7ka.• •-,„*.a....c.i.. ll.i —..t.on-aninnsii L...