The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-28
THE FLEET PRISON.

From that indefatigable ANTIQUARIAN,
John Ashton, comes another volume to
testify to the zeal and thoroughness with
which he is pursuing the work of rescu-
ing from oblivion lhe memory of the old
landmarks of London and the events as-
ISOLATED with them. The sabiect which
he has selected for special treatment is
The Fleet, title which covers not only
the famous prison of that name, but a
very interesting part of suburban Lon
don. The river Fleet, popularity known
In its day as "Fleet DITCH" was five hun
dred years ago little tributary to the
Thames, having it's source in Hamp-
stead Ponds. At that time it was OF con-
siderable Importance, and was navigabIe
for some distance by good sized vessels.
1t long ego disappeared from public view,
and its entire channel, from Hampstead
to the Thames, to. day forms part of the
great sewerage of London. Mr.. Ashton
gives us very vivid picture of the coun-
try through which the Fleet flowed be-
fore the march of improvement blotted
it ont from existence as an open stream,
and describes many famous localities
along it banks, the best known and prin-
cipal OF which was the Fleet prison, an
institution which after an existence of
nearly seven hundred years was demol-
ished by order OF the City Government In
1874. The Fleet was place of confne-
ment for debtors from all parts of the
kingdom, and for those accused of minor
crimes. No felons were incarcerated
there. The superintendent purchased
their positions and made what money
they could out OF the prisons. For the
most of the time a system of the vilest
extortion prevailed, and the unfortunate
occupants of the prison were obliged to
submit to be robbed, manacled, and even
tortured, without any chance of redress.
Many died from the effects of abuse, and
sometimes the bodies OF those who died
within the limits were held by the war.
den until he could ext6 1T all that was
possible from the relatives. Once or
twice parliament interfered, but very
little was done to better the prevailing
state of things. The richer class of pris-
oners, who perferred to go to the Fleet
than pay their debts, and who had plenty
of money, were allowed to furnish their
rooms sumptuously, and to have what
ever company they liked. Their mode Of
life was the same as outside the prison.
They drank, gambled, and did what they
liked without let or hinderance, by paying
for it. This state of things continued
until 1841, when imprisonment for debt
in England was abolished. In the three
years prior to the closing of the prison.
and its demolition, 1899 debtors were
committed TO it's keeping.
Mr.. Ashton describes many of the Gu
rious customs of the institution and the
various methods employed by the keepers
of the prison to wiring money from their
forced tenants. Although the law strictly
prohibited the bringing of liquor into the
prison, it was sold openly in the iailer's
quarters, under the name OF "tape."
When a new prisoner was brought in,
money was demanded of him to pay his
garnish," or, in modern language,
treat" IL he had no money he was
stripped of enough of his clothing to pay
the amount required by the "tape" sell
Ter. Many delicate or sickly people died
from the effects of cold and exposure re-
sulting from being thus deprived of their
garments. The author devotes consider
able portion of the book to Fleet Mar
risgeS, and discloses state of things
which is almost incredible. These mar
riages were not all inside the pris Cd, but
in its vicinity. Signs we're put up in the
street, Marriages performed Within"
and the so-called parson would walk up
and down in front of his door ready to
perform the ceremony for dram of gin
or roll of tobacco. Such marriages. were
of course illegal. For a hundred and
fifty years this state of things prevailed,
until at last it was suppressed by law.
Probably large majority of those mar
ried in the Fleet knew that the ceremony
was of no binding effect, and multitudes
were married when one or both parties
were in state of intoxiestion. 1t was a
thing for sailors in port, who
in the low taverns of the
neighborhood, to go to the Fleet in gangs
with women they had never met before
and go through the travesty of mar
riage. Probably not a twentieth part Of
these marriages were ever recorded, and
yet Mr.. Ashton says that in one of the
registers only, in the prison, there were
2, 200 entries made in single year.-Bos-
ton Transcript