We have before us the let...
The Times, 1824-05-01T00:00:00

We have before us the letters of (orrespondents, wlho complain that while " prison discipline," in those of its branches which embrace the coercion or punislhment of pri- soners, has become the censtant care of the Legislature, an- other species of discipline, viz. that lhilch goes to pre- vent the inroadls of other individuals on the rights of the captive, is left in a state of deplorable rudeness and ineffi- cacy. Looking to the enactment of a new bill for regulat- ing the condition of insolvent debtors, we shaU now con- ilne ourselves to one or two hardships affecting that unfor- tunate class of men, under the operation of the present In- solvent Act. The momlent of a (debtor's discharge being pronounced by the laeolvent Court, we might -naturally suppose to be that of triumphant humanity-Gf recovered freedom-and of actual restoration to such few friends, and such scanty enjoyments, as have not been scared away by the misfortune and disgrace of his imprisonment but, un- happily, it is far otherwise. T'lhere are demands for pri- son fees to be satisficd ; before wvhici satisfaction, the poor prisoner canaiot be sure of his discharge. Now the debtor cannot be entitled to an ordler of release fiom the Court, without having delivered up on oath every farthing's worth of property he has in the world, for the benefit of his creditors; excepting only the bed which bh lies upon, and the clotlies upon his back. lWhat, then, is his situa- tion ? If he reserves enough to pay the gaoler's fees, he must have sworn falsely. If he has reserved nothing, from what fund are the fees to be subtraeted? The man who perjtures himself obtains his release; the rigidly conscientious is consigned to a prolongation of' his bondage! Ought such a temnptationi to guilt to be tolerated-such a bounty on perjury to stand part of the law of England? The direct fee to the WVarden of the Fleet-prison (on wlhotn, nevertheless, we mean to cast no imputation) is lescribedS to us to be no less than 9s. 4d. This, after thc original cause of inmprisonmrent has been removed-the deemands of the creditors being legally satis- fied. We should like to ask, then, on wlhat principle is it thata debtor should not only be subject to loss of personal liberty, but to a loss of liberty aggravated by a compulsory increase of his debts ? Why should a fresh weight be flung upon the drowning body, and, under the name of inprisonment, a destitute creature be fined as well as imprisoned? The scenes depicted by one of our correspondents are, we have no doubt, true; but they are appalling likewise. A debtor wvho has too much honesty to withhold a single pound from his sehedule, finds himself adjudged to be released, but with no fuud beyond the value of the bed or coat which the law in its mercy allows him:, one orbothpofthete he must sel; to pay the fees. Is this not a legislative mockery ? The sale is for the mnost part effected by a raffle withill the walls of the prison, and leaves the unhappy wvretch on his egregs no means of warmth or repose. Again, a Benevoleit Society has been established " for the reliet of persons imprisoned " for small debts." Even before the interference of this charity can be secured in favotr of its distressed objects, a proof occurs from day to day of the terndeicy of power to encroach upon weakness wherever thej comne into contact. The poorest class of debtors petition the above Society for relief; but before they can do so, our corres., pondents informn us that the " Wareren's recomrnendation "is indispensable." Hlow is that recommenidation to be obtained? Whv, since the Warden can know little or nothing of the individual prisoners, some inferior officer it, the prison must solicit it: this functionary of course is entitled to a fee for his good offices; and thus out of the very bowels of extreme misery, another tax is extorted. For so much of these evils as depends upon the law itselfr a new legal provision is the only effectual remedy. Ak clause has therefore been recommended fbr the new Illsol- v*ent Act, to the effect that " henceforth no person dis. charted by the Inisolvent Court slhall be liable to the 'paytnent of any fees whatever to the gaoler ;" and if compensation be unavoidable, that the public shall take the burden on itself.