County Bridewell, Liverpool, Lancashire

This new prison is calculated to contain nearly 400 prisoners in separate sleeping-cells: there are twenty-one classes of prisoners — twelve for males, and nine for females. Each class has a day-room, airing-yard, and work-room. The present number of prisoners within the walls is 550, and the average number in confinement, from June 1822 to June 1823, was 507. The dietary varies every three days in succession, and is as follows:—

First Day:—Breakfast, one pint of gruel, and half-a-pound of bread. Dinner—one pint and a half of sconce, made from one and a half pound of potatoes, with meat, salt, and pepper. Supper, as breakfast.

Second Day:—Breakfast, as before. Dinner—one quart of broth, made from ox heads, with vegetables, meal, salt, pepper, with half a pound of bread. Supper, as before.

Third Day:—Breakfast, as first day. Dinner—one herring, with one and a half pound of potatoes. Supper, as before.

A tread-mill is now erecting in this house of correction, for the employment of 100 prisoners (exclusive of relays), in ten separate classes. It is expected that the power will be applied to grinding corn for the supply of the prison, and for sale.

The classification of the prisoners, as directed by the new Gaol Act, is strictly enforced. The females are under the charge of a matron and five female assistants. A dwelling-house for the chaplain, contiguous to the prison, has been completed. A school is established for the instruction of the juvenile prisoners, and for such of the adults as conduct themselves well, and are desirous of keeping up or acquiring useful learning.

The tread-mill has been at regular work for some time, and no effects injurious to the health of the prisoners have resulted from its use.

The class containing first convictions for felonies and misdemeanors works at the wheels two hours per the class of second convictions for felonies and misdemeanors work four hours per day, and those for third convictions works six hours per day. All vagrants and disorderly persons work six hours a day. No females work more than four hours daily. The amount of earnings in the prison is very much diminished, from the more lucrative employment of weaving, &c. being now curtailed; but the main object of punishment — the prevention of crime-will, it is hoped, be better attained by the labour of the tread-wheel. The amount of earnings for the year ending at Michaelmas last was £830. 19s. 6d.,but in the preceding year the amount was £1183. 6s. 4d. The weekly cost of food per head is ls.11d.

The greatest number of prisoners at one time in the year was 620. The whole number committed during the year was 2109.

This prison, is built on a fine elevated spot, commanding a noble view of the Mersey and surrounding scenery, and is about two miles distant from, the Exchange at Liverpool. The area enclosed is nearly a square, slightly broken in upon by the Sessions-house on the south side, containing 5 A. 3 R. 27 P. [Acres, Roods, Perches] It is surrounded by a brick wall 27 feet high. The keeper's house adjoins the principal entrance to the prison on the north side, and contains a basement with kitchen and offices; first floor, 4 rooms; second floor, 4 chambers. The windows in the rear of the house look into the prison. The lodge contains several rooms occupied as offices, lodgings for the turnkeys, and cells originally intended for receiving prisoners on their first coming in, but now perverted to other purposes. Stepping through the gateway into the interior, instead of the awe and gloom which are so naturally expected to pervade the abode of guilt, punishment, and it is to be hoped,penitence, the eye is refreshed with the aspect of a prettily laid-out garden, with a fish-pond, shrubbery, and prisoners interspersed here and there, engaged in the indolent hard labour of cultivating flowers. The buildings for the prisoners consist of two detached wings of equal size for the males and females of semicircular form, with square projections at each angle. There are three floors in each wing; in the basements are the day-rooms, with seven airing-yards, radiating from a central lodge for turnkeys. In the rear are ranges of workshops running parallel with the main buildings.

Dimensions of Cells.

Refractory cells, 5 ft. 9 in. by 5 ft. 8 in., 6 ft. 4 in. high.

Sleeping cells, outer circle, broad end, 7 ft. 4 in. narrow end, 6 ft. 11 in. wide, 6 ft. 9 in. long, 10 ft. high.

Ditto, upper range, 9 ft. high.

The square cells in the projecting angles, 12 ft. by 6 ft. 10 in.

The tread-wheels and mill stand on the right of the gateway; the chapel in the centre of the area, with the kitchen, vestry, and schoolroom in its basement. The chapel contains seven divisions, with an open space in front of them, for prisoners. The turnkeys sit on elevated seats, with their faces towards the prisoners. The great and irremediable fault in the arrangement and planning of this prison was the division of it into two equal parts, for males and females, as though the number of offenders from the two sexes were in the same proportion. From the want of sufficient accommodation for the male prisoners in the wing originally set apart for them, the one for the females has been obliged to be made use of, and [from their contiguity, frequent communication has been the consequence. The walls between the airing-yards are very low. The infirmary for the females and the laundry are very inconveniently placed under one roof. The water-closets on the female side of the prison appear to be deficient in the necessary supply of water. The cells are well ventilated, the drainage perfect, and the buildings not liable to accident from fire. The great insecurity of the prison is occasioned by permitting a daily ingress and egress through the Court-house, which is in charge of a female, and beyond the inspection of any of the male officers.

Dietary.—Breakfast and supper, one pint of gruel and half a pound of bread. Dinners alternately. 1st, One pint and a half of scouce, made from one pound and a half of potatoes, with meat, salt, and pepper. 2nd, One quart of broth made from cow-heads, with vegetables, meal, salt, pepper, and half a pound of bread. 3rd, Two ounces of bacon, and one pound and a half of potatoes.

Clothing.—The untried prisoners have no prison clothing, except under special circumstances. The clothing for the convicted consists of a jacket, trowsers, and cap, of coarse woollen frieze, shirt, and clogs. The colour of the misdemeanants' dress is blue; for felons, once convicted, grey and yellow; for those oftener than once, red and blue. Females, linen bedgown, day and night cap, cotton and flannel petticoat and shift.

Bedding.—The bedstocks are made of iron, with 3 planks in the centre. The bedding consists of a paillasse, rug, and two blankets.

Fuel.—Fires are lit in the day-rooms during the winter months, but there is no regulated allowance of fuel.

Cleanliness.—The prison clean. The prisoners, upon their coming in, are not washed nor properly cleansed. The itch has been communicated frequently within the prison.

Health.—The attendance of the surgeon is described, by himself, as regulated by circumstances. He resides at Liverpool, a considerable distance from the prison. The prisoners are not inspected by him previously to their being classed, there being no cells appropriated for their temporary reception on coming in. He is not present at corporal punishments. Has no general inspection of the prisoners. The prison is very healthy; occasionally there are cases of typhus. Eruptive and venereal disease are those of the most common occurrence. Dysentery was prevalent some years ago, but is now quite eradicated. He considers the dry rubbing, instead of washing the cells and passages in the winter, to have materially contributed to its cessation. The diet is much improved, and the health of the prisoners also, since herrings are no longer a part of it. The surgeon says, "Simulated disease is very frequent. They feign rheumatic fever by tying tight the hands, or leaning the arm over the edge of a bedstead until it swells. Eight prisoners were brought into the infirmary with violent purgings, vomitings, and the appearance of cholera. One man was so ill as to oblige me to tell him, that unless he told me how the illness was brought on, I could not save him; he confessed it was done by placing tobacco chews in the fundament. I consider the situation of the prisoners to be better than some, and as well off as many of the labouring class." In cases of infectious fever the surgeon has allowed tobacco to the nurse, a prisoner, and also a pint of ale when any of the prisoners have been ordered the same allowance. In cases of lying-in a female midwife attends. The surgeon keeps a journal, containing the dates of the admission, and disease of patients, with remarks. He also enters the dates of the visits in a book kept for that purpose. I cannot but observe, that I think it absolutely necessary that the surgeon to an establishment of this magnitude should visit it daily, be present at corporal punishments, and that he ought to comply with the wholesome regulations of the Gaol Act, and examine the prisoners before they are classed.

Moral and Religious Instruction.—The chaplain performs two full services on Sundays; to the males in the morning, to the females in the evening. On the week-days he reads morning prayers at 8 o'clock to the male prisoners in the chapel, and immediately afterwards to the females in one of the work-rooms. He generally spends several hours a-day in the prison. He administers the sacrament six times a-year, but not without due inquiry. He says, "I am not always satisfied with the motives, for I have found prisoners carrying on a system, of deceit while engaged in taking it. One woman in particular, immediately after partaking of it, persuaded a female in another class to commit a robbery." He sees those prisoners who wish it privately in the vestry, also visits the sick in the infirmaries, and those sentenced to solitary confinement. He superintends the delivery of books to the prisoners. The tracts are generally provided from the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. He says, "The issue of books was formerly indiscriminate, but finding them very generally mutilated, he restricted them to those only who asked for them. There is a paid schoolmaster who instructs the boys. There is no system of general instruction. Previous to the introduction of the tread-wheel there was a great deal more reading and attention than since. He thinks that when the body is very much fatigued, they are rather inclined to lie down than be instructed. Gross ignorance prevails amotig the prisoners; many of them who can even read are ignorant of the first principles of religion. They have, generally, before coming here, absented themselves for long periods from attending public worship. They do not often express any desire for instruction. There is no essential difference between the men and the women. Considers the discipline of the prison to have little or nothing in it of a deterring character. Has found himself disappointed in his general expectation of beneficial results, from the almost constant communication kept up between the prisoners. In one instance, a female, who was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, a very clever woman, of whom he had the greatest hopes, and who was to have gone after her discharge, to the Refuge at Liverpool, unfortunately met a male prisoner who was employed in whitewashing. From that time she refused to go to the Refuge, and he has every reason to think that the parties met upon their discharge from the prison. The Catholics form a very considerable proportion of the prisoners; generally they may be estimated at a third of the whole number. They are attended by a minister of that persuasion. A Roman Catholic clergyman of Liverpool applied to be permitted to make use of the chapel for divine service, but was not allowed. He proffered his request upon the grounds of this privilege being acceded in the gaols in Ireland. The demeanour of the transports is more respectable than it was. It would be very desirable to circulate tracts descriptive of their hardships in the penal settlements. There are no reception cells for prisoners: they are sent to their classes immediately. Thinks it would be very beneficial if he could see them in the first instance, before they get into the body of the prison." The prisoners employed as servants at the different lodges seldom attend divine service on Sundays, and never on other days at daily prayers. The male cooks 6 in number, attend alternately on Sundays, 3 at a time; never on other days. Allowing for the difference in number, the same may be said of the female servants in the lodges and cookhouse. The weavers and joiners are not in the habit of attending early prayers during the summer months when they work before breakfast, but in winter they attend with the rest.

A society of ladies visit the prison, read to the females, and employ them in ornamental and useful needlework, which is disposed of for their benefit. The charitable ministration in which these ladies have so praiseworthily embarked, requires the application of the nicest address, and the suppression of all warmth of feeling or temper on their parts, the more so from the circumstance of many of the female prisoners being of the Roman Catholic peisuasion.

The chaplain's journal contains entries of all duties performed by him, with occasional remarks upon the habits and conduct of the prisoners.

Schoolmaster.—The school is entirely confined to the boys. The schoolmaster examines them, when they come in, as to the degree of information they may possess. They are mostly employed in learning to read. They aie taught occasionally arithmetic, as a reward for good conduct. Writing, which they express a great desire to learn, is taught upon slates, but the slates are not permitted to be taken out of the school-room. When the class is crowded, a prisoner is allowed to assist. The greatest number of boys under instruction at one time was 40. They are mostly very ignorant, and the children of Irish parents. The schoolmaster says "At first coming in they manifest no inclination to attend the school; they have occasionally insulted me, but they improve in conduct after a time."

The instruction of the boys was most loosely carried on. Upon visiting the school at various times, I found the boys in it without any superintendence, crouched and idling over the fire. The schoolmaster was on the eve of being discharged, and it is to be hoped that a more effective system is now in action. The schoolmaster keeps no register of the progress of those under his charge.

Classification.—Generally as laid down by the Gaol Act; but it does not, in some instances, at least, appear to be strictly adhered to. Two pilsoners for trial were in the same yard with the convicts under sentence of transportation, but were removed on its being noticed.

Labour.—The hard labour to which the prisoners are subjected is merely nominal, the old offenders being only six hours a-day at work upon the wheel. The grain for the mill is generally supplied by the baker who contracts for the bread.

Hand-loom weaving, sboemaking, tailoring, and all the repairs in and about the buildings are done by the prisoners. There are 121 hand-looms in the prison, which would employ 182 men and boys.

The taskmaster receives one-twelfth of the prisoners' earnings; felons; one-fourth; misdemeanants, one-half. The calculations, as to the real amount of prisoners' earnings in this prison, as is the case generally in others, are entirely fallacious; the salaries of those officers charged exclusively with the superintendence, the wear and tear, and repairs of machinery being omitted altogether. The sum received for grist ground at the tread-mill, from, the 1st of June, 1835, to the 1st of June, 1836, was 3l 6s. 8d., which is accounted as earnings; the wages of the miller for the same period being, 63l., besides having the assistance of a prisoner in the mill, who received 6d. a-week for his services. The females are placed on the tread-mill when in sufficient numbers to work it; their ordinary employments are washing the keeper's, the officers', and prisoners' linen, and in ornamental and useful needle-work, provided for them by the society of charitable ladies.

The taskmaster states "that a great deal of work is spoiled by beginners in weaving, for which an abatement in the price is made by the manufacturer. Young men will learn quicker than the older ones, and boys readier than any; some there are who cannot be taught. Men who reside in the neighbourhood of the cotton factories have a greater aptitude than those from a district purely agricultural. He considers it would be a great benefit if the tread-wheel powere were applied, as at Lancaster Castle, to weaving, as the work if not attended to in that case would be spoiled, and detection of any inattention must immediately take place. At present, from the situation of the workshops, they may leave off and neglect their work, during the intervals pf his visiting them. He now finds a great want of willingness among the boys in getting them to work at all. He thinks it is from early habits of idleness. There was a vast difference between the boys at Manchester and those at Liverpool; before the Factory Regulation Act was passed, they used to work at seven years of age; he cannot help thinking they were a great deal better at work than they are now at Liierpool." The tailors and shoemakers in the prison work at an under price for the officers, the taskmaster fixing the rate: the taskmaster keeps all accounts and books relating to the work carried on in the prison.

Offences and Punishments.—The general offences are fighting, creating disturbances, bartering provisions and destroying work, punished by stoppage of food and confiuement in the solitary cells. Whipping when inflicted appears to be merely nominal in severity ; from eight to twelve is the ordinary number of lashes: it is inflicted by one of the turnkeys. A birch is, applied to the very young boys. The whipping takes place privately, in ihe presence of the keeper. The surgeon does not attend.

Scourge.—Handle, hard wood, seventeen inches; nine lashes, fifteen inches each in length, of very small whipcord; a single knot in each.

Irons.—Double, 7 lbs.; single, 3½ lbs. It has been the custom, contrary to the Gaol Act, for the keeper, immediately upon prisoners being sentenced to transportation, to place them in irons without any written authority from the magistrates.

Visits.—Convicted prisoners receive visits by orders from magistrates; the untried, once a-week. Letters are inspected by the keeper, and the writing of them is at his discretion.

Accounts, Books, Expenditure.—The clerk and steward has the entire superintendence and control of the prison accounts, and is perfectly independent of the keeper. The daily duty of the clerk is to ascertain the number of prisoners to be provided for during the day; he calculates the proportions of provisions required, and issues them to the officers charged with the distribution. The books are kept by double entry. Salaries are paid, weekly, to the under officers; monthly, to the matron; and quarterly, to the keeper, chaplain, and surgeon. The cash book is balanced monthly, and laid before the magistrates; when cash is wanted for immediate expenses, the signature of one magistrate is sufficient; two are required for the payment of bills. A summons is sent by the clerk to apprize the visiting justices of the day for the monthly meeting, which is ordinarily the second Tuesday in every month; at this meeting all the books and accounts are laid before them, the transactions of the previous month are audited, the bills presented for payment in the current month examined, and if ordered for payment, marked by the chairman, or some other of the magistrates, with their initials, entered in the minute book, and an order made on the treasurer for the amount, signed by two magistrates, for which and every such order the clerk must produce a legal receipt at the next monthly meeting.

I cannot but express my perfect approbation of the simple, clear, and clerk-like manner in which the books and accounts are kept.

Discipline.—The general discipline, and entire system of management in this prison is, in my opinion, most faulty, and calculated rather to encourage crime than to repress it. Scarcely any of the penalties awarded by the law are inflicted with due severity. Hard labour at the tread-wheel is merely nominal, the prisoners being only at work for two, four, or six hours during the day; whipping, being only from eight to twelve lashes, is merely nominal; solitary confinement, from the want of proper refractory cells, is merely nominal; and imprisonment here generally, from the prettiness of the garden, the temporal advantages, and the constant communication which takes place between all classes of prisoners, is little more than nominal. The chaplain, in his evidence, states "that a female prisoner, upon being brought to the gate, appeared greatly distressed at coming in, hut upon passing through and seeing the garden her grief vanished, and she exclaimed with astonishment, 'Dear me, what a pretty place!'"