County Bridewell for the East Division, Lewes, Sussex

Here men and women have similar but separate apartments; a kitchen, five bed-rooms 10 feet square, a work-shop, court, &c. Keeper's salary, £30. Fees, 6s. 8d. no table. The produce of the prisoners work for three years preceding 1776, was not twenty shillings a year; although there were in the respective years committed prisoners 45–85–65. At my last visits I found no prisoners at work; but as there were chalk, mallets, sieves, &c. in the men's work-room, it seems that they are sometimes employed in making whiting. When they work, the keeper has all the profits. The county allowance is 1½d. in bread (weight in Dec. 1982, 13 oz.). The keeper has no view from his house into the rooms or courts of the prison. Surgeon, Mr. Turner. He makes a bill: for the sick he orders better nourishment. Clauses against spirituous liquors not hung up.

Keeper, William Cramp.

Salary, 60l and allowed 14s. per week for a Turnkey. Fees, none.

Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Dale.

Duty, on Sunday, Prayers; on Wednesday, Prayers and Sermon. Salary, 25l.

Surgeon, Mr. Crockford. Salary, 20l.

Number of Prisoners, 1804, Sept. 20th, 35.

Allowance, two pounds of best wheaten bread daily. For the Sick, better or other nourishment is ordered by the Surgeon, at his discretion.

REMARKS.

The boundary wall encloses above an acre of ground, in the centre of which are the Gaolers house, and the Chapel. Here are four spacious court-yards; in one of which is a forcing pump, that amply supplies every part of the Prison with excellent water.

The two wings of the building are over arcades, and two stories high. On each story are sixteen cells, 9 feet 2 by 6 feet 4, and 9 feet 9 inches high, to the crown of the arch. Each cell has a wooden bedstead, straw-in-sacking bed, two blankets, and a rug. They have double doors, the outer one iron-grated, and a glazed window, with a casement.

The lobbies are 5 feet wide, and well ventilated, with water-closets at the end. A kitchen, supplied with leaden sink to wash in; and a day-room, to which the County now humanely allows coals, as it had been sometimes the practice for the Prisoners even to sell their bread, in order to purchase so necessary an article.

On the ground-floor are four solitary cells, of the same size with those before mentioned; but to each of these is a water-closet, with a eink to wash in, well supplied with water. In one of them it is customary to confine a foul Prisoner till the occasion is removed, and the County clothing put on; when he is admitted into the interior part of the Prison. In these cells are likewise confined the refractory, till ffiet/ have submitted to proper Govermnent, which a seclusion from Society soon effects. They seldom continue above 24 hours before promises of amendment procure a release, that again restores them to the World!

Their employment consists in the compounding of whiting, carding wool, and beating hemp. In the first branch of work each Prisoner can earn eight pence a day, over and above the divisional shares of the County and the Keeper, which are five shillings in the pound upon the nett proceeds: this, however, can only be done in the seven Summer months. In carding of wool, the Prisoner receives a halfpenny per pound, and the County has the same. Beating of hemp is charged 4s. 6d. for four dozen of Fannies, (about 3lbs. weight;) half of which goes to the County, and the Prisoner receives the other half.

Here is a cold bath, with a bathing-tub, and an oven for purifying the Prisoners' clothes at their first admission.

This prison receives offenders before trial as well as after conviction. The women are divided into three classes only, viz. felons and misdemeanants for trial; felons and misdemeanants after conviction; and vagrants. The use of tobacco has been prohibited, by an order of session. The male prisoners are employed in grinding corn at the tread-wheels, beating hemp, carding wool, &c. There is also an engine for pumping up water, at which eight persons can work at the same time. The hours of labour are ten in summer, eight in spring and autumn, and seven in winter. The dietary for each prisoner is 1}lb. of bread, and a pint of soup daily. Those at hard labour have, each, an addition ofa quart of gruel, and 1lb. of potatoes daily.

This prison is situated in the lower part of the town of Lewes. The older portion of the structure was built about 45 years ago; and in the year 1817 it was enlarged, by the erection of 23 additional cells and three day-rooms. The prison is of an oblong form, and consists of three floors. Along the middle of each floor runs a passage, on either side of which the cells are arranged, with their doors opening into it. The only passage into the prison is through the governor’s house, which is situated in the centre of the building.

In the year 1822 a building, contiiining five solitary cells, was erected in the yard at the rear of the northern extremity of the old prison, running parallel with it, but quite detached from it.

There are three tread-wheels, with separate stalls for each prisoner, and separate stalls on the rest benches, opposite the wheels. The largest of these wheels has 15 stalls; the other two have nine stalls each. One of the smaller wheels was erected in 1824; the largest in 1825, and the third in 1833. The stalls (both for the prisoners on the wheel and for those who are off the wheel, at rest) have been added subsequently to the last-mentioned date. The action of these three wheels is communicated to a flour-mill outside the boundary wall, and is let to the miller for the sum of 30l. per annum.

In the year 1833 the prison was considerably enlarged. The boundary wall was extended; a cell-building for male prisoners, comprising 32 on two floors, was constructed on the western side of the old prison, at right angles with it, but quite detached from it. A new prison for females, with 20 cells, was also built at the southern extremity of the old building, but separated from it by an inner boundary wall. Besides these buildings, there were erected at the same time, a chapel, kitchen, wash-houses, matrons’ and turnkeys’ rooms. Two pump-houses, one for six male, the other for six female prisoners, with separate compartments for the prisoners at work at each, have also been erected; and the old day-rooms have been divided and formed into sleeping cells. There is a water-closet and washing-sink in each cell: those in the old prison were put up in 1814 or 1815; the others at the time when the cells were constructed.

The number of cells used for the confinement of prisoners is 138; namely:—

This accommodation falls short, by a great deal, of-the wants of the prison, and does not enable the prison authorities to enforce their 19th regulation,—"That every prisoner be confined in a separate cell."

In 1836 the greatest number of prisoners in this prison at any one time was 185. In 1837 it was 210.

There are two male and one female infirmaries, which are situated in the highest part of the prison buildings. Those in the males’ prison are very inconvenient, being too cold in winter, and too warm in summer. The chimney in one of the males’ infirmaries also smoUed; and a consumptive patient complained that (he smoke caused him to cough, ^and put him to great pain and inconvenience. There are three airing-yards for the male, and one for the female prisoners.

There is a manufactory situated in the rear of the southern wing of the old prison; it contains four work-rooms, and was erecteil at the same time with that building. The trades carried on in it are,—

Making mats and mops.
List shoes.
Prison clothing.
Picking, carding, spinning, and warping wool for mops.
Sacks, and waggon tilts.

Silence is enjoined as the rule of the prison, and is enforced in the usual manner, and by the usual punishments. The rule, however, is constantly broken; as will be seen on referring to the list of punishments inflicted in this House of Correction for prison offences, for the six months ending 31st March, 1838. Out of 121 prisoners reported for various ofiences, 75 were for talking, and 46 for all other offences; and the governor and other officers stated, that it was impossible to prevent communication from being carried on, and more particularly from window to window, and in the manufactory.

Prisoners who are sentenced to hard labour, and who work on the tread-wheel, sleep in separate cells, take their meals in separate cells, sit in separate stalls when at school, work in separate stalls on the wheels and at the pump cranks, and sit in separate stalls when resting from the wheels: in passing from their cells to the tread-wheels, the chapel, and the airing-yards, they walk in single file with an interval between each prisoner, and under a rule of silence. The walking in the airing-yards is restricted to Sunday, when the same rules are observed in their walking, as to distance and silence: and whether in their cells, on the wheels, in chapel, at school, in the passages, or airing-yards, and in every situation throughout the day and night, silence is attempted to be rigidly enforced between prisoner and prisoner, and punishment follows every detected breach of it.

Prisoners not sentenced to hard labour sleep in their separate cells, and take their meals in their separate cells. They work together in the manufactory; but under a rule of silence. Untried prisoners sleep in their separate cells, and take their meals in their separate cells. They work together in the manufactory, but under a rule of silence. Such of the untried prisoners as refuse to work, are kept in their separate cells, with the exception of attending chapel, and one hour's exercise in the airing-yard.

In regard to the two preceding classes, viz., prisoners not sentenced to hard labour, and untried prisoners, silence is attempted to be rigidly enforced, between prisoner and prisoner, in every situation throughout the day and night, and punishment follows every detected breach of it.

With reference to all classes of prisoners, the officers are forbidden to hold any communication with them, except on subjects connected with their duties.

When there are more prisoners than can be accommodated in separate cells, three are placed together in a cell, with three sleeping berths in each, beginning lirst with the vagrants, and next with convicted felons.

Such of the prisoners as are sentenced to hard labour are employed on the tread-wheels, or at the pump-cranks. Those whose health, according to the certificate oi the surgeon, does not admit of their undergoing such labour, are employed in the manufactory; where likewise are occupied convicts sentenced to imprisonment without hard labour; as well as such of the untried prisoners as are willing to be employed. These last receive, at their discharge, one fourth of their earnings, if capable of computation; or a penny a-day, — which is also paid on their discharge. The untried prisoners are never allowed to work in the same room with the convicted; but there are great facilities for their communicating from room to room; and, in fact, they often do so. The manufactory is superintended by one officer only, who has to teach the trades, keep the accounts, and attend to the discipline in the four rooms.

Prisoners sentenced to solitary confinement remain in their cells, during the whole term of their sentence, with the exception of one hour’s exercise daily, and attendance at Divine service in the chapel on Sundays, They are allowed no work; but such as can read are permitted to have books. They are not required to rise until breakfast-time,—a quarter past eight o’clock. Their bedding is left in the cell, and they may lie down and sleep all day long, if they please. Their diet is 2 lbs. of bread per diem. These prisoners take their exercise, one at a time, in each airing-yard; these yards are contiguous to each other, without separation; and the means of communicating between the prisoners at this time are both easy and numerous. They can also, at exercising time, communicate with the other prisoners in solitary confinement; and with the prisoners in the manufactory, by means of the inspection holes, which are of a large size. No officer attends these prisoners during the hour of exercise; in fact, as they allege themselves, their otner duties are too numerous to admit of their doing so.

We found much writing on the walls of the cells; and observed, that the printed papers, enjoining silence, which had been affixed to the doors of the cells by order of the magistrates, were in every instance defaced. Of this, however, no report had been made, nor notice taken.

Fifty-eight prisoners are employed at one time in the tread-wheel houses; 33 on the wheels, 22 at rest, and three wardsmen. Twenty-two prisoners change from the wheel to the rest-benches simultaneously, every ten minutes. The three wheels are superintended by one officer; but he is so stationed as to be unable to see any one prisoner, either on the wheel, or at rest; neither can he command a view of all the prisoncrs passing from the wheel to rest; so that he cannot be aware of any irregularities that may occur; but must, in a great measure, depend upon the wardsmen. Upon our noticing this to the governor, he remarked, that the situation of the wheels was such that it was utterly impossible to assign the superintendent a position from which he could command a view of the prisoners. It is manifest, therefore, that much communication may take place between the prisoners at the wheels; and we ourselves observed them talking at the time of changing. There are several marks and names about the seats and divisions on the tread-wheel and pump-houses; of these no report had ever been made to the governor; nor, as he stated to us, had he ever noticed them.

There is a school-room fitted up with 10 separate stalls for the prisoners attending school, which is held for two hours daily. The schoolmaster is present during the whole of the time. The chaplain also frequently attends, and it is his office to select the prisoners who are to attend the school. The prisoners who work on the wheel do not attend, except at such times as there are more hard labour prisoners in the House of Correction than are required to man the wheels. Only one prisoner has ever been reported for misconduct at school-time; but we found much scribbling and writiag on the divisions between the stalls, which are immediately under the eyes of the schoolmaster: these he had never remarked upon or reported.

The hour at which labour commences varies with the season of the year. The prisoners leave their cells and march in Indian file from the various parts of the prison to the wheelhouses: the length of the line of march is 120 yards at least, with many turnings and staircases. Four officers are in attendance at the removal of the prisoners to and from their cells; one locks and unlocks the cell doors, and three are stationed at various intervals in the line of march.

In summer the first bell rings at si.x o’clock : at half past six the prisoners march to the treadwheels: at eight o’clock they march from the wheel to the chapel. After chapel they return to their cells for breakfast; after breakfast they return in the same order to the treadwheels. At one o’clock they return to their cells to dinner; after dinner they return to the wheels; and at six o’clock they return to their cells for supper and the night. Each remove, backwards and forwards, occupies either way about seven minutes; and there are seven journeys, occupying 49 minutes in the course of each day, in removing the hard labour prisoners to and from the treadwheels.

The same order is observed in taking the prisoners backwards and forwards to and from the pump-room and the manufactory; each journey occupying, in the former case, about two minutes, and in the latter about four minutes. The prisoners are not taken to the manufactory before breakfast. The governor is not certain whether the magistrates are aware of this: but the officer who superintends the manufactory is then required to prepare the breakfast.

One hour and 20 minutes, at least, is therefore daily occupied in these marchings and counterinarchings; numerous opportunities are then afforded for communication, and much amusement and excitement is thereby occasioned. All this is subversive of the order and decorum which ought to be maintained in a prison, and tends greatly to impair the deterring influence of imprisonment, which is almost the only effect which confinement for short periods can be expected to produce; and most of the prisoners committed to a House of Correction are under short sentences.

Convicted prisoners are not allowed to receive letters or visits from their relations or friends during the first six months of their imprisonment. Prisoners for trial may see their friends twice a-week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, between the hours of two and four; but their legal adviser may be admitted at all seasonable hours. There is a regular visiting-room adjoining the keeper’s house, and all letters and parcels are inspected by him previous to their delivery to the prisoners.

No prisoners under sentence are allowed to retain any money in their possession. They are searched on their admission, and any money or other articles found on them are taken from them and entered in a book. All such things are restored to them on their discharge. Untried prisoners are allowed to retain a few shillings for the purchase of plain articles of diet, but not more than sufficient for a day’s sustenance. One of the turnkeys is allowed to procure for them bread, cheese, a quart of small beer daily, and other plain articles of diet. By rule 48 in the prison regulations it is directed that no prisoner shall receive the prison diet on the days he procures food for himself; but the governor states that he has not enforced this rule except in cases where the prisoner has regularly and entirely provided sustenance for himself.

In addition to the paid officers employed by the magistrates, prisoners are appointed as wardsmen to assist in maintaining the discipline, and iu the service of the prison. The annexed Return exhibits the number, ages, crimes, and sentences of all prisoners who have been appointed to assist in the service or in maintaining the discipline of the prison from the 1st of January to the 31st of March 1838.

The governor states that he has no confidence in prisoners as wardsmen. He has found them the greatest violators of the prison regulations. When left in the wards to clean, they can and do communicate with such prisoners as are left in their cells, and there are no means of preventing it. They communicate with the untried, and traffic with them for the provisions and beer, which, as unconvicted prisoners, they are allowed to purchase. They barter their pocket-handkerchiefs and various articles of clothing for these things. The governor has known many instances of this, and has removed many prisoners from their office for such misconduct. He has not entered those discharges in his journal; but he states that he has made them known to the visiting justices. The wardsmen have other means and opporUinities of communicating with the prisoners: they clean out the cells of those under solitary confinement; they shave such prisoners as are unable to shave themselves. The officer unlocks the door of the cell, and then leaves the wardsman with the prisoner until these offices are performed. In these various ways a regular and unchecked communication is kept up throughout the prison by means of the wardsmen.

Gaming is strictly prohibited; but the governor states that it may be carried on by the wardsmen, and by the prisoners when three of them are placed together in one cell.

The chaplain attends every morning at eight o’clock to read prayers in chapel; and he afterwards devotes the remainder of the four hours, during which his attendance is daily required by the prison rules, to visiting the sick, the refractory, the prisoners in solitary confinement, the school, and the prisoners newly admitted or about to be discharged. He also performs two full services on Sundays; and generally devotes two hours before Divine service, and one hour after it, to catechising and admonishing the prisoners.

The surgeon, or his assistant, visits the sick daily, and sees every patient in the infirmary, every prisoner in solitary confinement, and every refractory prisoner under punishment; but they do not see every prisoner, whether well or ill, twice a-week, as required by the 4th Geo. iV. c. 64.

The surgeon examines every prisoner on his or her admission, previous to their being passed to their cell, and he attemis Whenever he is sent for.

We do not consider the ventilation of this prison to be good. We entered several cells, both in the old and new buildings, previous to their unlocking for the morning work, and we found them close and offensive, particularly the cell newly constructed somewhat upon the plan suggested by ourselves, and the cell with the closed window. These were very ill ventilated, and the prisoners who occupied them complained that they found them oppressive in the extreme, and that they made them feel sick. This is not to be wondered at, as the means for admitting fresh air are utterly inadequate to the wants of an individual inhabiting an apartment of such dimensions. We beg most distinctly to disavow all such partial adaptations which profess to be founded upon the plans suggested by us in our Report, under the head of "Prison Construction." The prison is very dry and well drained.

We regret being obliged to state that we observed in this prison a want of cleanliness. We found cobwebs and much dust in many of the cells; and the condition of several of them indicated a want of that attention which is necessary to the maintenance of good discipline. The walls are scribbled over in many places. In several of the cells we found the lids of the water-closets out of repair; in two, the pipes by which the water is laid on leaked, and the cells were, in consequence, wet; and in one cell this had been so for three days; in another, the cock which turned on the water was fixed, so that the privy could not be cleansed, and the atmosphere of the cell was thus rendered very offensive. The males’ infirmary was very dirty; and at the bottom of the .stairs leading up to it were several bundles of prisoners clothing carelessly thrown upon the ground, no place being provided for stowing them away.

Each cell is furnished with a towel, soap, and comb; and about six tubs are provided for washing the prisoners’ feet.

Irons are occasionally employed in the case of refractory prisoners. On the 2d October, 1837, two women who continued refractory were chained by the leg to the gate of their cells.

Irons are also used in conveying prisoners to the Town Hall for trial. We examined them, and found those in use of the following weights : 3¼ lbs., 4½ lbs., 5 lbs., and 5½ lbs.

The female prisoners are handcuffed as well as the male; and, when taken to court for trial, they are unattended by any female officer.

The following officers are employed in this prison:—

The governor, however, states that, in order to maintain an efficient discipline, he ought to have six turnkeys more, supposing the employment of wardsmen to be retained; and ten more, if wardsmen are dispensed with.

States that he has been 13 years governor, and has no other employment; has 200l. per annum salary, but no fees, and has nothing to do with any contracts; is allowed, as emoluments in addition to his salary, house, coals, candles, and soap. States that he goes all round the prison, and visits every cell and apartment three or four times a-week; that, when visiting the femaies’ prison, he is always attended by a female officer; that lie has a key of the females’ prison, and could go in alone, but would not do so; that he does not employ any jirisoner in any way in his service, tie has a garden; but cultivates it at his own expense. Admits that he has sometimes employed a prisoner, a wardsman, to dig the ground for him. States that female prisoners are not attended by a female officer when taken to the court for trial; but they are taken in a fly, apart from the male prisoners, and are placed in separate cells at the hall, but under the care of men,

Male prisoners go up to court handcufied and in irons. If prisoners are acquitted, they are nevertheless taken back to prison during sessions, still ironed and handcuffed on their return. States that prisoners are not employed in the manufactory before breakfast; does not know whether the magistrates are aware of this. Is of opinion that he needs half a dozen more officers if wardsmen are retained, and ten more without them. Has no opinion of wardsmen; lias found them the greatest aggressors; they exchange their handkerchiels and articles of clothing with other prisoners for bread, beer, and provisions. Wardsmen can open the cell doors, and communicate with prisoners all day long; has known many instances of this, and lias discharged many a wardsmen for such misconduct; has not entered these discharges in his journal, but has made them known to the visiting justices, is not of opinion that one officer could look after 50 prisoners, even if the treadwheels and workshops were better arranged; the officers have so many duties to perform, and to visit so many different passages and wards in the prison, and are so occupied in receiving provisions and other things that are brought into the prison, that it is impossible for them to have an eye to everything. The manufactory is the worst place of all. He believes that much more communication takes place than comes to his knowledge.

Tobacco is sometimes thrown over the walls; some was thrown over a few months ago, and it was directed to a particular prisoner.

To his knowledge there is no gaming, but there are opportunities for it amongst the wardsmen, and when three prisoners are together in a cell.

The 68th rule about prison clothing has not been carried into effect. Only such clothing is supplied as prisoners, untried or convicted, stand in need of.

In his opinion, the, prisoners, generally speaking, dislike solitary confinement more than any other system of discipline; now and then there may be one who does not mind it, but the generality decidedly do. Thinks the Separate System of discipline the best: it would deter from crime if anything would, and, generally speaking, it would have a good effect upon their morals. Does not think the Silent System would ever work well, or produce much good.: it is, in a great measure, done away by prisoners being together. Prisoners do not much mind the treadwheel; some would rather do it than be idle.

Rev. T. A. Nott states that he has been nearly 14 years chaplain. He has resigned his office, but still continues to perform the duties until next sessions.

He attends at the prison every morning at eight o’clock to read prayers in chapel; and from nine o’clock continues in the prison for the remainder of his four hours, unless prevented by indisposition.

He visits daily the prisoners in solitary confinement, each in his or her cell; he visits the sick in the infirmaries; he receives prisoners to admonish them, to read to them, and to hear them read; he has them up to his own room for this purpose, but not more than six at a time. His instructions have been very much limited to the unemployed, because he cannot have the people away from the treadwheel, where they are required to labour, not only in pursuance of sentence, but to keep np the requisite strength of the miller, who rents the labour at 30l. per annum, and for whom they are obliged to perform a certain amount of work, which cannot be accomplished without the requisite strength, if he had continued to hold his office of chaplain, he should have felt it his duty to remonstrate with the visiting justices on this subject, particularly with reference to the school. Unfortunately the numbers of the untried have, of late, been so great that he has had plenty to occupy his time with them. On Sunday he performs two full services in chapel, and preaches two sermons; and is occupied with the prisoners both before and after service, two hours before the morning, and for one hour after the evening service.

He also secs and examines every new prisoner on his admission, and inquires whether he can read or write, and at what school he has been educated; and he furnishes them with books according to their attainments.

On Wednesday and Friday he generally delivers an exhortation after the Morning Prayer, and occasionally, about three or four times a-year, administers the Lord’s Supper to such prisoners as in his opinion are in a fit state to receive it, and who are desirous to do so. He has found the prisoners to behave well on these occasions, and hns never been obliged tO reject any who nave offered themselves as candidates for the Holy Communion.

He occasionally superintends the school; about twice a-week. He also generally goes over the whole prison once a-week. He is of opinion that a great deal of evil arises from the employment of wardsmen who are convicts; he has no doubt there is whispering and talking even while pretending to join in the responses at chapel; there have been reports of this lately; has no doubt that much communication takes place in the prison. Is. decidedly of opinion that individual separation would produce the best effects, both to deter and reform, if employment and instruction could be given in the cells; has heard prisoners of a better kind say that they preferred separation, whilst bad ones would always complain of it, and would do anything rather than be locked up by themselves. He is not satisfied vvith the progress made by the prisoners in the school, in consequence of their not having the opportunity of attending it regularly: it is useless to send to the school those who are only in the prison for a few days, the untried, and the short sentences, and those who know more than the schoolmaster himself.

Mr. Turner states that he has been 14 years surgeon to the Lewes House of Correction; either himself or his assistant visits the prison every day, and daily sees every prisoner confined to the infirmary, every prisoner in solitary confinement, and every prisoner under punishment in the refractory cells.

He sees all prisoners on their admission before they are passed to their wards; and, in addition to these duties, lie attends at the prison whenever he is wunted or sent for; but he does not see every prisoner confined in the prison, whether well or ill, twice a-week, as required by the Gaol Act.

The situation of the prison is low, and it is frequently enveloped in fog and mist; but he considers it generally healthy.

The ventilation is deficient; certainly not so good as it ought to be.

He does not consider that any particular diseases are prevalent or peculiar to the prison diet, labour, or discipline; he has lost most prisoners by consumption. Rheumatism and colds are more prevalent than any other complaints.

Has never observed any bad consequences, either of body or mind, attend the solitary confinement. As they have no work, and are allowed their bedding all day, they wrap themselves up in their blankets and sleep away their time: many an idle fellow would prefer it. He does not consider that any serious result would attend the confinement of a prisoner in a solitary cell, of large size and well ventilated, with work and instruction; does not think that, with the ordinary periods of solitary confinement, the hours exercise daily given is necessary, even in the cells at present in use.

In his opinion, speaking generally, he should prefer treating the sick in their separate cells rather than in the infirmaries, if proper arrangements were made for attendance on the sick. He now uses the cells, though they are small, in preference to the infirmaries, which are very bad — in summer they are very hot, in winter cold. But small cells would be very improper for the treatment of smallpox or any active disease in the summer time : there should be a large room for these cases.

Scurvy at one time prevailed in the prison: by an increase of the diet it disnppeared. The diet was again diminished, and the scurvy again appeared. The diet was then permanently increased; the scurvy again disappeared, and has not since occurred.

He considers that very little dependence is to be placed in the wardsmen; he believes it is the fact that they are made the means of communication between the prisoners. A knowledge of everything that passes is obtained throughout the prison, which is a proof that communication takes place.

It is highly to the credit of the magistrates of this division of the county that they have provided at the Court-house separate cells for the prisoners awaiting trial. There are 28 separate cells for males, and four, together with one large cell, for females. We inspected the whole, and found them very convenient and comfortable. This is a most important improvement upon the practice too generally prevalent of crowding prisoners together in small, dark, and ill-ventilated apartments whilst awaiting their trials: it deserves the consideration of the magistrates generally, and we trust so good an example will be followed.