LETTER XXXIII. ON PRISONS. Paulum fepultæ diftat inertiæ Mr. URBAN, HOR. Sambrook Court, Sept. 24. as to add to the aggregate of good, in the prevention of vice, and diminution of human infelicity. The legal Statutes have invefted the Magiftrate with fufficient power, if duly exercifed, to effect in a confiderable degree thefe important objects-not fo much by coercion and feverity as it perfonally refpects the prifoner, as by the regular and temperate adminiftration of juftice and restraint, under a full impreffion of the fentiment of Seneca, the preceding letter individual ex Qui non vetat peccare cum poffit jubet †. In perufing the management of the County Gaol of Flint, what reformation can be expected to refult from the performance of clerical duty once a month only, in a prifon too where men and women affociate promifcuoufly during the day? Impreffive must be the monthly labours of the Clergyman whofe admonitions fhall maintain their influence during fo long an interval; or tenacious of good received mutt be the Crminals. Admitting, however, thefe poffibilities, might not fome additional benefit be communicated, were the Gaoler to read prayers daily in the prefence of thefe unfortunate objects, which certainly could not be confidered as a painful or laborious tafk? If, like the candidate for the domeftic fervice of the late Jonas Hanway, it fhould be deemed fo by the Gaoler, like to him it might be made up in his falary. * Virtue or energy, when concealed, differs but little from barren inertnefs. He orders the commifion of a crime who does not forbid it, when it is in his power. This excellent Philanthropist, when he wanted a fervant, publicly advertifed, and formed his decifion from phyfiognomy and converfation, and not from any verbal or written recommendation. On one occafion, being fatisfied with a perfon to be admitted as a domeftick, he concluded by faying that it was the practice in his family to read prayers twice a day, and fuppofed that he had no objection to join in the fervice. "No," replied, the man, "provided you will make it up to me in my wages." Ruthin Gaol and Houfe of Correction afford pleafing contrafts in moft refpects; and we fhall have, I truft, other occafions of commemorating the great improvements in the prifons in. general throughout the Principality of Wales; and that the commendableexertions of the Magifirates and perfons in authority correfpond with the fentiments expreffed in the infcription over the door of Ruthin Gaol, as well' as with thofe of our own Poet: 'Tis the firft fan&tion Nature gave to man, Each other to affift in what they can. DENHAM on Juftice. To find occafion of commendation is one great object of the hazardous purfuits of my Friend NEILD. He who has facrificed a long life in dark and loathfome dungeons muft experience fingular felicity in fubftituting light, air, and comfort, to the moll friendlefs clafs of mankind. This affords a fufficient reward to his mind, as he has often faid to J. C. LETTSOM. DENBIGH. Thomas Williams, Gaoler; falary 61.; fees none. This Gaol, built 1790, is in the middle of the Highfireet, and confifts of 3 rooms, about 9. feet by 6 each, lighted by an aperture in the wall 36 inches by 8. Straw on, brick floors. No court; no water; prifon very dirty; keeper lives dislant; allowance 6d. a day. Prifoners, 29th October, 1802, none. The prifon called. The Black Hole, under the Town-hall, is now converted into a fhop. falary 501. and 71. in lien of fees; but RUTHIN. Humphry Jones, Gaoler ; the Under-fheriff demands 3s. 6d. from each Debtor for his liberate; for Tranf ports makes a Bill. Garnish, Debtors 2s. 6d.; Felons 1s. Chaplain, Rev. Richard Jones; duty, Sunday morn ing, prayers and fermon; falary 301. Surgeon, Mr. Nichols; falary 301. Allowance to Debtors and Felons 2s. per week each. This Gaol has in front apartments for the Gaoler; backwards, on the ground-floor, a day-room for Debtors, 27 feet by 15; and another, the fame fize, for Criminals; and for the latter only 4 cells, 7 feet by 64; 2 on each fide of a paffage but 3 feet wide. The cells are arched with brick, and lined with oak-planks. In each there is a bedftead, with two blankets and a coverlet. A window in each, 3 feet by 1. In both Debtors' and Felons' day-rooms are 8 cupboards, with feparate locks and and keys, that each may fecure his provifion. Above are 9 rooms for Debtors, about 13 feet by 11; and a neat chapel. Thefe are all free wards, as the County allows to the Keeper 1s. per week for room-rent; but, if the Keeper furnishes a bed, each Debtor pays Is. weekly for the ufe of it. In each of the Debtors' rooms is an iron bedstead, two chairs, and a table. Separate courts for Debtors and Criminals, about 29 yards by 14; in each a pump, with excellent water, and a bathing-room, with a copper, &c. No infirmary. Men and Women Debtors and Men and Women Felons affociate together in the day, but are feparate at night. Act for prefervation of health, and Claufes against fpirituous liquors, both hung up. The gaol clean, white'washed once a year. Great Seffions held here twice a year, March and Augult. Prifoners, 29th October, 1802: Debtors 4; Felons, &c. 5. Ruthin Houfe of Correction adjoins the Gaol. Robert Jones, Keeper; falary 201. There are two court-yards feparate; and for men a large dayroom on the ground-floor, and a large room above, with 4 iron bedsteads, fackings, flock-beds, 2 blankets, and a coverlet. For women, a large room below, 2 above, and 2 in the garret, with beds and bedding, the fame as the men. Allowance, 2s. per week. No employment. Neither the Act for prefervation of health, or Claufes againft fpirituous liquors, hung up. The rooms well ventilated, and the gaol clean. Prifoner, Oct. 29, 1802, 1. P.S. This Gaol is undergoing very confiderable improvements, to the honour of the County. New apartments are building for the Gaoler; a feparate kitchen, rooms, and court-yard, for female Debtors; a feparate kitchen, *Denbigh Seffions, 10th July, 1802. "Ordered, That the Keeper of the Houfe of Correction at Ruthin bring his Prifoners every Sunday to attend Divine Service in the Chapel of the County Gaol; and that the Gaoler do give notice of the time of fervice, and be aiding and affifting in bringing those Prifoners there and back." "And it is further ordered, That all Prifoners who fhall receive the County Allowance in the Gaol and Houfe of Cor rection at Ruthin do attend Divine Service in the Chapel every Sunday; and that every Pritoner-refufing, except for fome reafonable caufe, be topt his or her al lowance." rooms, and court, for female Felons; a hofpital, or fick ward, with rooms above, for males and females; a room for fines; 3 penitentiary cells, each 10 feet by 6; and work-rooms for the prifoners; which, when finished, wit make it a very good Gaol. At the front of this Gaol, on an oval white marble, is this infcription: The Magiftrates, fenfible of the miferable state in compaffion to the Unfortunate, this Building to be erected, MDCCLXXV. J. TURNER, Architect. Infcribed over the door of the County Houfe of Correction at Ruthin : County Workhouse for Industry or Correction. COUNTY GAOL at FLINT. Gaoler, Robert Williams; falary 451.; fees, Debtors 6s.; befides which, fome of the Under-fheriff's demand 3s. 6d. for their liberate, others do not. Fees, Felons 3s. 6d. Garnish abolished. Chaplain, Rev. George Davies; duty, once a month!! falary 201. Surgeon, Mr. Ingleby at Holywell; falary 301.; allowance to Debtors and Felous 4s. per week, out of which 1s. is paid for a bed. Number of Prifoners 3d April, 1800: Deb ors 2; Felons, &c. 3. 23d October, 1802; Debtors 3; Felons, &c. 5. This Gaol, fitnate near the Old Caftle, is alfo a Bridewell. The Gaoler's apartments are on the ground-floor in front, and the entrance through an iron latticed door. For Felons there are 5 fleeping-cells, divided by a paffage about 3 feet wide; one of them totally dark; the others are lighted and ventilated by an iron-grated aperture in the wall, about 24 inches by 6. Each cell is about 9 feet by 6, with arched roof, and fitted up with a wood bedRead, ftraw, 2 blankets, and a rug. They have a day-room (with a fireplace), about 15 feet fquare, and a court, with a pump in it, about 15 yards fquare. Men and Women Crither during the day. For minals affociate promifcuoufly toge Debtors there is, below ftairs, a free ward, which is likewife their day-room; it is 24 feet by 15; and a court, with a pump in it, about 15 yards fquare. Malier's-fide Debtors have 5 rooms up poor flairs, fairs, facious and light; they are di vided by a lobby 2 yards wide; 4 of them have fire-places and each Debtor pays 1s. per week for his bed. There is a warm and cold bath, and an infirmary. The Rules and Orders, as fettled by the Magiftrates, 1787, are hung up. The Claufes against fpirituous liquors are fuck up; but not the Ad for prefervation of health. The Prifon clean. The Houfe of Correction, which adjoins, has 2 finall rooms up-fairs, one for men, the other for women, dark and ill ventilated, low cielings, about 6 feet high only; the bedftead of one is of in, the other of wood; each room has a small court. No employment furnished. Prifoners, 33d October, 1802, none. At the front of this Prison, on a black and white marble, is this InScription: In the wrote to his wife fome hours before his execution. You can form no idea of the general indignation this murder has excited here and every where elfe in Germany. The pity of his fate is only furpaffed by the abhorrence of the Tyrant who commanded and directed the affaffins who perpetrated this atrocious deed. "In the Dungeon of the Military Prison of Brannau, August 26, 1806.Six o'clock in the Morning. "MY DEAREST BELOVED, "When you read thefe lines you are a widow, and our dear, dear children have no longer a father. My deftiny is fixed; in five hours I ceafe to live. But though I die the_death of a criminal, you know that I have committed no crime; I fall a victim of the prefent calamitous times! times when an untimely death can neither Twenty-fifth Year of his Majefty Gro. III. difhonour a man whofe whole life has in the Sheriffalty of to the mifery of even the moft Guilty, to alleviate the fufferings of leffer Offenders, or of the Innocent themselves, whom the chances of human life may bring within these walls. Done at the expence of the County, aided by fubfcriptions of feveral of the Gentry, in the midst of most distressful days, voluntarily took on themselves part of the burthen, in compaffion to fuch of their countrymen on whom been irreproachable, nor throw a ftain on his furviving family. In our mife rable days what Virtue has not expired by the hands of the executioner!-Do not let your affliction for the fate of a hufband deprive you of firmnefs to fupport the duties of a mother. Our dear, dear babies (Oh, my God! I fhall never more prefs them or you to ble claim on your maternal love, as my burfing heart!) have now a douwell as on your maternal tenderness. Implant on their tender minds all thofe virtuous fentiments which made their good mother fo very dear to their unfortunate father. I advise you to collect, as foon as poffible, the wreck of our fortune (if any), and to retire with it to England or America. In thofe fortunate lands Innocence is ftill fecure, and Patriotifim is yet revered.— In my laft fervent prayers I recommended you all to the protection of an Omnipotent Providence, and to the compaflion of thofe contemporary Patriots of all countries whofe noble bofoms fympathife with my own feelings, and deplore, if not weep, over the deftruction of Liberty in wretched Germany. - Reward the friend who delivers this; and forgive, and teach our dear children to forgive, my murderer. May Heaven pardon him as much as I do! I cannot-I dare not fay more;-my breal is too full. Oh, my God! never more to behold and embrace them and you !!!—Almighty Creator, bless and preserve you all, un |