No prison clothing is provided, excepting in cases of extreme

want.

The sessions take place twice only in the year; and thus a female committed for trial may remain for nearly six months, compelled to associate day after day with persons of both sexes, of the most abandoned characters, and may afterwards be acquitted. Some years ago, the sessions were held but once in the year. An instance of the injurious consequences of this delay in the gaol-delivery occurred, in the case of a girl, 17 years of age, committed for stealing a trifling article, who was imprisoned twelve months, and left the gaol with child. Howard exposed the very imperfect state of this prison, and in consequence some alterations were at that time made, but little or nothing has been done since he visited it, forty years ago.

YARMOUTH.

Bridewell.

Jan. 1824.

THE entrance to the bridewell is by a door from the workhouse court, which opens into a small yard 24 feet by 10 feet. The prison consists of a small low brick building, the roof of which inclines from 12 to 6 feet in height from the ground. It contains four cells, each 10 feet by 8 feet, and 8 feet high, constructed of wood, having a grated window about 2 feet square: the windows are not glazed. No firing is allowed. To the floor of the cell a log of wood is fixed, to which a chain is attached, of sufficient length to allow the prisoner to be chained down in bed. This chain is said to be used in cases of refractory conduct, by being fastened on the leg of the prisoner. The men and women who occupy these cells may converse with each other from their open windows, all the day, without molestation; for the house which the keeper inhabits, is not attached to the prison, neither is there any apartment contiguous to it. Owing to the great insecurity of the yard, the prisoners are generally kept close in their cells in the day as well as night. The following remark of Howard's therefore is still applicable. He says, in his observation on this prison, "there is a small court, to which the prisoners have no access: there is no privy, tubs being used in lieu thereof."

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

NORTHAMPTON.

County Gaol and House of Correction.

Aug. 1824.

THIS prison contains eleven wards, or departments, with a small airing-yard to each, but which are not under inspection from the keeper's house. There are forty sleeping-cells, but at one time in the last year 114 persons were in confinement.

No material alteration has taken place, in the construction or general management, since the Report published in 1822, excepting in the appointment of a matron to superintend the female prisoners. Good order, industry, and cleanliness continue to be observed. The corn-mills have been in active operation during the last year, and although not attended with an equal advantage, in a pecuniary point of view, to former years, yet the beneficial effects arising from this species of corrective discipline are unquestionable.

The employments consist of grinding and dressing corn, baking for the prison and county infirmary, splitting beans, and wire-drawing. The earnings are 8d. for each bushel of corn, and 7d. for each ring of wire. Prisoners, before trial, are allowed one-half their earnings, and convicted prisoners one-fourth.

The dietary is 14lb. of bread per day, one quart of gruel, and one quart of soup. On Sundays each prisoner has eight pennyworth of meat, as an encouragement for good behaviour: the weekly cost per head is 3s. 3d. A sufficient stock of gaol clothing is kept, to be used when necessary, and bedding is provided.

The chaplain attends three times a week to instruct the prisoners, who are supplied with Bibles and other books. He also reads prayers, and preaches a sermon every Sunday.

The number of prisoners at present is forty-nine. The following statement shews that crime is on the decrease in this county, the number of committals being considerably less, and the felonies bearing a much smaller proportion to them in the latter than in the former period.

From Midsummer 1822 to Midsummer 1823, there were 346 prisoners committed. Of these, 98 were for felonies, and 248 for assaults, cases of bastardy, misdemeanors, and other minor offences. From Midsummer 1823 to Midsummer 1824, there were 274 committed. Of these, 67 were for felonies, and 207 for minor offences, being a reduction of about 20 per cent. from

the preceding year in the commitments, and more than 30 per cent. in those for felony. It is, perhaps, difficult to assign a cause for this diminution, but it may doubtless in some measure be ascribed to the effects of the discipline mills.

Only one prisoner was put in irons during the year, and only five re-committals took place.

The officers are a keeper, matron, two turnkeys, a baker, and a watchman.

The county-hall adjoins this prison.

NORTHAMPTON.

Town Gaol and Bridewell.

Aug. 1824, AN addition of four night-cells and two day-rooms (the latter 21 feet by 16 feet) was made to this prison about two years ago. It now contains five day-rooms, two of which are used as workrooms, and thirteen night-cells, all of which are well ventilated; there are seven yards, and an airing-ground of about 500 yards area.

Iron bedsteads are to be substituted for the wooden ones now in use. The employments have been principally shoe-making and lace-making, but these not being adapted to general application, as corrective discipline, a steel-mill has been ordered by the magistrates, for grinding wheat and dressing flour, which is capable of being worked by one or two persons: this, with a small beanmill, will, it is supposed, afford sufficient employment for the usual number of prisoners.

The greatest number of prisoners at one time during the last year, was twenty, the number at present is five.

There is no chapel, nor any provision for the religious instruction of the prisoners: not even a Bible is allotted to each of the day-rooms.

The allowance of sixpence per day is continued as before.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

MORPETH.

County Gaol and House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THE building of the new county prisons, already in a state of forwardness, is proceeding with every possible dispatch. They

will, when completed, possess the requisites to carry into effect the classification required by the new Prison Act.

Felons and prisoners sentenced to hard labour are employed as labourers in the works of the new erection. A tread-wheel is placed in the prison-yard, and the prisoners are frequently employed in raising stone for the buildings and outer wall.

In the present gaol the male felons are kept separate from the females, and the male debtors from the female debtors; but there is only one airing-yard. The house of correction has two yards, with a day-room for men, and another day-room for women, but there is no inspection into either prison. There are no separate apartments for the sick. The women are employed in knitting, spinning and sewing, and they receive their earnings. The prisoners in the gaol are allowed fourpence a day each in money, and those in the house of correction receive sixpence each daily.

The chaplain reads the church service in the gaol on Sundays, and preaches a sermon. There is no chaplain appointed to the house of correction. The prisoners are furnished with Bibles, but there is no provision for instruction.

The number of committals during the last year to the gaol, was 63; and to the house of correction, 89. No re-committals took place, and only two prisoners were put in irons. Each prison has a separate keeper and turnkey.

TYNEMOUTH.

County House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

In this prison there are only two divisions, or classes, with two airing-yards, a kitchen and day-room, and seven sleepingcells attached to each yard. There is no work-room, and but little means of employment for the prisoners. Picking oakum is sometimes carried on by the men, and the women spin and knit. The earnings are trifling. Each prisoner is allowed fourpence a day in money for food.

There is no chapel, and no chaplain attends the prison. The keeper furnishes the prisoners with Bibles and Testaments.

The number of prisoners committed in 1823, was 75; and the greatest number at one time in confinement was 11. Only one re-committal took place.

There is no officer besides the keeper.

ALNWICK.

County House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THE construction of this building does not admit of further classification than the separation of males from females, there being only two day-rooms, with two airing-yards, which are not under inspection, and the walls are so low as to render the yards insecure for the prisoners to take exercise therein. The keeper has a kitchen and small office, and there is a large room up stairs, which is used for the meetings of the magistrates. There are six sleeping-cells, but as many as twenty-four prisoners were confined at one time in the last year. The whole number committed was ninety-one.

The prisoners are employed in beating sand or picking oakum, but the earnings are very small. Each prisoner receives a daily portion of food, which costs fourpence.

There are no separate apartments for the sick. There is no chapel, nor chaplain. The keeper generally reads a portion of scripture, or a sermon, to the prisoners on Sundays, and he lends them Bibles and Testaments.

Irons are used for refractory prisoners.

HEXHAM.

County House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THIS prison has been recently enlarged, it having previously been in a very unsafe and defective condition. It is now divided into three wards, or classes, for males, females, and boys. The division for males has two day-rooms: the females have two dayrooms, and the boys have one room: an airing-yard is provided for each of these three classes, but the inspection is by no means complete. There is also a separate room for the reception of vagrants, but no yard is attached to it.

The male prisoners are employed in beating sand, unless they can be occupied in their respective trades. The women spin, knit, and sew. The number of prisoners being few, the earnings are but small: one-half is generally given to them. Each prisoner receives fourpence daily in money, in order to purchase food. No chapel is provided, nor does any chaplain attend the prison.