pounds per annum is allowed for the purchase of Bibles and religious books, for the use of the prisoners. A matron is appointed for the females. The building of a new county-hall is now in progress, the site of which adjoins the prison grounds. LINCOLN. City Gaol and House of Correction. Jan. 1824. THIS prison, which has been erected only a few years, cost about £10,000, including the sessions-house, which is adjoining. It contains 12 separate rooms and cells; five rooms are used as day-rooms: there is also a work-room containing machinery for breaking flax, but this apartment has not been in use during the last year, the labour having been attended with loss. There are six yards, but they are not under inspection. No chapel has been provided, nor has any chaplain been appointed. The prisoners are supplied with Bibles and other religious books. The greatest number of prisoners at one time in the last year was 13, including two debtors. The whole number of commitments was 95, but the greater part of this number consisted of persons apprehended on night-charges, disorderly women, or vagrants, several of whom were only in custody for a few days. The number of re-committals was five. The weekly dietary costs 2s. 74d. per head. The only prisoner kept in irons was a convicted felon, for about ten weeks prior to his removal to the hulks. LOUTH. County House of Correction. May 1824. THIS prison having been reported by the visiting magistrates, at the general quarter sessions, as not in a state to comply with the classification and requirements of the late Gaol Act, land has been purchased for its enlargement. Plans were submitted at the last quarter sessions, and approved: the additions are therefore to be made with as little delay as possible. The prison contains two day-rooms and airing-yards for males, and two day-rooms and airing-yards for females, but they are not under inspection. There is no infirmary for the sick, nor reception-room for prisoners on admission. The sleeping-rooms will accommodate 76 males and 16 females, by two sleeping in a bed. The greatest number of prisoners at one time last year was 98; the number at Michaelmas 1823, 78; viz. debtors 11, misdemeanants 43, felons 24. The number of commitments during the year was 399. The chaplain attends twice on every Sunday, and reads the church service and preaches a sermon. He also attends every Tuesday and Thursday to read prayers. Bibles, prayer-books, and religious tracts are given out to the prisoners. The tread-mill is employed in grinding corn, and the produce is disposed of by the sale of flour. The prisoners are divided into two distinct compartments, and while on the wheel are under the inspection of the governor or his assistant: 48 male prisoners are employed at the same time; 12 men in each class are at work at one time, making 24 at constant work. They go 30 rounds upon the wheel, of 24 steps in each round, making 720 steps: they are then relieved by the 24 resting men. The hours of daily labour are ten in summer and seven in winter. The governor states that he is confident that the health of the prisoners is improved by the labour of the tread-mill, and that the conduct of the prisoners, since they have been thus employed, has been more orderly than before. The morals of the prisoners when employed, are much better than when in idleness. In the latter case they were frequently inventing some mischief, gaming, quarrelling with each other, or using profane and debauched conversation; but now that they are employed and under inspection, their behaviour is good and orderly, and they pay increased attention to the religious instruction of the chaplain. If classification could be strictly attended to, it would be very beneficial to the prisoners' morals, as old offenders endeavour to corrupt those who are better disposed. The profit of labour in the last quarter allowed to prisoners, (paid on their discharge)....... Paid to the treasurer of the county-stock. . . . . . Profit, from Epiphany to Easter sessions last.... £. S. d. 15 11 5 8 14 7 24 6 0 Total amount in three years 149 11 8 93 5 4242 17 0 No irons are used, excepting on the removal of prisoners. From Easter sessions 1821, to Easter sessions 1822, the number of criminals committed was 32. From Easter sessions 1822, to Easter sessions 1823, 50. Of 78 prisoners in confinement at Michaelmas last, only two had been in prison before. Crime, in 1822 and 1823, was increasing, but not generally throughout this district; occasioned probably by a few disorderly houses to which both male and female offenders resorted. Those houses have been suppressed. The female prisoners, who are placed under the superintendence of a matron, wash and mend the clothing and bedding. The inferior officers employed in the prison are two turnkeys and a miller. Dietary for Louth Prison. Breakfast every morning-One pint of milk, boiled in winter, and cold in summer. Dinner-Sunday.-Eight ounces of pudding made of shelled barley, with sugar, baked; eight ounces of meat, without bone; one pound of potatoes, with salt. Monday.-One pint of broth boiled from the meat of Sunday; one pound of potatoes; and salt. Tuesday.-To those prisoners who are placed at labour six ounces of meat, without bone; one pint of broth; one pound of potatoes, and salt. Those that are not at hard labour, have no meat on Tuesday. Wednesday.-One pint of broth from the meat of Tuesday; one pound of potatoes, and salt. Thursday. Six ounces of meat without bone, to all prisoners : one pint of broth; one pound of potatoes, and salt. Friday.One pint of broth from the meat of Thursday; one pound of potatoes, and salt. Saturday.-One pint of pease soup, with the meat stewed in it; one pound of potatoes, and salt. Supper. The same as at breakfast. Eight pounds of wheaten bread per week, to each prisoner at hard labour, in two loaves of four pounds each; and five pounds to each prisoner that does not labour, in two loaves of two pounds and a half each;-to be baked twelve hours before delivered. SPALDING. County House of Correction. Jan. 1824. In consequence of the defective state of this prison, a new building is erecting in lieu thereof. For want of room, no classification has been hitherto observed. There are eight sleeping-rooms, and four solitary cells, but 39 prisoners have been confined at one time. No employment is provided, there being no work-rooms. The duties of the chaplain have been suspended until the new prison is finished. Irons are used for prisoners under sentence of transportation. The weekly cost of food is 2s. 8d. per head. No matron has been appointed. The keeper and turnkey are the only officers. Five prisoners were re-committed last year; and the whole number of commitments, during the year, was 138. FOLKINGHAM. County House of Correction. Jan. 1824. > THE prisoners are divided into four classes, with separate dayrooms and yards, the latter of which are under inspection. There are two work-rooms, and thirteen sleeping-rooms. The employment is grinding flour by the hand-crank mill, and also spinning worsted. Convicted prisoners receive one-fourth of their earnings; prisoners before trial receive one-half. The weekly cost of food is 1s. 10d. per head. The prisoners are supplied with Bibles, Testaments and Prayerbooks, but no provision is made for their instruction. The chaplain reads prayers once a week; and also on Sundays, when he preaches a sermon. Irons were used last year in two cases, for attempting to escape from prison. The number of committals last year was 149, and of recommittals 5. The greatest number of prisoners at one time was 40. The officers are a keeper, matron, and turnkey. SKIRBECK. County House of Correction. Jan. 1824. THIS prison, although erected as recently as in 1809, is on a defective plan, being without inspection or proper classification. There are eight sleeping-rooms, in which 21 prisoners have been confined at one time, consisting of debtors, felons, and misdemeanants. The number of commitments last year was 94. The employment consists of a tread-wheel and hand-mill. The prisoners labour six hours in the day. No earnings are allowed. The cost of food is 6d. per day for each prisoner. There is no chaplain, but the prisoners are supplied with Bibles and Prayer-books. There is no matron. The keeper is the only officer. BOSTON. Borough Gaol and Bridewell. Jan. 1824. In this small prison two tread-wheels, of about six feet diameter, have been put up, for the employment of prisoners sentenced to hard labour, who grind corn for hire. One wheel will contain eight, and the other six persons. A portion of their earnings is given to the prisoners on their discharge, |