food, for prisoners at hard labour, is 2s. 7 d., and for those who do not work, 1s. 2d. per head. The dietary is the same as in the last year.

No females are employed at the tread-wheel; they wash and mend clothes, and pick feathers, under the superintendence of a matron, lately appointed. The number of prisoners has, for some time, been much reduced. In 1823, the greatest number in confinement at one time was 103, and the whole number of commitments during the year, 281, of whom 258 were employed. The number of re-commitments, during that period, was 17. Only one prisoner was put in irons during the year he had attempted to break prison, and had previously made his escape from Hertford gaol.

This prison was erected in 1807, and cost upwards of £20,000.

CAMBRIDGE.

Town Gaol.

July 1824.

Ar the time of this visit, there were twelve men and two women in this prison: it contains two small yards for male and one for female prisoners, and the latter can with facility converse with the men in the next yard. The interior had recently been whitewashed, and appeared generally clean; but the drainage must be badly contrived, and in the tread-wheel chamber (where of all others the ventilation should be good) the smell of the drains was very offensive. The keeper's kitchen has a window looking into each of the men's yards, and which is of essential service, by enabling him occasionally to hear and see what passes in them.

The prison is in a confined situation, and its defects are such as to render it almost impossible to improve the building, so as to meet the objects and designs of the recent legislative enactments. The prison has been presented by the grand jury, and the question of its being rebuilt is understood to be still entertained: it is not improbable, however, that the magistrates may ultimately avail themselves of the power granted by the Act of this sessions, (5 Geo. 4, c. 85,) by which they may contract with the county, for the reception and maintenance of their prisoners in the county gaol or house of correction.

CAMBRIDGE.

Town Bridewell.-The Spinning House.

July 1824. To this bridewell are chiefly committed disorderly women, taken up in the streets at night by the proctors of the University, whose civil authority supersedes that of the town magistrates after sunset. It has recently been rebuilt on a commodious plan. The yards radiate from the keeper's house. There are thirty-six good cells, furnished with bedding; there are also cells for solitary confinement, and several day-rooms, all appearing in good order.

There are now only four females in confinement, but as many as twenty-eight of this class have been here at one time. It is generally acknowledged that there is no diminution in the number of such offenders, in the streets of this town, but on the contrary a decided increase. This melancholy circumstance is entitled to serious consideration, and in no place does it deserve more attention than within the precincts of an University. The treatment at present adopted in this bridewell does not appear to be much calculated to deter or to reform its inmates; no hard labour is enforced, although its name indicates that spinning was once carried on. From the state of health in which these females are received, it is stated, that they are in general unfit for work; it is probable, however, that this is not often the case, or they would not be found walking the streets, for hours, at all seasons, during the night.

There is no appointment for the attendance of any minister of religion: occasional visits have been made, of late, by a benevolent clergyman of this place; it is hoped, however, that the University, under whose jurisdiction this bridewell is placed, will before long see the necessity of supplying this deficiency.

WISBEACH.

County House of Correction.

May 1824.

A TREAD-MILL has lately been erected in this prison for grinding wheat into flour, at fourpence per bushel, free of toll, and which has nearly full employment. At this mill the prisoners committed

for labour are employed under the direction of the keeper, from the hour of nine to twelve, and from one to five, working in a class of about 12 men at a time for fifteen minutes on the wheel. The prisoners are allowed five minutes rest between coming off and going on the wheel.

CHESHIRE.

CHESTER.

Chester Castle, County Gaol.

Aug. 1824.

Tuis prison has been described in the previous Reports of the Society. The governor's rooms look down upon all the yards; these, together with the semi-octagonal range of building, containing the prisoners day and night cells, are situated on the side of the Castle Hill. Two large gas burners, which are placed on each side of the governor's house, illuminate the greater part of the interior of the prison at night, and must greatly tend to discourage attempts to escape.

The discipline of the prison appears to be excellent, and great quietness was observed among the prisoners. The yards, dayrooms, and night-cells shewed much attention to cleanliness and order. A large proportion of the prisoners were employed: the annexed statement is a copy of the labour book kept by the task-master.

The greater part of the articles of clothing and bed furniture are manufactured by the prisoners. There are, besides, about seventeen looms at work, with calico weaving for Manchester houses. The store-room presented the appearance of a complete depository of useful prison articles of almost every description. There were on the day of this visit, ninety-one prisoners, viz.

Divine service is performed in the chapel three times a week, and two sermons are delivered on Sundays. The chapel is divided into compartments for the several classes, but they are not sufficiently secluded from the view of each other.

There is a large room used as a school-room, where about twenty boys and young men were under the instruction of a school-master, (a convict) who appeared well suited for the office: they were attentive and orderly, and several of the boys have learnt to read tolerably well, during their confinement.

A male and female infirmary are much wanted in this prison, while the plan of it is such as will probably make it difficult to provide them as detached buildings: the entrance of the prison passes directly through the debtors' yard;-an inconvenience, and scarcely to be remedied.

There are forty-eight separate sleeping cells, but the greatest number of prisoners at one time in the last year was 112. The number of prisoners committed during the year was 124. The number of recommittals has been seven.

The cost of maintenance for the quarter ending July 1824, of an average number of sixty-five prisoners, is £61. 19s. 4d. or Is. 5 d. each per week.

£. 8. d.

1913 10

76 9 6

114 14 4

The total amount of earnings for the year ending July 1824, was £746. 11s. 4d. of which the prisoners receive one-fourth, the governor one-tenth, the task-master one-twentieth, and the county the remaining 60 per cent.

CHESTER.

City Gaol and Bridewell.

Aug. 1824.

THIS prison is situated near the city walls, on an airy site of ground: it consists of a large range of buildings, in the centre of which are the governor's apartments and an excellent chapel. Considerable improvements are now in progress, by which the classification will be increased from five to about as many more distinct departments, each containing a day-room and airingyard. The external wall has been raised several feet, and some