prevent escape, and close confinement is consequently enforced as a punishment under the authority of the bailiff, whose power is exclusive of that of the Magistrates: they are consequently not in the habit of visiting the prison.-In another gaol, there is on the first floor one room only, with two small divisions, or closets, taken off for the prisoners to sleep in. There is but one window, and that does not open to admit air. There is no yard for exercise: there is no privy, a tub being used instead. Debtors, as well as criminals, are confined here. The sessions are held only twice a year. The sexes cannot be kept separated when male and female prisoners are committed for trial, and the upper room is occupied by debtors: this is the case also when male and female debtors are confined at one time.

The Committee will refer to another prison only, which is attached to a borough whose population consists of upwards of 10,000 souls. At this place, the mayor is by charter the keeper of the prison. It is under the Guildhall, and consists of two rooms, or cells, in each of which is a window strongly barred. One of these cells may be more correctly denominated a dungeon, and the other is a most improper and unhealthy abode for any human being. A water-course runs through it; over which, in a corner of the room, is a privy. There is a small yard, but it is so unsafe that no prisoner is allowed to enter it for air and exercise, until he can procure two bondsmen as security against escape.

It is gratifying to turn from descriptions so revolting to a consideration of the improvements that are in progress in most of the County Gaols.

In the County Gaol at Bedford, an additional ward

has been formed for female debtors. In the new House of Correction a receiving-room and lazaretto-ward have been completed. Lunatic prisoners have rooms set apart for their reception in the County Asylum; and additional wards are to be provided for the separation of persons thus afflicted, who may be in a convalescent state.

In the County Gaol at Reading, a new female ward is completed, and alterations are made for the better classification of the prisoners, who now occupy ten divisions. The convicted work at the tread-wheel: the women wash and mend the prison clothing, &c.

The alterations and enlargement of the County Gaol at Aylesbury have been completed. A separate sleeping-cell is now provided for each prisoner. Additions have recently been made to the tread-wheel, in order to obtain increased power for supplying part of the town with water.

At Cambridge County Gaol, the prisoners are divided into ten classes, and it is in contemplation to form two additional wards for the women. All the male convicted prisoners are employed in grinding corn and raising water by the tread-wheel.

In the County Bridewell at Wisbeach, the male prisoners work at the tread-wheel in grinding corn. The wheel has a "gyrometer" affixed to it, for computing and regulating the daily amount of labour.

At Chester Castle, an additional number of sleeping-cells has been built. The prisoners continue to be employed in the manufacture of various articles of clothing, &c. The amount of earnings is about £800 per annum.

At the County House of Correction at Knutsford,

the number of classes has been increased. A considerable quantity of work, in various branches, has been performed by the prisoners, and a great expense has thus been saved to the county. The tread-wheel labour is also in operation here. The amount of the earnings last year was about £750.

In Bodmin County Gaol, a new ward has been erected for male debtors. The criminals are now divided into eight classes. Those sentenced to hard labour, work at the tread-wheel, hand flour-mill, and in sawing and polishing stone, &c. The system of mutual instruction is adopted among the prisoners, and much to their benefit. The women are visited by a Committee of Ladies.

The new Prison for the County of Cumberland, at Carlisle, has been completed, and was occupied during the last year. Many of the convicts have been employed in the erection of the new buildings. Four tread-wheels are put up in different divisions, and a portion of the prisoners' labour is used in raising water to supply the city. A new governor, matron, &c. are appointed. The liberal spirit evinced by the Magistracy of the county has rendered this establishment very complete.

Considerable progress has been made in finishing the new County Gaol at Derby, which is constructed on the most improved principles. A part of this building is now occupied by the prisoners. Employment has been afforded by the works carried on:-a tread-mill has been erected, at which the convicted are now constantly employed. A portion of the prisoners' time is occupied daily in reading and writing; and to this cause the visiting Magistrates attribute, in a great de

gree, the orderly conduct which has lately prevailed in the old gaol, under the disadvantages of an imperfect system of separation and employment.

It is highly satisfactory to state that the County Prisons at Exeter are undergoing very considerable enlargement. In the Gaol, about ten additional day-rooms will be provided, with a separate court to each; and work-rooms are to be attached to several of the di visions. A distinct building will contain work-rooms for the women. A detached infirmary is to be erected, with separate wards and courts, for males and females. At the House of Correction some additional buildings are in contemplation, in order to increase the number of sleeping-cells, at present very inadequate to the number of prisoners. The tread-wheel machinery is in operation in four distinct courts.

The construction of the County Prison at Dorchester has been recently improved. A gallery, or passage, is formed in connection with the central building (occupied by the officers), so as to afford an easy mode of communication with the prisoners' wards, and to admit of inspection over the airing-courts. The male convicted prisoners are employed at the tread-wheel; but the practice of placing the women to work on the wheel has been discontinued for some time,-the labour not being considered suitable to the habits of females.

At Durham County Gaol, provision has been made for two additional classes. The tread-wheel labour, the breaking of flax, weaving, and making coarse sacking, &c. are the several employments.

The new House of Correction for the county of Essex has been completed, and a part is occupied by the prisoners. The buildings, which consist of seven

distinct wings, are on the radiating principle. It is, however, much to be regretted that the interior of the prisoners' wards is so constructed as not to be under inspection from the officers' central station, the yards only being visible. The prison is calculated for: about 240 persons, in separate sleeping-cells. Some of the convicts have been employed as labourers in completing the works. The crank-machine, invented, by Hase, for manual labour in solitary cells, has been put up, the principle of which is much approved. The prisons at Chelmsford will in future be used only for offenders before trial, debtors, and all female prisoners. Several of the small local jurisdictions have contracted with the county Magistrates for the charge and maintenance of their prisoners.*

Some alterations have been made in the County, Gaol at Gloucester, to extend the classification, &c. A new prison for debtors exclusively is building in this city. The present debtors' wards of the County Gaol are to be added to the Penitentiary, and to form separate wards for juvenile offenders. The male convicts work at the tread-wheels, in grinding corn for hire; and many of the untried are employed in different occupations. At Horsley and Northleach Houses of Correction, the labour of the tread-wheel now nearly supersedes all other employments for the men.

In the County Gaol at Winchester, some alterations have been made in the buildings, and the interior of some of the wards can now be inspected from the turnkey's apartments in the centre-an advantage which is

The insane prisoner who was confined in the gaol at Chelmsford, for several years, has been removed to a private lunatic asylum, at the expense of the county.

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