EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE COMMITTEE. THE reader is particularly referred to the tabular statement which follows these extracts, for the number of offenders in confinement at each prison, during each of the last three years; and the greatest number of prisoners, at one time, in the last year; also, the number of classes or divisions, and of sleeping-cells, in each prison; the proportion of prisoners employed; the proportion of sick, and the number of deaths; and the weekly cost of food per head. England. BEDFORDSHIRE. BEDFORD.-County Prisons. January, 1830. DURING the last year, several additional sleeping-cells have been constructed at the New House of Correction, which adjoins the gaol. There has been no other material alteration since the publication of the last Report. There is still no employment for prisoners before trial. The convicted male prisoners work at the tread-mills, and also at the hand-crank mills, which are employed in grinding corn, &c. The hours of labour are ten in summer, eight in spring and autumn, and six in winter. The females are occupied in washing, and making the prison clothing, &c. The dietary for each prisoner is 1lb. 14oz. of bread daily: such prisoners as are kept at hard labour have each a quart of soup' in addition. The number of commitments has increased about one sixth during the last year. BERKSHIRE. READING.-County Gaol and House of Correction. January, 1830. SINCE the last Report, the wards for the debtors have been rebuilt on an improved plan, with a separate infirmary. The convicted prisoners, sentenced to hard labour, work at the tread-mill. The women are employed in washing and mending the linen, &c. The hours of labour are ten in summer, and eight in B 187071 winter. Prisoners before trial are allowed 2 lbs. of bread and two quarts of gruel daily, and meat and broth for Sunday's dinuer. Convicted prisoners who work at the tread-wheels are allowed 14lb. of bread daily, two quarts of gruel on three days in the week, and meat and broth on the other three days and Sundays. Convicted prisoners, not at hard labour, have meat and broth only on Sundays, and two quarts of gruel on the other days. There has been a decrease in the number of commitments during the last year. READING.-Borough Gaol. January, 1830. THIS gaol is now used only for the temporary confinement of offenders taken up within the local jurisdiction, a contract having been entered into with the county magistrates, for the care and maintenance of all prisoners committed from the borough. ABINGDON.-County House of Correction. April, 1830. THE only change in the discipline at this prison is in the introduction of the hand-crank mill, as a means of hard labour for the male prisoners, who are thus employed, in separate gangs, in grinding corn. The hours of labour are ten in summer, and seven in winter. The women are chiefly employed in washing and mending the linen, &c. The dietary is 14lb. of bread, and one quart of gruel daily; and on three days in the week and Sundays, meat, broth, and vegetables. When prisoners are recommitted they are allowed the meat dinner on Sundays only, and bread and gruel on the other days. Offenders committed within the Borough of Abingdon are sent to this prison; and the small borough gaol is used only as a place of temporary confinement.. NEW WINDSOR.-Borough Gaol. January, 1830. THIS prison consists of eight cells or rooms: there is a yard about thirtyseven feet by sixteen feet, with a wall eleven feet high; but as this is not considered secure, the prisoners take exercise in a covered passage. Prisoners under sentence (except for capital offences) are confined here, as well as those for trial; but the number of commitments in the year seldom exceeds from twenty to thirty. No employment is provided for any of the prisoners. The gaoler's salary is ten pounds a year. The customary allowance to each prisoner for food is fourpence a day. A straw mattrass and two blankets are allowed to each cell. NEWBURY.-Borough Gaol. January, 1830. ALL offenders, after their final examination, are sent to the county gaol at Reading. Prisoners, during their temporary confinement in the borough gaol, are allowed a sufficient quantity of bread and water, and sometimes cheese is given in addition. The small town gaol at Maidenhead, also that at Wokingham, and the borough gaol at Wallingford, are used only for the temporary confinement of offenders. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. AYLESBURY.-County Gaol and House of Correction. January, 1830. THIS prison remains in the same state as when it was described in the last Report. There is still a great want of classification among the female prisoners, who associate together in the same ward. The number of prisoners has increased during the last year. Insane persons are kept in confinement here. The principal employments are the tread-mill, and plaiting straw. The dietary is 14lb. of bread, and 1 pint of gruel daily; and each prisoner at hard labour is allowed half a pound of beef extra, on three days in the week. The hours of labour are twelve in summer, and seven in winter. There is a small bridewell at Chipping-Wycombe, which is used for the confinement of petty offenders within that borough.. It consists of four rooms, with a yard. CAMBRIDGESHIRE. CAMBRIDGE.—County Gaol and House of Correction. January, 1830. THERE has been no alteration in the construction or discipline of this prison since the last Report. The number of commitments has decreased in the last year. The male prisoners are employed at the tread-mill, in grinding and dressing corn, and in pumping water to supply the prison: the hours of labour are ten in summer, and seven in winter; the women are employed at washing, and picking feathers. Prisoners who do not work, are allowed each 11⁄2 lb. of bread daily. Prisoners at hard labour, have each 3lbs. of bread, and a pint of small beer daily. There is one insane female confined here. CAMBRIDGE.-Town Gaol and House of Correction. May, 1830. A NEW prison has been recently erected, on an eligible site of ground, near the entrance of the town. It is stated to have cost about £.12,000. The buildings are arranged on the radiating plan, and they will contain about fifty prisoners, who are divided into eight separate classes. There is a day-room and airing-yard for each class; three work-rooms, and an infirmary. The convicted male prisoners are employed at the tread-mill, which is applied to grinding wheat, barley, malt, &c. and pumping up water for the supply of the prison. There are two wheels which will employ sixteen men at a time: a bell is fixed to each wheel, to regulate the labour. Each man rests off the wheel about twenty minutes during the hour. Forty-eight steps are taken in a minute, and the height of each step is seven inches and a half. The hours of labour are the same as at the county gaol. The female prisoners are under the care of a matron, and are employed in washing and mending the clothes, bedding, &c. The cost of diet for each prisoner, is 2s. 2d. per week; but those at hard labour have an extra allowance, and it costs altogether 4s. 1d. The chaplain performs the church service twice on Sundays, and also on one evening in the week, during the summer months: the prisoners are furnished with Bibles, Prayer Books, and Religious Tracts. The discipline appears to improve the morals of persons committed for leav ing their families; for misdemeanors committed by servants and apprentices ; for bastardy cases, and first cases of felony: in old thieves it does not seem to work much reformation. WISBEACH.-County House of Correction. April, 1830. No alteration has taken place at this prison since the last Report. The prisoners are divided into three classes only, including debtors. The male convicted prisoners work at the tread-mill: the hours of labour are eight in summer, and six in winter. Each prisoner is allowed a half quartern loaf of bread per day. The women are employed in washing and mending the linen, &c. The sleeping-rooms are furnished with iron bedsteads, covered with rush mattrasses, and two blankets and a rug for each bed. ELY.-Gaol. THIS prison is maintained solely at the expense of the Bishop of Ely, who is Lord of the Franchise. The officers are, a keeper, a chaplain, and a surgeon. There is only one general day-room, and one airing-yard. There are six sleeping-rooms: each bed is furnished with two blankets and a rug. Prisoners after trial are generally sent to the House of Correction: no employment is provided in the gaol. The diet allowed to each prisoner, is a half quartern loaf of bread per day. Both debtors and criminals are confined in this gaol. ELY.-House of Correction. THIS prison is under the jurisdiction of the Magistrates of the island. It has been built only a few years: there are four divisions, each having a day-room and an airing-yard; there are two work-rooms, but no regular employment is carried on. There are also twenty sleeping-cells, and an infirmary. allowance of food is similar to that at the gaol. The CHESHIRE. CHESTER CASTLE.-County Gaol, January, 1830. It is in contemplation to enlarge the side of the prison which is appropriated to criminals, by removing part of the boundary wall, and taking in additional, ground, in order to obtain space for the erection of some new cell-buildings, and to improve the ventilation of the gaol, The number of prisoners has in |