have wished: that he was preparing them, by explaining the catechism, &c., to receive the sacrament, and to obtain a general knowledge of their religious duties. that the prisoners of that sex sustain less incon- | instruction, their stay had generally been too venience than is felt by their more robust asso-short, and the changes too frequent, to enable ciates in crime. The consideration of the sub-him to make that progress with them he could ject of establishing schools for the instruction of prisoners, to which the late act for the regulation of prisons had called the attention of visiting magistrates, had of necessity been again postponed, on account of the delay in printing that act, which they had hitherto been unable to obtain. They further reported, that they thought it right to draw the attention of the court to the register of commitments, from the diminished number of which they were led to hope, either that progress had been made in the work of reformation, or the tenor of the present system of prison discipline had in some degree operated to repress the commission of crime. It appears that at the Michaelmas quartersession the chaplain reported, that he certainly considered the prisoners in general under his care improved in a religious point of view; they evidently seemed pleased, upon the Sunday, to attend upon the services of the chapel; and both upon that day, and upon the two other prayer days, they took pleasure in reading the lessons after the minister; indeed, when he had taken a general survey of the moral state of the prisoners, he had seen cause to be pleased: that the prisoners were certainly more contented with their confinement than formerly; the cause of which, he considered, arose from some little addition being made to their comfort by the visiting magistrates. It appears, from the certificates of the governor, that the rules and regulations for the government of the prison (except that prayers on week days were only read on Tuesdays and Thursdays), had been strictly enforced. House of Correction at Kingston-upon-Thames. It appears from the reports of the visiters of this prison, that they had held several meetings during each quarter of the year, and from time to time made the necessary orders for the better regulation and management of the said house of correction, and the inmates therein; and that they had uniformly presented the good order of the house, and of the prisoners confined therein. It also appears that at the last Midsummer session the visiters reported, that the surgeon had recommended that a room should be set apart in the prison for the use of invalids, as he had frequently occasion to salivate prisoners, and in many cases of dangerous illness a warm room was requisite; and it appears that the quarter-session, approving of such recommendation, ordered a room in the prison to be set apart and fitted up for the purposes above mentioned. It appears that at the Michaelmas-quarter session the chaplain reported, that the prisoners conducted themselves with propriety during the last year, and that they had paid great attention to divine service; but with respect to religious It appears from the certificates of the governor, that the rules and regulations for the government of this prison had been strictly enforced. (Signed) BEN. BARNARD, Chairman. No. 42.-SUSSEX. The general Report of his majesty's justices of the peace, made at the Michaelmas quartersessions of the peace, holden at Chichester, within and for the western division of the county of Sussex, on Tuesday, the 19th day of October, 1824, and at Lewes, within and for the eastern division of the said county, on Thursday, the 21st day of the same month, pursuant to the statute 4th Geo. IV. c. 64, sec. 24. As respects his Majesty's Gaol at Horsham. In making this report, these courts, in the first place, refer to the proceeding of the courts of quarter-sessions, at Epiphany 1824, which was transmitted to his majesty's secretary of state, and from which will appear what measures were taken for carrying into effect the said act. They further report, that the classification required by the said act has since been made (with the exception hereinafter stated), and the same regularly continued; and that additional regulations for the management of the said gaol were since made and agreed to by the justices assembled at a general quarter-sessions of the peace for the county at large, holden by adjournment for general county purposes at the county hall in Lewes, on Wednesday, the 18th day of August last, and that the same have been submitted to, and are now before his majesty's justices of gaol delivery for approval; that a copy thereof will be transmitted to one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state; that copies of the same will be fixed up in the said gaol, as directed by the said act, and the same ordered to be observed and attended to as regu lations for the government thereof. They further report, that it appears to them, from the result of the several reports of the visiting magistrates, and of the keeper of the said gaol, and of such other inquiries as they have had the opportunity of making, that the said gaol is in good and perfect repair, and sufficient to provide for the classification required by the act of parliament, except that there is no separate ward for prisoners committed on charge or suspicion of misdemeanor; but such prisoners, when there are any (which rarely occurs), are placed either in wards appropriated to those committed on minor charges of felony, or to those under sentence for misdemeanors: that the keeper, matron, turnkeys, and other officers | lain to the said gaol, the reverend Robert of the said prison, have been throughout the Witherby (a clergyman of the church of Engyear attentive to their duty; the prison in all respects cleanly and in good order, and the conduct of the prisoners generally regular and orderly. They further report, that the situation of the prison is dry and airy, and plentifully supplied with excellent water; and that the general state of the health of the prisoners through the year has been good. They further report, that as the commitments of prisoners to hard labour are (they believe), in every instance, made to one or other of the houses of correction within the county (both of which are amply provided with the means of enforcing it), it has been deemed by the magistrates unnecessary to make provisions in the said gaol for that purpose; and that with respect to other prisoners confined therein, and maintained at the expense of the county, who may be lawfully set to work, directions have been given, that they shall be employed in any moderate labour, which from time to time may be approved and directed by the visiting justices, due regard being had to the strength, condition, and habits of the respective prisoners, and the precautions necessary for the security and regularity of the said gaol. They further report, that the attention of the late and present chaplains, and also of the surgeon, to their respective duties in the said gaol, has been exemplary. land), had been nominated to succeed him in the performance of such sacred duties, at the salary of 1607. per annum; of which nomination a notification had been transmitted to the bishop of the diocese by the clerk of the peace, pursuant to the direction of the 29th section of the said act. They further report, that on the 10th day of June last, two prisoners, (named Henry Bolton and Edmund Brown), who had been confined in the said gaol on charge of felony, effected their escape, the former of whom has been since retaken, tried and convicted of the offence for which he was committed, and for which he received sentence of death, but has been since reprieved; but that the latter remains at large: that the circumstances attendant on the escape of the said two prisoners came under the parti. cular consideration of the justices assembled at the aforementioned adjourned general quarter. sessions of the peace, who, upon a full investigation, expressed their satisfaction that the same was not occasioned by or in consequence of any culpable negligence of the keeper or his officers. They further report, that visiting justices of the said gaol have been regularly appointed at each of the respective general quarter-sessions of the peace during the year. And finally they report, that the number of prisoners confined in the said gaol immediately They further report, that on the decease of previous to the respective quarter-sessions held the reverend Thomas Williams, the late chap- I within the year have been The General Report of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, made at the Michaelmas General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, holden at Chichester, in and for the Western Division of the County of Sussex, on Tuesday the 19th day of October, 1824, pursuant to the Act 4th Geo. IV. c. 64. sec. 24. As respects the House of Correction at Petworth. This court, pursuant to the said act, from the reports of the visiting justices, the chaplain, and the certificates of the keeper of the said prison, as delivered to the clerk of the peace for the said county at the several general quarter-sessions of the peace for the county aforesaid, from the last Michaelmas quarter-sessions held in and for the division aforesaid, doth report, that since the passing of the said act the said house of correction has been ascertained and declared, by an order of the court of quarter-sessions, to be applicable to all the purposes required by the said act, and particularly to the classification of the prisoners to be confined therein, a copy of which order was directed, and has since been transmitted to his majesty's secretary of state for the home department. That rules and regulations for the better government of the said house of correction have been made, founded on and incorporated with the rules mentioned and contained in the said act, which have since received the approbation and confirmation of his majesty's justices of gaol delivery, and a copy thereof transmitted to his majesty's principal secretary of state; copies also have since been fixed up in the said house of correction according to the directions of the said act, and the same have been fully complied with. That visiting justices have been appointed to the said house of correction (who have consented thereto), also a keeper, matron, chaplain, and surgeon, with other officers, as directed by the said act; that the classification of the prisoners, as also directed, hath been made, and each prisoner provided with suitable bed, bedding, and other requisites. JOHN SARGENT, Chairman of the western division. T. PARTINGTON, Chairman of the eastern division. That the visiting justices had not in their weekly or other visitations received any information or noticed any abuses in the management of the said prison; but, on the contrary, were fully satisfied with the general state of the prisoners, as respects their morals, discipline, employment, hard labour, and observance of rules; and it is extremely satisfactory to the court to be enabled to state, that from the visiting justices and chaplain's reports, the conduct of the prisoners generally has been such, in every instance of the chaplain's daily attendance, as to allow him to report them all as having been orderly, and that the improvement they had made in their learning had been such as fully to equal his expectation: that the reports of the surgeon are likewise satisfactory; for, considering the number of prisoners who had been committed, those upon the sick list had been as few as might have been expected, and that the only contagious disease had been the itch, which had extended to four prisoners only, and which disease was introduced by a vagrant at the time of the commitment. That the visiting justices being sensible of the benefit to be derived from making a selection of prisoners, even of the same class, they recommended an alteration to be made in the prison for the reception of the prisoners, by appropriating two rooms, then used as a store-room and working-room, to be used as day-rooms, and erecting other rooms in their stead, to be built in the yard of the said prison, which rooms are specified and described in the plan accompanying, and which the court then ordered, and has since been put into execution. That a tread-wheel has been erected in the said house of correction for the employment of such prisoners as might be liable to hard labour, and other employments also established, so that the whole of the prisoners are now employed; and with additional satisfaction they state, from the surgeon's report, that no prejudicial effects have arisen to the health or safety of the prisoners employed on the wheel; in addition to which, the declarations of the prisoners who had been employed thereon were taken individually crimes in this district during the present quarter, when discharged, which confirms such report, compared with those of the two preceding years. and that only one prisoner since the erection of the tread-wheel has been committed a second time to such labour. That in proof of the beneficial effects of the tread-wheel, the number of prisoners which it could have employed at the same time has exceeded the number which have been in the prison sentenced to hard labour, and who were capable of working thereon: and it is not only satisfactory, but highly gratifying to this court in being enabled to state the diminution of That it appears to this court, from the report of the visiting justices and the keeper of the said house of correction, that the said house of correction, and also the keeper's house, are in a good state of substantial repair and condition, and the same properly clean, wholesome, and healthy, and have been lately white-washed, cleansed, and painted. That by the certificate of the keeper, the number of prisoners confined in the said prison in each quarter is as follows: The General Report of his Majesty's Justices, made at the Michaelmas Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, holden at Lewes, within and for the Eastern Division of the County of Sussex, on Thursday, the 21st day of October, 1824, pursuant to the statute 4th Geo. IV. c. 64, sect. 24. JOHN SARGENT, chairman. They further report, that the classification required by the said act has been made and regularly continued, and that additional regulations for the management of the said house of correction were made and agreed to by the magistrates assembled at the last Epiphany sessions, and that the same have been submitted to and approved by his majesty's justices of gol delivery; that a copy thereof has been since transmitted to one of his majesty's secretaries of state; that copies of the same have been fixed up in the house of correction as directed by the said act, and that the same are now ordered to be observed and attended to as regu As respects the House of Correction at Lewes. They further report, that it appears to them, from the result of the several reports of the visiting magistrates and chaplain, and of the keepers of the said house of correction, and of such other inquiries as they have had the opportunity of making, that the said house of correction is in good and perfect repair, and sufficient to provide for the classification required by act of parliament: that the keeper, matron, turnkeys, and other officers of the prison, have been throughout the year attentive to their duty; the prison in all respects cleanly and in good order, and the conduct of the prisoners generally regular and orderly; that some slight instances of insubordination which occurred were instantly checked by the steadiness and vigilance of the keeper and his assistants; that in one instance the visiting magistrates thought it necessary, for the sake of example, to continue a prisoner in solitary confinement for five or six days who had refused to work at the tread-wheel, and incited others to do the like, but who, at the end of that time, expressing his penitence, was permitted to return to his work, and continued afterwards to behave orderly and properly; in a few other instances the same mode of punishment has been resorted to, but not for more than twenty-four, or at most forty-eight hours, being found a sufficient time to bring the offenders to a proper sense of their misconduct. the prison; by a proper attention to diet and medicine, the symptoms of this disease were speedily checked, nor did it in any instance produce fatal or dangerous consequences; and as the spring came on, and the prison likewise became less crowded, it gradually diminished, and at length disappeared. It might be proper to observe, that a disease of the same kind was observed in the prison at about the same period of the preceding winter, the same causes being then in operation, and which likewise disappeared as the season advanced. To obviate as far as possible the causes which might give rise to such effects in future, the court have, under the recommendation of the surgeon and the visiting magistrates, directed that movable stoves shall be placed from time to time in those parts of the passages leading to the cells which appear liable to damp, and have likewise directed some improvements to be made in the general ventilation. They have likewise ordered that prisoners kept to hard labour for any longer period than a month, shall receive a pound of potatoes daily, over and above the ordinary diet. Upon this part of their report they beg leave to refer to a report made by Mr. Roberts, the surgeon, to the last Easter sessions, and a copy of which is hereunto annexed. the day of the last visitation by the magistrates, there was not one prisoner who required advice or medicine. They further report, that the general state of At present the prison is so completely healthy, the health of the prisoners through the year has that not only is there no prisoner in the infirbeen good, but to this there has been two ex-maries, but when the surgeon went over it on ceptions; the first was of a casual nature, arising from the introduction of the small-pox by a vagrant brought into the prison, which was not discovered early enough to prevent the infection spreading in some degree, and which was increased by the misconduct of some of the prisoners, as stated in the surgeon's report; but by the precautions adopted under the directions of the surgeon, and especially by the general introduction of vaccination upon all the prisoners who had not had the disorder, or been vaccinated before they came in, it was not attended with any serious consequences (except in the case of one unfortunate man, who had not been vaccinated in consequence of his having concealed his liability to the disease, and who fell a victim to it): there were indeed several cases of modified small-pox in subjects who had been formerly vaccinated, all of which passed off quickly, and without any serious disturbance of the constitution. They further report, that the greater part of the male prisoners committed to hard labour are regularly employed upon the tread-wheel (being divided into two classes, the one consisting of felons convict, the other of persons sentenced for minor offences); and the rest in pumping water, and doing other work in the prison; and the women in spinning, or else in washing and other domestic offices. They are fully satisfied that no inconvenience, in point of health or otherwise, results from the labour of the tread-wheel, and, under that impression, they, at the last Epiphany sessions (in consequence of the increased number of prisoners, and especially of felons convict), ordered a second tread-wheel to be erected, which has been since completed, and is now in work. They further report, that some occasional The second exception is of a nature more work has been at times provided for prisoners general, and more immediately connected with not committed to hard labour; and in particuthe state of a prison: during the course of the lar, that the clothing for the use of the prison winter a considerable number of prisoners were is made up by the prisoners; but that it has found affected with scurvy; the disease, as not been hitherto found practicable to introduce described by the surgeon, had completely the a regular system for employing them constantly. symptoms of the true sea scurvy; it is to be obThat in consequence of some circumstances served, that at that period the prison was ex-which occurred respecting the communication tremely crowded, and the season being excessively damp and wet, it was difficult to obtain a thorough circulation of dry air in all parts of of the small-pox last spring, they have directed rooms to be fitted up for infirmaries in a situation less exposed to danger of communicating |