130
guard" is, in my humble opinion, most objectionable. It is hardly to be expected that proper discipline and order can be enforced at all times, and under all circumstances, while a portion of the officers which compose the staff of the prison is without the pale of my control, and if any suggestion is carried out, it will be found in- dispensable to increase the accommodation and comforts for officers in order to secure a better glass of men for the more efficient discipline and the safe custody of the prisoners.
In addition to the suggestion I have offered in another part of my Report, I would observe that some alterations are required in the diet of the prisoners; it seems self- evident to urge that a prisoner's health and strength should not be deteriorated; neither the interest of society nor humanity would warrant any treatment in prison by which a man became unfitted for labour when set at liberty to work for his own living. And I respectfully submit that it is equally true that the claim, justice, and policy require that the diet of a convict should not appear in advantageous contrast with that of our labouring population, nor should a prisoner carry away with him a tempting recollection It may of the comforts of a prison life, and to yearn over the liberal diet he left behind. be occasionally that offences are committed for the sake of better food and an abundant supply of necessaries of life in prison, but undoubtedly any indulgence of this nature is readily understood by the criminal class, and the penal character which should mark a prison is thus unwisely mitigated.
I feel it my public duty to remonstrate against an excess of allowance of food, and personal comforts to criminals, which is strongly marked in this prison. I am, at the same time, aware that it has been based on the theoretic view that confinement is so depressive as to need extra stimulant in the quantity and quality of food. It is sugges- tive to me that in framing prison dietaries, special reference should be had to the usual mode of living in the district, and on no account should the dietary of a prison be superior to, or even cqual to the ordinary mode of subsistence of the labouring classes. I venture to submit that in framing the present diet scale for this prison, the remarks I have put forward were in the main lost sight of.
It may, and I trust will, be found that the application of the improvements which I have ventured to suggest, and which I have partially carried out since I have had charge of this Department, will pave the way for a more efficient system of discipline in this prison.
RETURN of Prisoners confined in this Prison on December 31, 1873, with particulars of Crime, Country, Profession, Age, Religion, Number of Times Committed, and Number of Civil Prisoners Committed.
Raspu
Cutting and wounding
--
1. Offences against the person-
Trades-
Murder
13
Blacksmiths
Manslaughter
11
Carpenters
Asault with intent to kill
16
Tinsmitus
Robbery with violence
4
Shoemakers
12
Tailors
19
Painters
Unnatural crimes
12
Dispenser or druggist
Highway robbery
2
Bakers
Clerk
2. Offences against property, with violence-
Cook ..
Burglary
15
Seaman
Breaking buildings
7
Planter
Labourers
32
Totul
I
1
1
Ages..
2
3. Offences against property, without violence-
Larceny
Goat stealing
Receiving stolen goods
Robbery
Stealing from the person
Arson
4. Malicious offences against property-
Maliciously killing a cow
5. Forgery and offences against the currency—
Forgery
6. All other offences—
Felonies not classed above
Total
Under 17 years
"
30
"
**
45
"T
3
60
"
10
0
162
Total
Religion-
Episcopalions
Roman Catholics
Heathens
Totul
:
::::
::::::::
::::
:
:::
7
7
1
2.
1
3
1
1
135
162
ཡསྐྱ}སྦྱ
87
62
12
162
KG
B
tia
162
Countries-
Barbados Madeira Other islands Europe
Asia
Africa ('hina
British Guiana
Total
:
::::::::
18
131
3 Convictions—
5
Int
3
2nd
50 Brd
2
12
63
162 | Civil prisons
I have, &c.
'Total
:::
•
(Signed) T. SEALY, Superintendent,
The Honourable the Governuient Secretary, Georgetown.
No. 28.
:::
:
Her Majesty's Penal Settlement.
The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Longden, C.M.G.
(No. 118. British Guiana.)
Sir,
152
9
སྣྲུབ།2། ⌘
162
35
Downing Street, August 10, 1874. I DULY received your despatch No. 102 of the 16th of June,* forwarding the annual Report of Mr. Brunell on the Georgetown Gaol, and reporting the measures you had taken to relieve the state of overcrowding brought to light by that Report.
2. It appears that in one ward, or rather room, containing only 2,501 cubic feet, 21 prisoners were penned together, thus affording to each only 119 cubic feet of air throughout the twelve hours of a tropical night. In another ward, holding 44 prisoners, the average space was 121 feet; in another, 127 feet.
3. The facts here stated speak for themselves; but I trust that this state of things has now come to an end by the drafting of 100 prisoners to Mazzaruni. Whilst it lasted
it was a great discredit to any community. Nor could it have long existed without breeding an amount of sickness and mortality which would have involved in a terrible responsibility all who were charged, directly or indirectly, with the management and supervision of this gaol.
4. In its miserable wards the most degraded members of the community were huddled together throughout the night in revolting proximity, and without possible control or even supervision. You have justly pointed to the depravity for which an occasion was thus afforded.
5. On the 21st ultimo I telegraphed to you as follows: "Much shocked at contents of your despatch No. 102. Approve your measures, but desire an additional hundred prisoners to be accommodated temporarily. Urge Legislature to agree."
6. I am aware of the objections to the confinement of prisoners in temporary prisons hastily constructed, but I could not take upon myself the responsibility of permitting the state of overcrowding which continued to exist in the Georgetown Gaol even after the removal of the prisoners which was reported in your despatch, and which I entirely approved, as affording evidence that you were prepared to deal vigorously with an evil of no ordinary magnitude.
7. I have since received your despatel No. 115 of the 4th of July, inclosing the Report of Mr. Scaly on the Penal Settlements at Mazzaruni, for 1873. This Report gives proof of activity and intelligence on the part of Mr. Sealy in restoring discipline and industry in an establishment which has been somewhat disturbed for the past year or two by disagreements to which I need not more particularly refer.
9. I approve the measures which you have taken for reorganizing the prison service of the Colony on the plan of amalgamating the county and the Mazzaruni guards and warders into one body.
10. This measure, which I regard as judicious, suggests the desirability of amalga- mating all the prison establishments of the Colony, as the true remedy for the deplorable state of things now existing.
11. But in considering this matter, the first question which arises is whether the penal establishment at Mazzaruni could remain as the principal establishment of a reformed system. The past history of that establishment is, I am afraid, characterized on were than one occasion by circumstances of cruelty, mismanagement, and abuse. When the charge of it was taken over by Captain Twyford, he reported of its state in a tone which
• No. 26.
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