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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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the rules and regulations of the prison with judgment and ability. I receive from him much valuable assistance and co-operation.

Mr. Mapp, the Keeper of the Town Hall Prison, shows aptitude and capacity in all his duties, as can be seen in every department of the establishment, particularly when compared with some other keepers who preceded him; at all times he is unceasing in his efforts. The Warders, Turnkeys, and subordinate Officers of both Prisons perform their duties very creditably. In the Rural Prisons, the Keepers are doing their best to fulfil the duties required of them.

Report of William Clarke, Esq., M.D., Medical Superintendent of Glendairy and Town Hall Prisons.

During the past year, 1872, the sanitary state of Gaols, both at the Town Hall and the Glendairy Prisons, has been satisfactory. There has been no prevailing disease amongst the prisoners. Some few cases of dysentery, or dysenteric diarrhoea have occurred in the Town Hall Prison, principally amongst the broken down and foeble. During the past twelve months, there has been five deaths at the Common Gaol, two of tubercular consumption, and three of dysenteric diarrhea, while at Glendairy amongst both males and feniales, there have been three deaths, one a male from hemorrhage of the lungs, and two females of diarrhoea.

Association of Prisoners.

On of the greatest evils in our prison system is the association of prisoners, particularly in the cells at night; this is a subject to which the several Inspectors of Prisons have for years called public attention. In England it is almost entirely abolished. So far back as January, 1865, the Right Honourable Mr. Cardwell, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in his despatch on the subject to Colonial Governors, states:-"That having reference to the course of legislation now extending over many years, and the agreement in opinion and practice of the highest authorities, the system generally known as the separate system must now be accepted as the foundation of prison discipline."

The Commissioners of Pentonville Prison, in a recent report state :-"We conclude our 3rd report by strongly urging the advantage of the separation of one prisoner from another as the basis and great leading feature of all prison discipline. On reviewing this opinion and taking advantage of further experience, we feel warranted in expressing our firm conviction, that the moral results of the discipline have been most encouraging, and attended with a success which we believe is without parallel in the history of prison discipline. The separation of one prisoner from another is the only sound basis on which a reformatory discipline can be established with any reasonable hope of success, and 'all evidence goes to show, that it is highly penal and deterrent, and prevents prisoners from becoming worse through extraneous influences. If reformation be possible at all, it is possible only with separation, and is so far from being injurious to health, that mortality has decreased since its introduction, wherever it has been adopted."

The Rev. J. K. Marsh, Chaplain of the Warrior and Defence hulks at Woolwich, in writing on the subject in his annual report says :-" Another year's experience has only deepened my conviction of the evils of uninterrupted association, and strengthened my opinion that the system of moral reformation can neither have a fair opportunity of vigorous application, nor succeed to the desired extent, until the present expedient can be displaced by a contrivance for the separation of prisoners by night, and during the intervals between the hours of labour."

The Rev. J. H. Moran, Chaplain of Brixton Prison, says in his report:— After fourteen years experience as Chaplain in the convict service, first at the hulks, then at Portland, and now at Brixton, I have no hesitation in saying that congregating prisoners together in constant association without separate cells to sleep in, is under all circum- stances an unmitigated evil." These valuable opinions are applicable in an especial degree to our prisons, and it is to be hoped that the Legislature will see the ecessity of taking the subject into consideration without loss of time.

Industrial Training of Prisoners.

A very great defect in our prisou discipline, particularly with prisoners undergoing long sentences, and of exemplary conduct, is the want of a comprehensive system which shall prepare them on discharge to earn an honest livelihood by a knowledge of some trade. It is obvious to need remark, that however a prisoner might have been led by the reflection which has been fixed on him in confinement, sincerely to deplore his past career

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of crime, and to form good resolutions for the future, or with whatever dread of a prison the stern discipline to which he has been subjects may have inspired him, it is vain to expect he will be able to avoid a repetition of his offences, unless he can obtain the means of subsistence on discharge. With a knowledge of some trade or handicraft, there would be a new course open to him honestly to earn his daily bread, and the chances are, that on his release he would not be drawn into his former habits, neither would he renew his career of crime, nor rejoin his old companions. Measures for instructing prisoners in a trade or handicraft could easily be adopted.

I also think that convicts should be encouraged to emigrate on their release, not that I mean to thrust these individuals with bad characters, on the neighbouring Colonies, but there are many conviets who can never wholly secure a good position here, surrounded as they are with so many difficulties, but away from their former haunts and companions, they might by emigration become reformed, and earn a livelihood by the profitable exercise of honest industry in a land were their former life would be unknown. This course is carried out to a great extent in the Mother Country, by the assistance of "Prisoners Aid Societies."

Shot Drill.

The Chaplain of Southwark Prison, in his annual Report for 1872, says: "I do not think that the introduction of shot drill, some months ago, was a step in the right direction; on the other hand, I am inclined to regard it as a mistake. Carried on, as it is, in the open air, and by a large number at the same time, who thus have what to prisoners is a great boon, of even a sight of each other, it is a pleasant break on the monotony of the cell, nor has it any compensating advantage in the greater severity of the work; for though at the first some suffer a good deal from it, the feeling of discomfort wears off as they get used to it, after which it ceases to be viewed as anything more than somewhat sharp exercise." I am induced to endorse much that is stated by this gentleman, and am borne out in this opinion by the Governor of Glendairy, and the Keeper of the Town Hall Prison, who think that after a prisoner has been at shot drill for a short period, he gets use to it, and it ceases to be that punishment for which it was originally intended.

severe punish-

The picking of oakum is regarded in the English prisons as a very ment; the same Chaplain states :-"The best kind of work for the purpose seems to be oakum picking. This is a sort of hard labour anything but pleasant, and it has the additional recommendation, that, be the task ever so heavy, no injury to the health or constitution can result from it. Speaking of the prisoners in general, and from my impression as derived from conversation with them, I feel satisfied, that oakum picking as now enforced, is regarded with more dislike than any other form of punishment, and Material for therefore is the best calculated to make short imprisonments effective."

oakum picking could easily be imported, and the sale of it would compensate for any expense incurred in procuring such material. The experiment is well worth trial, particularly with female prisoners at Glendairy, where the term "hard labour" is difficult of application.

Report of the Rev. J. Lawrance Greaves, Chaplain of Priscns, for 1872. The prison establishment of which I am Chaplain consists of two principal prisons, and four district ones, viz., Glendairy, the Town Hall Gaol, District Prisons A, C, D, and the Juvenile Reformatory District B.

Glenduiry.This prison has two departments, one for males, the other for females. The former is capable of accommodating 72 males in separate cells, and is kept supplied from the Town Hall Gaol as vacancies occur, the latter is occupied by all females who are sentenced to hard labour, with the exception of six, who are sent to District A prison. In this establishment there is a Chapel in which evening service is held every day during the week, and morning service on Sundays. The Chapel is so divided that males and females attend service without seeing each other. It is also used as a school room, the females being under instruction before evening service, the males after the service.

The behaviour of male convicts, as falling under my observation, has been orderly; and I am glad to be able to report that their demeanour in Chapel, with few exceptions, is satisfactory. I do not here allude to that orderly deportment which the discipline of the prison exacts, but to an anxious attention which I am pleased frequently to observe depicted in their countenances-it is possible that they may be simply moved for the moment, but even this is something gained-it proves that they are capable of being worked on, that though fallen, they are not irretrievably so; of course there are some, as it is to be expected, whose moral susceptibilities seem almost extinct, who are

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