ACCOUNT OF

PERSONS CONFINED FOR DEBT.

APPLEBY; Westmorland.

Gaoler, James Bewsher, Salary 201

Fees; Debtors, 6s. 8d. Garnish; none.

Chaplain, Rev. James Metcalfe.

Duty, every Sunday.

Surgeon, none appointed; but Mr. Bushby is employed when wanted, and makes a Bill.

There being no chapel, divine service is performed in the debtors' day-room. Only one court-yard, the size 32 yards by 22; so that debtors and felons, men and women, mix promiscuously together. And there being no kitchen they are obliged to dress their victuals in the court-yard. The county provides no work, but handy-craft trades, such as tailors, shoemakers, &c. sometimes get employment from the town.

AYLESBURY; Bucks.

Gaoler; Henry Sheriff; Salary 140l. and for Bridewell 30l.

Fees; None, but the Under Sheriff takes from each debtor 2s. 6d. for his liberate.

Garnish; None.

Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Hopkins.

Duty, every Sunday; Salary, 50%. Surgeon, Mr. Hayward; Salary 201.

Allowance. One pound of bread and half a pint of rice per day each; twice a week a pint of soup is substituted in lieu of

rice.

REMARKS.

The wards are all free; and the keeper furnishes a flock-bed, with a blanket and coverlet to each, out of his salary. There is but one courtyard, 54 feet by 26, for men and women debtors; but each have a separate day-room, about 20 feet by 14, and coals allowed. Divine Service is performed in the Townhall, and all the prisoners are obliged to attend, unless prevented by illness, under the penalty of half

a pound

a pound of bread being taken off their allowance, and shut up the whole day.

A lady at Weston left an annuity of 135. 4d. which is paid by the churchwardens of Aylesbury, and distributed amongst debtors and felons. On my visit to this prison, in August, 1801, I found the engine and pump had been out of repair for six months, and that the prisoners had no water but what was fetched from the rivulet at the bottom of the keeper's garden.

I am informed that they are now (January, 1802) under repair.

BATH City Gaol.

Gaoler, George Griffin; who is also Sheriff's Officer.
Salary 30%.
Fees 75. 8d.

Chaplain. None. On my visit, Dec. 22, 1801,
the keeper told me that it was more than two
years since divine service had been performed
there.

Allowance. Six-pence per day in bread.

REMARKS.

This prison is situated in Grove-street, and unfortunately built on very low ground; the ascent by a fine flight of stone steps. The ground floor, on which there are three cells and a day-room, was so excessively damp, that the water was running down the walls of the passage and stair-case in large drops; the day-room was filled with every description óf prisoners, three of whom (women) slept in one of the cells, nine feet square and nine feet high, upon straw; ventilated by an aperture in the door. Above are three stories, five good size rooms on each; two of which are used by the keeper; the rest for debtors: one bed in a room, for which the prisoner

pays

women.

pays 3s. 6d. per week. Two rooms on the second story are free wards, one for men, the other for No work-room or employment furnished by the Corporation. There is painted on a board, "No strong liquors admitted, under the penalty of "ten pounds, or three months imprisonment." The debtors have a small court-yard, through which you pass to go to the felon's yard, in the centre of which a double range of cells is built, with a fire-place in each. I was sorry to be informed, that the wall was to be raised several feet, as it will make the little remainder of the felons yard very unhealthy, for the want of fresh air; and, not being a paved or gravel bottom, almost useless. Though the city affords a very liberal supply of coals, it is not sufficient to counteract the effects of local situation.

My worthy friend the humane and benevolent Dr. Lettsom thus expresses himself on this subject :

"If any medical fact be more clearly ascertained, than that ventilation or circulation of pure air is essential to the preservation of health, and even to the existence of life; it is the converse, that damp confined air is conducive to disease and death. This air in ships, hospitals, and gaols, is the source of that fever called the Putrid, Ship, Hospital, or GaolFever; and let individuals in the best health be placed in it, disease must soon result, and the danger of spreading infectious fevers must be the

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