A General Summary of the Proceedings of the Committee appointed to superintend the application of the Fund for the Relief of Debtors in the Borough Jail.

24th December, 1816.

Ar the last general meeting of the subscribers to the fund for the relief and discharge of debtors confined in the Borough Gaol, held in the Town Hall, on the 29th January, 1810,-It was reported, that the balance of the fund remaining, after discharging the seventy-two debtors on the fiftieth anniversary of his present Majesty's reign, was about 800%. which sum was then ordered to be placed out at interest, and the interest thereof to be applicable, under the direction of a committee then to be appointed, to an enquiry into the cases of debtors confined in the Borough Gaol, and to affording to such as required it, a speedy and effectual trial.

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A committee was then appointed, and on their first meeting ordered, that four debtors should have the benefit of the insolvent debtors' Act, and that seven others should be defended, and their cases brought to trial at the expense of the fund; which was accordingly done, and eight of those debtors obtained their discharge, at an expense to the fund of 621. 19s. 3d.

The second meeting of the committee took place on the 3d April, 1810, when four debtors were ordered to have the benefit of the fund, which they had; and two were discharged, at an expense to the fund of 15l. 13s. 3d.

The third meeting of the committee was held on the 4th September, 1810, when twelve debtors were ordered to have the benefit of the fund, which they had; and ten of them were discharged, and the other two obtained relief under the insolvent debtors' Act, at an expense to the fund of 591. 19s. 3d.

The fourth meeting of the committee was held on the 27th November, 1810, when twenty-two debtors were ordered to be assisted by the fund, which was accordingly done; and seventeen of them were in consequence thereof discharged, and four others obtained the benefit of the Insolvent Act, at an expense to the fund of 111l. 1s. 2d.

The fund, therefore, in the first year (1810) incurred an

expense in the whole of 2491. 12s. 11d. which discharged thirty-seven debtors, and obtained the benefit of the Act for six other debtors.

The fifth meeting of the committee was held on the 19th March, 1811, when four debtors were ordered to have aid from the fund, which was afforded them; and they were all discharged, at an expense to the fund of 221. 4s. 9d.

The sum of 800l. was placed out at interest, on an eligible and approved mortgage security, made to the president, vicepresident, and treasurer, on the 22d October, 1811.

The committee having far exceeded their means, in the expenses they had then incurred for the relief afforded to the debtors, as before stated; it was judged expedient to suspend their regular meetings, and their further enquiries into the cases of prisoners confined for debt in the Borough Gaol, until the interest arising from the 8007. so placed out on security, as before-mentioned, had reduced the debt they had incurred; particularly as it appeared, that the prompt and extended interference they had already ordered, had procured the effect and benefit which they expected to follow the proper application of the fund entrusted to them. They, therefore, have not since had any meeting.

The committee have, however, now reduced the expenses they had incurred by their former orders, out of the interest received for the money placed out on mortgage; and there is now a sum of 16l. 10s. 3d. in the hands of the solicitor, which will enable them again to resume their functions.

22d. January, 1819. Since the foregoing Report, the Committee have resumed their meetings, and fifteen debtors have been discharged,

POSTSCRIPT.

February 1st, 1819.

I AM happy to have it in my power to lay before the reader, the latest account of the State Prison, or Penitentiary of Philadelphia; being an extract from the presentation of the Grand Jury for that county, in December last.

"On viewing the state of the prison, we observed with pleasure, the greatest order and decorum; the convicts appear to be well fed and cloathed, and their respective apartments comfortably warmed, and they are usefully employed in such vocations as are best adapted to their several capacities. This institution reflects the highest honour on the inspectors, and the keepers of the prison, and all who have any agency in its management. We nevertheless, have cause to regret, that a place more extensive, and more remote from the populous part of the city, cannot be fixed upon for a Prison and Penitentiary; constructed on a more enlarged plan, better proportioned to the growing population of our county, and such other counties as send their convicts to this place, to accomplish the term of their servitude. If the buildings and yard were sufficiently capacious, the convicts might then be so separated, that the whites and the blacks as well as the youth of both sexes (who more particularly claimed our commiseration) should, as far as practicable, be separated from the more hardened offenders. By having

a house sufficiently roomy, and but few confined in the same lodging-rooms, less opportunities would be afforded for the more hardened and vicious to corrupt the morals of their fellow prisoners.

Philadelphia,

Dee. 17th, 1818.

WILLIAM BINDER, Foreman.

J. M'Creery, Printer, Black-Horse-Court, London.

FINIS.