prevented by illness. All the other parts of this close and crowded prison are in so ruinous and insecure a state, that, if it was not shored up in many places, it would tumble down. The keeper pays window-tax. There is painted on a board at the door, “No visitors admitted on Sundays from 10 to 12 in the morning, nor from 2 to 4 in the afternoon. The public house in the passage is kept by a sheriff's officer, who rents it from the city, at 30l. per annum. It has nothing to do with the prison. An ACCOUNT of FEES taken by the keeper of the Poultry Compter, Master's side debtors pay on coming in 5s. to the Common-side Debtors pay nothing coming in. which is disposed of as follows: to the Keeper Master's side Debtors pay on Discharge is. more than Master's side Debtors pay for the use of a room, bed, bedding, sheets, 2s. 6d. per week, PRESTEIGN; Radnorshire, South-Wales. Gaoler, Robert Lewis; Salary, 201. Fees, 6s. Sd. Garnish. None. Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Smith. Duty, once or twice a week, as required. Salary, 10/ Surgeon, Mr. Cooksey. Salary, 10l. and makes a Bill. Number of Debtors, 1801, Nov. 14, REMARKS. 5 Only one court-yard for men and women debtors and felons, and all description of prisoners. Several rooms for debtors about 12 feet square; commonside debtors have a free ward. The County provides straw, but no bedding. Master's side debtors pay for a single bed 1s. 6d. per week, and if two lie together is. each. READING; Berkshire. Gaoler, George Knight. Salary, 200l. for gaol, and county bridewell. Fees, none; but the Under Sheriff demands 35. 6d. for his liberate. Garnish. None. Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Hodgkinson. Duty, every Sunday and Wednesday. Salary, 50%. Surgeon, Mr. Bulley. Salary, 201. for gaol and bridewell. Number of Debtors 1801, Dec. 12,.... 12 Allowance. Ten ounces of bread, half a pound of rice, or two pound of potatoes, to each debtor, daily, on proof of his being a pauper, and willing to work. REMARKS. This gaol, as well as the Bridewell, is inclosed by a brick wall 25 feet high, with a small cheveux de frise upon wooden rollers about four feet from the coping. The men debtors have two court-yards, that to the front 23 yards by 19, with arcades: back yard 28 feet 28 feet by 9, with arcades. A day-room 8 yards by 4. The women debtors have a small garden about 14 yards square. Their sleeping-room 16 feet by 9. To each debtor the County allows a sackingbottom bedstead, a chaff bed, a coarse sheet, blanket, and rug. All the prisoners are required to attend chapel. The court-yards are flagged, well supplied with water, and I found the prison very clean. By an act of parliament... Richard II. cap.10. The justices shall take for their wages four shillings 66 per day for the time of their sessions, and their "clerk two shillings per day of the fines and amer"ciaments arising and coming of the same sessions 66 by the funds of the sheriff's." The money arising from this act is humanely applied by the magistrates to purchase coals for the prisoners in the winter. October 21st, 1801, Sessions, Ordered, that the visiting justices be requested to consider of the expediency of assisting any debtor in prosecuting for his sixpences, and report to the quarter sessions. |