An inquiry, whether crime and misery are produced or prevented, by our present system of prison discipline / Illustrated by descriptions of the Borough Compter. Tothill Fields. The jails at St. Albans, and at Guildford. The jail at Bury. The Maison de force at Ghent. The Philadelphia prison. The penitentiary at Millbank. And the proceedings of the ladies' committee at Newgate. By Thomas Fowell Buxton.

  • Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet
Date:
1818
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry, whether crime and misery are produced or prevented, by our present system of prison discipline / Illustrated by descriptions of the Borough Compter. Tothill Fields. The jails at St. Albans, and at Guildford. The jail at Bury. The Maison de force at Ghent. The Philadelphia prison. The penitentiary at Millbank. And the proceedings of the ladies' committee at Newgate. By Thomas Fowell Buxton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    119* NOTE To THe AccouNT OF THE PENITENTIARY, MiILupank. MINCE the publication of this pamphlet, [ have réceived a coni- munication from George Holford, Esq. M: P. which convinces nie that some inaccuracies have crept into my description of the Peni- tentiary, at Millbank; the most material of which are—that the expenditure is over-rated; as, according to present estimates, it will fall short of 400,000/.; and the charge of future repairs in conse- quence of the nature of the soil, is also over-rated, as a method of effectually securing the foundations has been discovered: con- sequently, with the exception of the alterations already made— the two towers pulled down, and the two condemned—ex pense to any considerable extent is not to be apprehended. I must also add, that the conversation I have had with Mr. Holford has unde- ceived me with respect to the views of the Committee regarding labour. From what I saw, | feared that this vital requisite of all] reformation in prisons, was not sufficiently estimated by them. All alarm of this sort is dissipated. I am now satisfied that no exertion will be wanting to introduce work, and that whatever deficiencies existed, when my observations were made, arose from the institution being as yet in its infancy—and the consequent impossibility of accomplishing at once, and in its earliest stage, those plans which are considered as essential to its future pros- perity. Fad I been so fortunate as to converse with Mr. Holford prior to the publication, [ should not have felt warranted in offering advice, which [ now see to be wholly needless: and [ much re-