The true state of the House of Correction for the County of Middlesex, fairly and candidly set forth / By a visiting magistrate.

Date:
1799
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The true state of the House of Correction for the County of Middlesex, fairly and candidly set forth / By a visiting magistrate. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    miferies of their inhabitants: it was not con¬ ceived that any ufe could be made of this order, which candour and a fair reprefentation would not fully juftify; and any report from the prifon that was fair and candid, the Magi- ftrates had no reafon to wifh fhould be with- * # • holden from the public eye. They were vain enough to hope, that the fyftem eftablifhed in that place of confinement would abide the moft minute inveftigation : and they were fupported in this hope by the favourable re¬ port of many philanthropic vifitors, who left the prifon-gate with the moft favourable im- preflions of the whole fyftem on which it is conducted; and were agreeably furprized with the order, the diligence, the * tran¬ quillity, and decorum prevalent in every part of the prifon. Nay, the Magiftrates have reafon to believe, that forne vifitors who came full of the ideas of a Bqfiille in their minds, could not fupprefs their aftonifhment at find- # I with to obferve, that this favourable opinion of the prifon was received, previoujly to the commitment of certain perfons accufed of treafon, or treafonable prac¬ tices ; ten of whom have created more trouble, diforder, and confufion in the prifon, than an hundred convicted felons.