February 1795
On having recourse to the Treasurers Accounts it appears that the
subsistence to Convicts in the Prisons cost the County £153..5..0 in
1793 and £183..13..0 last year.
At present it appears that there are in all 49 Convicts in the House of
Correction Vizt. 12 from the Sessions and 37 from Newgate - Pry
withholding the Money formerly allowed to those there will be a saving
of £ P Annum.
It is from facts alone and from having the full scope of any
subject under review that accurate conclusions are to be drawn and
now that a general view of the specific Expences of the two Prisons
have been obtained it would seem to be very practicable considerably
to reduce the Annual Expences - By cultivating Potatoes Turnips
and other Vegetables and by keeping a Cow for the purpose of Milk
for the Sick Prisoners a considerable Sum might be saved - a
considerable saving would also be experienced by purchasing the
Coals consumed in the Prison at that season of the year when they
could be obtained at the cheapest Rate. and by making a previous
Contract with the Baker and Butcher some reduction of the present
price might possibly be obtained as well as in the price of Wine
Porter Oatmeal Etc. used for the Sick all which Articles should be laid in
wholesale and at the lowest ready Money prices - A great saving
equal at least to 20 P Cent has already taken place in the Prison
Dresses and Bedding merely by purchasing the Materials in the piece
and making them up in the Prison in place of purchasing from the
Stop warehouses ready made. The Expence of burying. the Dead might
also be saved entirely by allotting a corner of the Prison Ground
within the Walls as a Burying Ground. - In the Treasurers
Accounts for the last year the Burials amounted to £54 and in 1793
The Coroners Bill for Inquisitions was £30 - The whole Expence
of Coffins and Grave Digging could be executed by the Prisoners
It might also be a proper measure to make some compromise with
regard to the Taxes of the Prisoners as to obtain as easy a Rate us
possible - The Taxes of the two old Prisons amounted to £96..8..0