February 1795.

Heretofore it appears & the Reporter that the mode adopted
in keeping the Accounts of the Prisons of the County has been very
imperfect inasmuch as these Books never exhibited a Register of
above half the Monies disbursed: The remainder of the Expences were
contained in detached Vouchers which were passed at different times
and put out of sight, so that no aggregate general view of the
annual disbursements of the Prisons seems to have been ever
exhibited at any stated periodical period to the Court and hence it
follows that no Check upon expence could be made by comparing the
charges of One year with another because the Books of the prisons as
have already been observed never exhibited any general accumulative
statement.

It appears of such obvious utility that these expences not.
partially as at present, but wholly so as to include every charge
whatsoever should be brought under the review of the Court at least
once a year to be methodically stated in Books to the kept for the
purpose which shall contain a complete Register of every thing
received as well as every thing expended: That an Order to this
purpose is earnestly recommended.

Having made these general Observations on the necessity of
adopting method and regularity in the mode of keeping the Books
and Accounts of the Prison, it now remains for the visiting
Justices to state how far the general Regulations of the New House
of Correction appear to them to have been carried accurately into
execution.

The Magistrates are requested to enquire

Querie 1st.Whether the Prison is in a state of
perfect Security?

AnswerAs far as they can judge the utmost attention is paid
by the Governor and Keepers to this branch of their duty and it is
but justice to add that so far as relates to the management of the
Prisoners the Governor appears to have a considerable degree of
merit.