December 1798.

less than 2d. Per Day for each Prisoner except when
Butchers Meat< no role > is occasionally Ordered by the
Surgeon for Sick Prisoners.

The difference of Expence to the County in
maintaining the Prisoners in the House of
Correction and in Tothill fields Bridewell and
New Prison being so great Your Committee have
thought it proper to enquire respecting the Health
of the Prisoners in the different Prisons and find
that the Prisoners in General in the New Prison
and in Tothill fields Bridewell are as healthy as
in the House of Correction -

Your Committee also find that Male
Prisoners in the House of Correction to the number
of about 40. each Day are permitted to come out
from close Confinement to do such Labour as they
are Capable of some are employed as Common
Labourers and others in such Handycraft Work as
they have been accustomed to that such Persons
so permitted to come out of Work are Allowed a
double Allowance of Bread two pound Loaves
each and also one pint of Porter each Per Day
and some of them 4d. Per Day as a supposed Sixth
part of their Earnings that at present they Work
about seven hours in the Day during the time
they are so at large and that three Servants of
the Prison are Constantly attending them during
that time that the value of the Labour of such
Prisoners therefore the Additional Expence attending
it being reckoned must be very inconsiderable
and in an Economical point of View not an
Object worth Consideration how far the practice
of suffering so great a November of Prisoners to be