December 1798.

Reasonable and just that those who have violated
the law and disturbed the peace and Security of the
Public should rather be a Charge upon their Friends
than upon the County Rate raised with so much
difficulty as it is known to be and taken out of the
Money levied for the relief of the poor the Allowance
made to the Prisoners at this time of Butchers Meat< no role >
and Vegetables is more than can be procured by
many hard Working industrious Housekeepers
for themselves and their Families and even by
some who are called upon to Contributed to the
County Rate a Rate by various new Impositions
and Charges encreased every Year - It is hardly
necessary to observe that if the constant Cooking in
the prison kitchen was lessened a Considerable
saving of Coals would follow and fewer Servants
would be engaged in the Kitchen and that if the
number of Prisoners let out of close confinement
was more limited three Servants to attend them
would not be necessary.

Your Committee however beg leave to
state it as their Opinion that if it should be
thought proper by the Court to Continue the whole
or a part only of the Allowance of Meat now Made
it is absolutely necessary that the Prison should
be supplied with Butcher's Meat by contract being
Convicted it might be as well supplied as it now
is at a much lower price. -

Your Committee have thought it necessary
to take a general view of the sums of Money paid for
the House of Correction in the last Year (1797.) and have
accordingly referred to the Account of Mr.. Joseph
Burchell< no role > the County Treasurer delivered into the