Middlesex Sessions:
Sessions Papers - Justices' Working Documents
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April 1765

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Why can't these privies be survey'd daily
and fresh Water of which there's now plently
in the Goal pour'd down

vrd. applys them

That is for want of attendance to Watch
a little.

A Single room may be very proper
but to reserve whole divisions must be
pernicious, because if there are only few
that can pay, a great portion of the Gaol
stands empty whilst the 2 Comon Appartmts.
are crowded out of reason & proportion.

It shod. seem that contagion must be personal
[..] rather than local-and the comon phrase is
that the distemper is brot. by a prisoner
from another Gaol. vid pag. 7.

Many of these runners are men of ill Life
who ate very intemperate Etc.

The Ill Name the Gaol has acquired and the unhappy
Wretches confined therein easily accounts for
Men of practice being heath to go
However it might be equally practicable to
get a phyician thither as well as a Divine
only advertise an election with a reasonable Salary.

yet a Worthy Apothecary does attend
was without a settled salary.

The Coroners Accot. a 13s.4d. amots. to about
£7. P ann vid.

and I send for City Scavenger almost ever [..] Week

Comitte of City Lands visit Newgate, Sheriffs &
Aldermen went last. Aldn Harley & Ald. Beck [..]
was there lately.31

Gaol clean'd once a Week

There are 8 or 9 rooms in Press yard
unfurnish'd-when Gaol full uses them

Its a lofty part & don't always do it for
fear of escapes-puts em there for slight
offences.31

In all Gaols there are appartmts. let to
better sent of people

The Gaol is seldom without Sickness
About 114 prs now in Gaol31.

In 1763. about 16 Dyed. In 1414. when the Gaol was in its Infant State
and not surrounded with Buildings the Keeper and
no less than 64 prisoners vid stow 37 and it is morally
impossible to prevent Contagion even in a New
Gaol which till season'd might be still more
terrible as well as insecure.
Can't tell how many rooms in Newgate
Generally thot. the 16 died (of Gaol Distemper [..] ) or 2 might
dye otherwise32

When full 20 may have been in one room
Distemper did not comence in that room but
was all over the Gaol.

Have buried 8 or 10 [..] Servts. in 10 yrs
any prisr may have a room to himself if
pass & offence not capital

Has found very great difficulty to get a
person of the faculty to attend Psons ill 33

Apply'd to Gentlemen of the hospitals [..]
Attended for a Short time & then refused.
does If So must all Gaols be pull'd down? not knew Gaol distemper peculiar
Newgate believes 'tis in all the Gaols.
Apothecary had sayd he'd not endanger
his life on any Accot. whatever-he has
no fees for attend.

Mr. Blagden attends, City make him a
satisfaction but he has no salary.

Coroner of London takes, the Inquisitions 33.

The City pay, They are burged in Christ Church
[..] pays the Expence

Some delicate person on a single applicn.
but 'tis submitted under the direction of angood
Approved Apothecary with a Standing Salary
would rectify the ill State of the Gaol by
pointing out proper Remedies.

It appears by the Statute of Chas. 2.
that they mix't with the Felons which
was for bidden

May be reasonably a scribed to their
more miserable situations & connexions.

There cannot be a doubt: and if so 't would
be only hazardous in cases of Execution
but 'tis absurd to Suffer it to remain doubtful.

see prced 9 pa.

Sensible Builders laugh at
the Expression

The Ballance must be in favour of the Latter

Can't he keep it cleanr. It has been
Clean'd at times & if no good effects
why clean it at all or to what end.
The bias is very strong for a New Gaol.

Here he means the privies again wch.

Has offer'd Money to 'pothecarys to visit
patients in Gaol & have refused.

'Tis the peculiar ill Fate of Debtors taken
in Middlesex that the Sheriffs of London are the
Sheriff of Middx and pitch'd on this Gaol wch.
seems was never intended for Debtors. vid Stow. 39.
who has these words from a Recgedand
get there seems tolerable appartments for this
number. Debtors part is one of the worst-Felony
as bad-Mars side Debtors more healthy
than comon side

Drs. have a Penny Loaf a Day besides
several Donations so as he his comfortable [..] 34

Das. at present rather more than 40.

No yard for the Debtors, non very little benefit for 35
the Sun.

Some part of Debtors side is worse than
some part of Felons, but not in General

Don't think Debtors & Felons might be
kept a part in a better place.

More felons than Debtors have died in
proportion.

Cant Keep Debtor in press yard it being
matter of doubt whether part of Gao [..]
or not.35

Debtors have no Area.

Frequently Felons brot. from other Gaols
distemper'dand we are lyableoccasions more
felons to Dye than Drs.36

An Area of Ground added might be Some
benefit but the Walls and so rotten Spring
damp & bad that twod. not cure it.

Believes no of prisoners convicted & acqd. nev [..]
equal, but has kept no accot.

Don't recollect any Mischief to coroner
or Nuys -Coroner attended by Deputy.

Coroner has refused to go into Cells Etc

Does not apprehend in the present state of
Newgate , can keep appartmts. Clean & heal [..]
unless a proper Area
and the Walls are so very damp spungy rotten
& ruinous frequently overflowing thinks
the gaol grows worse

It's my interest to keep it healthy
Have heard of gt. Quantities of Dirt & Fi [..]
carried away abt. 14 or 15 yrs ago.




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