THE above Affidavit was made to prove that the Discipline of the House of Correction, Cold-Bath-
Fields , so far from being the Offspring of Benevolence is a System if Subtle and refined Cruelty.

The following Statement of FACTS will enable the PUBLIC to determine how justly I have appre-
ciated the Character of the Place.

AFTER having been confined in Newgate , previous of two years imprisonment in the House of
Correction for the space of Five Months, I was taken from thence on Monday, the 21st of
November, 1796, to the said prisonAs I was removed from Newgate before dinner, and was de-
tained two hours at the Court of King'sBench to receive sentence, I did not arrive at the House of
Correction untill two o'clock, which is two hours after their dinner, consequently I had no food on
the remainder of that day, but was turned into a yard untill four o'clock, when I was led to my Cell.
On my way,I passed through another yard, crowded with a set of miserably-looking wretches, who
had been convicted of misdemeanors. The horrid prophaneness of their discourse gave me no very
favourable idea of the people with whom it was probable I should associate; thence I was conducted
through a long dark passage, arched over, about four or five feet wide, with cells on each side. When
I arrived at the further end of this passage, the Turnkey who attended me opened a door, and in a
very surly tone, said "Damn you, go in here." As soon as i had entered, he locked the door upon
me. As the cell was completely dark, I felt about to discover what was the nature of my abode, which
I found to be about eight feet by fix, very damp, the walls were of bricks, and covered with moisture,
the floor of stone, which in very severe weather is cursted over with ice. On one side of this mi-
serable tenement, I found about three feet from the floor, three planks projecting from the wall
so as to form what is called, a bedstead; on this was a straw mat, a small thin rug, and a very
filthy blanket.I pulled off my coat, and lay down, endeavouring to compose myself to sleep
but the cold was so severe, and the vermin from the blanket and rug were so troublesome,
that I was obliged to get up and walk backward and forward, in hopes that, after a time, I
might obtain a little left, which proved abortive. About seven in the morning, I heard the
door unlocked, but by some forgetsfulness it was ommited to turn me out; but about eight
o'clock a perform in a rough surely voice, and venting a horrid oath, threw me in a loaf. A
few rays of light were now scattered in my cell, I was able to determine my situation more exactly
than before,this scanty light was afforded by a hole in the wall, perhaps, denominated a win-
dowit was about eight feet from the floor, was unglazed, defined by iron bars. This mise-
rable place was my abode from four o'clock in the afternoon untill seven in the morning for the first
week. When I was removed to another cell of the same description, near to a yard where myself and
a few other prisoners were turned out in the day to perform the hard labour, allotted to us our sen-
terce, but were prohibited from practising any amusing exercise, under the threat of being locked up for
such offence. Three days in the week my allowance was a pound of bread, and water daily; on the other
four days, four or five ounces of meat of bad-quality, and a quart of what is called, broth, which nothing
but extreme hunger could force a man to swallow. The meat is cut into small pieces, as no knife is
allowed, it is put into a tin pot with the broth, and in that state served to the prisoners. During the
two years of my confinement, I was not permitted to purchase or receive any provisions from my
friendsnay, more, one time on my mother's making an attempt to supply me with food, I was
struck by the Turnkey, confined to my cell, and only released by the Governor, on promitting not
to be guilty of a similar offence in future !!!. Justice Ford was applied to by my mother to use
his influence with the Magistrates for permission to provide my own food on those days when nothing
but bread and water is allowed ; but with urbanity for which that gentleman is distinguished,
he declined interfering in the discipline of a prison, which is governed by the private regula-
tions of a Committee of Magistrates responsible for their conduct to themselves alone. When the
few friends, who were permitted visited me, the following useless and mortifying parade was adopted :
i was conducted to a railed iron gate , attended by a Turnkey who, during conversation, stood
behind me. Opposite, and at the distance of about eight feet, is a wooden, latticed gate, where the vi-
sitor

2 Who put him in
2 Windows in it
it was 4 o'Clock in
the Month of Novr when
he came in it's
possible it was dark
never has been emited
with Ice

two Windows in it

& or. of the best
Meat. Soup will
made with Meat
Vegetables and
Oatmeal

Burke had an
before allowance
of the Layer & Butter
and Meat every
Saturday brought in by this Mother.

Picking of Cable-ropes to pieces.