Continued Thursday 3d. Septr. 1795.

Lewis, Mr. his Letter.(Copy Letter from Mr. Lewis addressed to the Prison Committee)

Powis Place Septr. 3d 1795.

"Gentlemen"

"I am sorry it was not in my power to attend your two last
"Prison Committees. The state of my health obliged me to leave
"Town nearly a month ago and I did not know of either of
"those meetings till they were over but had I known or could
"I have foreseen that my attendance was either expected or desired
"I should have returned to town, tho' at the risque of my health

"The verbal account I gave the Committee after the Contractor
"had been heard on the 25th: of June last of my opinion of the
"cause of the failure of the Buildings at Bridewell, I thought
"had been sufficiently plain and explicit and had satisfied the
"Committee; and I was confirmed in that Idea when they
"came to the resolution of ordering the Contractor to proceed
"in completing his Contract at the same meeting (on its being
"suggested that as I was an Officer of the House my Evidence
"singly might be objected to oral least want further support
"in a Court of Justice) a Ballot for a Surveyor to give his opinion
"in addition to mine took place; and Mr. Delight was accordingly
"appointed."

"The Committee having however notwithstanding this
"Resolution and without having received Mr. Delights report
"thought proper to resume the Subject and having again
"examined the Contractor the Bricklayer and the Labourer in
"Trust and having had their opinions in writing I think
"it necessary and proper for me to state also my opinion in
"the same way that it may stand as a Record on the minutes
"of the Committee."

"My opinion therefore of the failure of the Building is
"that it was occasioned by the neglect of and improper Shoreing
"and Overloading the floors with Bricks and Rubbish contrary
"to directions and Executing the Business in an unworkman like
"manner."

"To prove that I was dissatisfied and expressed that
"dissatisfaction with the mode of carrying on the Work
"I refer to my Letter to the Contractor delivered in by him