Middlesex Sessions:
Sessions Papers - Justices' Working Documents
SM | PS

January 1781

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whole bying in Rains as the Rioters left it

The Sheriffs being asked the reason why this Goal has
not been repaired, as it was then more than Nine Months since it was
destroyed, replied that they had no find to Repair it so there is no
knowing how long this Goal may be suffered to remain in this [..]
State during which time the Sheriffs may send their Convicts to
New Prison and Clerkenwell Bridewell where they will be supported
and kept at an heavy Expence to this County, at the same time the City
of London will be receiving and enjoying the Rents Profits Priviledges
and immunities of their several extensive Estates many of which were
originally granted to them for the support of their Goals & Prisoners

While the Goal of Newgate was building an act of
Parliament passed to enable the Court at the Old Bailey to comm [..]
their Convicts to Newprison and Clerkenwell Bridewell but
Newgate having been since distroyed almost all prisoners which
would have been committed to Newgate are now committed to
NewPrison or Clerkenwell Bridewell and are Supported at al [..]
heary expence out of the County Stock

Nor is this the only eril which the County of Middlesex
Suffers for New Prison and Clerkenwell Bridewell being found by
experience not sufficient properly to contain such Prisoners as are
committed by the County Magistrates only together with the Convicts
from Hicks Hall If the Court at the old Bailey continue to send the
Convicts to remain in New Prison and Clerkenwell Bridewell
these two Goals will be so erouded that as the warm season
apporaches every thing is to be dreaded that may arise from
Infection and Epidemick disorder which may not even prove fatal
to the Courts of Justice but to the Metropolis nor can this malady
have an end while Convicts are thus sent to these Goals and to
continue there Months and for Years in an idle and worse than
an useless state corrupting each other and forming Confederacies
dangerous to the public and subversive of all order and good
government: for convicts knowing that they have received their
final sentence & that nothing worse can be inflicted are the
most desperate and dangerous Prisoners, ever making disturbances
and Riots within the Goals and encouraging others to misbe have




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