South District. the assizes, and will meet the board at any time in Tralee, should they consider my pre sence necessary. I examined all the plans already submitted, and made the Rev. Mr. Hurly, the local inspector, acquainted with any alterations I would suggest for consideration. The bridewells are as follows: THE interior management of this gaol is considerably improved since my last inspection: the officiating clergyman has been appointed local inspector, and there appears a manifest increase of zeal in the resident officers; the prison is however defective in the accommodation of cells and yards, and is erected on a bad plan for inspection or classification. There is neither an infirmary, chapel, or work room, and consequently no further improvement can be expected under such circumstances. A new and commodious gaol on a better site should be erected for this populous and extensive county; and should the grand jury not wish to incur the expense, I would recommend a house of correction to be built in some central situation, which would receive all the sentenced prisoners, and where employment and classification would be provided for. The accommodation of this gaol consists of 2 yards, 5 small kitchens, and 32 cells. ON my visit to this district bridewell, I found it was progressively improving: there are only two as yet established in Ireland under the Act; and the objects of the Legislature I think are carried into effect, by relieving the county gaol from the sessions prisoners, and creating a more central place of confinement within the county, to avoid the expense and inconvenience of transmission. The sheriff still continues to send debtors to this gaol, which occupies so many cells, that much of the benefit to be derived from the discipline and classification of criminals is lost. Some repairs are absolutely necessary in the yards for cleanliness and security, which would not admit of delay till the assizes; and on my representation to Lord Oxmantown of this circumstance, the alterations were ordered. The keeper is attentive to his duty, keeps the records regular, and the gaol clean; he acts as schoolmaster, and the time he can give to this branch of prison discipline has proved useful to many under his care. The pauper prisoners are fed and provided with straw, fuel and blankets; and the Rev. Mr. Fetherston kindly acts as local inspector, and gives a great share of time and attention to the gaol. A tread-mill has been erected and is in operation; and the accommodation consists of 4 rooms, 6 cells, 1 solitary cell, 2 day rooms, and 2 yards. Shinrone Bridewell. NO alteration has taken place in this small bridewell since last year: there are two dark cells, which are kept clean, but without furniture, and there is no accommodation of yard, day room, privies or pump. Under these circumstances it cannot be regulated as a bridewell, but being only seven miles from the prison of Parsonstown, it may not be necessary to expend money in its improvement, provided prisoners are not detained more than 24 hours. Moneygal Bridewell. CONSISTS only of one small room in the keeper's house, and is similarly circumstanced with Shinrone; the regulations cannot be enforced in it, and all prisoners should be forwarded to Parsonstown within 24 hours. County of Kilkenny Gaol, THIS gaol continues to maintain its character as a well-managed county prison; and though the building is not erected on the modern plans for constant inspection by the governor, I do not consider it inferior to any in internal economy and discipline: the local inspector, chaplains and governor are all zealous in the discharge of their duty; constant employment is provided for most of the prisoners; an excellent and well-regulated school is established, and consequently cleanliness and order prevail. The tread-mill is in full operation, pounding hemp; and it is in contemplation to add further machinery. The solitary cells I recommended last year are in progress, and most of my suggestions have been attended to by the grand jury. The matron is unqualified and inefficient; and the board of superintendence, who held a meeting at my inspection, were satisfied on this point, so that I doubt not but the grand jury will remedy the evil, by appointing a fit person with a better salary; the female department was consequently in confusion, and without profitable instruction. The pumps are out of order; some tables and forms wanted; and a few prison dresses for the tried criminals, who appeared slovenly for want of them. A chapel should be erected, as there is no regular place for worship. The accommodation provided in this gaol consists of 8 yards, 6 day rooms, 6 work rooms, 48 cells, a marshalsea and infirmary. South District. Callan Bridewell. : ON communicating with the Honourable Charles Butler on the subject of this illegal place of confinement, and where I hoped to find the new bridewell presented for in progress, I understand no title can be procured for the site under these circumstances, and as it is not a sessions town, I submit for the consideration of the grand jury, that it should be abolished, under the directions of the Act 3 Geo. 4, c. 64, s. 31, and the expense saved to the county. Thomastown Bridewell. I HAVE visited this bridewell twice since last Report. It is only intended as a place of confinement for a few nights, till persons can be conveniently transmitted to the county gaol; and it has sufficient accommodation and separation for that purpose. From the escapes lately made from it, I fear it is not secure, or the keeper neglects his duty. The sewers have been repaired since last inspection, but no pump has been sunk, and no provision has been made by the grand jury for bedsteads and furniture, which I hope may be presented for this assizes. Food, straw and fuel are issued to the pauper prisoners, and the King's Bench regulations are posted up. County of Kilkenny Lunatic Asylum. THIS is a small neat building, erected for the purpose of relieving the county gaol from such inmates. There are 6 cells for males and 4 for females, with a day room and yard to each. There are now confined in it 4 males and 10 females, under a careful and intelligent keeper, who treats them with kindness and as little restraint as possible. They are clothed and fed. City of Kilkenny Gaol. I MUST again report this prison as quite inefficient for all the objects of prison discipline, There is no matron; nor any attempt whatever, by work or instruction, is made to improve the condition of this class. South District. There is an extensive and dangerous crack in the wall, which calls for immediate attention; and some place should be provided to separate the sick from the healthy prisoners, as at my inspection some were confined to their cells, which under any circumstances is not a proper place, and in case of contagious disease would be fatal in its effects. The board of superintendence held a meeting on the day of inspection, and the Marquis of Ormonde was kind enough to attend, when I explained the absolute necessity of erecting a new gaol; the expense of which would not exceed 6d. per acre as a county charge till the first cost should be repaid. THIS establishment is united with the mendicity department, and is conducted on sound principles, as hard labour and other works are provided for all the inmates. The keeper attends to his duty; the rooms were clean, and the prisoners orderly. The accommodation was not originally intended for classification; and where constant employment is procured, it is not so necessary for minor offenders, who alone are sent here by the court. No provision is made for inspection or clerical duty by the city gaol officers, which the Act of Parliament requires; and milk is the legal diet instead of water. The lunatics and idiots are not kept separate from the same wards, which ought to be done. County of Limerick Gaol. THIS extensive new gaol has received so much of the attention of the board of superintendence, as to all its interior management and economy, and whose zeal and information on the subject of prison discipline is so well known, that I feel any report of mine almost unnecessary. If every gaol in Ireland was equally clean and well attended to, the office of inspector-general would be unnecessary. It is however my duty to give an opinion on any points which I think would tend to improve the system. The prisoners appeared to me slovenly and careless in their dress and manners, and to require from the governor more energy and discipline. Profitable labour in the way of trades should, I think, be added for the benefit of less criminal, or perhaps penitent, prisoners, exclusive of the hard labour of the treadmill. The female classes should be divided, and prevented from seeing or conversing with the male classes through the iron railings, by boarding it up. The debtors should not be charged for their rooms, though the fee does not go into the pocket of any officer; and the sewers ought to be repaired. I stated all these points to the board, and I have no doubt they will receive due consideration. A school is established, but the master should attend earlier. I visited the new lunatic asylum now building, accompanied by Mr. Spring Rice, and it appears to me well executed and on a good plan. I trust effective and practical officers will be appointed to manage it. The accommodation afforded in the county of Limerick gaol consists of 10 yards, 10 day rooms, 103 cells, 5 solitary cells, a marshalsea, hospital and chapel. THE bridewells in this county have for some time been placed by the grand jury under the control of their efficient board of superintendence, and money has been presented for alterations in them all, to provide the legal accommodation of yards and day rooms, so as to separate male from female prisoners, and to provide room for air and exercise. These plans are in progress; and it would be useless to detail the evils which have hitherto existed in such places of confinement. The pauper prisoners are all fed and provided with straw and fuel, and the records are kept. Rathkeale bridewell is almost ready for occupation; and on my next visit I will furnish the bedsteads and blankets, should the board not wish it to do at the assizes. Some mistake has been made in the presentment for the alterations in Glynn bridewell, which has delayed the execution of that work, I trust it will be rectified this assizes, as I found it in a sad state of filth, and indeed no regularity could exist in such a dungeon. The I propose a tour of inspection to all these bridewells after the assizes, as soon as the works are finished, as it would be useless visiting those in progress. City of Limerick Gaol. THE entire arrangements and internal economy of this small city prison are well adapted to carry on a good system of prison discipline, and are very creditable to the local inspector, Mr. Gibson, who has certainly proved how soon economy and order may replace irregularity and tumult, in the most confined and ill-contrived prison. Whatever has been left in his power is done: cleanliness, system, obedience and regular hours, prevail throughout, and he is aided by an attentive gaoler and zealous officers; but here ends his power; and if the means of obtaining productive labour and schooling are not given to him by the grand jury, the great ends of discipline will be lost. There can be no doubt but stone-breaking, pounding hemp or logwood, and picking oakum, could be procured in Limerick as well as at Belfast, where these works are provided constantly in the house of correction. And a schoolmaster could be procured to instruct the prisoners, which has in all parts of Ireland been gratefully received by them. The intended purchase of the old county gaol has not yet been completed, which is much wanted to increase the classification of this small gaol, and procure work rooms, separate cells for each prisoner, a general cooking kitchen, and an infirmary. The accommodation the present gaol affords, consists of 5 small yards, 5 day rooms, 41 cells, and a marshalsea. THIS is an old gaol, and the place is not well calculated for classification or inspection; but every thing has been done by the present governor to render it as efficient as it is capable of; cleanliness and good order prevailed in every department, evincing the general attention paid by all the officers to their duty. It is to be regretted under such circumstances that the want of accommodation for work rooms, as well as cells and yards for minuter classification, puts a stop to the further progress of moral government; some employment, however, might be found by breaking stones for roads or streets, if encouraged by the grand jury and board of superintendence. A good school is established; a matron is placed over the female department, which is in a detached prison or bridewell where the lunatics are also kept, and the hospital for both prisons placed under a separate establishment; this creates confusion, and nothing short of erecting a new county gaol will remedy the evil. The bridewell is kept clean, but the keeper is old and infirm, and the matron not well qualified to take the moral government of so important and extensive a department. The lunatics (19 in number) are well attended to, fed and clothed, and no unkind treatment or coercion used. The accommodation in the gaol consists of 6 yards, 6 day rooms, 25 cells, and a marshalsea; and in the bridewell 3 yards, 4 day rooms, and 12 cells. South District. Ballinrobe Bridewell. THIS is the only bridewell in the county: it is a large building, and with some trifling repairs and alterations would be efficient. Major Woodward has twice proposed a presentment for the proper changes, which has not been granted. The keeper occupies too much of the gaol; he should have a separate house, which would leave 8 cells and 2 yards for the accommodation of prisoners. The keeper is an intelligent active man, and receives a salary of 40 l. per annum; he keeps the records regularly; the regulations are posted up; the prisoners are fed, and provided with bedsteads, blankets, fuel and straw, and the prison is kept clean. The two yards are overgrown with grass, instead of being neatly gravelled, and there is no pump. The rector of the parish, the dean of Cloyne, visits and takes a kind interest in the prison; but unless the grand jury makes the presentment called for, and provides keeper's apartments, it cannot be reported as efficient or legal. Queen's County Gaol. THIS gaol continues in the same state I reported it last year. As the building of the new gaol, presented for by the grand jury and approved of by the Lord Lieutenant, has not yet commenced, I trust at the ensuing assizes some steps may be taken to execute this necessary work, as the old prison is devoid of the accommodation required by law; there is no infirmary chapel, or work rooms, and not sufficient cells, yards or day rooms for classification, and the plan is so bad as to preclude any efficient addition being made: under these circumstances, the erection of the new gaol should not be delayed, on the site near the court-house, which is superior in every respect to that at the entrance into the town. The interior management of this gaol is as good as the accommodation will admit of; the female department is attended to under the care of a matron, but she has no apartments; sufficient care is not taken to enforce the school instruction on all by the master. Some of the officers do not sign the attendance-book, as directed by the Act of Parliament, as often as required, which is the only legitimate mode I have of discovering that the duty is performed; and the surgeon never signs it. The local inspector is not paid as well as in most other counties. The yards require gravelling; and sentinels should not be posted in them, as the communication of the military with prisoners has often proved injurious. THIS is the only place of confinement in the county, exclusive of the gaol at Maryboro; it cannot be denominated a bridewell, as it does not contain the legal accommodation of a day room, yards, privy or pump, and consists only of 1 cell, which is used for rioters, or a prisoner for 24 hours to previous transmission to the county gaol. County of Tipperary Gaol. THE plan of this gaol is not calculated to forward the objects of classification, as the inmates of one class can converse with another from their cell windows; however, there is sufficient accommodation for 12 classes, and this has been carried into effect. The prison is kept very clean; and on a reference to Major Woodward's former Reports, it is obvious that a gradual improvement has taken place in all the departments; that of the females is remarkable, where from the inspection and instruction by a qualified matron, and the indefatigable zeal of a committee of visiting ladies, cleanliness, order and reformation is the certain result. Colonel Bagwell and some members of the board of superintendence were kind enough to attend at my inspection, and I suggested some regulations as to profitable labour, regularity of hours for meals, respectful conduct of prisoners to their governors, &c. as well as cleanliness of their persons, the regular attendance of inspecting officers to sign the gaol book, and a small aid to the ladies to procure work for the females, which were all promptly attended to. A male school is established, and a tread-mill in use for prisoners sentenced to hard labour. A part |