GAOL MATTERS.

WHILE a prisoner in this Gaol, it is a matter of course, that something will occasionally arise, that I may deem important to record; and that this something does not happen every week is rather owing to my forbearance than to the goodness of the Gaoler or of the Dorsetshire magistrates. There has been a fracas of late; but the Mags and the Gaoler have managed to keep me long ignorant of the particulars. That I have uniformly spoken favourably of the kindness of the turnkeys towards me, my readers know well; but they have not shewn that kindness without frequent abuse and threats of discharge from the Gaoler for it. A hundred things have been imputed, which never did pass between us; for yellow-eyed jealousy distorts and distrusts every movement. Here and every where I lay down a rule, to have no secrets; and, on this ground, I laugh my local persecutors to scorn and shame, and see them agitated with a thousand unfounded suppositions of intrigue which they cannot fathom, because it is one of their spiritual phantoms and has no other existence. This makes them the more uneasy, and it is a sort of triumph over such men, to agitate without convincing them.

I saw, within a few weeks of entering this Gaol, what sort of men I had to deal with, and I flatter myself, that I have managed them admirably; so much so, that I shall leave them very different men in their conduct towards me from what I found them. They are united, Gaoler and Magistrates, in both offensive and defensive alliance, against any assault of mine; but I now and then shock them by a slight explosion, as a preparation for that which is finally to come. In this, I have a very delicate game to play, so as not to give them an opportunity to crow over me, and so far, I have well managed it. They would have made the turnkeys insult and quarrel with me, if they could, and steps have been taken to provoke it; but I can always distinguish between an insult direct and indirect, and never make the servant responsible for the act of the master. Their little haughtinesses have wondered how it is that I have uniformly agreed so well with all but themselves. I will now tell them, that it is by treating the servants as persons, in my view, of equal consequence with, and of more respectability than, their masters.

Another rule of conduct, and, on moral grounds, I never allow any one to make rules for my conduct but myself, which I have laid down, with reference to my situation in the gaol, has been, not to offer communications to any prisoner; but not to refuse to receive and answer any when made to me. I find it a difficult point to observe this rule rigidly, to leave an impression on those about me, that I am disposed to treat them with civility. Since I was desired by the magistrates not to throw my

newspapers among the prisoners, I have been repeatedly asked to do it by new comers and have repeatedly stated the reasons why I could not prudently do it, always referring the enquirer to the visiting magistrates for an order. Though, I must say, that, I do not think the withholding of any kind of information, instruction, or literary or even controversial amusement from the prisoners, at all creditable on the part of the magistrates, or in accordance with the existing law of this country. Indeed, I will go so far as to say, that it is criminal, to withhold any kind of knowledge from any man, woman, or child, and the more so to a prisoner; because, there is some evidence of the absence of useful knowledge with the generality of prisoners, and their situations are such, that, if their time be not usefully occupied, they will be communicating their vices to each other. As one step to this end, I should be very glad to be allowed to throw my newspapers among them. My experience in this prison has assured me, that the moral improvement of the prisoners requires a very different treatment to that which they now obtain: indeed, I go so far as to say, that there is no moral improvement of the prisoners in this gaol, and that even the law of the country on that head is not complied with by the Magistrates: a fact, of which, I am about to adduce some evidence.

Another difficulty, which I have to struggle with is, that, many of the prisoners have a notion that I can give them useful information on their individual cases, and some of them will break through all Barriers to seek that information; others, more timid, will silently fret at the want of the opportunity; for, in a Gaol, a demand is made on our courtesy and sympathy to admit, that a man not absolutely a professed felon, is injured and imprisoned for maintaining a right cause. But I suggest nothing on this head: nor do I ask any thing; preferring to meddle with general rather than with individual grievances.

A third point is, that I have been often asked to give or lend my own particular publications to the prisoners. This I have invariably refused: not, that I am not sure that such prisoners would not be benefited, both morally and mentally by them; but, because, I know it is a point where the authorities of the Gaol have prejudices; and though my general conduct is a warfare with prejudices, it is an open warfare. Though I wish to have my publications read by all, I had rather wait until they were sought and could be openly obtained than offer them secretly. I scorn secrecy, in all its shapes, and put it down in the list of vices.

This is saying a great deal after a six years residence in a Gaol, with such a Gaoler, and in my individual case I may add with such Visiting Magistrates; for, to speak figuratively on a figurative subject, and without meaning to be more offensive than to state a plain matter of fact, I believe, that new lights

have flashed upon many minds, that a discovery has lately been religiously made, that all that can be denominated evil is not to be concentrated in the word devil, and that his satanic majesty would not be an objectionable ally, if he would make common cause against those who have made war upon his kingdom, as well as upon that feigned to exist elsewhere.

A Materialist sees every thing denominated spiritual to be figurative; therefore, to crack a joke upon the subject, cannot, in him, be fairly deemed offensive. He knows, that he plays with phantoms, with a new phantasmagoria, or a species of moral magic lanthorn.

I see, that I am full of digressions; but I am become so much of a Freemason as to keep them within a circle, to work by the compasses, to make them all bear alike upon a centre. I must write, if nobody will read. I have nothing else to do. The propensity in me to scribble is not so much of a phrenological origin, as a habit generated by those who sent me to this Gaol, by my persecutors.-To the question.

A word with the Gaoler for imputing unwarrantably to me a disposition for private or secret correspondence. I could almost make him believe that I am a conjuror, if conjuring days were not gone by, with the gradual fall of spiritualism, by reminding him of some little points in his secret correspondence about me, of the coming of which to my knowledge he does not dream. In matters of secret correspondence, he has been bred up even to espionage; even to be a very mouton. But I have not. I have never held a secret correspondence with any human being. I hold it to be a vice and I challenge the very ARGUS of this gaol. and all the ARGUSES in the country, to contradict what I say on this head. I dislike even an anonymous correspondent, though the practice is at present politically prudent with some. I abominate all secret associations, from that of Freemasonry, of which the king is the grand patron, down to those of the pot-house or the tea-table, which are held for purposes of scandal. I wish to see them all abolished and all mankind working openly to mutual improvement, benefit and brotherhood. On this point, and on this alone, are all my labours and sufferings concentrated, and so shall they continue, persecute who will or who can.

One great defect in the management of this Gaol has been, that there have never been hands enough, as turnkeys, or officers or servants, to do the work necessary to be done; and the evil of this defect has fallen wholly upon the prisoners. Dinners have been taken to the bakehouse, to be ready at one o'clock, and the prisoners for whom they were prepared have had the satisfaction to wait until six and receive them cold, perhaps spoiled in the In other cases, there has been a difficulty to obtain common necessaries from the town, and the prisoners have had to wait twenty four hours for articles wanted as food at the moment.

oven.

I confess, that, if any thing of this kind has happened to me, it has been rare, and rather an oversight in a multitude of errands than from carelessness. Individually, or for myself, on this head, I have no complaint. When I first came to the Gaol, there were but two turnkeys, the one to be at the gate and the other to fetch errands. The Gaoler called these men his servants, and they were made men of all work, for his private as well as his public services, to feed, kill and clean pigs, to milk the cow, often at a distance from the Gaol, and to do all sorts of domestic errands. In all cases, the prisoners have been a secondary consideration. This was long the state of Mr. Peel's best managed Gaol, and what made the matter worse was, that the Magistrates and Gaoler had many whims, ridiculous whims, which were peculiar to themselves. Rare indeed was it for either of these turnkeys to get a regular meal, and the only rest they could obtain for sixteen, or, in the summer, eighteen hours, was such time as they could steal for the alehouse, at the risk of the Gaolers abuse, if found absent. Now, the number of turnkeys may be considered four, and the pretty rules of the Gaol make one of them necessary to be ready to answer my call. But I wish it to be understood, that I have every ground to be perfectly satisfied with my treatmen in the Gaol, when comparing it with what it has been. There are whims remaining; but so many have worn out, that I can overlook the remainder.

The subject of the late fracas, in which I have been merely an involuntary, or unconscious actor, will be gathered from the correspondence to follow. It has entirely grown out of the turbulent, ruffianly character of the Gaoler, and has produced a result which I neither desired nor expected, in the discharge of my favourite turnkey, a favourite only by his willing slavery and the great confidence which I held in him for any assistance wanted. But I am fully persuaded, that some lurking suspicions, with regard to his good will towards me, rather than the excuse assigned, have been the cause of his discharge.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S TREASURY.

Dorchester Gaol, August 7, 1825.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIPS,

THOUGH Your Lordships have been and still are my tyrants and my robbers, as members of his Majesty's administration of government, I am much too noble to allow that your Lordships are my Lords, at the end of six years imprisonment.

The purpose of this application is not self; for any further application as to self, after your Lordships' answer to the one in No. 20. Vol XII.

1822, I disdain. Nor is it to be understood, that the smugglers in Dorchester Gaol have selected me as their advocate, in application to your Lordships. Had such been the case, I should have said:" My good fellows, you will have a bad advocate. I have no influence in boroughs; nor am I yet in the House of Commons to give their Lordships a vote. All other interest is too dull to ascend the treasury steps. Justice, morality, nothing can get up those steps but parliamentary influence. Besides, there are other circumstances, which to be figurative, would make your selection of me as your advocate, like sending the devil on an embassy to heaven; an utterly hopeless commission, unless you could back him with sufficient power to demand what he wanted: then, I'll warrant you, that he will find the face to do it."

But, I pray your Lordships to consider the case of the smugglers in Dorchester Gaol, without considering the medium through which that case comes: and then, as I soon mean to be an avowed atheistical member of the House of Commons, I will give your Lordships an occasional vote as an acknowledgment.

It will be seen by No. 1, that No. 2 was not written to be forwarded to your Lordships; but under the impression that I could get it published so as it should come indirectly under your Lordships' notice. I see nothing in the matter that claims publication as an individual case; but much that is entitled to your Lordships' attention. No. 4 is particularly worthy of notice though brief: and, of No. 1, I can say, that it is well understood in a Gaol, that complaint finds additional punishment instead of redress. As nothing can be added to my punishment, I have nothing to fear on that head. The statements of all the papers, I am well assured are correct, from my own direct observation, excepting that I have never seen the manner in which the men see their wives at the lodge of the Gaol.

The case of locking up the man for singing was a most ruffianly case on the part of the Gaoler, which I witnessed. No men could be more quiet and orderly than they were, unless they were absolutely gagged and chained fast. Out of thirty in the yard, the bulk were in sober conversation at one end. Three or four were sitting on a stool in the middle of the yard before their day room. One of those three or four was singing, not boisterously but melodiously. The Gaoler entered the yard and ordered him off to the refractory cell, which was darkened upon him and must have been a state of slow suffocation on that very hot day.

The rules of the Gaol set aside those refractory cells for more serious offences or outrages on the part of the prisoners. But I hope that your Lordships will see with me, even if you dislike singing or happy prisoners, that in the scale of offence, it must approach very near to Zero. While this man was locked up, the other prisoners were singing with impunity, unconscious of offence.