ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 95 Is not that the plan now ?— No ; that Act of Parliament has not come into full force : I would also propose, that visitors should not be permitted to see prisoners after trial, except in cases of very good behaviour, or by the approbation of the magistrates, or proper officers; and that all prisoners in Newgate should be fed on the gaol allowance. Do you mean whether they could afford to maintain themselves or not ?— It creates a great deal of confusion in not doing it, because we are obliged to keep all prisoners who are not fed on the gaol allowance, in a yard by themselves; also that a cooked dietary should be substituted in Newgate, and " that the prisoners should breakfast and dine at stated hours ; that no fermented liquors of any kind should be permitted, save for medicinal purposes, and ordered by the inspector, physician or surgeon, in writing. Do you mean to prisoners before trial, as well as after trial ?— Indeed, I should never wish to see any liquors of any kind in gaol; I should make a distinction for debtors of course, but there are no debtors in Newgate now ; it might be subject to an order from higher authority, or subject to an order from the court of King's Bench : with respect to the city marshalsea, I will state exactly what the prison is; it is a very bad and ill- constructed prison for prisoners, committed, as they are generally, for small debts; some on city actions, for debts to any amount; the former liquidate their debts either by payment or time ; time means that each and every day they are detained, pays a debt at the rate, as well as I can recollect, of one shilling per day, for debts of twenty or forty shillings, they pay at that rate by staying twenty or forty days : much difficulty exists in getting repairs made at this prison, as there is an uncertainty about the mode of payment. Have you ever known any grand jury presentment for the repairs ?— I have. Have you ever known any objection to them ?— I have. On what ground ?— That the corporation should support its own prison. Have you known the corporation to repair it ?— In two or three instances I have. In what state of repair is it?— It is now in a good state of repair, owing to a storm, which at the time caused serious injury to the prison. At whose expense was it repaired ?— By the grand jury; this prison is under the corporation of the city of Dublin, and should be supported at the expense of the corporation, but I have heard that it was in contemplation, to allow somewhat out of the funds of the court of conscience for its support; I think 100/. a year would support the prison and pay the marshal, who has stated to me that there are three years salary due to him. Who should pay it?— The corporation. Rev. P. R. Gamble. ( 12 May.) I William Harty, M. D. called in ; and Examined. WHAT is your profession?— I am a physician. What public official situation do you fill; how long have you filled it, and how were you appointed?— I am physician to all the prisons of Dublin, with the excep- tion of the four court marshalsea which is under government, and the Grange Gor- man Lane penitentiary. Will you state the names of the prisons ?— Newgate, the city marshalsea, the sheriff's prison, the Richmond bridewell, and the Smithfield penitentiary; I was appointed by the grand jury in Easter term 1812, and being approved of by the court of King's Bench, am by law an officer of that court. Had you been a candidate for the office on any former occasion ?— I had been a candidate for the office, on the death of Doctor Scott, in or about the year 1809, when Doctor Mills was appointed, and the votes were almost equally divided upon that occasion. You did not succeed at that time ?— Doctor Mills was then appointed ; afterwards Doctor Mills was bequeathed a considerable property in the county of Wicklow, and having resigned the office, I was then appointed. Had you any relatives upon the grand jury at the time of your election ?— Noxie; at the present moment I have a brother who is an alderman, and also a brother- in- law who is an alderman ; but my brother was elected last year only ; my brother- in- law was not, as well as I can recollect, an alderman at the period of my election ; at least if he was, it was immediately before the period of the election. But he did not serve upon the grand jury which elected you physician?— I do not now recollect. What salary was attached to your office at the time of your election, and what 549- 11 " 1807: Dr. William Harty,