MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE the latter, the number of prisoners is equal to those in our prisons, and the medical expense does not amount to one third of the charge at Dublin. What were the expenses of maintaining the prisoners per day in each of those prisons, including every incident and every expense of the prison, for security, for sus- tenance, for support and sickness, and every thing ?- - From the account of the Preston house of correction, made up to the 2d of May 1821, it appears that the average number of prisoners was 349, and that the cost of food was 2,9411. 4s. 3 d. that was equal to is. 9 id. per week for each person. For food alone ?— Yes. What do the incidents come to ?— They are not stated in the account. Then, in addition to that sum, there is the clothing and the expenses of keeping the gaol in repair?— Yes; I may further remark, that the produce of labour in that prison when contrasted with the produce in our prisons, was very considerable indeed ; the gross amount of earnings in the Preston prison, appears to be 2> 94i /. and until last year we had not any produce from labour in our prisons. What was the expense in Glasgow per day for food alone, independent of inci- dents?— About 2 Id. per week above the amount of the produce of labour. In those examinations, you have ascertained what the expense of maintenance of prisoners was in those respective gaols of Glasgow, Knutsford and Preston ; did you ascertain what the daily expenses of the Dublin prisoners were ?— I did not. Then you cannot ascertain it in fact?— No. Then, how could you form any comparison between the expenses of the Preston House of Correction, which you did know and investigate, and the expenses of the Dublin prisons, which you did not know, and which you did not investigate ?— I certainly made an estimate at the time, but I have not the documents to refer to. Having inquired what were the expenses of the prisoners in each of those three gaols, do you know or can you form a judgment from any investigation or any calculation, what is the expense of the Dublin prisoners ?— Not without calculation, but if permitted, I could do it in a very short time. Have you ever done it ?— I have. Can you furnish the Committee on its next sitting with such a calculation ?— 1 can. You have talked of improvident contracts; you have investigated those con- tracts ; and you have stated only one that came within your own knowledge. You stated yesterday a contract for potatoes, as an improvident contract ?— I con- sidered it as an improvident contract; but I refer to it more from what took place after the contract was made, than at the time the contract was made. Do you know of any other contracts made by that grand jury, which you feel to be improvident?— I do ; contracts that I consider to be improvidently made. What are they?— I shall be obliged to go into explanation at some length, to convey my meaning; there was a contract with Mr. Dalton for blankets, linen, bed- ticks, & c. and for convicts' clothing ; Mr. Dalton, I understand, was foreman to an alderman of the corporation. In what year was this?— In the years 1821 and 1822. Was Mr. Dalton the contractor for the clothing in the year 1822?— His name was in the Richmond bridewell visiting room, as the contractor. Do you know of any other contract that you call improvident?— Those are the only two that I at present recollect. Are you aware that all contracts are made by the grand jury, after public notice, and with the lowest bidder?— 1 am. Are you aware, that in the case of the contract for potatoes at 6 /. a ton, there were only two bidders ?•— I have been told so. Do you believe it ?— I do. Do you believe that there was a public advertisement in the paper, calling upon all persons to send in contracts?— 1 do. Have you heard, and do you believe, that the grand jury objected to both those contracts, being both at 61. per ton ?— I have heard that they did. Have you heard that they applied to the court on the subject, stating the enor- mity of the proposals that were offered?— I have been recently told so. Do you believe it ?— I do. Do you believe that they represented to the court, their unwillingness to accede to so enormous a contract?— I think it likely, that that was the case ; 1 have no reason to doubt it. Have you heard, and do you believe, that the court instructed them that they had no discretion, and that they must present to the lowest bidder"?— I have been told so. Do