the permanence of our tranquillity; our connexion with Great Britain; our commerce, our liberties, and our Constitution.

Union forms my means; which I am ready to abandon, if any man will prove that they are ill chosen. My end, I solemnly declare, is the prosperity of my Country.

DUBLIN,

February, 1st, 1799.

W. SMITH.

REPORT

FROM THE

COMMITTEE

OF THE

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

ON THE

KING'S BENCH, FLEET, AND MARSHALSEA

PRISONS, &c.

NO. XII.

Pam.

VOL. VI.

2 H

REPORT,

&c.

THE COMMITTEE appointed to enquire into the State of THE KING'S BENCH, FLEET, and MARSHALSEA PRISONS, and to report their Observations thereupon, together with any Improvement which may be practicable therein; and who were empowered to enquire into the State of the NEW PRISON, building in the City of London, for the reception of Debtors, and into the arrangements made for the better management of the Prisons of Newgate, Ludgate, Giltspurstreet, and The Borough COMPTERS, since the Report of the Committee of This House, on those Prisons, in the Year 1814: HAVE, pursuant to the Order of the House, examined the Matter to them referred, and agreed upon the following REPORT.

YOUR Committee find the Marshalsea of the KING'S BENCH to be under the jurisdiction of the Court of King's Bench, and that it is a national and not a county prison. Persons arrested for debt, or confined under the sentence, or for contempt, of the Court, are imprisoned therein.

The Marshal is, at the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, appointed by the King, either by sign manual or by letters patent, in virtue of the Act of the 27th of George the Second. William Jones, Esq. the present Marshal, was nominated by sign manual on the 19th of March, 1791, and he holds his office, according to the terms of the warrant, "for so long time as he shall behave himself well, and shall be resident within the walls or rules of the prison, and no longer."

There is no salary attached to the office of Marshal of the King's Bench; his income is derived from fees on commitments and discharges, and from other sources, such as the rent of rooms in the prison, profits on the sale of porter, ale, and wine, the rent of the coffee-house, &c. &c.; but his principal emoluments arise from granting the rules, or the liberty of living without the walls of the prison, within a certain area. The average gross amount of revenue derived from these sources, may be estimated annually, for the last three years, at 5,000l. 15s. 8d. according to an account delivered in by the Marshal; the expenses and outgoings, including the payment of clerks, turnkeys, watchmen, taxes, &c. &c. are 1,7301. 9s. 6d. leaving a net income to the Marshal of 3,270l. 6s. 2d. To this must be added the fees taken on bails and judgments, which are calculated at 320l. per annum; making on the whole a sum of not less than 3,5901. Amongst these emoluments, that on beer sold in the prison amounts to 8721. and that on the rules to 2,8231. per annum.

The outgoings consist principally in salaries, taxes, and law expenses, and the small sum of 75l. for repairs; though the Committee observe, that by the 17th clause of the 27th of George II. ch. 17. "the Marshal of the Marshalsea of the King's Bench for the time being shall at his own cost and charges, by and out of the fees and profits incident to the said office, well and sufficiently repair, and keep in good repair, the said prison, and all the buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging.""

The officers of the prison are all in the appointment of the Marshal, and consist as follow:

The Deputy Marshal is Mr. Josiah Boydell: This gentleman: has nothing to do with the management of the prison, and has no salary, but his emoluments arise from fees taken under the rules and orders of the Court, dated 1759, and which amount from 350%. to 400l. per annum, and would, it is stated, be considerably increased, if the fees were not voluntarily relinquished in all cases of poverty and distress. The duties of this officer are to attend the Chief Justice in court, and to accompany him to the royal levees.

It does not appear to Your Committee, that there is any clear distinction made between the repairs that are to be done by the Marshal, and those that are to be executed by the Government.