QGR4/295

Minute Book of the Visiting Justices' weekly meetings [second Volume]. Contains information on prisoners' numbers, health, and conduct, officers' conduct, contracts for supplies, those awaiting transportation, etc. Page 295 includes the following:

23 April 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

Thomas Charles Higgins, Philip Hunt, John Leete, George Cardale, Frederick H Neve, Robert Moore, George P Livius, Samuel Charles Whitbread. The Visiting Justices have observed with much regret that convicted prisoners are frequently recommitted for minor offences, and they are inclined to attribute this lamentable circumstance (among other causes) to their feeling little or any dread at the thought of being sent again to such a state of social intercourse, diet and labour as they find in the Houses of Correction in this County. In no class of delinquents is there any effectual hindrance, during the daytime, to their perpetually conversing and joking with each other, whether on the treadwheel or during the suspension of work in the relays, or during meal times. Prisoners who are not sentenced to hard labour can even amuse themselves, by games of chance using pebbles or beans, or cheque tables marked on their benches, or on the ground. It has often been said that young and inexperienced convicts have been taught by old offenders in the Bedfordshire Houses of Corerction to make snares and to set them with greater skill.

item

Hunt, Philip,
Higgins, Thomas Charles,
Neve, Frederick Hervey,
Livius, George P,
Leete, John,
Cardale, George,
Whitbread, Samuel Charles,
Moore, Robert,
Short,
Warner

BEDFORD, Bedford Gaol, House of Correction, gaol, general justices of the peace, prison warden, transportation, treadmill, vaccination, tobacco, illness, chaplains, gaoler, surgeon, convict labour, imprisonment, magistrate, turnkey, matron, punishment, debtor, bastardy, smoking, food & drink, games, gambling, chess, poaching, Game Laws