I mention, perhaps, too
large a number--perhaps not above ten. I think their receiving support
from out-of-doors is most injurious, as it respects their moral
principles, and everything else, as it respects the welfare of the city.
There are some very poor people who will almost starve at home, and be
induced to do that which is wrong, in order to keep their poor relations
who are in prison. It is an unfair tax on such people; in addition to
which, it keeps up an evil communication, and, what is more, I believe
they often really encourage the crime by it for which they are put into
prison; for these very people, and especially the coiners and passers of
bank-notes, are supported by their associates in crime, so that it
really tends to keep up their bad practices."

"Do you know whether there is any clothing allowed by the city?"

"Not any. Whenever we have applied or mentioned anything about clothing,
we have always found that there was no other resource but our own,
excepting that the sheriffs used to clothe the prisoners occasionally.
Lately, nobody has clothed them but ourselves; except that the late
sheriffs sent us the other day a present of a few things to make up for
them."

"There is no regular clothing allowed?"

"It appears to me that there is none of any kind."

"Have you never had prisoners there who have suffered materially for
want of clothing?"

"I could describe such scenes as I should hardly think it delicate to
mention. We had a woman the other day, on the point of lying-in, brought
to bed not many hours after she came in. She had hardly a covering; no
stockings, and only a thin gown. Whilst we are there, we can never see a
woman in that state without immediately applying to our fund."

"When they come in they come naked, almost?"

"Yes, this woman came in, and we had to send her up almost every
article of clothing, and to clothe her baby. She could not be tried the
next sessions, but after she had been tried, and when she was
discharged, she went out comfortably clothed; and there are many such
instances."

"Has it not happened that when gentlemen have come in to see the prison,
you have been obliged to stand before the women who were in the prison
in a condition not fit to be seen?"

"Yes, I remember one instance in which I was obliged to stand before one
of the women to prevent her being seen. We sent down to the matron
immediately to get her clothes."

"How long had the woman been in