Strange to say, a somewhat similar practice 3 not entirely unknown in England, for, at : Liverpool bridewell, Howard discovered a h with "a new and singular contrivance.” one end of the bath was "a standard for a g pole, at the extremity of which was fastened hair. In this all the females (not the males) their entrance, after a few questions, were ced, with a flannel shift on, and underwent a rough ducking, thrice repeated. An use of : bath," he adds, "which I daresay the legisare never thought of, when in their late Act y ordered baths with a view to cleanliness I preserving the health of the prisoners; not the exercise of a wanton and dangerous kind severity." 2

Bad as things were, it is pleasant to feel that one matter England was distinctly in advance most other countries; for although, as we e seen, irons were customary for the safe tody of the prisoners, and there was a terrible ount of wanton cruelty practised by gaolers, the deliberate infliction of torture, either by

The State of Prisons, p. 105.

Ib. p. 437. On a later visit Howard was glad to find "this use of the bath was discontinued."

no means universally the case on the Continent. In Sweden, it is true, it had just been abolished by the reigning monarch, Gustavus III., who had ordered a dark cellar, applied to that purpose in the great prison at Stockholm, to be bricked up. So also in Prussia, Frederick the Great had set the example in Germany of abolishing

2

ere used in a cellar where the horrid engine ept. The time for it is, as in other countries, ut two o'clock in the morning. A criminal ered the Osnaburg torture twice, about two rs ago; the last time, at putting to him the d question (the executioner having torn off hair from his head, breast, etc.), he confessed, was executed. On such occasions a counsellor

secretary attend, with a doctor and surgeon, Osnaburg executioner, and sometimes the gaoler. the criminal faints, strong salts are here lied to him, and not vinegar, as in some er places." 1

at Hamburg one of the most excruciating ruments of torture that Howard ever saw kept and used in a deep cellar of the prison. ought," he says, "to be buried ten thousand noms deeper. It is said the inventor was the

who suffered by it; the last was a woman, ew years ago." 2

At Mannheim the prisoners committed to the ison de Force were "commonly received in form hwhat is called the bien venû. A machine is ught out, in which are fastened their necks, ds, and feet. Then they are stripped; and The State of Prisons, p. 99. 2 Ib. p. 70.

venû of eighteen to twenty, or the petit ve of twelve to fifteen; after this they kiss the threshold and go in. Some are treated witl the same compliment at discharge. The lik ceremony is observed at many other towns in Germany." 1

At Nuremburg was one of the worst prison Howard ever saw. "The dark, unhealth dungeons, and the dismal torture chamber, d no honour to the magistracy of this city." Her he found that the gaoler was accustomed t make use of what he calls "a low trick," to prevent the escape of his prisoners, "by terrifying them with the apprehension of falling under th power of witches"! 2

Osnaburg was even worse. Indeed, the stat of things here was so disgraceful that Howard was tempted to omit all mention of it; and only inserted an account of it, in the hope tha it might lead to some reform. There wer seventeen chambers for criminals, with no ligh but by a small aperture over each door. In one of these Howard found an unfortunate prisoner who had been confined for three years and had survived the cruelty of the torture, the method of which was "more excruciating than black torture room," of which he gives the llowing description :

"In this room there is a table covered with lack cloth and fringe. Six chairs for the agistrates and secretaries, covered also with Hack cloth, are elevated two steps above the Dor, and painted black. Various engines of orture, some of which are stained with blood, ang round the room. When the criminals affer, the candles are lighted; for the windows re shut close, to prevent their cries being heard broad. Two crucifixes are presented to the iew of the unhappy objects. But it is too nocking to relate their different modes of cruelty. Even women are not spared." 2

Nothing, however, surpasses the account given f the two prisons, known as the old and the ew, at Liège.

"In two rooms of the old prison I saw six ages made very strong with iron hoops, four f which were empty. (The dimensions were even feet by six feet nine inches, and six feet and half high. On one side was an aperture of six iches by four, for giving in the victuals.) These ere dismal places of confinement, but I soon 1 The State of Prisons, p. 67.