THE QUEEN'S PRISON.-This prison is are thirteen in number:-Bridewell; situated in the borough of Southwark GILTSPUR - STREET PRISON; HORSEand county of Surrey, between the MONGER-LANE GAOL; HOUSE OF CORBorough-road and Southwark Bridge- RECTION, Cold Bath-fields; HOUSE OF road. Formerly, there were two pri- CORRECTION, Brixton; HOUSE OF DEsons for debtors,-the Marshalsea, in TENTION, Clerkenwell; the HULKS; High-street, Southwark, and the Fleet MILLBANK PRISON; NEWGATE; PENTONPrison, in Farringdon-street. But by VILLE MODEL PRISON; QUEEN'S BENCH the 6th Wm. IV., c. 22, the two former PRISON; TOTHILL FIELDS' PRISON ; were abolished, and their jurisdiction | WHITECROSS-STREET PRISON. This numconsolidated in the Queen's Prison, ber will soon be increased to fourteen which in the act is termed "The prison by the NEW CITY PRISON, which is of the Marshalsea of the Court of building in Islington, a short distance Queen's Bench; a prison for debtors, above the Pentonville Model establishand for persons confined under the ment. Giltspur-street Compter, the sentence, or charged with the contempt Queen's Bench Prison, and Whitecrossof, her Majesty's Court of Queen's street Prison, have been already deBench." Previous to this act being scribed. We proceed to give a brief passed, prisoners were suffered to live account of the others. out of the prison, in a certain sur- BRIDEWELL.-This prison was a royal rounding district called "the Rules," palace; "to such base uses may we -a privilege which originated in a come at last." And thus, as Dekker time of over-crowding and plague. This wrote long ago, privilege was abolished by the above act. "Fortune can toss the world: a prince's court Is thus a prison now." GILTSPUR-STREET COMPTER. - This prison is situated opposite St. SepulEdward VI. was the last royal poschre's Church, where it was removed sessor of the palace. Bishop Ridley from Wood-street, in 1741. It is a asked it of him, to be converted into a stone-fronted structure, and was erected workhouse, or house of correction "for by Dance, the architect. It is in the the strumpet and idle person, for the jurisdiction of the sheriffs of London rioter that consumeth all, and for the and Middlesex; and prisoners for mis- vagabond that will abide in no place." demeanors as well as for debt are The king conferred the palace on the confined there. City, on the 10th of April, 1553, and WHITECROSS-STREET PRISON. - This confirmed it by charter on the 26th of prison is situated in Whitecross-street, the following June. It was at first, and Cripplegate. It is in the jurisdiction for many years, required as an hospital of the sheriffs of London and Middle- rather than a prison; but it has long sex, and was commenced building in been appropriated to purposes of con1813; being finished and opened in finement and punishment only, and is 1815. The design was by Mr. Montague, so remodelled that no part of the old Clerk of the City Works. Nell Gwynne building remains. It is an inconvenient by her will left 20l. to be applied to and ill-arranged prison, situate on the the release of poor debtors every west side of Bridge-street, Blackfriars, Christmas-day, which is now distri- and will contain about 70 male and 30 buted every year amongst the poor female prisoners, the former of whom inmates of this prison. are employed at the tread-wheel, picking oakum, and cleaning their wards; whilst the females wash, mend, and These prisons are much more nu-clean their own portion of the estamerous than those for debtors. They blishment. THE CRIMINAL PRISONS. HORSEMONGER-LANE GAOL.-This pri- at a time; and their stay is very short, son, situate in Newington-causeway, averaging about seven days each. with the entrance in Horsemonger-lane, They have no employment. is the county gaol for Surrey. It was sons. THE HULKS, OR SHIP PRISONS.built at the suggestion of Howard, the These places of confinement are two old philanthropist, and has ten wards for men-of-war, the "Warrior," and the male criminals, each with its yard and "Justitia," moored at Woolwich. They day-room, adapted to receive from 30 were first used merely as receivingto 40 individuals. The female depart-places for convicts sentenced to transment will only accommodate 28 per-portation; but now it is not uncommon This prison is very deficient in for a criminal to serve out his sentence the necessary arrangements for the "on board the hulks," and convicts proper classification of those who are who are intended to be sent abroad are confined there; and it cannot certainly taken to Millbank. The men eat, work, be cited as a "model prison." Picking and sleep in "gangs;" and the arrangeoakum and the treadwheel are the ments, though perhaps as good as can occupations of the prisoners. It is be expected in a ship, do little to effect under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff of the reformation of the prisoners. Surrey, the Court of Quarter Sessions, MILLBANK PRISON.-This building is and thirteen visiting magistrates. very extensive, and was erected after Debtors for Surrey are confined here; the designs of Jeremy Bentham, who but the department is quite distinct so determinedly advocated his plans of from the criminal prison. prison and law reform, and in pursuance HOUSE OF CORRECTION, CLERKEN- of the 52nd Geo. III., c. 44. It occupies WELL. This prison stands in Coldbath- an enclosed area of 16 acres, usually fields, between St. John-street-road and contains about 1500 criminals, and cost Gray's-inn-lane. The site contains about 500,000l. It was intended as a place of nine acres, and there is accommodation for 1250 prisoners. Large as this number is, the prison is sometimes made to contain more. The daily average is, however, 1100. There are 250 cells. The silent system is strictly enforced, but the prisoners work together; and many have also to sleep in the same room. It was opened in 1794. reformation, and was called the "Penitentiary." It was designated the "Millbank Prison," in pursuance of the 6th & 7th Vict., c. 26. It was built for the purpose of carrying out the solitary system, which is now only partially observed. The rule of strict silence, however, prevails; and all prisoners intended for transportation are sent HOUSE OF CORRECTION, BRIXTON. here. The site on which this prison is This is another metropolitan place of erected-on the north bank of the confinement and correction for the Thames, between Westminster and county of Surrey. It contains 149 cells Vauxhall Bridges-is a very unhealthy for single persons, and 12 which will one, being low and marshy. hold three each; thus affording room NEWGATE. This prison (familiar, by for 185. Sometimes, however, it has its name, all over England) stands in contained 400! Like the majority of the Old Bailey, at the corner of Newthe metropolitan prisons, this place of gate-street. Old Newgate was burnt correction seems sadly deficient in down in the Gordon riots. The present discipline. edifice was begun in 1770, before that HOUSE OF DETENTION, CLERKENWELL. Occurrence; but was not completed till -First erected in 1785. This prison 1783. The designs were drawn by was rebuilt in 1818, and again in 1844. George Dance, the city architect. The It has cells for 600 prisoners, but there façades, which are 295 feet, and 115 are seldom more than 100 in the prison feet long, are considered his best works. This structure is massively built; the soners exceed that number, the rule is, interior walls are very thick, and from compulsion, violated. The only the passages narrow. The prisoners employment is the tread-wheel and live and sleep in the same room. There picking oakum. are several yards for male and female Of these prisons, the Hulks, Millbank, criminals. Pentonville, the Queen's, and WhitePENTONVILLE MODEL PRISON.-This cross-street, are national prisons, and is another prison erected for the express under the control of government. The purpose of trying to effect the moral House of Correction, Coldbath-fields; reformation of the prisoners. It stands the House of Detention, Clerkenwell; in the Thornhill Bridge-road, Islington, Newgate, and Tothill-fields Prison, are although it is named from the adjoining county prisons, under the jurisdiction district of Pentonville. It was built of the magistrates of Middlesex. Giltwith a view to carry out the "separate spur-street Compter and Bridewell are system," with the employment of the City prisons, under the control of the prisoners, and as a model for all pro- corporation of London. Horsemongervincial prisons under the control of lane Gaol and Brixton House of Corthe government. It comprises a central rection are county prisons, under the hall, which is open from the floor to jurisdiction of the Surrey magistrates. the roof, with corridors, having ranges OF THE CITY OF LONDON. of cells on each side radiating from it, DIVISION IL-MUNICIPAL CONSTITUTION and so constructed, that the whole interior of the prison, and the doors of The Corporation of London consists each cell, can be seen from one point. of three distinct branches, viz., the An efficient system of surveillance is Lord Mayor, the Court of Aldermen, kept up. The prisoners are taught useful and the Court of Common Council, trades. None are taken here who are which may be compared to the three not sentenced to transportation. It is branches of the British constitution. impressed upon them that their con- The city of London is a county of finement is a period of probation; that itself, and therefore has its sheriffs, its they will not be kept in prison more lieutenant, its county court or hustings, than eighteen months; and that their and other institutions, similar to those treatment in the colonies will depend of other counties. upon their conduct in the prison. We understand the system has not realised the views of those who devised and advocated it. There are 500 cells in the prison, which was erected, between April 10, 1840, when the first stone was laid, and the autumn of 1842. It was first occupied on the 21st of December in that year. The cost was 84,1687. 12s. 2d. Like counties it is divided into wards or hundreds, each having its wardmote, or hundred court, presided over by the alderman, answering to the centenarius, or aldermannus hundredi of ancient days, and still retaining the institution of the inquest. Our limits will not allow us to enter into the various charters granted to the city of London by successive kings; TOTHILL FIELDS' PRISON.-This build- suffice it to say, that the citizens do ing stands between St. James's Park not plead their franchises as founded and the Vauxhall Bridge-road, in on royal grants, but as existing from Westminster. Built in 1618, it was time immemorial; viz., "that the city greatly altered in 1655, and entirely of London is, and from time whereof rebuilt in 1836. The "silent" system the memory of man runneth not to the is carried out here, and, as far as pos- contrary, hath been an ancient city; and sible, the "separate" one also; but as that the citizens and freemen of the there are only 270 cells, and the pri- said city, during all that time, have been a body corporate and politic, in of oyer and terminer, and gaol delivery deed, fact, and name, by divers names of Newgate; judge of the court of of incorporation; and that they are now wardmote at the election of aldermen ; a body politic and corporate, by the conservator of the rivers Thames and name of the Mayor and Commonalty of Medway; perpetual commissioner in all the city of London." affairs relating to the river Lea; and The chief officer and head of the chief butler to the king at all, corocivic corporation, is the Mayor, called nations, having a fee for that service of Lord Mayor, according to a charter of a golden cup and cover, and a golden Edward III., which conferred on that ewer. This privilege was claimed at officer the honour of having maces, the the coronation of Richard III., and has same as royal personages, carried before been exercised ever since. No corpora him by the sergeants. The Lord Mayor tion business is valid without the Lord is elected annually by the livery, from Mayor's authority. the aldermen who have served the office The next in importance of the city of sheriff, on the 29th of September; functionaries, are the aldermen. As bebut he does not come into office till the fore stated, the city is divided into wards, 8th of November, when he is admitted bearing the same relation to the city as and sworn by the citizens at the Guild- the hundred did to the shire. This hall, and he appoints his different division is one of great antiquity; and officers. It was the custom for him to the alderman, or president, of the ward, be presented to the king for approval; was held in great honour by the Anglobut by a charter granted by Henry III., Saxons. The name is derived from the the presentation, in the absence of the Saxon Ealdorman (a man advanced in king, was permitted to be made to the years), and he was supposed to be a man barons of the Exchequer; or in the of superior wisdom and gravity. Till absence of the barons, to the constable 1394, they were chosen annually; but of the Tower. On the 9th of November, in the reign of Richard II. it was enacted that being the day on which the new by parliament, that they should "conLord Mayor enters upon his office, the tinue in office during life, or good aldermen and sheriffs attend the func- behaviour." All aldermen are justices tionary who is quitting office to Guild- of the peace within the city. hall, in their coaches; and, about noon, The third branch of the civic governproceed to London or Blackfriars' bridge, ment is the common council; a body, according to the ward which he happens likewise, of very early origin, and is to represent; where the Lord Mayor now justly considered the most imelect, the aldermen, recorder, and portant of the three. The members sheriffs, go on board the city barge; are the representatives of the people, and, attended by the several city com- chosen annually on the feast of St. panies in their barges, proceed in great Thomas, out of each ward. The busistate to Westminster, where his lord-ness of the Court of Common Council, ship, after certain ceremonies, takes the (which comprises also the Lord Mayor prescribed oaths before the barons of and aldermen,) is to make laws for the the Exchequer. government of the city; it is, in fact, The powers and privileges of the Lord the city's legislature. The following Mayor are very extensive; he is not are the names of the wards, with the only the king's representative in the number of common councilmen each civil government of the city, but also ward returns:first commissioner of the lieutenancy; perpetual coroner and escheator within Aldersgate the city and liberties of London, and the borough of Southwark; chief justice Billingsgate. Aldgate 8 Bishopsgate 6 Bread-street 14 . 12 . 15 . 10 Broad-street 10 4 Bridge 5 44 Scriveners. 8 48 Embroiderers. 52 Basket Makers. The privileges of the citizens of London are numerous; amongst them is that of preventing any person, except a 54 Horners. freeman, from carrying on retail trade 55 Farriers. within the city. They are also free 56 Paviors. 57 Lorimers. from the ancient tolls and customs, and 58 Apothecaries. the city tolls collected at the gates; 59 Shipwrights. from port dues, and from being im- 60 Spectacle Makers. pressed as soldiers and sailors during 62 Glovers. war. 61 Clock Makers. ters. 63 Comb Makers. Besides the aldermanries, or district 64 Felt Makers. guilds, we find mention, soon after the 65 Framework KnitConquest, of Trading companies, estab-66 Silk Throwsters. lished for the purposes of trade and the 67 Silkmen. protection of their members. The earliest of these seems to have been the Nearly fifty of these companies have Weavers' company. In course of time, halls, some of which are remarkable as these companies began to exercise con- buildings; and others, for the paintings siderable influence over the management and curiosities they contain. These of civic affairs, and no one could be will be noticed in another part of the admitted to the freedom of the city work, under the heads of architecture, without being free of one of them. arts, &c. There are ninety-one of these companies. The property and revenues of the The first twelve on the list are called the chief, and are sometimes styled The Honorable; the others are arranged in their order of precedency : 1 Mercers. 2 Grocers. 3 Drapers. 4 Fishmongers. 5 Goldsmiths. 6 Skinners. 7 Merchant Tailors. 8 Haberdashers. 9 Salters. 10 Ironmongers. 11 Vintners. 12 Clothworkers. 13 Dyers. 14 Brewers. 15 Leather Sellers. 16 Pewterers. 17 Barber-Surgeons. 18 Cutlers. 19 Bakers. 20 Wax Chandlers. 21 Tallow Chandlers. city are very considerable, the chief part being derived from the rents and fines payable for the renewal of leases of property acquired from time to time 22 Armourers and Bra- the revenues of tolls, and taxes, and by grant or purchase. There are also ziers. 23 Girdlers. 24 Butchers. 25 Sadlers. 26 Carpenters. 27 Cordwainers. 28 Painter Stainers. duties; amongst which are the tolls levied at the different city markets, under the name of pickage and stallage; street tolls, payable on non-freemen's goods passing in carts; duties, called groundage and water-baillage, viz., sixpence for every vessel with corn on board, brought into the port of London, and one farthing per quarter upon all corn so imported: a duty of fourpence per ton on all coals imported into 37 Tilers and Brick- London; the duties on the metage of 30 Masons. 31 Plumbers. 32 Innholders. 35 Cooks. 36 Coopers. layers. 38 Bowyers. 39 Fletchers. 40 Blacksmiths. corn and fruits; one-third of the profits of gauging wine, spirits, oil, and other gaugable articles; and of stamping |