Mr. Bennetpresented a Petition from Charles Hill, a prisoner for debt in the gaol of IlChester, complaining of various hardships in the mode of his confinement. The hon. gentleman moved that the Petition should lie on the table.
§ Sir S. Romillysaid, it was very desirable that some inquiry should be made into 884 the case. The facts, as stated in the Petition, were, that the prisoner, 68 years old, had been confined for debt in the felons' condemned cell, and that all his letters had been opened. Perhaps the members for the county of Somerset knew nothing of the matter, but it would be desirable that they should state as much.
Mr. Dickensonobserved, that he could almost venture to say, that the petitioner had never been confined in the gaol in question, as the utmost vigilance was exercised to prevent the abuse of solitary confinement.
§ Mr. Hornersaid, that from his knowledge of a Somersetshire magistrate, who was remarkably active in his endeavours to inquire into the conduct of the gaol of Ilchester, he was disposed to believe that that prison was well attended to. But yet this circumstance furnished no reason against the institution of an inquiry upon the subject of the Petition; for the vigilance of the worthy magistrate, to whom he referred, might have been evaded.
Mr. Bennetsaid, he presented the Petition, because he felt it his duty to do so; but he could not vouch for the accuracy of the statement it contained.
After a few further remarks by sir S. Romilly, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. W. Smith, and Mr. Dickenson, all of whom strongly recommended inquiry into the circumstances stated in the Petition, it was ordered to lie on the table.