Lord Hollandrose to move, pursuant to notice, for the printing of the evidence and the verdict given at the inquisition of the coroner of Surry, on the view of the body of the unfortunate man who died in the Marshalsea prison. The noble lord prefaced his motion with a variety of observations, tending to shew the propriety of the proceeding he recommended, and also of a further investigation into the business. There appeared to him, on his view of the evidence, a degree of inconsistency between what had been so delivered, and the verdict pronounced by the jury. A degree of mystery seemed to hang upon it, and even in justice to the jury, the proceedings, he thought, should be printed, and the whole case further investigated. Were his interference on the present occasion attended with no other effect than to call the attention of the legislature generally to the state of the pri- 445 sons, he was satisfied that his endeavours would not be wholly useless. He did not mean to attribute blame to any individual with respect to the actual state of the prison in question, or to impugn the humanity of the keeper of the prison, but the state of the prison, as to the building, and want of accommodation, was such as to render it improper for the purpose for which it was designed.
§ The Earl of Aylesfordmade a few observations in consequence of what fell from the noble lord. He expressed his desire for every proper investigation to be made into the affair alluded to, and his individual willingness to exert himself to that end; but he suggested that the appointment of a Committee to inquire would be a much more efficacious mode. His lord-ship also observed, that the buildings and repairs alluded to by the noble lord, for the better accommodation of the prisoners, were in considerable forwardness.
After a short explanation from lord Holland, and a few words from lord Ellenborough, the motion for the printing of the verdict and evidence, was agreed to, and a Committee of Inquiry appointed.