§ Lord Wharncliffemoved the Order of the Day for going into committee on the Millbank Penitentiary Bill.
§ The Duke of Richmonddid not rise with a view of opposing the bill, but to point out one or two objections to matters of detail in it, to which he would bring the noble Lord's attentive consideration. He objected to this measure that it did away with the control of the inspectors of prisons; this was the first time in which any prison was attempted to he founded in which the authority of visiting justices was not provided for. There was one point, also, which he thought would operate very unfairly upon the payers of county rates, who were often the poorest 1566 labourers in the county, namely, that if a prisoner was sent from gaol to the hulks, the expense of his journey was paid out of the county rates: but there was no provision to refund that money out of the Exchequer.
§ Lord Wharncliffesaid, with respect to the objection as to the payment of the expenses of the transfer of prisoners out of the county rates, he admitted that it was a mistake, arising, probably, from the fact that this clause was taken from the Pentonville Prison Act. Being a money clause, however, he was doubtful whether it were competent to their Lordships to alter it. But he would give the subject his best consideration.
§ Bill went through committee. The report to be received.
§ The House adjourned.