London and Its Environs Described, vol. 4 (of 6) / Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round It

by Anonymous

The upper steward, or master of the box, is by all the prisoners held in equal esteem with the keeper of the prison. To him is committed the keeping of all the several orders of the house, with the accounts of cash received upon legacies; the distribution of all the provisions sent in by the Lord Mayor, and others; and the cash received by garnish and begging at the grates, which he weekly lays out in bread, candles, and other necessaries. He also keeps a list of all the prisoners, as well those that are upon the charity, as those that are not; to each of whom, by the aid of the assistant for the day, he distributes their several proportions of bread and other provisions. He receives the gifts of the fishmongers, poulterers, and other market people, sent in by the clerk of the market, by the running post, for which he gives a receipt; and afterwards, in the presence of the assistant for the day, exposes all to sale to the charity men, by way of market; and the money arising thereby is deposited in the common stock.

This officer, with the under steward, assistants, and church-wardens, are elected monthly by the suffrages of the prisoners; but all the other officers, except the chamberlain, are appointed by the master keeper, stewards, and assistants. These frequent elections are designed to prevent frauds and abuses in the respective officers; but when they are known to be men of probity, they are generally re-elected, and often continue in their posts many months.

The under steward is an assistant to the upper steward, in whose absence or indisposition, he performs the several functions of his office.

The assistants, who are seven in number, are chosen monthly with the stewards, and one of them officiates daily. His business is, to attend in the hall, to enter all charities, and keep an account of the money taken out of the boxes, which are opened at five o’clock in the afternoon, and at nine at night. This money he pays to the upper steward, at the passing of whose accounts the stewards are auditors.

Every person nominated for the office of an assistant, on refusing to serve, forfeits one shilling to the use of the public, or instead thereof is put in fetters for three days. The officiating assistant is invested with the power of a magistrate, and can commit a prisoner to the stocks or shackles, for the abuse of any person. He is to see the cellar cleared every night, by ten o’clock, of all the prisoners; for which he receives 6d. out of the charity money; 2d. of which is for his own use; 2d. for the upper steward; and 2d. for the running assistant. This office was anciently in such esteem, that the assistant at his entering upon it, used to be ushered into the hall at eight o’clock at night, by forty or fifty great candles lighted, and carried by so many prisoners.

The running assistant attends upon the criers at the grates to change money; he opens the boxes; puts up candles in their respective places; attends upon the stewards and assistants; looks after the clock; rings the bell for prayers, and is crier at the sale of provisions. His salary is 4s. 8d. per month, and an eighth part of the garnish.

The church-wardens are chosen from among the youngest prisoners. The upper warden’s business is to call to prayers on Sundays, after the bell has done ringing; and the under warden’s is to call the prisoners to prayers all other days. They likewise take cognizance of all persons upon the charitable foundation; who in default of attendance are fined one penny each. For this service the under warden has a salary of 4d. per month; and when duly elected, the penalty for not serving is 4d.

The scavenger’s office is to keep clean the prison, and to fetter, or put offenders in the stocks: for which he is intitled to receive one penny from each criminal, together with a salary of 5s. 8d. per month, and 2d. out of every sixteen pence of the garnish money.

The chamberlain, who is chosen by the keeper of the prison, takes care of all the bedding and linen belonging to the keeper; places men at their coming in; furnishes them with sheets, and gives notice to the strangers to leave the prison by ten o’clock at night. This officer was formerly obliged to make the charity mens beds, for which he received two pence a month.

The running post’s employment is fetching in a basket the broken meat from the Lord Mayor’s table, provisions from the clerk of the market, private families, and charities given in the streets; which when so inconsiderable as not to admit of being divided among them all, are publicly sold, as before. The salary annexed to this office is 4s. a month; one penny out of each man’s dividend, and one penny out of every sixteen pence of garnish money.