[140] 16 George III. cap. 43, sect. 1st, 3d, and 11th.

[141] An enormous expence has been incurred in building Penitentiary-Houses in various Counties, and many philanthropic individuals have exerted their best endeavours to carry this Act into execution; but it is to be lamented, that crimes have been by no means diminished. The fact is, that the System is erroneous—Responsibility is no where established.—No uniformity of System prevails, and no general superintendance or center point exists.—Like the Poor Laws, the only part of the Act which is rigidly carried into execution is raising a fund, which, without imputing blame to Magistrates (for the error is in the System), has increased the expence of this branch of the Police of the Country very far beyond what could have been conceived—and it now becomes a heavy burden upon many of the Counties.—The reform began at the wrong end.—The same expence applied in establishing a System of Preventive Police, ought to render numerous penitentiary houses in a great measure unnecessary.

[142]

In 1785,George Moore, Esq. received for transporting convicts£.1,51276
John Kirby for expences540194
1786,John Kirby; further expences578101
Anthony Calvert for Transportation286140
Thomas Cotton, Esq. Cloathing, &c.30327
[D]£.3,721136

[D] See Appendix (L. i.) to the 28th Report of Select Committee on Finance.

[143] A malignant fever, at one period, carried off a vast number, in spite of every effort to prevent it.

[144] See [page 98] of this volume, for an Account of the Convicts enlarged the preceding eight years,

in all1383
To be discharged as above995
Total2378

[145] This expence, by an account laid before the House of Commons, for one Year, ending the 15th Feb. 1792, appears to be—

Expence of Chaplain, Coroner, and Bounties for Convicts at Woolwich£.221174
At Langston and Portsmouth Harbours153198
Total£.375170