These searchers are
allowed, if they suspect spirits, or ropes, or instruments of
escape to be concealed about the person, to strip them to ascertain
the fact. A melancholy detection took place a few days ago. A poor
woman had a rope found upon her, concealed for the purpose of
liberating her husband, who was then sentenced to death for highway
robbery, which sentence was to be put into execution in a few days.
She was, of course, taken before a magistrate, and ordered into
Newgate to await her trial. She was a young and pretty little Irish
woman, with an infant in her arms. After passing the first floor
into a passage, we arrived at the place where the prisoners'
friends communicate with them. It may justly be termed a sort of
iron cage. A considerable space remains between the grating, too
wide to admit of their shaking hands. They pass into this from the
airing-yard, which occupies the centre of the quadrangle round
which the building runs, and into which no persons but the visiting
ladies, or the persons they introduce, attended by a turnkey, are
allowed to enter. A little lodge, in which an under turnkey sleeps,
is also considered necessary to render the entrance secure. This
yard was clean, and up and down it paraded an emaciated woman, who
gave notice to the women of the arrival of their friends. Most of
the prisoners were collected in a room newly appropriated for the
purpose of hearing a portion of the Sacred Scriptures read to them,
either by the matron or by one of the ladies' committee--which last
is far preferable. They assemble when the bell rings, as near nine
o'clock as possible, following their monitors or wardswomen to the
forms which are placed in order to receive them. I think I can
never forget the impression made upon my feelings at this sight.
Women from every part of Great Britain, of every age and condition
below the lower middle rank, were assembled in mute silence, except
when the interrupted breathing of their sucking infants informed us
of the unhealthy state of these innocent partakers in their
parents' punishments. The matron read; I could not refrain from
tears. The women wept also; several were under the sentence of
death. Swain, who had just received her respite, sat next me; and
on my left hand sat Lawrence, _alias