The chapel is fitted up with separate stalls or sittings ; the sides of each stall, and the doors, which form the continuation of those sides, and shut up the general passage to each row, radiate upon the pulpit, so that each prisoner can see, and be seen, by the chaplain. The back of each row of seats is made of such a height as to intercept the communication between the rows, when the prisoners are standing up, and yet not so high as to conceal them from the observation of the prison officers when sitting down. A double passage is made down the centre of the chapel, opening into and communicating with the gallery surrounding the central hall, and thus affording two points of access to it. A staircase leads from the gallery to a door on a convenient level for entering, near • the upper row of seats, from whence a succession of steps, arranged in pairs, communicate downwards with each row in front. The ceiling of the chapel is coved, and ventilators are introduced into it ; the roof and the bearers supporting the seats being made of iron. For the ventilation of the cells, an apparatus is placed in the centre of the basement story of each wing, the object of which is to secure a more complete ventilation than could be obtained, it' the system had been extended front either extremity. The apparatus consists of a proportion of large tubes or pipes for hot water, and in connection with it there is a large cold-air flue com municating with a shaft out of doors, which serves for two wings. The fresh air introduced through the flue, is brought in contact with and passes through the tubes of the apparatus, and may therefore be warmed or left at its natural tempera ture, as may be desirable. The air thus brought from with out, then passes to the right and left along the flue which runs horizontally under the floor of the corridor, from whence a communication is established by lateral small flues, separately with each cell, both on the lower and upper floors.
The means whereby foul air is extracted from the flues are these: a grating is placed close to the door of each cell, on the side next to the outer wall, and diagonally opposite to where the fresh air is introduced. This grate opens into a flue which passes down the outer wall, and communicates with a main foul-air flue placed under the floor of the base ment. These main foul-air flues terminate in a chimney shaft rising above the top of the building. With a view to obstruct the transmission of sound, and prevent that com munication which might be attempted by means of the flues, the main foul-air flues arc divided into three compartments, one for each range of cells. By means of the system of flues which has been described, a communication is established— first, from the outer-air, and then from the floor of each cell back again through the extracting or foul-air flues or chim ney into the outer air. In order to regulate the quantity of air admitted into each cell, which, with apertures of equal size, would differ in proportion to the distance from the apparatus, a valve or damper may be placed in the extracting flues, close to the outer door of each cell in the corridor, so constructed as not to close it up entirely, but to leave suffi cient range to operate upon the circulation ; the damper being at the command of the superintending officer, he is enabled to regulate tie quantity according to circumstances. By the application of this system of ventilation, it has been found that a circulation of air of from six to eight cubic feet per minute, may be kept up through all the cells, at all times of the year, and under all possible circumstances, when the doors and windows of each are perfectly closed.—Fourth Report of the Inspectors of Prisons.
In September, 1S-17, a number of gentlemen taking an active part in the management of prisons, assembled at Brussels under the title of a "Penitentiary Congress;" for the purpose of discussing various questions connected with prison discipline. In this " Congress," colonel Jebb com
missioned by the secretary of state (for England), Mr. B. Botch (the NI iddlesex magistrate), and Mr. Charles Pearson, took a d;stinguished part.
"Foremost amongst the subjects of debate was the mode of constructing cellular prisons ; and, as this is a matter which greatly concerns architects and others of our readers, we deem it right to record the results.
" Colonel Jebb rightly remarked, that there was an inti mate connection between the construction and the discipline of a prison. lie was impressed with the necessity of having the various departments and the vat ions offices of the estab lishment kept quite distinct one from the other, with a con venient mode of access to the centre and the cells. It was also essential that the families of the officers should not live in the prisons; that the latter should come to their employ ment at a certain hour during the day, and attend alternately at night. Ile saw by a paragraph in the programme, that it was proposed not to construct prisons with more than three stories, including the ground-floor. lie thought, however, when the number of prisoners amounted to 700 or SOO, it would be more convenient to have four stories, than very long wings. With respect to the attending of divine worship, a mode existed in Pentonville and other places, by which all the prisoners might proceed separately to the church or chapel, and hear and see the person officiating, withom being seen by any one, except by him. The time occupied in proceeding to and departing from divine service, was seven minutes respectively. With respect to the size of the cells, he thought that, as a general rule, they should be about 13 feet long, 7 broad, mid from S to 9 feet high. Of course it be necessary sometimes to make larger cells for special purposes." The following are some of the propositions, which were agreed to von. con.
"The buildings and exercise-ground should be disposed so as to receive the rays of the sun, and be sheltered from rain and the north wind. 2nd. The destination of a prison must in sonic sort determine its internal arrangement. If it is to be a penal prison, none but convicts of one sex should be placed in each, and the number should never surpass the maximum of 500, although the congress were of opinion that a less number would be better. if it is to be a preven tive establishment, different wings and sections should be parted off for the different categories of prisoners. The two sexes at any rate must be kept distinct. 3rd. The number of stories should not be more than three, including the ground-floor. The parts of the prison specially destined for persons undergoing their sentences, should be disposed in such a manner as, 1st, to allow of a complete. separation by day as well as by night ; 2nd, to give them the means of open-air exercise; 3rd, to enable them to be suitably em ployed, to receive instruction, and to assist at divine service and religious exercises, without infringing the rule of separa tion. 4th. To facilitate the mode of superintendence of the prisoners, and of frequent communication with them." The propositions were read and discussed :— " Central 0?servatory.—The various parts of the building should be connected with a central point of inspection, from which the head of the establishment may inspect, without being under the necessity of moving all the essential brandies of the service. Regard must be had to the internal distribu tion of the localities, to the arrangement of the galleries, and to the choice of the materials of construction, in order that no material obstacle may thwart that inspection.