BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Mayo, Ireland Wednesday, March 27, 1850 GENERAL CONVICT PRISON FOR IRELAND The new building near Phibsborough, on the North Circular-road, intended as a general convict depot, was on Tuesday declared ready for the reception of inmates, and persons under sentence of seven or ten years' transportation will be drafted there forthwith from the several gaols through Ireland. The building is intended to contain 650 male convicts, and will be conducted somewhat upon the plan of the model prison at Pentonville. The convicts will be taught different branches of trade, and if by their good conduct and industry, after a probation of twelve months, they entitle themselves to a certificate of good character, they will be sent abroad at the public expense and entitled to tickets of leave on landing, whereby they may enter into employment or become settlers. For those not conforming to the rules, the discipline is said to be very severe, solitary confinement and the silent system being among the rigours they will be subject to. The building is spacious and well ventilated and remarkably commodious. On passing from the front entrance through the great hall, where the apartment of turnkeys and minor officers are, you enter a wide area, from the floor of which a distinct view of the whole interior is obtained at one glance. This is effected by means of a spiral staircase of iron, in bars and railings, rising from the centre, and leading to corridors of the same material which traverse the building in every direction in front of the cells. - These extend three stories high from the floor to the top, so that a person standing in the hall could see every movement in the galleries, staircases, or elsewhere beyond the cell doors. The cells are fitted up each end with a low hammock, mattress, blankets, and counterpane, and are supplied with every requisite for the accommodation of one prisoner, in the most simple and plain manner. They are each furnished with an alarm or night bell, by means of which the inmate in case of sudden illness or other cause, may summon the turnkeys. The doors are of heavy cast iron, shutting with a spring which fastens from the outside, and are provided with a circular spy hole guarded with iron wire, by means of which the officer on duty can at all times watch the movement of the inmate, while he cannot see anything outside the walls of his cell. The cells are spacious, scrupulously clean, and ventilated on an effective principle, which affords a thorough current of fine air. There are numerous other buildings within the walls- the governor's and deputy governor's residences, places of worship, by which, while the prisoners can see the clergyman and assist at divine service, they cannot hold any communication with each other, being perfectly isolated. There are, besides, workshops for the various trades, an hospital, exercise yard, cooking-house, laundries, &c. Indeed the utmost attention seems to have been paid to all arrangements requisite for securing the health of the convicts, and for their useful occupation and safe custody. -- Freeman. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/