THE
CUSTOM
HOUSE.
239
loyal subjects pay their respects to their young and beautiful queen's representative. The custom house, as has already been mentioned, was destroyed in the fire of 1841. It was a very respectable edifice, and well suited to the purpose. The building nowused in its stead is hired at the annual rent of 100/. sterling. The treasurer's and registrar's offices are also private property, for which a moderate rent is given.* From the custom house, I proceed to mention the barracks, very delightfully situated in a kind of open heath, to the east of the town. These consisted of two distinct buildings a few paces from each other ; but the north wing of the lower one becoming dismantled and ruinous, it was resolved in 1831 to repair it, and appropriate it to the use of a gaol, instead of the building already described in the vicinity of the court house. In this gaol, far greater attention is paid to the unfortunate inmates than was formerly the case. The prisoners are furnished with two wholesome and sufficient meals a day, but no clothing or bedding is allowed, unless by order of the medical man attending them. The females are separated from the men, and the debtors from the felons ; although in former years they all used to herd together. Since the year 1829, the Rev. Robert Holberton, the excellent rector of St. John's, has voluntarily visited the prison every Sunday between the hours of seven and eight A.M., to read prayers, and deliver a religious discourse to the inmates ; and in all cases where an unhappy being has so outraged the laws of humanity and justice as to forfeit his life to pay the penalty of his crimes, that divine has ever stepped in with his message of mercy, prayed with them, and sought to soften their stony hearts ; to lead them to that only fountain capable of washing away their deadly sins, and finally accompanied them to the last sad scene of their mortal career. * The dates of papers in most of these offices commence from 1668, after Antigua was restored by the French, and Lord W. Willoughby settled in the government by his majesty Charles the Second.