The West indies in 1837

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JAMAICA.

warrant to lodge ten apprentices, (no names men足 tioned,) in the workhouse for three days. The super足 visor acknowledged to us that their children had been allowed no food during a part of the day and night that they bad been there, because they were not mentioned in the commitment, and the prison store contained nothing suitable for them. The statement of the woman was, that on Friday morning last, as it was very wet, and they were obliged to carry their children into the field with them, they did not turn out before breakfast. For this they were taken before the Special Magistrate, (PRYCE,) on Monday, who sentenced them to pay six Saturdays. They told them they could not, as their mountain grounds were six miles distant, as they were deprived of their half Friday's and of their salt-fish, and received now no sugar or flour for the children ; that without their Saturdays, they had no means of obtaining subsistence. For their contumacy, they were sent 1o the workhouse for three days, and will still have to work the six Saturdays. We observed among the minutes of the visiting magistrates, an order dated some months ago, and signed by two magistrates, that women pregnant, or with children at the breast, should not be punished by imprisonment in the solitary cells ; which here, as elsewhere, are dark and ill ventilated, and in which prisoners are always fed on low diet ; also, that those who were confined in them, should be allowed a quarter of an hour per diem for air and exercise. This order was accompanied by a memo足 randum signed by the medical attendant, stating medical reasons for the necessity for such an order. A in Spanish Town, was dispersed by reading- tlie riot act, and calling out the military.


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