who was in the Association has left on record a manuscript journal from
which some extracts may fitly be given here, as they cast valuable light
on both the work and workers.

We proceeded to the felons' door, the steps of which were covered
with their friends, who were waiting for admission, laden with the
various provisions and other articles which they required, either
as gifts, or to be purchased, as the prisoners might be able to
afford. We entered with this crowd of persons into an ante-room,
the walls of which were covered with the chains and fetters
suspended in readiness for the criminals. A block and hammer were
placed in the centre of it, on which chains were riveted. The room
was guarded with blunderbusses mounted on movable carriages. I
trembled, and was sick, and my heart sunk within me, when a
prisoner was brought forward to have his chain lightened, because
he had an inflammation in the ankle. I spoke to him, for he looked
dejected and by no means ferocious. The turnkey soon opened the
first gate of entrance, through which we were permitted to pass
without being searched, in consequence of orders issued by the
sheriffs. The crowd waited till the men had been searched by the
turnkeys, and the women by a woman stationed for that purpose in
the little room by the door of the entrance. 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