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44
without any such open space, beyond the several ordinary
squares in the parish, and the inhabitants have a long way
to go to reach an open space such as moat other parts of
the metropolis enjoy."
In consequence of the presentation of this Petition, on the 24th
February, 1887, the Home Secretary stated in the House of
Commons, in answer to a question by Captain Penton (Member
for Finsbury, Central Divison), that “any proposal, either from
“the Metropolitan Board of Works or from the Clerkenwell
“Vestry, for the retention of a portion of the site of the Coldbath
“Fields Prison as an open space will receive my careful
“attention."
Notwithstanding the letter of the Board of the 8th June, 188G,
and the Home Secretary's statement in the House of Commons
on the 24th February, 1887, it appears from Mr. Raikes' statement,
made in answer to Mr. Lawson in the House of Commons
on the 8th July, 1889, that against the provisions of section 34
of the Prisons Act, 1877, which requires the prison to bo sold,
and the overplus, if any, after tho expenses of the sale have been
paid, and the statutory amount prescribed by the said section
have been paid into the Exchequer, to be rendered to tho prison
authorities to which the prison originally belonged, and of which
the London Council are the successors, "the Post Office com“menced
taking possession of the old prison premises at Coldbath
“Fields in August, 1887, and tho whole of the site and buildings
“are now occupied for Post Office purposes, except a small strip
“at the south-eastern corner, which has been sold to the ( ounty
“Council to widen the street. Tho Department has already,
“with the sanction of Parliament, expended about £14,000 on
“the premises."
An illustration of the inexpediency of not proceeding to
ascertain the value by submitting so large an area as 8½ acres of
building land to public auction, is to bo found in the case of
Westminster Prison, the site of which, covering 8½ acres, was
re-purchased by the Justices for the sum of £68,155 4s., and was,
within a month, re-sold for £115,000, and again, within a very
short time afterwards, one-half of the area was sold for £115,000.
The pending Post Office Sites Bill is introduced to confirm
what appears to be an illegal transaction, and to alter the
provisions of the Act of 1877 which directed a sale. The Bill
recites the Prisons Act of 1877, that no sale has been made, but
that arrangements have been made for the sale of a portion of the
prison land for the purpose of improving the adjoining streets at
a price proportionate to the value of the whole, and for the
transfer of the residue of the prison to the Postmaster-General;
that doubts have arisen as to the validity of such sale and transfer