Early Governors' Papers

New Jersey State Prison September 12^th 1826

To his Excellency W^m Carroll Esq^r Governor in and for the State of Tennessee.

Dr Sir The circular transmited to his Excellency I. H. Williamson Esq^r Governor in and for The State of New Jersey is now before me. The contents noticed and in reply Observe

Your first inquiry calls for the Size of our Penitentiary. The Mansion house is fifty feet Front, containing a cellar, kitchen bakery and dining hall, the basement [sory? (story?)] contains an office committee room a large hall and two roomes [sic] for the keeper, a hall and four roomes [sic] above for the same use, There are two wings projecting from the Mansion North and South, three stories high each containing six roomes [sic], twenty feet square and an eight feet hall, at the North wing there is an addition three stories high containing twelve cell, those are Occupied to punish the refractory and disobedient, there is also an= =other addition at the South wing, forty by fifty feet four Stories high, containing forty Cells, Six by eight feet, adapted for one person and are occupied for those sentenced to solitary Imprisonment Only.

Your Second inquiery [sic] call for what the establishment cost, the first appropriation was fifty thousand Dollars, and as it was finished at different periods, I am not in possession of Documents to determin [sic] the exact amount, but should suppose it cost double that sum, the walls are eighteen feet high, fourteen of which are stone, four feet at the Top are Brick, three feet thick at the base, two feet thick at top, encloseing two Acres of ground

Third, the Convicts are clothed in summer with tow [two] shirts and trousers, in winter with blue coates [sic] and red collar, pantaloon & Vest Blue the same as the coats that compleats [sic] their Uniform.

Forthly [sic] they are fed as follows for Breakfast a half a pound of bread with a half a gill of Molasses, at dinner a half a pound of bread and half a pound of Meat, with soup and potatoes, at supper Mush and A half gill of Molasses thus dear Sir I have given you a discription [sic] of theire [sic] Uniform and also theire [sic] daily fare.