If Newgate be considered as a prison, it is indeed a very dismal one. It is the county jail for Middlesex, both for debtors and malefactors, as well as the city prison for criminals. The debtor rendered unfortunate by the vicissitudes of trade, or unforeseen losses, has the reproach of being confined in the same prison with the greatest villains; and too often his being in Newgate is imputed by the ignorant to crimes which he abhors. On the other hand, those confined as criminals, are, even before they are found guilty by the laws of their country, packed so close together, that the air being corrupted by their stench and nastiness, occasions a dismal contagious disease, called the Jail distemper, which has frequently carried off great numbers, and even spread its contagion to the Court of Justice, where they take their trials. But to prevent these dreadful effects the city has introduced a ventilator on the top of Newgate, to expel the foul air, and make way for the admission of such as is fresh; and during the sessions herbs are also strewed in the Justice Hall, and the passages to it, to prevent infection. In this prison there are however commodious and airy apartments for the use of such as are able to pay for them; and the advantage of a private passage behind the houses to Justice Hall in the Old Bailey, where they are in no danger of being rescued, while going to, or coming back from their trials. It is to be wished that this prison was made still more commodious; that the little cells of the malefactors were enlarged and rendered more airy, and that the proposal so often talked of, of building another prison for the debtors, was carried into execution. NEWGATE MARKET, before the dreadful fire of London, was kept in Newgate street, where there was a market house for meal, and a middle row of sheds, which Maitland says, were afterwards converted into houses, inhabited by butchers, tripesellers, &c. while the country people, who brought provisions to the city, were forced to stand with their stalls in the open street, where their persons and goods were exposed to danger by the passage of coaches, carts, and cattle that passed through the streets. This must be allowed to have been a very inconvenient market, and the houses or sheds in the middle of the street, must almost have choaked up the passage, or at least have rendered it liable to frequent obstructions. At that time Butcher hall lane was filled with slaughter houses for the use of this market, and Blowbladder street was rendered remarkable by blown bladders hanging in the windows of the shops, where bladders were sold.