After the fire it was admitted that the proper time was arrived for “putting in execution the plan of rebuilding this inconvenient goal, which was thought of some time ago.” Once more a committee of the Common Council was appointed, and once more the question of site was considered, with the result that the locality of the existing prison was decided upon as the most suitable and convenient. Upon the receipt of this report, 1763, it was resolved to petition Parliament again for assistance, and this time the petition was actually presented. But the zeal of the Corporation for prison reform must have waxed cold, for I find it recorded in 1765 (5th March) that the project for rebuilding Newgate was laid aside. But the House of Commons, however, had not ignored the city’s petition. They had referred the whole subject to a committee, which took the evidence of all persons closely concerned. It was clearly proved that a new gaol was indispensable. Mr. Dance, the city surveyor, was quite against extension or reappropriation by adding on the Sessions’ House, and there was nothing to be done but to build a new prison. An Act was accordingly passed in 1766 (the 7 Geo. III.), authorizing the Corporation to raise for various works a certain sum at 3½ per cent. per annum, to be paid off by a tax at the rate of 6_d._ per ton on coal or culm imported into the city, of which £50,000 were to be applied to the purpose of erecting the new Newgate. The following is a short summary of the various items of proposed expenditure, extracted from a pamphlet published by the Corporation under date 1767. Leasehold interests to be purchased in the Old Bailey from the Mason’s Yard to Newgate, and some houses opposite thereto £6000 N.B.--The old materials will pay for taking down and clearing away the rubbish to the surface of the streets. The new prison, to answer the present Sessions’ House and to contain distinct wards for the men and women debtors, the men and women felons, transports, and convicts, a chapel, a keeper’s house, tap-houses, sutlery, yards, area, ponds of water, will require 160 square yards of new building, which, on account of the requisite strength per square, will cost £250 per square £40,000 Salaries and gratuities to the surveyor, the committee clerk, the chamberlain’s clerks, &c. 2,750 Incidental Expenses 1,250 ------- £50,000 -------