JB/118/308/001

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3 March 1812
Panopticon – Defence against Holfords Objections

Defence of the Panopticon Penitentiary System
against the objections brought forward against it
by the House of Commons Committee on Penitentiary Houses 31 May 1811

The following are the heads to which the objections seem
referable this to one of or other of which all the
objections seem will it is supposed be found referable – viz.

1. "Security" for the (says the Report) "for the goodness of the
"provisions and necessaries sa .... for the use of the prisoners."

2. Security against the introduction of any improper degree of luxury into
the prison with a view to his own profits.
Under this head says the objection Mr Benthams Contract
contains no provision upon these points.

2. In this objection an assumption is involved that specific
articles wearing purporting on the face of them to the appearance
of a specific security for this point of good management, are
to such a degree necessary, or at least useful, that the omission
of them is an imperfection in the system.

The answer to this is
1. That from any such articles in any shape is likely to no good came arise.
2. On the contrary that mischief is more probable.

By goodness is must here be meant, if any determinate meaning
be given to it which is at one determinate and proper the quality of not being prejudicial to health.
But in this head it is submitted by that article in the case
by which the Contractor is made to lose a large sum
for every one that does, added to the circumstances of the loss
he cannot but sustain in respect of capacity for profitable
labour by every difference in point of health, and the unexampled
facility of complaint afforded by the Panopticon plan,
the most efficient security
is given that
the nature of things
admitts of for this
point of good management.

Identifier: | JB/118/308/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 118.
Date_1	1812-03-03	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	118	Main Headings	panopticon
Folio number	308	Info in main headings field	panopticon defence against holford's objections
Image	001	Titles	defence of the panopticon penitentiary system against the objections brought forward against it by the house of commons committee upon penitentiary houses 31 may 1811
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	d1 / e1
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	john dickinson & c<…> 1809
Marginals		Paper Producer	a. levy
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1809
Notes public		ID Number	39362
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