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[Page 9]
Flour 260,470 pounds, Bread 61,144 pounds, potatoes 11,291 measures of 84 pounds each. The French Government basely & wickedly deserted their own people. They declared that they were naked, & they refused to cloth them; they announced that they were dying for want of food, & they denied them an additional allowance of provisions, tho' France in a great escaped the scarcity with which the greater part of Europe was more or less affected. But the relations of the prisoners made surprising exertions and continue to make them. Unhappily some there are who have no kindred to assist them.
These are general observations that may serve to show that I have not formed my opinions without due examination. Of the interior of our prison at present I know nothing - but I believe the arrangements are faithfully attended to by good & humane men, and that the sick are well attended & provided for under the board of Sick & Hurt. It is not in my opinion in the means of care but of prevention that the deficiency exists. Tho' I know nothing of the interior of the prison, I have been informed of the number of deaths, & of the number of persons sent to France as the only means of recovery. Some alleviation of distress has doubtless been produced by the benignity of the Season, and the time is not far distant I trust when the return of peace or of plenty, will relieve these miserable men from the pains of hunger and of disease. The Earl of St. Vincents, if I may judge from his reply