CHAPTER VI.
More Prisoners—A Present—Visit from American Gentlemen—Black-hole—Fleet of Transports for America—Prisoners escape—Death—Prospect of War with France—First breach in the Prison wall—Fox frigate taken by the Hancock—A Newspaper—Number of Prisoners—Escape of thirty-two Prisoners—Bounty—Punishment—Cruelty to the Old—Captain Lee taken in the Fancy—Hears from Home—Bad News—False Reports—Daniel Cottle died.
June 23. To-day we divided the money which we had got in our charity-box, and it was only five farthings per man.
24. To-day there were two more prisoners brought in; they were taken in France. Having been invited on board an English vessel, and not knowing who they were, went on board, and were immediately seized and confined. The vessel then weighed anchor and came out of the harbor. The prisoners proved to be the captain and lieutenant of a Virginia pilot boat. The captain is now confined in the yard, in a prison by himself, and is not allowed to speak to us, but the lieutenant is in prison with us.
25. Rainy weather.
26. Continued wet, so that we keep house.
27. To-day another broke out with small-pox.
28. To-day Captain Ross, one of our prize-masters, had a present of some bread and cheese.
29. Sunday. To-day there have been great numbers to see us, but they were disappointed; for they kept the outer gate shut, and would not let the people look at us.
30. We are so confined here that we are out of the way of all news; we are not allowed a newspaper, and at present no one is allowed to come to the gate to speak to us. The week past, I have received three shillings and two pence, for boxes.