CHAPTER XII.
Letter from Portsmouth—Debate in Parliament—Cost of the War—Petition for a Trial—Traitors Detected—Traitors Punished—Attempt to Escape—Sickness in Prison—Paul Jones at Whitehaven—Letter from Portsmouth—Death of John Foster—Prison Wrangle—Commissioners Sailed—Another Hole—It Founders—Joseph Kensington Died—Sick Prisoners Neglected.
April 17. To-day one of the prisoners received a letter from Captain Harris, of Portsmouth. He writes that we may rely upon it, that he had it from good authority, that the vessels were taken up, and were under repairs, to carry us home; and according to his letter, he expects to be on his passage in a month’s time. There are many in prison who gather some encouragement from this.
18. According to the best accounts, there has been a great debate in the House of Commons.—The Duke of Richmond is for giving the Commissioners full power, before they return, even to declare the States independent, if nothing short will answer; Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke are of the same mind. But Lord Chatham declares that he had rather be in his grave than see the day that America is declared to be independent. According to their own account, this American war has cost Great Britain, £30,000,000, and thirty thousand of their best disciplined troops—eleven thousand eight hundred the last campaign.
19. We are informed that a packet has lately arrived from America, but as yet we know not what news she has brought.
20. We have a paper in which is an account of twenty-eight sail of vessels, laden with English goods, laying in some port of England, bound to America.
21. We have accounts in the paper of the Boston frigate, and another frigate out of Boston, having taken a number of valuable prizes.
22. There was one man came from the Black-hole, his time being up. There are four more left therein, but we find means to help them, as we have others before them; we having a plenty of provisions, can help them, and not injure ourselves. To-day I went out to buy a small pocket Bible, the price of which was three shillings and sixpence.
24. Three more came out of the Black-hole; there is but one left, and he will be out in a few days.
25. Captain Lee received a letter from Captain Trott, a prisoner in Bristol. He wrote that those of us who have a mind to write to America, can do so, by immediately sending the letters to him. He will send them to France by a man bound there. Several, therefore, wrote, and sent them to him. He also informed us, that by his own desire, he is going to London to receive his trial, which put us in mind of petitioning for a trial, also. Accordingly, a petition was drawn up, and about one half in prison signed it. The contents of the petition were as follows: