But this order was modified, as we see.
"A new regulation has been made throughout the whole Army, that instead of the additional allowance of Bread-Money, each Soldier is to receive 8d. per day clear."—(Times, Oct. 2, 1795.)
The fate of a prisoner of War is always hard, and, as a rule, they are not too luxuriously treated. When first we had large quantities of French prisoners over here, they were nearly starved, but, afterwards, their lot was much ameliorated. Probably they were better treated than our people who were imprisoned in France, for, if the following letter can be believed, they certainly were neither luxuriously housed, nor fed.
"The following is an Extract of a letter from an Officer of the 'Castor' Frigate, captured some time since, by the French, dated Quimper near Brest, Feb. 27, 1795:—
'I wrote by Lady Ann Fitzroy, which I hope you have received; we were in a very bad state at that time: but since she has been gone, we have been a great deal worse. They now serve out nothing but bread, and horse-beans, for three weeks, or a month, together: and, when they do give meat, it is but six ounces of salt pork per man. It would make your heart ache, to see our poor sailors, without money, without cloaths, worn down by sickness, and emaciated to the last degree, fighting over the body of a dead dog, which they sometimes pick up, and devour with the most voracious appetites: and it is a fact, that the head, and pluck, of a dog, sold for 30 sous, the other day. Such scenes as this, was I obliged to undergo: but I am now in a house allotted for the officers, and am rendered very comfortable by the friendship of our second lieutenant, Mr. Hadaway. I am the only surviving midshipman of four, who came here, belonging to our ship. I have lost all my hair by sickness: but I live in hopes of seeing Old England, and my friends again.'—(Times, April 16, 1775.)
"Several persons escaped from prison, bear the strongest testimony of praise towards Lady Ann Fitzroy, late a prisoner of war at Quimper, in France, who perhaps, suffered more insults, and bad usage, from her jailors, than any of her rank ever suffered before: but, regardless of her own distresses, she made it her sole business to alleviate those of her fellow-prisoners: made shirts, and caps, for all those in need, besides purchasing some hundreds of jackets, and trowsers, which she distributed amongst her unfortunate countrymen, in want of cloathing. Her Ladyship, also, every day, had a great quantity of veal, and soup, dressed, to distribute amongst the sick. Her unparalleled benevolence saved the lives of hundreds."—(Times, June 12, 1795.)
"TWENTY GUINEAS BOUNTY.
"Gray's Inn, in the county of Middlesex, 13th Dec., 1796.
"To all able-bodied MEN, willing to serve in His Majesty's Army.—The Hon. Society of Gray's Inn will give Twenty Guineas, without any deduction whatever, to any Man who shall be approved by the Regulating Officer. No Volunteer who shall enter, as above, can be arrested for Debt, or taken out of his Majesty's Service, but for a criminal Matter.—Application to be made any Day, from the Hour of 10, till 3 o'clock, at the Steward's Office, Gray's Inn.
"Persons enrolled are not liable to serve more than one Calendar Month after the end of the present War."—(Times, Dec. 17, 1796.)