The land forces sent to guard the convicts have a daily allowance of spirits, but are not so well provided for as the prisoners in respect of several extra articles served to the prisoners, though the use of spirits on the voyage (an allowance certainly contributing to no good purpose whatever, and productive of very serious bad consequences, particularly as the quantity issued is too great by one half, allowing even of so unnecessary an indulgence) is happily not suffered to the convicts. The wives of soldiers also, and their children, have a proportionate ration of this baneful liquid, which over their weaker minds may be said to exert a most dangerous influence, injurious to their health and morals, and subversive of good order.
Although the matter be not immediately, it is remotely and intimately connected with the subject of transportation. I shall therefore place it here, to show how generously convicts fare comparatively with others. At the same time I am anxious that nothing advanced in this comparison may prove injurious to the unfortunate exile, who is lying at the mercy of that power which directs his removal to a new world, and an almost new state of existence, nor withdraw from him a tittle of that bountiful support he now enjoys.
“Rules to be observed by Masters and Commanders of His Majesty’s hired Transports, in victualling Land Forces.
Six Soldiers’, or four Seamen’s Allowance for every Day in the Week.
| Days of the week. | Bread: lbs. | Beer, gallons: or half pint spirits: or pints wine. | Beef: pieces of 8 lbs. | Pork: pieces of 4 lbs. | Peas: pints. | Oatmeal: pints. | Butter: lbs. | Cheese: lbs. | Vinegar. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | One quart in a week. | ||||
| Monday | 4 | 4 | 4 | ½ | 1 | ||||
| Tuesday | 4 | 4 | |||||||
| Wednesday | 4 | 4 | 1 or 6 lbs. of flour, ½ lb. of suet, & 1 lb. of raisins. | 2 | 4 | ½ | 1 | ||
| Thursday | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Friday | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | ½ | 1 | |||
| Saturday | 4 | 4 | 1 or as above | ||||||
“The above are to be served out by full weights and measures.
“When flour, suet, and raisins are put on board, they are to be served in equal proportion with beef, viz. one half in beef, the other in flour, suet, and raisins, on each beef day.
“Half a pound of rice is equal to a pint of oatmeal; half a pound of sugar is equal to half a pound of butter, and a pint of rice is equal to a pound of cheese; a pint of oil is equal to 1 pound of butter, or to two pounds of cheese, that is, a pint of oil for the proportion of butter and cheese.
“A pint of wine, or half a pint of brandy, rum or arrack, is equal to a gallon of beer.
“One pound of fresh beef is equal to one pound of salt beef, and one pound and a half of fresh beef equal to one pound of pork.”