No. 12. Sir, WE herewith enclofe for your information copy of a letter dated the 22d inftant, from Lieutenant Fisher, our agent for prifoners of war at Liverpool, reprefenting the extreme want which some of the French prifoners in his charge are in for clothing. Transport Office, 24th May 1800. M. Otto. We are, &c. (Signed) AMBROSE SERLE. W. A. OTWAY. No. 13. Liverpool, 22d May 1800. Gentlemen, THERE are fome few prifoners here in extreme want of clothing, and they have no friends capable of making them any remittances to enable them to purchase; which circumstance obliges me to represent their situation to you, and to say, in their prefent fituation it is not in their power to keep themselves free from vermin. I request your instructions respecting them, and am, &c. Sir, No. 14. Transport Office, 28th August 1800. WE enclose a copy of a letter which we have this day received from Mr. Holmwood, our agent for prifoners at Portchester, stating, that the French prifoners of that depôt are in very great want of clothing; and as we have reafon to believe that the prifoners at all the other depôts are eitherin, or approaching to, a fimilar fituation, we think it proper to recommend the fubject to your most serious attention, in order to prevent the calamitous confequences that must enfue if the French government do not caufe a general fupply of clothing to be made to their prifoners before the winter. Portchefter Cafle, 27th Auguft 1800. I AM under the, neceffity of laying before you the miferable fituation of a great number of prifoners at this depôt for want of of clothing. Many of them are entirely naked, and others have cut up their hammocks to cover themfelves. Their fituation is fuch, that, if not provided with thofe articles before the cold weather commences, they must inevitably perish. I beg to obferve, it is near eighteen months fince they were furnished with any articles of wearing apparel by the French government, and then only a fingle fhirt to each fuit, which muft naturally have been worn out long fince. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. FOOD JOHN HOLMWOOD. Sir, Transport Office, 10th September 1800. WE enclofe for your information, a copy of a letter which we have this day received from Captain Woodriff, the fuperintendent Norman Crofs prifon, ftating the diftreffed fituation to which ay of the French prifoners confined at that place are reduced, f the want of clothing, and by difpofing of their provisions We are, &c. bedding. M. Otto. W. A. OTWAY. No. 17. Gentlemen, Norman Crofs, 9th September 1800. ENCLOSED, I tranfmit a packet for M. Otto; by which a wil obferve, that, notwithstanding all I have done, or can to prevent the prisoners from felling their ration of provifions ys to come, and their bedding, it has not had, nor is likely have, the defired effect. Since the commencement of the wet weather, many of them have been taken to the hospital, in a very cat fate, in confequence of having fold their provifions and ng; and one or two have died. Several of the French prifoners are without clothing, and, ng fold their bedding, they are deftitute of either; and the pret wet weather, and the approaching winter, will, if they not clothed, fill the hofpitals. I have, Gentlemen, thought it prudent to mention thefe cirtances to you, as I am firmly of opinion, that, unless fome ing is fued to the prifoners, who are now deftitute, many them will die, fhould the winter be severe. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. Commilfaners for the Import Service, &i. (Signed) D. WOODRIFF. Sir, No. 18. Transport Office, 11th September 1800. WE enclofe, for your information, a copy of a letter which we have this day received from Mr. Holmwood, the agent for prifoners of war at Portchefter, and alfo a copy of the one therein referred to from feveral French prifoners confined at that place, ftating that they are in a very miferable condition from the want of clothing. We cannot let pafs this opportunity without again recommending to your moft ferious attention, the abfolute neceffity that there is of caufing fome clothing to be diftributed among the French prifoners without delay. We are, &c. (Signed) RUPERT GEORGE. M. Otto.. No. 19. JOSEPH HUNT. Gentlemen, Portchefter Caftle, 10th September 1800. I BEG leave to enclofe you a letter I have this day received from the prisoners at this depôt, ftating the deplorable state they are in for want of clothing. Portchefter, 10th September 1800. The French Prifoners of War, to Mr. Holmwood, Commissary Portchefter Cafile. Sir,. YOU have fo often and fo generously given us proofs of your feelings for our unfortunate fituation, that we believe we may implore, through you, a relief the more urgent, as it becomes indifpenfable. It cannot be neceffary to lay before you a minute picture of the ftate of nakedness to which we are reduced; a state the more deplorable, as our debilitated bodies are more fufceptible of the feverity of the feason, and the want of repose. The many fufferings we endure from the total want of clothing, and other neceffaries of this kind, are already fo well known to you, that there can be no difficulty in your interceding in our favour. We cannot doubt of your complying with our expectation in this refpect, or, at least, that you will contribute every means in your of clothing. Many of them are entirely naked, and others have cut up their hammocks to cover themfelves. Their fituation is fuch, that, if not provided with thofe articles before the cold weather commences, they must inevitably perish. I beg to obferve, it is near eighteen months fince they were furnished with. any articles of wearing apparel by the French government, and then only a single fhirt to each fuit, which muft naturally have been worn out long fince. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. WOOD. JOHN HOLMWOOD. No. 16. Sir, Transport Office, 10th September 1800. WE enclose for your information, a copy of a letter which we have this day received from Captain Woodriff, the fuperintendent at Norman Crofs prifon, ftating the diftreffed fituation to which many of the French prifoners confined at that place are reduced, from the want of clothing, and by difpofing of their provifions and bedding. We are, &c. M.-Otto. (Signed) RUPERT GEORGE. W. A. OTWAY. No. 17. Gentlemen, Norman Crofs, 9th September 1800. ENCLOSED, I tranfmit a packet for M. Otto; by which you will obferve, that, notwithstanding all I have done, or can do, to prevent the prifoners from felling their ration of provisions for days to come, and their bedding, it has not had, nor is likely to have, the defired effect. Since the commencement of the wet weather, many of them have been taken to the hospital, in a very weak ftate, in confequence of having fold their provisions and bedding; and one or two have died. Several of the French prifoners are without clothing, and, having fold their bedding, they are destitute of either; and the prefent wet weather, and the approaching winter, will, if they be not clothed, fill the hofpitals. I have, Gentlemen, thought it prudent to mention thefe circumftances to you, as I am firmly of opinion, that, unlefs fome clothing is iffued to the prifoners, who are now deftitute, many of them will die, fhould the winter be fevere. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. Commiffioners for the Transport Service, Si. (Signed) C 2 D. WOODRIFF. No. Sir, No. 18. Transport Office, 11th September 1800. WE enclofe, for your information, a copy of a letter which we have this day received from Mr. Holmwood, the agent for prifoners of war at Portchefter, and alfo a copy of the one therein referred to from several French prifoners confined at that place, ftating that they are in a very miferable condition from the want of clothing. We cannot let pafs this opportunity without again recommending to your moft ferious attention, the abfolute neceffity that there is of caufing fome clothing to be distributed among the French prifoners without delay. We are, &c. (Signed) RUPERT GEORGE. M. Otto.. No. 19. JOSEPH HUNT. Gentlemen, Portchefter Caftle, 10th September 1800. I BEG leave to enclofe you a letter I have this day received from the prisoners at this depôt, ftating the deplorable state they are in for want of clothing. Commiffioners for the I have the honour to be, &c. Transport Service, &c. No. 20. Portchefter, 10th September 1800. The French Prifoners of War, to Mr. Holmwood, Commissary Portchefter Cafile. Sir,. YOU have fo often and fo generously given us proofs of your feelings for our unfortunate fituation, that we believe we may implore, through you, a relief the more urgent, as it becomes indifpenfable. It cannot be neceffary to lay before you a minute picture of the ftate of nakedness to which we are reduced; a state the more deplorable, as our debilitated bodies are more fufceptible of the feverity of the feason, and the want of repose. The many fufferings we endure from the total want of clothing, and other neceffaries of this kind, are already fo well known to you, that there can be no difficulty in your interceding in our favour. We cannot doubt of your complying with our expectation in this refpect, or, at least, that you will contribute every means in your |