certain days in the week: and we conceive that if a small piece of ground were allotted to the purpose, which might easily be done on the Gosport side of the harbour, a sufficient quantity might be raised, by the labour of the convicts alone, with little additional expence to the publick. On enquiring into the general state of health of the convicts on board this vessel, it appeared to us that the captain had bestowed great care and attention on this point. Those who were robust and healthy were employed out of the ship, in his Majesty's dock-yard; and those who were slightly ailing, convalescents, or cripples, were occupied in menial offices on the decks, or in such other employment as they were fit for on board. The former had every appearance of health, to which we are of opinion that the moderate regular labour in which they are exercised very materially contributes ; the latter appeared clean, and, as we were told by the Surgeon, generally convalescent. It appeared however that among the invalids many were ruptured; and on application to the Surgeon, we found that he was not provided with trusses; we therefore think it our duty to recommend to government that he be immediately supplied with these necessary articles. We noticed also a number of persons unable to work in consequence of sore legs, which is attributed by the Surgeon to an impoverished habit and the want of proper care during their confine ment ment in those gaols whence they were sent to the Hulks. On inspecting the Laurel, which has lately been converted from a Receiving Hulk into an Hospital Ship, for the accommodation of persons in an advanced state of malady, or labouring under infectious disorders; we observed that it contained 21 sick (16 of whom were from Langston Harbour), in a very diseased state. As far as we could judge, it seemed that they were neither in want of proper medical advice, attention, medicine, or of any assistance the Surgeon reported them to require. With regard to discipline, we have every reason to be satisfied with the precautions that have been taken to preserve order and regularity both by day and night; though, from the nature of the employments in which the convicts are at present occupied (being intermixed with other persons in the service of Government), a greater facility of escape is afforded than could be wished. We examined the instruments of correction, and the mode of punishment for misbehaviour; to which there can be no objection. On the whole, the result of our enquiries into the state of the Hulks in Portsmouth Harbour is highly favourable to the regulations lately adopted. From every inquiry we could make into the character and conduct of Mr. Thomas Thompson, the Captain of the Captivity, as well as from an accurate accurate inspection into the state both of the vessel and of the convicts under his command, we have every reason to believe him to be a person of humanity, and attentive to his duty; and we think it but justice to him to mention, that, during the last year he had the command of the Laurel (then a receiving ship on the old establishment), it appears that the mortality on board her did not, in proportion, amount to one half the number of deaths on board the Hulks in Langston Harbour. Note. Sir Henry Mildmay, during his inspection of the Convicts at work, observed that the wheel-barrows made use of were awkwardly constructed; and that, if those commonly used on canal banks were substituted in their stead, the Convicts would perform a greater quantity of work, with far less labour. N° II. REPORT ON THE CONDITION AND TREATMENT OF THE CONVICTS ON BOARD LA FORTUNÉE, IN LANGSTON HARBOUR, MARCH 16, 1802. HAVING completed our inspection of the Convicts in Portsmouth Harbour, we proceeded to carry our inquiries into the state and condition of the Hulks in Langston Harbour. We have here to regret still more, that the object of our investigation had been anticipated, as we have good reason to believe, not only from the information of some of the convicts themselves, whom we examined apart, but from the most respectable and undoubted authorities, that we should have seen cause even for more severe animadversion, had not the ship been manifestly prepared for our reception. With respect to the state of the vessel itself, we think it our duty to report it, not only wholly unfit for the present service as a Hulk, but, from its general dilapidated and decayed state, as well as its original inconvenient construction, that it never can be rendered effective for the purpose. We think it necessary to mention in particular, that the timbers are so decayed, that we saw a small quantity of water poured on the quarter-deck, which immediately penetrated through the floor, and passed into the Hospital Ward below, where, from the want of better accommodation, persons in all stages of disease, and with all complaints, were living intermixed together. We were told by the Captain, that the quarter-deck was in so dangerous a state, that he apprehended it would give way, under any severe pressure. The boarding throughout the whole ship is so generally out of repair, that we conceive it impossible to preserve that attention to cleanliness so indispensably requisite to the health of the convicts: it appears that the straw in the sacking is changed only twice or three times a year : what we examined was almost reduced to powder, and full of vermin. We found also, that though the lower decks are extremely low, and much crowded, many of the ports were nailed down, and could not be opened so as to admit a proper ventilation. On board this vessel we found no Chapel ; and we were told that divine service was performed on a Sunday on the quarter-deck, though we conceive, from the confined space, that a small part of the convicts only can have access to it; we understand the Captain never attends himself. With regard to the quantity of diet allowed daily to the prisoners, |