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on reaching the deck, found it literally crowded, so that there was some difficulty in clearing a corner for us. This done, we had time to contemplate our situation, which was truly unpromising. The length and breadth of our apartment I cannot exactly state; but it was only four feet eight inches high, so that we could neither walk, nor stand, upright; and, such was the number of its inhabitants that, when we laid ourselves down to rest, those on the deck were, not only in contact with each other,* but nearly so with a range of hammocks stretched over them, many of which were likewise occupied: whilst all the good air, admitted or admissible, was through four ballast-ports, two on each side of the ship. Our mattresses, which luckily arrived soon after us, we were obliged to use, both as beds by night, and seats by day, during our stay on board. In this respect, however, we were comfortable, compared with the multitude, many of whom had not even a wad of straw between them and the hard planks, when either sitting or lying. From the poverty of such, and seclusion from their friends, cleanliness was impossible, as they were under the nescessity of wearing their linen, such as it was, without washing, even for weeks. This

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* on the lower deck, we were not only in contact, when stretched out; but many were obliged to lie, in opposite directions, with their limbs intermingled, the feet of the one range reaching to the knees of the other,

This alarmed us with apprehension,* both of disease and vermin, as the weather continued extremely hot. To this apprehension some other circumstances greatly contributed. Most of the prisoners were allowed to go on deck, only once a day, and for a short time-and the hatch-way was covered with a frame, and secured, at eight o'clock every evening; previous to which a large vessel was let down, which, before morning, was grossly offensive, being nearly filled with excrement of every kind.

To counteract these circumstances, necessity compelled us to use every mean, and make every exertion, which our situation would admit. Such of us, as had beds, of any kind, procured leave to carry them up frequently, and have them exposed to the sun and air, on spars, or the nettings of the ship. We were allowed also to go on deck, in small parties, to take up water in buckets, and hand it to our companions below, who washed, and swabbed the deck and sides, three or four times a week. These labors, though very severe, as some of us were advanced in years, some infirm, and others totally unaccustomed to such drudgery, we all performed

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* Our cause of apprehension was great indeed. While walking on the quarter-deck, we saw the poor wretches who got on deck, only once a day, busily employing the short time allowed them, in picking the vermin from their inside clothes, or shaking them from their rags over the ship's sides.

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in turn; and I am fully convinced that they greatly conduced to the preservation of what health and strength we still enjoyed.

It is but justice to add here, that a captain. Steel, who had charge of the prisoners, did us great service, by suspending canvass tubes, from the rigging of the ship, which descended, not only between decks, but into the lower hold, and carried off a part of the pestilential air. To Mr. Richard M'Cleland, surgeon and druggist in Belfast, the prisoners were under very great obligations. Through his interest, he procured an order for supplying them with medicines, in consequence of a representation by me; which he did, in a manner, equally honorable to himself, and beneficial to them. This I can assert, as the care of the sick, and administration of their medicine, fell mostly to my lot, the surgeon appointed haying it in his power to visit us, very-very seldom. Such were the effects of these precautions, labors, and aids, under the auspices of providence, that, though many among us were occasionally sick, not one died on board.

To this account of our accommodation as to bed, &c. &c. that of our board I shall now subjoin, as our BLACK shilling per day, was withdrawn and our provision supplied by goyernment. In the distribution of these, there N 2

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was no partiality or respect to persons. We were allowed to form ourselves into separate messes; and the œconomy of our ship-hold was as follows. About eight o'clock in the morning, each mess was presented with stirabout, made of oaten-meal and water, and a jug or can of small-beer. This stirabout was prepared in a large boiler, by a wretch as dirty-looking as ever met the eye of mortal, and served to us in coarse wooden tubs hooped with iron. I need hardly add that, from the heat of the weather, and other causes, the small-beer was, generally, sour or vapid. These tubs, washed or unwashed, as the prisoners chose to send them back, were returned about one o'clock, with boiled fresh beef, or salt pork, the very coarsest ship bread, and small-beer as at breakfast; but without vegetables of any kind, or even a potato. This was our only provision, and the invariable fare of every day. This fare, however, was supplied in abundance. At least, I never heard any complaint of the contrary. But the quality of the pork was frequently and loudly complained of. On some occasions, the prisoners threw it out of the port-holes, saying, it stunk so abominably that they could not bear it. This last circumstance I mention on the authority of others, and of my own sense of smell, as the mess, to which I belonged, used very little of the government provisions, except beef, and small beer when drinkable. It is true, we took our allowance

allowance of bread, &c.; but, it is equally true, that we handed it over to the poorer prisoners, who contrived to get it exchanged for butter, and such other little comforts as their friends could occasionally get sent on board. Besides, as we laid in our own provisions, beef excepted, and our own drinkables of every kind -and, as our friends supplied us, superabundantly, with garden-stuffs, sallading, fruit, fresh butter &c. we had it in our power, not only to supply invalids with many articles of useful regimen; but to enable others, with the addition of their ship-bread, to procure comfortable broths occasionally.*

Notwithstanding all these attentions, the state of many among us continued truly pitiable, and our own situation was painful and dangerous. We were, at once, suffering severely in our minds, our persons, and our purses. It is true, our minds were occasionably relieved by the visits of some friends and relatives, who procured admission to us: But this was greatly diminished by the inconvenience and hardships to which these visits exposed them; and still

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*Let it be here observed, that the prisoners were not supplied, by government, with bewl, dish, plate, mug, noggin, knife, fork, or spoon, Their only food utensils were the tubs and cans already mentioned, except what they could purchase for themselves. Hence many had to tear their food asunder like wild beasts, or wait till their neighbours were satisfied, before they could appease their hunger.

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