Page:Harper's New Monthly Magazine - v109.djvu/596

550 unable any longer to stand the hardships of hunger, nakedness, and sickness; that he had wholly neglected them, and that they despaired of an exchange of prisoners. They told him of the distinction made between the French and themselves, and that they were not treated as prisoners of war. To this the agent paid no attention.

June opened with much sickness, and smallpox raged. Dr. Dyer, the surgeon in charge, treated the prisoners with much severity, and would allow none to go to hospital unless in extremis, many being taken so far gone that four men had to carry each of them in a hammock.

About this time the guard was changed, and the new guard began a series of searches, turning all prisoners out into the yards, sick or well, searching all hammocks and effects. This angered the prisoners greatly. The guard was composed of men who had been sent there from their regiments as a punishment for misdemeanor, and seem to have been, with the exception of one Scotch regiment, a hardened lot of men, easily bribed, and much addicted to drink.

In August the regulations were more stringent, and the prisoners were not allowed to go into the yard. Smallpox broke out afresh, and the men died in great numbers. The prisoners then formed a committee of correspondence, and, by bribing the guards, got a letter to agent Beasley, telling him again of their forlorn condition, they being ragged, covered with vermin, and the death-rate increasing daily. Again the agent paid no attention nor came to see them. They then addressed Captain Congreve. After a time a slight increase of rations was granted, and their sufferings were somewhat relieved. About this time the prisoners were employed a little more. A sweeper was allowed for each room, and received 3d. a day; one man out of every two hundred 4½d. per day for acting as cook; as barber 3d. a day; and as hospital nurse 6d. a day. All these positions were given by preference to Frenchmen, who also worked as mechanics, receiving 6d. a day.

The winter set in with great severity, smallpox and measles raged, while many in despair entered the British service.

The crew of the United States brig Argus was sent now to Dartmoor and put in prison No. 4. Captain Congreve ordered all French to be removed from that prison, to the great relief of the Americans, who were allowed more liberty; two of their number attended the market, and they were allowed to mingle more with the French prisoners. The French prisons resembled little villages, with shops where hat-making in straw was carried on, and bone-work of all kinds—for from meat bones these clever men carved full-rigged ships, boxes, and