French prisoners in Portsmouth (1800)

On the 1st of January 1796, the Care of Prisoners in Health, was transferred to the Transport Board, the Superintendence of the Hospitals still remaining under the Sick and Hurt Board. The same Regulations were observed, and the same Allowance of Provisions adopted as had been formerly. Nothing particular appears to have occurred relative to the Prisoners during that Year. In January 1797, Orders were given to Captains superintending Prison Ships at Portsmouth and Plymouth, to visit them often, as well as the Prisons, to hear all Complaints, and to report once a Week to the Admiralty. In March, the Board stated to Charretié, that the French Prisoners were in Want of Clothing (which it had been agreed was to be provided by France) but said that the Board, from Motives of Humanity, had supplied a considerable Number with Clothes, and requested him to urge his Governennt to repay that Expence. No Answer seems to have been returned to this Application, nor does it appear that any Clothing was provided by France. In June, Mr. Charretié visited Portchester, where, on Account of the Mutiny which then prevailed in the British Fleet, and a Suspicion that the Mutineers meant to put Arms into the Hands of the Prisoners, who betrayed a strong Disposition to Disturbance and Insurrection, it was thought necessary to enforce strricter Discipline. It was found requisite for this End to prohibit the Market which had been allowed to be held, for the Purpose of putting it in the Power of the Prisoners, by disposing of various Articles which they manufactured, to supply themselves with Vegetables and other little Comforts at their own Expence. It must be observed, that they had their usual Allowance of Provisions; but some Complaints arose, from Impositions in the Price of Bread and Milk, which were clandestinely brought into the Prison by the Turnkeys, and sold. These Complaints proved trivial and of no Importance.