FOR THE EXPEDITION. 49 ordering lighters from Portsmouth Yard to the Alexander to 1787 receive the convicts while the ship iscleaned and smoked ; and though March. I have so often solicited that essence of malt or some anti-scorbutic Anti- may be allowed, I cannot help once more repeating the necessity scorbutics. of it. And, putting the convicts out of the question, which humanity forbids, the sending of the marines that are on board the transports such a voyage as they are going in a worse state than Trcatmcot ever troops were sent out of the kingdom, even to the nearest marines, garrison — for, taking off the tonnage for the provisions and stores, they have not one ton and a half a man — cannot, I am certain, be the intention of his Majesty's Ministers ; yet it is absolutely the case, and I have repeatedly stated this fact. Fresh meat for all the convicts, I was informed, had been ordered in consequence of the representation I made as soon as the ships got round to Ports- mouth ; but the sick only have fresh meat. Wine, at the discretion of the surgeon, is very necessary for the sick, as the convicts are not allowed anything more than water. The necessity of making one of the transports an hospital ship Hospital is obvious, and, I think, cannot be deferred. The Friendship, '***^' as having the smallest number of convicts on board, I propose for that purpose. The giving cloathes to those convicts who have been embarked clothing. at Plymouth is so very necessary that I have ordered it to be done, and presume the Navy Board will replace the cloathing ; but as there are more convicts to be sent on board the different ships, unless orders are being given for their being washed and cloathed on their leaving the prison, or the hulks, all that we may do will be to no purpose. These complaints, my dear sir, do not come unexpected, nor complaints were they unavoidable. I foresaw them from the beginning, and '**'*'***"• repeatedly pointed them out when they might have been so easily prevented at a very small expense, and with little trouble to those who have had the conducting of this business. At present the evils complained of may be redressed, and the intentions of Govern- vsaigeT of ment by this expedition answered. But if now neglected it ^^*^' may be too late hereafter, and we may expect to see the seamen belonging to the transports run from the ships to avoid a jail distemper, and may be refused entrance into a foreign port. The situation in which the magistrates sent the women on The women board the Lady Penrhyn stamps them with infamy ; though °«»^««*^ Digitized by Google
