Newspaper cuttings for 1816
Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 11 January 1816
Embarkation of French Prisoners at Devil’s Point, Plymouth - Dock. —On Friday last, the embarkation of these captives at Plymouth Deck, five hundred of the wounded placed on board Portsmouth and Plymouth packets, which sailed immediately for France. Nineteen of these vessels are engaged by Government of Messrs. Franklin & Co. at 7s. 4d. per ton, three men being taken to every two tons. There are about 700 men to be embarked, and the people of Plymouth confidently reckon on still further reduction in the prices of provisions from the absence of so many persons. The prisoners speak very well of their treatment at Dartmoor, having been permitted to work for themselves in divisions, Several buildings have been erected by them there and in particular a chapel of neat workmanship. Although they lately sent in their adhesion to Louis by the Abbe Guilliard, their secret wishes are evidently in favour of their former master, and not a few openly express their devotedness to him.
Embarkation of French Prisoners at Devil’s Point, Plymouth - Dock. —On Friday last, the embarkation of these captives at Plymouth Deck, five hundred of the wounded placed on board Portsmouth and Plymouth packets, which sailed immediately for France. Nineteen of these vessels are engaged by Government of Messrs. Franklin & Co. at 7s. 4d. per ton, three men being taken to every two tons. There are about 700 men to be embarked, and the people of Plymouth confidently reckon on still further reduction in the prices of provisions from the absence of so many persons. The prisoners speak very well of their treatment at Dartmoor, having been permitted to work for themselves in divisions, Several buildings have been erected by them there and in particular a chapel of neat workmanship. Although they lately sent in their adhesion to Louis by the Abbe Guilliard, their secret wishes are evidently in favour of their former master, and not a few openly express their devotedness to him.
Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 15 February 1816
The last of the prisoners of war in Dartmoor Depot were escorted to Plymouth on Friday last. The North Devon regiment of militia, under the command of Major Bruton, which has been doing duty on Dartmoor nearly two months, have marched to Barnstaple, in order to be disembodied.
The last of the prisoners of war in Dartmoor Depot were escorted to Plymouth on Friday last. The North Devon regiment of militia, under the command of Major Bruton, which has been doing duty on Dartmoor nearly two months, have marched to Barnstaple, in order to be disembodied.
Exeter Flying Post 02 May 1816
COURT BARON of His Royal Highness George Augustus Prince of Wales. Manor of Lidford & Forest of Dartmoor. NOTICE is hereby given, that a GENERAL COURT BARON will be held, for this Manor and Forest, at TWO BRIDGES, within the same Forest, on FRIDAY the 3d May next, at twelve o'clock precisely. Dated at Moretonhampstead this 27th April 1816. EDWARD MARTIN, Deputy Steward.
COURT BARON of His Royal Highness George Augustus Prince of Wales. Manor of Lidford & Forest of Dartmoor. NOTICE is hereby given, that a GENERAL COURT BARON will be held, for this Manor and Forest, at TWO BRIDGES, within the same Forest, on FRIDAY the 3d May next, at twelve o'clock precisely. Dated at Moretonhampstead this 27th April 1816. EDWARD MARTIN, Deputy Steward.
Worcester Journal 9 May 1816
Wednesday, May 8. London, Tuesday Evening, 7 o'clock p. m. To-day New York papers have reached us to the 10th ult. With a view to electioneering purposes, the story of the accident at Dartmoor Prison is again revived with new embellishments. It is designated the Dartmoor massacre. The Federalist papers defend the British Government on the occasion, and affirm that there are only two ways to account for it. The affair was either an accident or an intentional murder; as the former the British Government have atoned for it; but if the latter, how much to blame is the President for permitting so heinous an offence to be passed over with such indifference.
Wednesday, May 8. London, Tuesday Evening, 7 o'clock p. m. To-day New York papers have reached us to the 10th ult. With a view to electioneering purposes, the story of the accident at Dartmoor Prison is again revived with new embellishments. It is designated the Dartmoor massacre. The Federalist papers defend the British Government on the occasion, and affirm that there are only two ways to account for it. The affair was either an accident or an intentional murder; as the former the British Government have atoned for it; but if the latter, how much to blame is the President for permitting so heinous an offence to be passed over with such indifference.
Carlisle Patriot 8 June 1816
The following elegant appeal will serve to prove the rancorous spirit which still prevails among a certain class of the people of the United States against England and every thing that Is English. It is extracted from the Boston Patriot of April 10, 1816. DARTMOOR MASSACRE! - “Hark! Hark! tars of Columbia—listen to the sound of the voices of the departed spirits of your brave but murdered countrymen. which calls aloud from their graves, in that tyrannic and blood-stained island whose sons have twice cowered to Columbian freemen in battle. Hark! I say, and hear them ask if they, by their beloved countrymen, are so soon forgotten, and their memories consigned to oblivion, as their bodies were to the cold and silent tomb, by the hands of the bloody Shortland and his myrmidons. No, my brave and gallant countrymen! those heroes are not forgotten, nor ever shall be, so long the purple liquid continues to circulate through their veins. and reason holds her empire in their minds. The 6th of April is the anniversary of that bloody deed committed in Dartmoor prison which will stain the page of history to the latest date of time, and England shall tremble to its base, when she remembers the day that freemen bled by their unhallowed hands, whilst prisoners unarmed and incapable of defence. It has been said, and truly said, that cowards are cruel; but the brave love mercy and delight to save. We will not forget those brave men, but on the 6th April will remember them. NEPTUNE.”
The following elegant appeal will serve to prove the rancorous spirit which still prevails among a certain class of the people of the United States against England and every thing that Is English. It is extracted from the Boston Patriot of April 10, 1816. DARTMOOR MASSACRE! - “Hark! Hark! tars of Columbia—listen to the sound of the voices of the departed spirits of your brave but murdered countrymen. which calls aloud from their graves, in that tyrannic and blood-stained island whose sons have twice cowered to Columbian freemen in battle. Hark! I say, and hear them ask if they, by their beloved countrymen, are so soon forgotten, and their memories consigned to oblivion, as their bodies were to the cold and silent tomb, by the hands of the bloody Shortland and his myrmidons. No, my brave and gallant countrymen! those heroes are not forgotten, nor ever shall be, so long the purple liquid continues to circulate through their veins. and reason holds her empire in their minds. The 6th of April is the anniversary of that bloody deed committed in Dartmoor prison which will stain the page of history to the latest date of time, and England shall tremble to its base, when she remembers the day that freemen bled by their unhallowed hands, whilst prisoners unarmed and incapable of defence. It has been said, and truly said, that cowards are cruel; but the brave love mercy and delight to save. We will not forget those brave men, but on the 6th April will remember them. NEPTUNE.”
Exeter Flying Post 20 June 1816
A QUANTITY OF OLD WROUGHT AND CAST IRON, At the Prison of War, Dartmoor. TO be SOLD by auction, in convenient Lots, without the least reserve, (by order of the Commissioners for conducting his Majesty's Transport Service, on Tuesday the 25th June, 1816, precisely at twelve o'clock, on the above mentioned premises, about seventeen tons of WROUGHT IRON, and about twenty Tons of CAST DITTO. N. B. A deposit of twenty per Cent. will be required at the time of the Sale, and the remainder of the purchase money to be paid within ten days afterwards. J. TAPERELL, Auctioneer.
A QUANTITY OF OLD WROUGHT AND CAST IRON, At the Prison of War, Dartmoor. TO be SOLD by auction, in convenient Lots, without the least reserve, (by order of the Commissioners for conducting his Majesty's Transport Service, on Tuesday the 25th June, 1816, precisely at twelve o'clock, on the above mentioned premises, about seventeen tons of WROUGHT IRON, and about twenty Tons of CAST DITTO. N. B. A deposit of twenty per Cent. will be required at the time of the Sale, and the remainder of the purchase money to be paid within ten days afterwards. J. TAPERELL, Auctioneer.
Morning Post 31 August 1816
(From a letter to the editor entitled “ON THE CONFINEMENT OF PRISONERS”)
For the present, I will only point out the extensive range of buildings formerly occupied as Dartmoor Prison, in Devonshire, which, in my humble opinion, would be one of the most appropriate situations for a general prison for convicts, which it is highly improper to place in the neighbourhood of a metropolis or any large town, where it is so liable to be attacked in any public commotion, and where it is so easy of access to the friends or companions of the prisoners, and whose re-apprehension is almost impossible the moment an escape has been effected without the walls. The Prison at Dartmoor, which has hitherto been only used as a depot for prisoners of war, stands in a fine healthy situation between Tavistock and Chagford, The structure consists of seven distinct ranges of building, adapted for prisons, inclosed within half a circle, and was capable of containing 9200 prisoners, with sufficient airing grounds. The remaining part of the area within the circular wall contains numerous detached buildings, formerly occupied as residences for the Agent or Governor, offices, guard rooms, state rooms, offices for clerks, &c. There are also in the neighbourhood barracks. It also has a handsome chapel and parsonage house, excellent reservoirs for water from the hills, and a vast extent of the former forest has been now brought into cultivation. But the whole now lies a ruin, with many hundred loads of excellent manure daily wasting away. Near the entrance of the prison is a neat range of houses, which might be advantageously occupied by the families of task masters and manufacturers, for employing the convicts. In the neighbourhood is also a pretty little village called Prince Town, the inhabitants of which are daily forsaking it, for want of employment. I need not point out the policy of preserving such a building, so obviously necessary in case we should be involved in another war, which would of itself supersede the necessity of a prison for convicts upon so large a scale, when it might revolve to its original purpose. Should you find these observations worthy of a corner in your Paper, hoping it may meet the eye and attention of those province it is to improve and economise, I shall trouble you at a future period with a plan for beneficially employing convicts so confined.
(From a letter to the editor entitled “ON THE CONFINEMENT OF PRISONERS”)
For the present, I will only point out the extensive range of buildings formerly occupied as Dartmoor Prison, in Devonshire, which, in my humble opinion, would be one of the most appropriate situations for a general prison for convicts, which it is highly improper to place in the neighbourhood of a metropolis or any large town, where it is so liable to be attacked in any public commotion, and where it is so easy of access to the friends or companions of the prisoners, and whose re-apprehension is almost impossible the moment an escape has been effected without the walls. The Prison at Dartmoor, which has hitherto been only used as a depot for prisoners of war, stands in a fine healthy situation between Tavistock and Chagford, The structure consists of seven distinct ranges of building, adapted for prisons, inclosed within half a circle, and was capable of containing 9200 prisoners, with sufficient airing grounds. The remaining part of the area within the circular wall contains numerous detached buildings, formerly occupied as residences for the Agent or Governor, offices, guard rooms, state rooms, offices for clerks, &c. There are also in the neighbourhood barracks. It also has a handsome chapel and parsonage house, excellent reservoirs for water from the hills, and a vast extent of the former forest has been now brought into cultivation. But the whole now lies a ruin, with many hundred loads of excellent manure daily wasting away. Near the entrance of the prison is a neat range of houses, which might be advantageously occupied by the families of task masters and manufacturers, for employing the convicts. In the neighbourhood is also a pretty little village called Prince Town, the inhabitants of which are daily forsaking it, for want of employment. I need not point out the policy of preserving such a building, so obviously necessary in case we should be involved in another war, which would of itself supersede the necessity of a prison for convicts upon so large a scale, when it might revolve to its original purpose. Should you find these observations worthy of a corner in your Paper, hoping it may meet the eye and attention of those province it is to improve and economise, I shall trouble you at a future period with a plan for beneficially employing convicts so confined.