Newspaper cuttings for 1818
Morning Chronicle 21 February 1818
COPY. TRANSPORT OFFICE, Feb. 18, 1815. MY LORD. - As it is likely that the American Prisoners of War now confined in the Depot on Dartmoor will soon be released, we feel it is our duty to submit to your Lordship's consideration, whether that Depot may not be very advantageously appropriated in time of Peace to the reception of Convicts intended to be transported to New South Wales, it being a prison of great security, and very conveniently situated for the embarkation of Convicts at Plymouth. We beg leave to represent to your Lordship, that it appears to us great advantage to the cause of humanity will be produced by the appropriation of Dartmoor Prison to this purpose, by obviating the necessity of shipping Convicts for transportation at improper seasons of the year, which is at present caused by the occasionally crowded state of the gaols of this kingdom. It has often been necessary from this circumstance to embark Convicts, and dispatch them to New South Wales in the winter season, a measure which has proved fatal to many of these unfortunate criminals, particularly in the recent case of the ship “??ry,” which received Convicts in January, 1814, sailed from ?? country on the 20th of the next month, and arrived at that colony in the July following, with the loss of fifty men; which ?? mortality may be chiefly attributed on her sailing from England, and the sudden change of climate from extreme cold to excessive heat, on crossing the Line, and again meeting the winter season in high Southern latitudes before her arrival at her destination. It is to avoid this calamity, that we recommend that the Depot at Dartmoor, which is calculated to contain 9,000 prisoners, with barracks and guard-houses sufficient for the accommodation of 600 soldiers, may be fitted for the reception of Convicts from the several County Gaols, from among whom the most healthy and strong may be selected for embarkation, in parties of 200 each, in each ship of 450 or 500 tons, and be dispatched from this country to New South Wales in the months of May, June, July, August and early in September in every year; the adoption of which regulations, we apprehend, would ?? to the Convicts a good passage, prevent the introduction of disease on their embarkation, and be, in every respect, more comfortable to them than the continuance of the present mode of transporting them in all seasons of the year. We have the honour to be &c. &c.
(Signed) RUP. GEORGE, J. BOWEN, JOHN FORBES, J. HARNESS.
COPY. TRANSPORT OFFICE, Feb. 18, 1815. MY LORD. - As it is likely that the American Prisoners of War now confined in the Depot on Dartmoor will soon be released, we feel it is our duty to submit to your Lordship's consideration, whether that Depot may not be very advantageously appropriated in time of Peace to the reception of Convicts intended to be transported to New South Wales, it being a prison of great security, and very conveniently situated for the embarkation of Convicts at Plymouth. We beg leave to represent to your Lordship, that it appears to us great advantage to the cause of humanity will be produced by the appropriation of Dartmoor Prison to this purpose, by obviating the necessity of shipping Convicts for transportation at improper seasons of the year, which is at present caused by the occasionally crowded state of the gaols of this kingdom. It has often been necessary from this circumstance to embark Convicts, and dispatch them to New South Wales in the winter season, a measure which has proved fatal to many of these unfortunate criminals, particularly in the recent case of the ship “??ry,” which received Convicts in January, 1814, sailed from ?? country on the 20th of the next month, and arrived at that colony in the July following, with the loss of fifty men; which ?? mortality may be chiefly attributed on her sailing from England, and the sudden change of climate from extreme cold to excessive heat, on crossing the Line, and again meeting the winter season in high Southern latitudes before her arrival at her destination. It is to avoid this calamity, that we recommend that the Depot at Dartmoor, which is calculated to contain 9,000 prisoners, with barracks and guard-houses sufficient for the accommodation of 600 soldiers, may be fitted for the reception of Convicts from the several County Gaols, from among whom the most healthy and strong may be selected for embarkation, in parties of 200 each, in each ship of 450 or 500 tons, and be dispatched from this country to New South Wales in the months of May, June, July, August and early in September in every year; the adoption of which regulations, we apprehend, would ?? to the Convicts a good passage, prevent the introduction of disease on their embarkation, and be, in every respect, more comfortable to them than the continuance of the present mode of transporting them in all seasons of the year. We have the honour to be &c. &c.
(Signed) RUP. GEORGE, J. BOWEN, JOHN FORBES, J. HARNESS.
This letter, which the Morning Chronicle printed three years after it was written demonstrates that the prospect of using Dartmoor Prison as a convict prison was being considered even while it was still in use as a Prisoner of War Depot.
Morning Chronicle 11 April 1818
(House of Commons) On the motion of Mr. Alderman WOOD, it was ordered, that the Committee appointed to inquire into the state of the Prisons of the City of London, should be instructed to inquire into the state of Dartmoor Prison and report thereon.
(House of Commons) On the motion of Mr. Alderman WOOD, it was ordered, that the Committee appointed to inquire into the state of the Prisons of the City of London, should be instructed to inquire into the state of Dartmoor Prison and report thereon.
Exeter Flying Post 27 August 1818
NOTICE is hereby given, that an Application is intended to be made in the next Session of Parliament, for an ACT for the Purpose of MAKING and MAINTAINING a RAIL-WAY or TRAM-ROAD from, or from near the PRISON of WAR, in the Forest of DARTMOOR, in the parish of Lydford, in the county of Devon, to a certain place, called CRAB TREE, in the parish of Egg Buckland, in the county of Devon ; and which said Rail-Way or Tram-Road is intended to be made and pass through the several parishes of Lydford, Walkhampton, Buckland Monachorum, Tamerton Foliot, Bickleigh, and Egg Buckland, all in the county of Devon. Given under my hand at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, the twenty-first day of August, 1818. GEO. HUNT, Solicitor.
NOTICE is hereby given, that an Application is intended to be made in the next Session of Parliament, for an ACT for the Purpose of MAKING and MAINTAINING a RAIL-WAY or TRAM-ROAD from, or from near the PRISON of WAR, in the Forest of DARTMOOR, in the parish of Lydford, in the county of Devon, to a certain place, called CRAB TREE, in the parish of Egg Buckland, in the county of Devon ; and which said Rail-Way or Tram-Road is intended to be made and pass through the several parishes of Lydford, Walkhampton, Buckland Monachorum, Tamerton Foliot, Bickleigh, and Egg Buckland, all in the county of Devon. Given under my hand at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, the twenty-first day of August, 1818. GEO. HUNT, Solicitor.
The Times September 16 1818
(From classified advertising column)
DEVON. - GRAZING ESTATE. - To be SOLD By TENDER, for the residue of a term of 99 years, of which 86 are unexpired, subject to a small annual rent payable to the Prince of Wales, all that GRAZING ESTATE commonly called ROUNDHILL, and a Parcel of Land called LOWER WATERN, containing together by admeasurement 357 a., 30 p., situate on Dartmoor, in the county of Devon, adjoining the turnpike road leading from Exeter to Plymouth, distant only 16 miles from the latter, 12 from Moreton and Ashburton, 8 from Tavistock, and only 1 from Dartmoor prison : the Dwelling-house and outhouses have been recently erected at a considerable expense, and will be found very convenient ; the estate is bounded on the east and south by two excellent trout rivers, and is in the heart of a sporting country ; immediate possession may be had ; a rail-road from Crabtree, near Plymouth, to Dartmoor is contemplated by proprietors of land on and in the neighbourhood of the Moor, and a survey of the proposed line has recently been made ; should this desirable object be carried into effect, which is probable, it will open peculiar advantages to the above property, as it is expected to be carried to the prison, which is within a mile of the state. Mr. Mark Clark, who resides on the estate, will show it ; and all further particulars may be known on application at the office of Mr. Battye, solicitor, Chancery-lane ; or of Mr. Smith's solicitor, 37, King-street, Plymouth-dock ; and persons desirous of purchasing the same are requested to deliver tenders, free of postage, to the said Mr. Smith, on or before Monday the 5th of October next, within 7 days of which the person whose offer may be accepted will have notice thereof. Dated Sept.12.
(From classified advertising column)
DEVON. - GRAZING ESTATE. - To be SOLD By TENDER, for the residue of a term of 99 years, of which 86 are unexpired, subject to a small annual rent payable to the Prince of Wales, all that GRAZING ESTATE commonly called ROUNDHILL, and a Parcel of Land called LOWER WATERN, containing together by admeasurement 357 a., 30 p., situate on Dartmoor, in the county of Devon, adjoining the turnpike road leading from Exeter to Plymouth, distant only 16 miles from the latter, 12 from Moreton and Ashburton, 8 from Tavistock, and only 1 from Dartmoor prison : the Dwelling-house and outhouses have been recently erected at a considerable expense, and will be found very convenient ; the estate is bounded on the east and south by two excellent trout rivers, and is in the heart of a sporting country ; immediate possession may be had ; a rail-road from Crabtree, near Plymouth, to Dartmoor is contemplated by proprietors of land on and in the neighbourhood of the Moor, and a survey of the proposed line has recently been made ; should this desirable object be carried into effect, which is probable, it will open peculiar advantages to the above property, as it is expected to be carried to the prison, which is within a mile of the state. Mr. Mark Clark, who resides on the estate, will show it ; and all further particulars may be known on application at the office of Mr. Battye, solicitor, Chancery-lane ; or of Mr. Smith's solicitor, 37, King-street, Plymouth-dock ; and persons desirous of purchasing the same are requested to deliver tenders, free of postage, to the said Mr. Smith, on or before Monday the 5th of October next, within 7 days of which the person whose offer may be accepted will have notice thereof. Dated Sept.12.