HC Deb 18 June 1811 vol 20 cc697-8
Mr. Christie

, from the Transport Board, presented at the bar several papers relative to the prisoners in Dartmoor Prison.

Mr. Rose

said these papers were presented in consequence of a noble lord (Cochrane) who he was sorry not to see then in his place, having asserted, that the prisoners confined in that prison, had died thirty and forty in a week. The fact was quite otherwise, for at no time but one, which was about two years ago, had there been any extraordinary mortality among the prisoners. That one time was in consequence of some French prisoners being sent there, who had been landed from the West Indies, and who brought over with them an infectious disorder, which was however by skilful medical practice subdued in about a fortnight, and the prisoners had ever since been remarkably healthy. It had been also asserted that there was a great deal of filth and dirt in the prison, but the reverse was the case; and there was a stream ran through the prison of as pure water as any in England.

Mr. Tyrwhitt

explained some misconceptions with regard to himself that seemed to have gone abroad. He stated that the soil from the prison in question was carried off through his lands at his own expence.

Sir C. Pole,

as the subject had been mentioned, hoped the House would come to some resolution expressive of their approbation of the conduct of the managers of that prison towards the French prisoners in custody there. Of 20,000 prisoners there were at this moment only 300 sick—a circumstance which merited attention and public thanks.

Mr. Rose

was afraid it might be irregular to do any thing at present more than to order the return to be laid on the table, and to be printed.

Sir P. Burdett

could not believe that his noble friend, who was not now present, would have said what he did without some ground.

Mr. Whitbread

bore testimony both to the disinterested conduct of his hon. friend, the member for Plymouth, and also to the precautions used by the managers of the prison to get rid of the infection, declaring it to be his decided opinion that there was no blame attached to any person connected with the prison.

The Papers were then ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.