Kent. 
1811 .] 
officer, they are ordered down to their births, 
and after being counted, retire to rest. The 
hatches are then fastened down, and on the 
ensuing morning they are again permitted to 
pursue their several avocations. The number 
of prisoners on board each vessel seldom or 
never equals the complement of men which 
the vessel would carry, where she commis¬ 
sioned and employed in actual service j there 
is, consequently, at all times a sufficient 
space for slinging hammocks, and no danger 
of infection can be apprehended from the decks 
being in too crowded a state. Of the ten ves¬ 
sels appropriated to the reception of prisoners, 
one I (the Sampson) has been most properly 
selected as a receptacle for those »en, w'ho, 
by ‘heir misconduct and violent dispositions 
anu demeanour, create confusion and excite 
disturbances in the other ships j and by thus 
keeping all the desperate characters together, 
less apprehensions are entertained of mutiny, 
or other ill consequences of insubordination 
elsewhere. The prisoners themselves have 
so much regard for tlieir own peace, that, 
where they iind a turbulent and obnoxious 
character in the community, they generally 
petition for his removal, and he is instantly 
sent to the 'Sampson. I'o the most perni¬ 
cious of all pursuits, gambling, may be as¬ 
cribed this melancholy effect: and numerous 
instances are recorded, in which the incorri¬ 
gible and persevering pursuit pf tlrat profti- 
gate practice has Jed even to the death of the 
prisoners! Their clothes, their provisions^, 
the hair of their heads, their teeth, every 
thing, in short, which is convertible into an 
object of traffic by the ingenuity of these 
men, is risked on the cast of a die. In many 
instances their provisions, for months in ad¬ 
vance, have been lost to some more for¬ 
tunate gamblers; and so inhuman are they 
towards each other, that, although they see 
their unfortunate companions famishing for 
want of sustenance before their eyes, they 
will not contribute a morsel to allay their 
sufferings ! Amongst other acts of violence 
of which the prisoners on board these ships 
have been frequently guilty, are to be parti¬ 
cularly noticed the frequent cutting of hole^ 
through the sides of the vessels, with a view 
of making their escape, and many by this 
mode have actually effected their purpose. 
This system had been carried on to such an 
extent, and the expences incurred by repairing 
the damage done so very considerable, that 
the Transport Board at length resolved, that 
la Case of any future cutting, the whole num¬ 
ber of prisoners confined on the deck on 
which the damage was done should be placed 
on short allow'ance, until the amount of the 
account furnished-by the shipwright for the 
repairs should be paid. The conduct of the 
prisoners towards each other, as we have 
already stated, is extremely inhuman. — If 
any one offends the general community, he 
is brought to a summary trial, and, if con¬ 
victed, is immediately seized, and tlie words 
jff 'Xraitor to his country ” punctured round 
his face, and rendered Indelible, by being 
washed with Indian ink or gunpowder water. 
Many of the unfortunate fellows have been 
thus marked, and afterwards proved to be 
innocent, and some of them from a repetitioa 
of this punishment, exhibit a most horrible 
appearance. There is no impediment to any 
person wishing to visit the prison-ships. Any 
stranger may go on board the different ves¬ 
sels, and visitants are continually purchasing 
such trifles as the prisoners manufacture. 
Lately was found on Folkestone Beach, 
one of those very scarce coins commonly 
called Bose NMeSy as perfect and bright at 
when new from the die. 
Mjrried.'l Mr. John Rose Baker, of 
Chalk, to Miss Sophia Oakes Mair, second 
daughter of Philip M. esq. of Shorn. 
At Ashford, the Rev. C. B. Naylor, to 
Anne, daughter of the P.ev. Edw. Norwood. 
Dkd.'\ Mr. Boys, sen. of St. MargareC’Sp 
Rochester, formerly of Chatham, 86. 
Ac West Mailing, Mrs. Mary Sutton, 6:? 
At St. Feterjs, Tiianet, Mr. John Croft,-ta 
Miss Beassant 
At Folkstone, Mr. John Sterling, to M-'.i 
Susan Goodwin, eldest daughter or Mr, Si:- 
phen G. of Lydj. 
At Ospringe, Mr. John Lepine, of Ca; 
bury, to Miss Fukes. 
G. Cramp, esq of St. Peter’s, Ti-ane?, to 
Alarj'’, daughter of Joseph LongHiith .rri. e:a 
At Chatham, aged 69, the Rev. |ostph 
Seaton, a man of a truly independent 
as it respects religious enquiry. Kever pre¬ 
cipitate in forming his judgment, his fan:h 
was the effect ofratioial conviction. Thor.gh 
his theological creed procured him censc « 
a.nd contempt, from certain persons of a seiC 
assumed orthodoX’S he on the contrary, car ¬ 
ried himself towards them with a commexid- 
able candor. Thus like his great maste’-, 
‘•When reviled, he reviled not again." 
Whatever might oe thought of his principiesj 
there was however but one opinion with re¬ 
ference to his practice. Concerning him it 
may with the strictest propriety be said, 
“ he was a faithful man, and feared God 
above many.” Viewetl as a Protertaot 
Dissenter, he well understood the ground 
on which that dissent is founded, and in 
this character, as well as in joining him¬ 
self to the general Baptists, he avowed hav¬ 
ing acted from conscientious motives, and (i: 
hi« sincerity, tliosc who best knew harjp 
never entertained the slightest suspicion. A% 
a preacher, though he possessed not apopulai- 
address, his discourses were characterised by 
consistency and clearness of elucidation. For 
some time previous to bis decease, exquisics 
was his pain, but exemplary was his patience. 
During his illness, the writer of this mors 
than once visited him, and found him t*.e 
subject of those strong consolations whic^x 
the gospel supplies. To him the grsve was 
divested of its gloo.m, contemplating it o.n’.y 
as the bed of rest, from which he would sooa 
arise a better and endless life. He was 
^ terred 
