Mr. Archibald to Lord Lyons,
My Lord: I have the honor to call your lordship’s attention to some circumstances connected with the treatment of the British subjects imprisoned at Fort Lafayette, for such action thereon as your lordship may think fit.
The fort, which is surrounded by water at some short distance from the main land, is a structure of moderate size, and, apparently, of limited accommodations for the number of prisoners (now, I believe, about 125 or 130) and the garrison contained therein. It is not fitted for the purpose of a jail, with separate rooms or apartments for the prisoners, or supplied with those necessary conveniences with which ordinary jails are furnished; the prisoners are consequently confined in the casemates, in parties or squads of eleven or more, according to the size of the casemate, and I presume some sort of classification of the prisoners. These consist of merchants, confederate prisoners, sailors, substitute crimps, and others.
From statements made to me by some of the prisoners, on the 29th ultimo, when I visited the fort, and by others to Mr. Edwards, the vice-consul, on a subsequent visit, it appears that in the casemate, for instance, in which Mr. Eneas and Mr. Rooke are confined, and which is about twenty-five feet long, and fifteen feet wide, there are, in all, eleven persons. This room has a fireplace at one end, and is lighted by two small, barred windows, one at either-side of the chimney. The bedsteads are hinged, and fold up against the walli in the day time, on either side cf the room, to afford space to move about in, and for a small table about three and a half feet long by two feet wide. When-the beds are let down at night, there is but a narrow passage between them. There are no chairs, or rather were none until yesterday, when, by special permission of General Dix, I sent one down for the use of Mr. Rooke. There is but one small wash hand-basin for the use of the whole party. They have the privilege of using a tub for bathing, in common with the occupants of another casemate, but, from indecency of exposure and want of privacy, it is of little use.
In this apartment the prisoners are locked up from sunset until half-past seven in the morning, with an allowance of half a candle each night, but no candlestick. During the day they are allowed to walk in a part of one side of the quadrangle on the shady side of the fort. As the privies are rudely constructed on the terrace outside the fort, overhanging the sea, the prisoners, as their necessities require, are taken out thither in parties of four or more, under [Page 514] the charge of a sentry. At night a bucket is placed in the casemate for common use, as the prisoners, when once locked up, are not allowed to go outside the fort for the calls of nature.
This description applies more or less to the other casemates, except that these, according to their sizes, contain a larger number of prisoners. The room is cleaned by the prisoners in turn; they all, or as they may arrange among themselves, bring in their own coal and water. There is a common eating or mess-room, but the prisoners in the casemate to which I have above referred asked and obtained the privilege of eating their meals in their own apartments, going to the mess-room for the purpose of getting their allowances. The food is not deficient in quantity, but, with the exception of bread, is complained of as not being palatable.
It consists of bread, boiled beef served in junks, a coarse bean soup, and, at breakfast, coffee boiled with sugar or molasses. No milk, butter, or vegetables are supplied. None of the prisoners are allowed to purchase or to be supplied by their friends with other food. Some articles of food of a better description, as also tea and sugar, which have been sent to the fort for some of the prisoners, have been refused to be received.
The foregoing statements I make from the relation of prisoners, several of whom are confined on suspicion or accusation of offences which are yet to be established against them, and for which, indeed, it remains to be seen whether or not they are to be brought to trial. They could hardly be dealt with more harshly were they under sentence of imprisonment after trial and conviction.
I have, &c., &c.,
Lord Lyons, G. C. B., &c., &c., &c.