By &c

Whereas an Act passed in the present Sessions of Parliament "To empower His Majesty to secure & detain Persons Charged with or suspected of the Crime of High Treason committed in any of His Majestys Colonies or Plantations in America or on the High Seas or the Crime of Piracy" in which there is a Clause that makes it lawful for His Majesty by his Warrant under his sign Manual to appoint one or more Place or Places of Confinement within the Realm for the Custody of such Prisoners; And Whereas His Majesty hath by his several Warrants under his Sign Manual, bearing date the 16th Inst ordered and appointed the following Places (which are the Property of the Crown & were used for the Custody of Prisoners of War in the last War) vizt Forton Prison in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth and Old Mill Prison in the neighbourhood of Plymouth to be places of Confinement for such Prisoners & for all & every Person or Persons who have been, or who shall thereafter be seized or taken in the Act of High Treason committed in any of His Majestys Colonies or Plantations in America or on the high Seas or in the Act of Piracy, or who are or shall be charged with or suspected of the Crime of High Treason committed in any of His Majestys said Colonies or Plantations or on the High Seas or of Piracy and who have been or shall be committed for such Crimes or any of them or for suspicion of such Crimes or any of them by any Magistrate having competent Authority in that behalf; You are therefore hereby required & directed to cause such part of the said Places to be immediately fitted up & put into proper condition for the reception of Persons charged with or suspected of, the Crimes abovementioned or any of them, as may be sufficient for the reception of 200 Men in the former & of 400 Men in the latter causing seperate Provision of room to be made in each of the said Prisons for the reception of such of the abovementioned Persons as may happen to fall sick; And you are to consider & report to Us as soon as possible in what manner it may be most proper to victual the said Persons & what number of Centinels will be necessary for their security.

And Whereas we think fit that the said Two Prisons shall be put upon the following Establishment with respect to Officers & Servants to carry on the necessary Duties who are to have the Salaries & Allowances against such exprest, You are to cause each of those Prisons to be put on that Establishment of Officers & Servants accordingly, And to appoint such Persons to those Offices (except the Keepers & Agents concerning whom You will receive particular directions from Us) as you shall judge properly qualified to execute the same; And to pay them the Salaries & make them the Allowances against each respectively expresst in the said Establishment giving them, and also the Keepers & Agents whom we shall appoint, such particular Instructions for their conduct and guidance & establishing such general rules & regulations for the management & safe Custody of the abovementioned Prisoners as you shall judge necessary.

So soon as the abovementioned Prisons shall be in all respects ready for the reception of the Persons intended to be confined therein as aforesaid, You are hereby further required & directed to give Orders that all such as shall be from time to time committed to them by any Magistrate having competent Authority in that behalf to be forthwith received and safely kept therein until released by dtie Course of Law. Given &c 19h April 1777

Commissrs for Sick & Hurt
By &c PS

Establishment of Officers & Servants for Forton and Old Mill Prisons — —

A Keeper of the Prison and Agent for taking care of the Prisoners	£ 120
A Clerk to — Do —	50
Three Turnkeys — each at —	40		P Annm
A Steward	25
A Cook	20
A Labourer	5	/	p Week
NB. The three last to have also their Provisions
A Surgeon	at 5	/	p Diem