Gent

Having laid before my Lords Commissrs of the Admty your Letter of the 30th past, informing them that Mr Bell is returned from visiting the Prison at Forton,² and hath reported, that with respect to the Buildings, in some of which the Prisoners are now confined, no security against Attempts to escape can be derived from any strength of those buildings, but that the prevention of their succeeding in any such Attempts, must entirely depend, as it did the last War when upwards of 2000 were sometimes confined at Forton, upon the proper disposition and Vigilance of the Guard; That upon examination, with a proper Surveyor, of those parts of the Buildings in which the Well of those Prisoners are at present confined, from the principal of which the late Escape was effected, it appears that some Altera­ tions could be made without difficulty in point of Work, and with the consent of the Owner of the adjoin Land, which was obtained, so as to render the whole of what is employed for the Confinement of the Well more compact, to admit of the Centries properly communicating with each other, to go round the whole of it with ease, and to save, when so alter'd, one Centry of the present number, and that the necessary directions were given for carrying those Alterations into immediate execution; I am in return, commanded to acquaint you, that their Lordships Approve thereof.

Their Lordships also direct me to inform you that the Secretary at War is made acquainted that the Commanding Officer of the Guard informed Mr Bell, that he had no Orders for the Guards loading and firing in Case of necessity, and that it is submitted to him, whether it may not be proper to send Instructions to the Commanding Officer upon this Head, the Prisoners confined in the said Prison being committed either for Acts of High Treason or Piracy. I am Gent [&c.]