(A Copy)

Sir

We desire you will please to acquaint the R^t: H^bl: the Lords Comm^rs: of the Admiralty, that the Keeper & Agent of the Prison at Forton, has informed us by his Letter of the 28^th: Instant “that M^r: Huish an Attourney of that Town had called upon him & told him, that he had seen M^r: Missing, a Barrister at Law of Titch field who had informed him that he had received Orders in the way of his profession, & if any Person died in the confining Hold, the Keeper & Agent would be Indicted for Murder; and that he had sent to the Coroner not to suffer any Person to be buried out of the Prison without taking an Inquest” And we beg leave upon this occasion to observe.

That what is called the confining Hold, is a Room divided off from an Apartment, the whole of which wou'd be otherwise filled up, as a common Ward, and the Prisoners lie upon Guard Beds, instead of Hammocks, and Provisions are made for this Room being properly Ventilated, and not becoming unwholesome, and no Prisoner has hitherto died in the confining Hold nor is there any probability of its hap pening in future, except in the case of sudden Death, as this part of the Prison, as well as every other is visited every Day by the Surgeon in order that such Prisoners, as are found, upon his Examination, Objects of it, may be received into the Sick Apartment; And he has particular Orders, that when any Men are sent from the con fining Hold to the Sick Apartment, to report to Us the Nature of their Disorders, that proper directions may be given if necessary, for removing any other Prisoners that be remaining in that place; and for purifying it.

That with respect to the Coroners Inquest being had upon such Prisoners as may hereafter die in the Prisons, tho' this was never practiced with regard to Prisoners of War under our Care, We are humbly of opinion, that as such a precaution may be the means of preventing unnecessary trouble & expence by Prosecutions which may be commenced ignorantly or from Malevolent Motives; and especially as, if We are not mistaken, it is a part of the Coroners Duty, & it is incumbent on the Keeper of every Goal, to give Notice to him of any Deaths happening in It, it may be very proper that the respective, and Agents may have Instructions to give such Notice in case of any Deaths.¹ We are [&c.]