The Contractors for the Convicts at Woolwich and Langston Harbour, (as appear from documents laid before the House of Commons) entered into an agreement with the Lords of the Treasury obliging themselves for _the consideration of 1s. 3d. per day_, (being 22_l._ 16_s._ 3_d._ a year _for each Convict_,) to provide at their own cost or charge, _one_ or more _Hulks_, to keep the same in proper repair, to provide proper Ship's Companies for the safe Custody of such Convicts; and sufficient _meat_, _drink_, _clothing_ and _medical assistance_, for the Convicts; as also to sustain all other charges (excepting the expence of the _Chaplain_, _Coroner_, and bounties to discharged Convicts;[145]) obeying, at the same time, all the orders of his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, respecting the Convicts. A subsequent contract was made at 14-1/2_d._ which reduced the expence to 22_l._ 1_s._ 0-1/2_d._ per man: and which is the allowance made to the present Contractors. [Footnote 145: This expence, by an account laid before the House of Commons, for one Year, ending the 15th Feb. 1792, appears to be-- Expence of Chaplain, Coroner, and Bounties for Convicts at Woolwich £.221 17 4 At Langston and Portsmouth Harbours 153 19 8 --------- Total £.375 17 0] The terms of these contracts appear to be as favourable for Government as could reasonably be expected, under all circumstances; and it would appear, that some advantages are reaped by the Public, as the documents laid before the House of Commons in 1792 and 1798, shew that the labour performed by the Convicts is productive in a certain degree.--The following Statements explain how their labour is valued:-- From the 1st of January 1789 to the 1st of January 1792, it appears that 653,432 days' work had been performed at Langston Harbour, Portsmouth, and Woolwich Warren; which being estimated at 9_d._ a day, is £.24,503 14 0 and From the 1st of January 1789 to the 1st of January 1792, it also appears that 260,440 days' work had been performed at the Dock yard at Woolwich; which being partly performed by artificers in a more productive species of labour, is estimated at 1_s._ a day 13,022 0 0 ------------- Total value of Convicts' labour in 3 years £.37,525 14 0 It appears from the 28th Report of the Select Committee on Finance, Appendix, No. 7 and 8--