That the work done by Convicts confined on board the Hulks in Langston Harbour, during the year 1797, was performed by about 421 convicts upon a daily average, and computing the labour of each artificer at 19_l._ 8_s._ 9_d._ per annum, and each labourer at 11_l._ 13_s._ 3_d._ it will amount to £.5,997 18 3 The work performed in the same year by about 250 convicts, confined on board the Hulks at Portsmouth, computed as above will amount to 3,226 15 0 -------------- 9,224 13 3 From which is to be deducted, to make the amount correspond with the valuation made by the Ordnance Board 1,440 5 3 -------------- £.7,784 8 0 The work done by convicts, confined on board the _Prudentia_ and _Stanislaus_ Hulks at Woolwich Dock-yards and Warren, performed by 359 convicts, rated at 1_s._ and 1_s._ 2_d._ for labourers, and 1_s._ 5_d._ per day for artificers, is calculated to amount to 6,578 4 7 --------------- £.14,362 12 7 Deduct allowances made, and articles supplied, by the Board of Ordnance 1,498 14 10-1/2 ------------------- Total Estimate of the value of the labour of Convicts in 1797 £.12,863 17 8-1/2 ------------------- Upon this last statement the Select Committee on Finance (whose various elaborate Reports on the State of the Nation, do them immortal honour as Patriots and Legislators) very justly observe, that it is extremely difficult to calculate the value of labour, performed under such circumstances, with any degree of accuracy; and after several views of the subject a conclusion is drawn, that the net expence to the Public, for the maintenance of 1402 convicts in 1797, after deducting the estimated value of labour, amounted to 20,878_l._ 14_s._ 10-1/2_d._ being at the rate of 14_l._ 17_s._ 9-1/2_d._ per man. It appears, however, that out of the whole number of 1402 maintained in 1797, only 1030 were actually employed. The labour of the remaining 370 was, therefore, in a great measure, lost to the Community. At any rate, the value of this species of labour must be precarious, and the advantages resulting from it problematical. Since the mere "possession of so many idle hands will sometimes be a temptation to engage in works, which but for this inducement, would not recommend themselves by their intrinsic utility."[146]