Mr. Onderdonk says: “There seems to have been no systematic plan adopted by the citizens of New York for the relief of the starving prisoners. We have scattering notices of a few charitable individuals, such as the following:--‘Mrs. Deborah Franklin was banished from New York Nov. 21st, 1780, by the British commandant, for her unbounded liberality to the American prisoners. Mrs. Ann Mott was associated with Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Whitten in relieving the sufferings of American prisoners in New York, during the Revolution. John Fillis died at Halifax, 1792, aged 68. He was kind to American prisoners in New York. Jacob Watson, Penelope Hull, etc., are also mentioned.’” BRITISH ACCOUNT OF MORTALITY OF PRISONERS “P. Dobbyn, master of a transport, thus writes from New York, Jan. 15th, 1777. ‘We had four or five hundred prisoners on board our ships, but they had such bad distempers that each ship buried ten or twelve a day.’ Another writer, under date of Jan. 14th, ‘77, says, ‘The Churches are full of American prisoners, who die so fast that 25 or 30 are buried at a time, in New York City. General Howe gave all who could walk their liberty, after taking their oath not to take up arms against his Majesty.’” (From a London Journal.) CHAPTER XIII A JOURNAL KEPT IN THE PROVOST An old man named John Fell was taken up by the British, and confined for some months in the Provost prison. He managed to secrete writing materials and made notes of his treatment. He was imprisoned for being a Whig and one of the councilmen of Bergen, New Jersey. We will give his journal entire, as it is quoted by Mr. Onderdonk. April 23rd, 1777. Last night I was taken prisoner from my house by 25 armed men (he lived in Bergen) who brought me down to Colonel Buskirk’s at Bergen Point, and from him I was sent to Gen. Pigot, at N. Y., who sent me with Captain Van Allen to the Provost Jail. 24th. Received from Mrs. Curzon, by the hands of Mr. Amiel, $16, two shirts, two stocks, some tea, sugar, pepper, towels, tobacco, pipes, paper, and a bed and bedding. May 1st. Dr. Lewis Antle and Capt. Thomas Golden at the door, refused admittance. May 2nd. 6 10 P. M. died John Thomas, of smallpox, aged 70 & inoculated. 5th. Capt. Colden has brought from Mr. Curson $16.00. 11. Dr. Antle came to visit me. Nero at the door. (A dog?) 13. Cold weather. 20. Lewis Pintard came per order of Elias Boudinot to offer me money. Refused admittance. Capt. Colden came to visit me. 21. Capt and Mrs Corne came to visit me, and I was called downstairs to see them. 23. Lewis Pintard came as Commissary to take account of officers, in order to assist them with money. 24. Every person refused admittance to the Provost. 25. All prisoners paraded in the hall: supposed to look for deserters. 27. Rev. Mr. Hart and Col. Smith brought to the Provost from Long Island. 29. Stormy in Provost. 30. Not allowed to fetch good water.