In July 1805, the Transport Office, impressed by the serious crowding of war-prisoners on the hulks at Plymouth and in the Millbay Prison, requested their representative, Mr. Daniel Alexander, to meet the Hon. E. Bouverie, at the house of Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, warden of the Stannaries, at Tor Royal, with the view of choosing a site for a great war-prison to hold 5,000 men. Mr. Baring-Gould more than hints that the particular spot chosen owed its distinction entirely to the personal interests of Sir Thomas. Says he: ‘It is on the most inclement site that could have been selected, catching the clouds from the South West, and condensing fog about it when everything else is clear. It is exposed equally to the North and East winds. It stands over 1,400 feet above the sea, above the sources of the Meavy, in the highest as well as least suitable situation that could have been selected; the site determined by Sir Thomas, so as to be near his granite quarries.’ On March 20, 1806, the first stone was laid; on May 24, 1809, the first prisoners came to it; in July the first two prisoners got out of it by bribing the sentries, men of the Notts Militia. The Frenchmen were recaptured, one at a place called ‘The Jumps’, the other at Kingsbridge. The soldiers, four in number, confessed they had received eight guineas each for their help, and two of them were condemned to be shot. [Illustration: DARTMOOR WAR-PRISON, IN 1812. FROM A SKETCH SIGNED ‘JOHN WETHEMS’ IN THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. (_Reproduced by kind permission of Mr. Basil Thomson and Col. Winn._) KEY TO THE PLAN. 1A Prison. 2A Prison. 3A Prison. 4A Prison. 5A Prison. 6A Prison. (New Building). 7A Prison. (New Building). B Cookeries. C Cachot or Dungeon. D Watch-houses. E Basins. F Petty Officers’ Prison. G Market-place. H Hospital. I Receiving-house. J Pharmacy. K Bathing-place. L Matron’s House. M Washing-house. N Storage. N Store-houses. O Storage. P Jailor’s Lodgings Q Jailor’s Lodge. R1 Mr. Holmden’s (Clerk) House. R2 Mr. Bennet’s House. R3 Mr. Winkworth’s House. S Captain Cotgrave’s House. T Agent’s Office. U Agent’s Garden. V Doctor’s House. W Doctor’s Garden. X Stables. Y Reservoir. Z Barracks. 1 Mr. Carpenter’s House. 2 Bakehouse. 3 Bell. 4 Miller’s House. 5 Burial-ground. 6 Dead-house. 7 Military Walk. 8 Ramparts. 9 Iron Rails, inside of which prisoners are confined. 10 Streams of water running from the reservoir. 11 Tavistock Road. 12 Princetown Road. 13 Morton Road. 14 Prison where Mr. V. made his first entry on December 12, 1811, with the track. 15 Prison where Mr. V. lives now, and track of walk allowed. 16 Mr. V. has liberty to go as far as 5th _Gate_. 17 New latter wall, is a mile in circumference. ]