Yet the sojourn among us of thousands of war prisoners between the years 1756 and 1815 must have been an important feature of our national life—especially that of officers on parole in our country towns; despite which, during my quest in many counties of England, Scotland, and Wales, I have been surprised to find how rapidly and completely the memory of this sojourn has faded; how faintly even it lingers in local tradition; how much haziness there is, even in the minds of educated people, as to who or what prisoners of war were; and how the process of gathering information has been one of almost literal excavation and disinterment. But the task has been a great delight. It has introduced me to all sorts and conditions of interesting people; it has taken me to all sorts of odd nooks and corners of the country; and it has drawn my attention to a literature which is not less valuable because it is merely local. I need not say that but for the interest and enthusiasm of private individuals I could never have accomplished the task, and to them I hope I have made sufficient acknowledgement in the proper places, although it is possible that, from their very multitude, I may have been guilty of omissions, for which I can only apologize. FRANCIS ABELL LONDON, 1914. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTERNATIONAL RECRIMINATIONS 1 II. THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS 25 III. THE PRISON SYSTEM—THE HULKS 37 IV. LIFE ON THE HULKS 54 V. LIFE ON THE HULKS (_continued_) 75 VI. PRISON-SHIP SUNDRIES 92 VII. TOM SOUVILLE: A FAMOUS PRISON-SHIP ESCAPER 103 VIII. THE PRISON SYSTEM—THE PRISONERS ASHORE. GENERAL 115 IX. THE PRISONS ASHORE: 1. SISSINGHURST CASTLE 125 X. 2. NORMAN CROSS 133 XI. 3. PERTH 155 XII. 4. PORTCHESTER 166 XIII. 5. LIVERPOOL 186 XIV. 6. GREENLAW—VALLEYFIELD 196 XV. 7. STAPLETON, NEAR BRISTOL 207 XVI. 8. FORTON, PORTSMOUTH 215 XVII. 9. MILLBAY, PLYMOUTH 220 XVIII. 10. DARTMOOR 235