The number of captives at Norman Cross was at that time very low, about half the number of those confined at the time of the second clearance, twelve years later. They left in four detachments, the first 1,000 strong, the second 1,040, the third 600, the last 100. With what joy did they take that journey, cheered on their way by the good wishes of the country folk, even if they did shout “Good-bye, Froggies!” This return of 3,100, as the number of those confined at Norman Cross on 27th March 1802, indicates the difference in the matter of exchange during the first period of the war, 1793–1802, and the second, 1803–14. In this second period there was no steady outflow from the prisons to keep down the numbers, and they were ever filling with the captives sent in by Wellington and others. On 29th April 1802 the prison was emptied, and although the Government had not sufficient confidence in the permanence of the peace entirely to dismantle the Depot, it was ordered that while all stoves, ranges, and grates, with the large iron boilers, were to remain until further orders, the copper boilers were to be sold, lamps and lamp irons were to be securely locked up, the furniture to be delivered to the barrack master, the hammocks to be sold at 1_s._ 3_d._ each, the coverlets at the best price obtainable, and as the barrack master refused to take the soil carts, these also were to be disposed of for what they would fetch. {242} All books, letters, papers, etc., were to be sent to the Transport Office in London. The net proceeds of the sale amounted to £757 4_s._ 10_d._, to which must be added £15 for old store at the Port of Lynn. In the _Stamford Mercury_ of the 17th September 1802 appeared the following advertisement: “THE LATE DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR NORMAN CROSS-BARRACKS TO LET “Sixteen large buildings, lately occupied as prisons, with sundry convenient buildings thereto belonging; with square yards, comprising about an acre of land in each, with good wells in the centre, and a quantity of land round the prisons fit for grazing sheep, etc. Also sundry good dwellings, comprising Turnkeys’ lodges, stewards’ rooms, also two good houses lately occupied by the superintendents, well calculated for small families—may be viewed by applying to Mr. Henderson, Auctioneer, New Inn, Norman Cross.” In their instructions to the auctioneer, the Government made conditions that the tenants were to keep the buildings in repair, and to deliver them up on three months’ notice if required. The property does not read in the advertisement as one that there would be a rush for.