Mr. Godwin (_loc. cit._), mentioning that on Christmas Day 1805 some 250 French prisoners from Porchester Castle marched into Basingstoke on their cheerless way to Norman Cross (probably some of the heroes who had fought against Nelson and his captains on the 21st October), asks the question, “Did the Hampshire folk give them a share in their festivities?” The above anecdote justifies us, I hope, in saying that the answer to this question would be “Yes.” {242} These had been a considerable source of profit to the farmers, who had contracted to remove them regularly from their positions below the latrines, and had used their contents, with the rest of the refuse of the prison, as a guano to the great benefit of their land. {245} Histoire générale des traités de paix et autres transactions principales entre toutes les puissances de l’Europe depuis la paix de Westphalie. Ouvrage comprenant les travaux de Koch, Schoell, etc., entièrement refondus et continués jusqu’à ce jour. Paris 1848–87, 15 tom., vol. vi., p. 49. {247} His staff was as follows: Wm. Gardiner, entered first clerk 1st September 1803 at £118 per annum, abate taxes 1_s._ in the pound, £9 6_s._, Civil List at 6_d._, leaving £8 19_s._ 8¾_d._ net per month. Wm. Todd, 1st September, as store-clerk, at £118 per annum, and an extra £30 as French interpreter, with 18_s._ abatement; net per month £11 5_s._ 3½_d._ John Andrew Delapoux, extra clerk, 1st September, at 3_s._ 6_d._ _per diem_. He was very uneasy about the proclamation against aliens, but was assured it would not apply to him. Wm. Belcher, steward, at 3_s._ per day. Thos. Adams, steward, 3rd September, at 3_s._ per day. John Hobbs, turnkey, £50 per annum. John Nolt, turnkey, £50 per annum. John Belcher, turnkey, £50 per annum. Alex Halliday, ditto, and as superintendent carpenter, £20, with 2_s._ 10½_d._ abatement for Civil List. John Hayward, labourer, 12_s._ a week. Wm. Powell, labourer, 12_s._ a week. Captain Pressland was informed that no clothing of any kind was to be served out to any prisoner, though most were captured with none beyond what they stood upright in. No soup was to be served out, except to the prisoners who acted as barbers. He asked for some modification of this, but was refused. He was allowed £25 per annum for coals and candles, and 10_s._ 6_d._ each time he went to Peterborough on the Board’s Order or to make affidavits as to his accounts, etc. A few days afterwards this was increased to 12_s._ 6_d._ The military guard consisted of 400 of the North Lincoln Militia. {248} _Chambers’ Journal of Literature_, etc., _loc. cit._