The land forces sent to guard the convicts have a daily allowance of spirits, but are not so well provided for as the prisoners in respect of several extra articles served to the prisoners, though the use of spirits on the voyage (an allowance certainly contributing to no good purpose whatever, and productive of very serious bad consequences, particularly as the quantity issued is too great by one half, allowing even of so unnecessary an indulgence) is happily not suffered to the convicts. The wives of soldiers also, and their children, have a proportionate ration of this baneful liquid, which over their weaker minds may be said to exert a most dangerous influence, injurious to their health and morals, and subversive of good order. Although the matter be not immediately, it is remotely and intimately connected with the subject of transportation. I shall therefore place it here, to show how generously convicts fare comparatively with others. At the same time I am anxious that nothing advanced in this comparison may prove injurious to the unfortunate exile, who is lying at the mercy of that power which directs his removal to a new world, and an almost new state of existence, nor withdraw from him a tittle of that bountiful support he now enjoys. “Rules to be observed by Masters and Commanders of His Majesty’s hired Transports, in victualling Land Forces. _Six Soldiers’, or four Seamen’s Allowance for every Day in the Week._ ┌───────┬──────┬─────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬───────┬───────┬─────┐ │Days of│Bread:│Beer,│Beef: │Pork: │Peas: │ Oat- │Butter:│Cheese:│Vine-│ │the │ lbs. │gal- │pieces│pieces│pints.│meal: │ lbs. │ lbs. │gar. │ │week. │ │lons:│ of 8 │ of 4 │ │pints.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ or │ lbs. │ lbs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │half │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │pint │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │spir-│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │its: │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ or │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │pints│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │wine.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ├───────┼──────┼─────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼───────┼───────┼─────┤ │Sunday │ 4 │ 4 │ │ 1 │ 2 │ │ │ │ One │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Monday │ 4 │ 4 │ │ │ │ 4 │ ½ │ 1 │quart│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Tuesday│ 4 │ 4 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ in │ │ │ │ │——————│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Wednes-│ 4 │ 4 │ 1 │ │ 2 │ 4 │ ½ │ 1 │ a │