long a period to be the residence of our unhappy countrymen, a particular description of it cannot fail to be interesting.

The prison consisted of an oblong square, about seventy feet in length, with a sort of shed inwards, and open in the middle, like a square of open stalls for cattle. The space appropriated to cooking was at one end, opposite to the entrance where the guard was stationed. There were four dark rooms at each corner of the square, wholly unfurnished except with mats, which were laid upon the floor, and intended for beds, and this was the extent of the accommodation provided for the wretched tenants of this dismal habitation.

In lieu of provisions, or any of the necessaries of life, the prisoners were allowed one gold fanam (about sixpence per diem), out of which they were to supply themselves with food, clothing, and every thing they might require; and as a special indulgence, they were permitted to appropriate enough of these funds to buy one bottle and twothirds of a bottle of arrack each per week. This favour was granted on account of the dampness of the climate.

In addition to these kindnesses a Frenchman, who called himself a surgeon, was permitted to attend and dress the still open wounds of Captains Baird and Lindsay; and two or three black boys, who had been taken with them, were allowed to stay in the prison, and permitted to go to the bazaar to purchase their provisions. It was through

the medium of these menials that the anxious inmates of the dungeon sometimes heard rumours of what was going on. The French surgeon occasionally brought them news; but from the extraordinary caution with which he appeared to speak, and the natural suspicion with which they listened to his reports, they gained but little from his communications.

They remained in this state for about six weeks, when they were joined by a party of their wounded countrymen from Arnée. On the 23d of December, 1780, at about five o'clock in the evening, this detachment of prisoners reached Seringapatam, and increased the number of the whole to five-and-twenty. The newly arrived captives were not all prepared to find Captain Baird and the other officers at Seringapatam; nor had they anticipated (which under the circumstances afforded them indescribable pleasure) that they should be permitted to share the horrors of imprisonment with their former companions in

arms.

Our space will not permit us to avail ourselves of the entire journal kept by one of the sufferers during the whole period of their confinement; but we shall so far borrow from its contents, as to record the occurrence of any remarkable events which for the most part sadly distinguished one day from another, through the monotonous course of time, in their wretched incarceration.

On the 29th of January, 1781, their number

was increased by the arrival of Captain Lucas and Ensign Macauley, and, on the 8th of March, Colonel Baillie, Captain Rumley, and Lieutenant Fraser, the two former in irons, were brought from Arcot, two hundred and forty English miles, to Seringapatam; Mr. Skardon, resident at Pondicherry; Mr. Brunton, an ensign in the Company's service; and Mr. M'Neal, mate of a country ship. Mr. Skardon was the only one of this detachment lodged in the prison with the others, and the pittance allowed him was but six cash per diem, and one sear of rice, half a sear of dholl, and a little ghee. But it is one of the most remarkable and beautiful features of this dreadful captivity, that every man during its continuation seemed more anxious for his fellow-sufferers than for himself; and that every opportunity was seized by the whole party, to ameliorate the condition of those who were at times even worse off than themselves.

On the 10th of May, the French surgeon's visits were prohibited, and all the prisoners, except Captain Baird, were put in irons, weighing about nine pounds each pair; and this seemed to be generally considered the first step of a deliberate system which had been adopted of ending their existence without absolute violence; and so it really proved to be. No reason, other than a desire of eventually exterminating the unhappy captives, could be adduced for this new act of severity; but it seemed, from what transpired at the time, that they

had only hitherto escaped this additional cruelty through the humanity of those who had charge of them, without the privity or sanction of Hyder. It is in vain to attempt to describe the feelings of the captives when the order for their being ironed was announced to them; they remonstrated, but remonstrance was vain, and, as we have just said, the order was carried into effect.

When about half the prisoners were manacled, the Myar seemed considerably relieved from an apprehension of danger, which had previously affected him; for although he had only to enforce compliance with his orders upon five-and-twenty captives, he was evidently alarmed lest they should make any determined shew of resistance.

When they were about to put the irons upon Captain Baird, who was completely disabled in his right leg, in which the wound was still open, and whence the ball had just then been extracted, his friend Captain Lucas, who spoke the language perfectly, sprang forward, and represented in very strong terms to the Myar the barbarity of fettering him, while in such a dreadful state, and assured him, that death would be the inevitable termination of Captain Baird's sufferings, if the intention were persisted in.

The Myar replied, that the Circar had sent as many pair of irons as there were prisoners, and they must be put on. Captain Lucas then offered to wear two sets himself, in order to save his friend. This noble act of generosity moved the compassion