18. For several days past, a large number of men have been at work upon an island, called Drake’s Island. It seems that they have been building new works; I suppose for fear that a landing may be attempted by the French; and another fort is building further up the river.
19. To-day Joseph Burnham, one of our company, who had his leg cut off some months ago, has so far recovered as to come up into this yard.
20. We learn, by the papers, that 10,000 troops are to be sent to America in the spring, and the war is to be pushed with the utmost vigor, both by sea and land.
21. To-day we received a letter from Mr. Sorrey and Mr. Heath, which informs us that the beef shall be deducted, which we have received by subscription, and the other articles continued as before, and that we shall receive sixpence per week in money, according to our request.
22. Sunday. Wet, dirty weather, as it has been for three or four weeks past, in which time there has scarcely been a day in which it has not rained more or less.
23. This evening I had the privilege of hearing the London Evening Post read, which is a paper we seldom see, and in which is a burlesque on the Ministry, very severe.
24. I have been a prisoner three-and-twenty months to-day.
25. To-day we received sixpence per man, and the beef was deducted; the rest of the provisions continue, which, with sixpence per week, amounts to what we are allowed—fifteen pence, as before mentioned. This afternoon, the men in the Black-hole, being vexed by ill usage, and not being allowed to come out and take the air, broke down the Black-hole door, which alarmed the guard, and the agent ordered five of them to be put in irons; but the militia being on guard, and the officer being a great gentleman, he put only one of them in irons.
26. It is two years to-day since we sailed in the brig Dolton from Portsmouth. To-day the Parliament is to set, according to adjournment.
27. Wet, rainy, blustering, unsteady weather, which renders our confinement more tedious than in good weather, on account of our being obliged to keep house a great part of the time. At present, many in prison are destitute of shoes, and of late our prison has become very leaky. Along through the last of summer and the first of fall, for nearly three months, there was scarcely rain enough to wet the dust; but now, for a month past, there has been scarcely a day but there has been more or less rain; so that the grass in the fields looks much better now than it did in the month of August, when the fields were parched up for want of rain.