The Warrior Convict Hulk, Woolwich 1846

The Convict System. - Economy of the Hulks.

(Illustrated London News, 21 February 1846)

        The subject of Prison Discipline, but more especially of Secondary Punishment, now occupying so large a share of the attention of the benevolent and humane, that we purpose to illustrate in our pages the general subject of Transportation, in the hope of fixing, by our graphic details, the attention of the reader upon the economy of this penal system. We commence with that branch of Secondary Punishment known in England as “the Hulks,” and contemplated merely as an intermediate establishment between the common gaols and the penal colonies, for prisoners sentenced to transportation; though, in fact, in many cases, they prove a substitute for that punishment.

        Hulks, (Hulk, Dutch; hule, Saxon, the body of a ship,) used as places of confinement and punishment for offences; corresponds with the galea of the Italians, the galère of the French, and our own word galley.

        The plan of confining offenders on board hulks was first adopted in England in 1776; but so early was their management abused, that in 1778, it was inquired into by Parliament; and in 1785, reported to have singularly improved the practice of villainy. And, although several minor improvements have been made from time to time, in the discipline pursued on board the hulks, we are led to conclude, from the various evidence given before Parliament on the subject, that no material change has been effected in the system.

        The stations at which the hulks are maintained in England are Portsmouth, Gosport, Devonport, Chatham, Woolwich, and Deptford. We have selected the Warrior convict-hulk, stationed at Woolwich, as a fair specimen of the several vessels; and the large centre Engraving shows it to be not altogether an un-picturesque river-side object.

        There are in this ship three decks, or floors, called the upper, middle, and lower decks. They communicate by two large openings at the centre and in the foremost end; and, as these openings in each deck are placed above those in the deck below, they form a kind of tube, reaching from the hold to the atmosphere above.

        The main hatchways are all 4 feet 8 inches square. The fore-hatchway, upper deck 4 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 6 inches. Middle deck, 4 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 6 inches. Lower Deck, 4 feet 9 inches by 4 feet 8 inches. The upper and middle decks also open into the chapel, at the after end of the passages; this chapel being 42 feet wide, 39 feet long, and 14 feet high.- See the Engraving. (Not reproduced here.)

        The habitable part of the upper deck is 84 feet long by 38 feet 6 inches wide; and is divided into two lateral portions by a central passage; the inner boundary being a partition consisting of iron bars reaching the full height of the deck. These are also called Galleries        ; and we have engraved one line of them. Each ward is subdivided by three transverse bulkheads of wood, forming eight classes, but not crossing the passage.

          Near the bow of the vessel are two small rooms appropriated to the sick, and an open space for the ladder and hatchways. There are four ports in this space that ventilate the passage. There is a room in the after end of each ward, called the guards’ galley, in which fires are kept till nine in the evening. These also adjoin the chapel.

        The prison on the middle deck is 79 feet 6 inches long, and 45 feet wide. There are seven ports on each side, four baulk-heads, and, in all, ten classes; and the dividing passage opens into the chapel. Two small rooms are set apart for workshops; they have two ports, and four large hawse-holes, and open into the space forward. The clear space for the ladder and hatchways is 19 feet 6 inches.

        On the lower deck, the prison is 115 feet 6 inches long, by 43 feet 6 inches wide; number of ports, 15 on each side, varying in size, and all smaller than the ports above. The baulk-heads are six, forming fourteen classes. Width of the passage, six feet. The space left forward is twelve feet, with four hawse-holes opening into it. From the after baulk-head to the stern ports, is a space occupied by the dark cells and store-rooms, leaving the passage free.

        The floating prison is rated to hold 600 men. Of these 124 are disposed of on the top deck; 192 on the middle deck; 284 on the lower deck; and this is effected without crowding.

        Beneath the lower deck is the hold, a large, and almost unoccupied space, divided into store-rooms, divided by a passage. The openings from the hold are –

1. The Main-hatch. 2. The Fore-scuttle. 3. The After-scuttle. 4. A small scuttle in one of the classes. 

        The discipline and employment of the convicts may be thus briefly detailed –

        On board each hulk, a book is kept by the Overseer, in which are entered the names of all convicts; and, on the first Sunday of each quarter, they are mustered, and the character of each convict, for the previous three months, is marked against his name, as follows : - v.g. very good; g. good; in. indifferent; b. bad; v.b. very bad.

        The convicts, after they are classed, are kept in separate compartments on board the ship, and are not allowed to mix with any other class than that to which they belong, after the hours of daily labour. Every prisoner is required to serve certain as a period of punishment without any reserve earnings, and after that time is eligible to commence a period of probation, which invariably commences when the prisoner has mustered eight times, i.e. two years, either good or very good. This and his subsequent character determine the duration of his period of probation. On his entering this, his reserve earnings commence, and continue until his ultimate liberation, subject, however, to be withheld for misconduct.

        The cells throughout the hulk are numbered consecutively, beginning from the lower deck upwards; and prisoners of the worst character, or during their period of punishment, are classed in the lower deck, and rise upwards as they progress in character, from the lower to the middle, and from the middle to the upper deck; so that the highest number, containing the men of best character, is on the upper deck.

        Whenever any convicts are allowed to earn a recompense from their labour, one-third of the earnings, that is, one penny per diem, is expended for them in the purchase of bread and vegetables, but on no account is any convict allowed to have money in his own possession, and such reserved earnings is only given to convicts who have passed two years of their sentence, and not misconducted themselves.

        (In cases?) of convicts’ misbehaviour mild and persuasive means of correction are first used; if such fails, the punishments are reduction of allowance of provisions, confinement in a dark cell with no other food than bread and water, for not more than seven days; or by muleting earnings; or moderate whipping, which, in any case, is not allowed to exceed twenty-four stripes.

        The overseer or officer in command is required to make a minute in the occurrence-book of the name of the convict, the name of the complainant, the nature of the crime, and the punishment inflicted. No convict is allowed to go without an iron on one or both legs; and those employed on board are locked up and clothed in the same manner as those employed in the yards. An overseer is required to be on the watch all night in the dormitories. Chaplains are appointed in connection with the different vessels, and are required, besides reading prayers and preaching on the Sabbath and the holidays of the Established Church, to attend to the religious wants of the prisoners individually, to distribute according to their discretion the books or tracts provided for the use of the prisoners, and to take a general superintendence of the schools for their instruction. A surgeon is employed in connection with the vessels, who is required to attend to the health of the convicts, inspect their provisions occasionally, and see that the wards are properly ventilated. The employments of the convicts consist of shipbuilding and painting, carrying timber for this purpose, in removing chain moorings, on cleansing the rivers on which they are employed, and indifferent descriptions of hard labour, and a limited number in keeping the vessels clean, preparing the food for the convicts generally, and making and repairing their clothes. Their periods of labour are from eight to nine and a half hours daily, according to the seasons of the year.

The total expense per man in the hulks in England is £18 12s. 11d. The average value of labour per man is estimated at £10 18s. 9d., making the average annual expanse per man £7 14s. 2d. The total cost per boy in the hulks is £13 5s. 6½d. The value of the labour performed by the prisoners in the hulks of Bermuda is so great as to leave an estimated annual profit of £13 3s. 6d.

If to these details we add the following “Daily Routine” on board the Warrior (t)he reader may form a tolerably correct idea of the Economy of the Hulks :-

5 A.M.       “All Hands” are called by the officers of the watch; sufficient time being allowed to dress, and lash hammocks; the wards are then unlocked, and prisoners passed under the forecastle, in regulated numbers to wash – troughs being there permanently fixed, and supplied with fresh water for that purpose. They then re-enter their respective wards, and return with their hammocks, which are stowed in appropriate places, ranged along side the main deck, and constructed so as to admit of free ventilation. Breakfast is now served, under the immediate superintendence of the steward and officers, and the empty vessels returned to the galley, and washed by two prisoners appointed as “Inspectors” of Weights and Provisions for the day. A thorough cleansing of the ship, including decks, poop, forecastle next take place at which prisoners continue employed until

7.30 A.M.   When a general muster is taken, and “All Hands” are summoned to labour in Dockyard, at the various duties assigned them, in divisions, each superintended by a guard connected with the establishment, who is responsible for their conduct and safety when on shore.

Noon.                Prisoners return on board to dinner, being allowed one hour; a portion of which time is daily devoted to a minute examination of bedding and clothing, under the inspection of officers alternately appointed.

1 P.M.       Dockyard duties are again resumed, and continued until

5 30 P.M.   When the labours on shore close for the day, the prisoners are received on board; washed; and mustered, to ascertain that “All is Right.”

Suppers are forthwith served; at the conclusion of which the men are again employed cleaning the interior of the ship, and the various utensils used by them during the day, until

8 P.M.       At which hour their duties finally close; hammocks are handed into wards, and unlashed; muster is again taken; and “All Hands” retire to rest.

9 P.M.       An appointed officer visits the decks, examines the lights, bolts, and locks of each ward; interrogates the guards on duty as to the observance of general silence; and reports “all safe and secure” to “Officer in Command.”

Should any prisoner complain of indisposition previous to mustering for labour, he is retained on board, and ordered to the “Sick Ward,” awaiting the arrival of the surgeon, who daily visits the ship.

Devine service is performed in the Chapel every Sabbath; and evening prayers are read every Thursday by the Chaplain.

Prayers and portions of Scripture are also read in the respective Wards daily during the week; and a schoolmaster is appointed to instruct those prisoners who cannot read, every Monday and Friday evening. They are visited by the Chaplain, who notes the progress each prisoner makes in reading, spelling, and catechism.