them from communicating with the sentinels on the walls, and that
they were tearing up pieces of turf, and wantonly pelting each
other, in a noisy manner.

As to the hole made in the wall, we believe the causes and reasons
have been already sufficiently explained by the affidavits laid
before the public. With respect to the prisoners being between the
iron paling and the wall, it could have been, if it was not,
easily explained to Mr. King, had he given an opportunity. It
seems, that on the afternoon of the 6th, some of the prisoners
having obtained _leave_ of the sentinels on the walls to go over
and lay upon the grass, others seeing them laying so much at their
ease, went over to enjoy the same privilege; and as the sentinels
made no objection to this proceeding, the number was soon
increased to such a degree, that it became no longer an enjoyment
to those who first obtained the privilege; some scuffling then
ensued among themselves, and they began to pelt each other with
turf and old shoes, principally in play, and among so many, no
doubt, there must have been considerable noise; but how they can
possibly connect this circumstance with the hole made in the wall,
is entirely out of our power to conceive, as the iron railings
separated them from the pretended breach in the wall, and distant
from it more than half the length of the yard; of course, had the
hole been intended as a breach, the iron paling would have become
a barrier, instead of facilitating the means of an escape.

As to that part of the report which mentions the guard-barracks
being the repository for the arms of the guard off duty, and of
its standing in the yard to which the hole in the wall would serve
as a communication, and of its being a further cause of suspicion
and alarm to Captain Shortland--to one acquainted with the
situation of the prison, such an idea would be ridiculous; but to
those who are not acquainted with it, it will be only necessary
for us to mention, that if the prisoners had the intention of
breaking out through this passage, and had actually got into the
barrack-yard, the difficulties they would then have to encounter
would be much greater than to break a passage through the market
square, or the back part of the yard. As to the idea of their
possessing themselves of the muskets standi