Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
318
The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and Romance
·
James Wilson Hyde
290
"The
extensive
works
for
the
manufacture
of
paper
belonging
to
Alex.
Cowan
&
Sons,
at
Valleyfield,
near
Edinburgh,
were
in
1811,
owing
to
the
dulness
of
trade,
sold
to
Government,
and
converted
into
a
prison
for
the
French
soldiers
and
sailors,
of
whom
over
6000
were
kept
from
1811
to
1814,
when
peace
was
happily
established
between
Britain
and
France.
During
these
three
years
309
died,
whose
remains
rest
in
a
quiet
spot
near
the
mills.
Of
these,
a
list
of
the
names,
ages,
and
place
of
capture
is
preserved
by
Messrs
Cowan.
The
mills
were
reacquired
from
Government
about
1818,
and
are
carried
on
as
among
the
largest
paper-mills
of
Britain
by
the
same
firm.
In
some
repairs
lately
carried
out
at
these
works
(1881)
an
old
floor
was
lifted,
and
underneath
was
found
a
letter
written
by
a
prisoner,
but
which
he
was
never
able
to
despatch.
A
copy
of
this
letter
is
annexed,
as
possibly
some
of
the
writer's
relatives
may
see
it
and
be
interested
by
a
perusal."
The
French
is
not
very
good;
but
here
it
is:--
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
