THE FEDERAL PRISONS.
To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."
Liverpool, February 12, 1865. Sra,—Will you allow me to call your attention to an error in the application of the figures in your impression of yesterday respect- ing the mortality of Confederate prisoners at Point Lookout?
The daily deaths are stated to be about per cent. on the daily arrivals during the 16 months recorded, and from this it is curiously assumed that the average per annum is below 4 per cent., which of course would only be if each prisoner remained 16 months, whereas they seem to have remained one. third of that time.
The rate of mortality per annum I understand to be the pro- portion of deaths to the average number of prisoners. The deaths according to the letter you quote were 1,532 in 16 months, or at the rate of nearly 1,200 per annum, and the average number of prisoners appears to have been less than 11,000, making the mortality about 11 per cent. I do not consider this much amongst men arriving sick and wounded, and I only regret that a good cause should be injured by any mis-statement.—Yours obediently, C. B. [Our correspondent is clearly in the right.—ED. Spectator.]
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