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London, England, 1807-07-11 00:00:00

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tied them of, although the Cttp. Jn of the Liza
rtocluc d the usual proteflton from the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty. Irt a few days after,
the-Eliza, in company with the firvekeeed, another
privateer, fell in with and captured a rich Spanish
ship, called Les dos Ashes (the two friend.), and
the prise snooty, which they ,afterwards d eased,
amounted to upwards of 131,0001. In the distribution
of the prize rnomy, in captures of this description,
VI; owners of th- privateers share tliier-fourthss and
the crew the remaining one fourth ; anJ where there
is a joint capture, each ship 'anon such distribution
is entitled in her portion according to the number of
hands on board at the rime of the capture. In con-
sequence. therefore, of the Defendant's having im-
pressed these four men from the Lliza, her share of
prize money became proportionably less by upwards
of 50C.)1. to rei•over their divi tend of which, the
hronght the present gains'.
The deleece was, that the certificate and protec-
tion produced by the Captain of the Abs.t were
frau 's u,on the Board of Admiralty, and justified
the tstoisg the men in question. It appeared upon
the evrie,tce of Lieutenant Methuen, of the &rya.
ttat Captain Blackwood having orders ts im-
press able seamen for His Majesty's service. sei.t
th- vAtivirs 'n board the Eliza. to examine her
hands. and impress any of them that night be lia.
hit He accordingly had the crew mustered on the
deck, and opm comparing them by same, age, and
description with the license from the Admiralty,
he found that some of them .141 not in any way an-
swer the description given, either as to age. name,
or appearance; and by the account given of their
ages, by the font men whom he Jid impress, he
found they varied three,tour.and five years, train the
dcsuiption in such license. It also appeared, that
the letter of marque was originally granted Inc a
complement of 40 man ; but from the certificate
granted at the Cottons-house in the port of Liver.
plc'', from whence the tliza sailed upon her
voyage, the pieties had sworn oily to a complement
of 33 men and boys. It appeared, however, that
from the J.fficulty of procuring men for such ser-
vice in the port of Liverpool, the party were not
limited to 33 men, but had the power to engage
more if they could he procured. Upon these grounds
the Defendant justifizd his impressing the tour men
in question.

Lord Et Ltiranitiation, in summing up the evi-
dence to tile Jury. observed, that the first question
war, whether the thstendiant wale duly authorised to
impress meat Of this there could be no donbt.as the
good of the service required that a certain descrip-
tin of persons should be liable to be impressed) and
in alnist every else, Captains of His Isti.jevy's
sips had such power vested in them. The next
question was, witetntr th.se men so impressed. an-
eorerp.l the description (in point of age and appar-
anal, given in the licensei Caprain Blackwood.
his L. ud.i.ip continued, email have no sinister per.
pose to answer in taking these men. It z par; .f
his duty, and from the well known tame and chit.
rafter of that gallant Officer, whose I:ft must al.
ways make a prominent feature in the naval annals
of this country, there could be nn &mist. if he had
sifted improperly. or rather illegally, in impreisind
the,* men. he could have done ;e with no other ram
live but with a view to th 3 public set vice His
Lordship did not mean this as any compliment to
that HonouraLle Officer. whose services were too
well known to tequire any eulogium. At the same
time, if any indulgence was to he made for an error
of this nature, certainly no man was mote entitled
to have such indulgence than the Defendant. But
it was their duty to decide wholly upon the fads
before them in evidence ; and they would consider,
whether he was jnstified in this proceeding ? and if
not, what compensation in damages the Plaintiff'
well entitled tot

The Jury retired for about half an hour. mad tbet♦
brought in a verdict for the PlaintifFs—Deatages
38881. 10s. 6.1.

MANI:ILL
TORII AIM • ILLDERICIIII.

This was an action of .landcr. l'he Plaintiff in
this case is a respectable Proctor of Doctore' Com-
mons, and the Defendant. a Porter, attendimr that
place. A pinion of the name of 'louse, being
about to marry his daughter to a young alas At the
name of Howe. repaired with his intended soo-itt-
law to Doctors' Commons, in order to poeur a
license, and was proceeding to the Plaintiff's *Ace
for that purpose, when the Defendant accosted
them. told them if they went there, pointing to the
Plaintiff's office, their pockets would be pit:ked, for
they were all swindlers there, and would not do
their ►usiness. Upon this rouse got alarmed, and
declined for that time to go to any office, and in
the sequel went elsewhere.

Mr. Stephens, a pratiny was then called to prove
that the Plaintiff is a proaot in Dottor's Commons.
Upon his cruss--..ratninarion by Mr. Gasauw, he
said. that some time ago, a pra.aiee of what was
termed Mips: had crept in among the lower prac-
titioners of Dodoes Commons, and they used so
pluck their clients into their shops. just as the pen-
pie of Monmouth-street do the passengers. and this
disgraceful prittice was at last carried to such
an excess, that a consultation was held by Sir
William Scott, and the other learned and respect-
able Gentlemen presi ling at Doctors' Commons,
and an order was made, prohibiting istl4l7 in
future. The D. tendant was a porter At the gate in
St. Paul's Church-yard. whose duty it was to diree
persons requiring the assistance of a prottor,
to such prottoes as they inquired for.
llamas Tuns* deposed, Clot in July, 1806. be
went with his intended eos.;n-law to procure a li-
cense, and had been referred to a Mr. Charley. a
copying clerk of the Plaintiff. in Doctor's
I as they were proceeding to his office,
the Defendant came tip, told them not to go there,
for that was a swindling office. their pockets.
would be picked, and they would not get their
betimess done t but be would thew them *lmre they
would get it done properly. at the same time, en-
&sentinels to drag thins into an opposite office.
Mr. Gas sow. toe the Detenslant, said, that some
persons had made a most seandAlous use of Mr.
Comano's name in this case, for be was confitleut
be knew nothing of this Raton. Mr.torriano was a
mod retapeftelele proem, s..d by those witnesses he
was endeavoured to be made a most notorious kart.e.

He WAS proceeding further. when
Lord Ei.i.er.noerwarg °harmed, that the tIMPR:I.
14.1 i in the deciatation were mot made out sn ay.-
tk::ce, And the ?Istria/1F waa 0,11.1164,04