The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-19 00:00:00

IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN.

Mr. CHALMERS said be wished to notice • subject which
bad excited much of his attention, and be did not doubt of
that of acme other Proprietors. He alluded to the conduct of
the Commanders of some of his Majesty's ships in the East
Indies in boarding with an armed force the vessels in the
Hon. Company's sera ice,and taking from them a considerable
portion of their crews, is order to complete the complement
oriels Majesty's ships. He did not mean to call in question
the (coeval right of impressment by the Navy, when the exi-
genciescifthe public service required it.
The CHAIRMAN, interposing, said he believed every
thing had been done that could be done in this matter. Re-
presenhitions had been made by the Court of Directors to the
Admiralty, and the subject was now ender consideration,
with a view to the adoption of some arrangements, by which
similar inconvenience would be prevented in finesse.

Mr. CHALMERS said be was not contented with that se-
cret mode of arranging Uwe matter; and he bad a right to
expect for the Proprietors at large some more public notice
of this business.

The CHAIRMAN said there was no motion before the
Ccurt.

Mr. CHALMERS said he meant to conclude with one,
which he did Dot wish to be now discussed, but to lie over tin
future consideration. _ .

A DIRECTOR observed, that the Honourable Proprietor
might give notice of a motion, if he pleased: bat lie would
appeal to his candour and good sense whether it could he
advantageously discussed without proper preparation, and
whether any good could result from an ex Tarte statement.
ARer • few words on tie point of order from Mr. HUME,
Mr. It. JACKSON, and some other Proprietors—
Mr. CHALMERS said, notwithstanding the interruptions
he had experienced, ho was not-sorry for the course lie had
taken ; and though lie acquiesced in the suggestion of his
Hon. Friends to content himself with giving a notice oil the
subject at present, be most declare that in bringing it for-
ward he was by no means touching upon matters with which
Ito was not most fully acquainted, and which be did not
thoroughly understand. He bad been placed for many years
in situations which rendered him perfectly &maiar with it in
all its bearings, and he was therefore deeply impressed with
the extent of the evils with whieb it was attended.—
And it was • satisfaction to him to know that the publicity
which that day's proceedings would gain through the valuable
labours of the able and ingenious gentlemen- behind him,
would be productive of some good at least, by showing to
those whom it must concerned, that they were in earnest upon
the subject. Ile coucluded by giving notice of • resolution,
which he should move on a future Court day, "That the Court
observed with regret the measures which had been recently
resorted to by the Commanders of his Majesty's ships in the
East Indies, by which the Hon. Company's ships' had been
stripped of a great proportion of the crew, whereby-the la-
bour of the remainder had been considerably and inconve-
niently increased, and the property of the Company exposed
to greatly increased risk and danger; and calling upon the
Court of Directors to represent the circumstance to the Ad-
miralty, gad to request that measures may be adopted to pre-
vent a future recurrence of similar inconvenience."
The notice having been entered, the Court then adjourned.

A few nights since a robbery was committed on the
premises of Mr. WCALE, Wrotham, Kent, by some
desperate villains, who forced their way into the shop
by taking out some bricks from the wall under the
window, and stole therefrom goods to the amount of
1401. or upwards : the inhabitants of the above place,
without any solicitation from Mr. WEALS, convened
a meeting, when, with a generosity and spirit worthy
of true Englishmen, a subscription was immediately,
set on foot to reimburse his loss, and all present en-
gaged to use their united endeavours to bring the vil-
lains to punishment. At the same time a Patrol Arso-
ciation was formed by the inhabitants, to protect their
property from nightly depredators, when all residing
in the town, without any exception, agreed to watch in
their tarn, or to provide a substitute, to be approved
of by the Association ; the Patrol to consist of not
fewer than four, and to continue their watch every
night during she winter. If this example be followed
ip every town and village throughout the kingdom,
those who live by plunder would he compelled to re-
nounce their former practices or Tilt the country.

At a few minutes after seven, his Excellency and
suite entered the splendid box which had been pre-
pared for their reception. A universal feeling of en-
thwiasm pervaded the house at the appearance of
the Noble Marquis ; ten thousand voices were raised
to testify to his worth, and to manifest the general re-
spect in which his exalted character is held by his
countrymen. The homage evidently proceeded from
the heart, and his Excellency seemed to understand it
as such ; he came forward, and with the grace and
dignity so peculiar to him, acknowledged, with smiles
and bows, the affectionate plaudits of the audience.—
His Excellency appeared to be in excellent health and
spirits ; he was dressed in scarlet uniform. The Co-
medy of She Stoops to Conquer, now began, but the
thunders of applause, which the condescending man-
ner of his Excellency had only served to redouble,
completely drowned the voice of the performers, and
an unanimous call for God save the King interrupted
the performance. This spontaneous exhibition of
affection towards his Majesty. and respect for his Re
presentative, was truly gratifying, and was instantly,
met by the entire Corps Draniatiqug coming forward
and complying with the wish of the audience. During
the performance of this anthem some disposition to riot
having been manifested by cries of " No Popery !"
" A groan for the Lord Mayor," &c. which proceeded
from some persons in the upper gallery, the Lord
Lieutenant gave an instance of that promptness and
decision of mind for which his Excellency has ever been
remarkable. On Miss Graddon singing the following
stauza—

Oh! Lord our Got] arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fill.
Con, otrad ihrtr polls
Frs., rale lh.ir bearish tricks',
On thee our hopes »e
God save us all!

His Excellency came forward, and by his energetic
action, evinced how warmly he approvedcifAbesenik
Slat** oiataiiked:
.4%,-.llsemlineyArallirOss
thlly understood by those for whom it was intended,
and the house literally resounded with applause. The
comedy was then allowed to proceed, and our Noble
countryman seemed to take much interest in the per-
formance, and to relish, with genuine taste, the admi-
rable production of the Poet of Nature.
The attempt to resume the performance of the co-
medy then took place, and was again interrupted by
cries of " No Popish Governor," " a groan for Wel-
lesley," " a clap for Sheriff Thorpe," " a groan for the
Knave of Clubs," " a clap for Alderman No/gent,"
" the Protestant Ascendancy," "the Boyne 'Water,"
" the Calf's Head," " the Glorious and Immortal Me-
mory," " No Popery," " a groan for the Lord Lieu-
tenant," &e. &c.

ft were a pleasing duty to relate the numerous in-
stances of public respect which greeted his Excellency
at almost every pause of the performance, and to paint
the looks of gratification which illninined the faces of
our fellow-citizens, as they seemed intently bent on
the representative of Majesty ; but we must turn from
this agreeable task and record a scene of unparalleled
outrage and moral turpitude which became unfortu-
nately the leading feature of the events of the night.
It appears that a band of ruffians, the dregs of a
sanguinary party, whose relentless fury has inflicted
so many evils on our unhappy country, had taken
possession of a part of the galleries (chiefly the
upper), with the intention of assailing our venerable
Lord Lieutenant, with contemptible but. brutal inso-
lence; but subdued by the overwhelming expression
of affectionate respect with which his entrance had
been hailed, they confined themselves to a few half-
uttered, scarcely audible hisses against Lord Comber-
mere, and against the Lord Mayor, whose sense of pub-
lic duty had obstructed their tragi-comic masquerade of
Glenco. However, as the night advanced, these bravoes
seemed to muster lip courage, and by their frequent
yells, expressed " the foul breathings" of their spirit.
Not satisfied with this manifestation of their rage,
they scattered inflammatory printed hand-bills among
the audience, calculated to rouse the half-sleeping
monster of religious bigotry, and enlist intolerance in
their cause. They at length had recourse to missiles.
An orange, to which one of the labels on which " No
Popery" was printed in large letters, was thrown on
the stage. A part of an apple was thrown against
the Vice-Regal box. An empty quart bottle was
next hurled in the same direction, and fell into the
orchestra whilst the band were performing God save
the King. Fortunately none of the performers were
injured ; but they were all so thunder-struck at this
act of savage ferocity, that they paused—the music
was for a time suspended, and one of the performers
(Mr. Barton) held up to public gaze the imple-
ment of destruction, which, we cannot doubt, was
destined for the illustrious Representative of our
Monarch. The Marquis Wellesley joined the au-
' dience in an expression of indignant horror, and
with a look and gesture, which must have struck the
cowardly assassin with remorse if he had a heart. Ile
constantly advanced to the front of the box, and
boldly presented himself to the galleries, at the same
time placing his hand on his breast, as if to appeal,
at the fountain of honour and truth, whether such
treatment were deserved by the tried and faithful ser-
vant of his country, whose talents have extended
British power abroad, and whose wisdom has sup-
ported its dignity at home. The eloquence of this
appeal was felt almost universally. A thodsand arms
were lifted up to offer protection, and a general cry
was raised for vengeance on the miscreant.
Several Gentlemen, amongs; whom were some of
, his Excellency's suite, passed from the upper tier of
boxes into the gallery, and, notwithstanding a most
determined resistance, succeeded in apprehendingsome

...i.

' &

striking a distinguished Lady who hak
versing with his Excellency ; the force
have accompanied its descept from the upper
was 'Arming so cause the death of any p‘hoe
iimight have struck. The tmetendoes missile
from the side of his Excellency's box, ant
the stage The audience was horror strt
Noble Marquis again advanced to the
box, where be stood for some time, witho'
discomposure, and beat time with his hat.
Patrick's Day was played 'by the Orcheal
desperate attempt to assassinate the Lore
oecurred between the play and farce. Mr. Johnst..
the Lord Lieutenant's Secretary, having ascended
into the Middle Gallery, he from thence addressol
himself to the Upper Gallery. Such was the con-
fusion that prevailed, that but a few of his words
could be collected. Mr. Johnstone, however, spoke
to the following effect :—" The Lord Lieutenant has
come to his native country for the purpose of carrying
his Sovereign's injunction into effect ; his life has
been twice attempted this night ; first, by a beige
having been thrown ; and secondly, by a wetehalait's
rattle having been flung at the box where he sat.
They both came from that corner of the Gallery.
and I require to know if the offenders have been
secured."

Several persons here replied that they were taken
into custody.
At the conclusion of the comedy, Loa Morning-
ton's (his Excellency's father) Glee of tkre m Coel
Grot, was sung by Miss Graddon and Messrs.
M'Keon, A. Lee, and Bedford, accompanied on the
Piano-forte ..by Mr. Stainsbury.—There was another
and a louder accompaniment which proceeded from
the Upper Gallery, and which consisted of the shrill
notes of a discordant fife Jailed with yellai and clat-
tering of sticks.

During the petformance of' the afterpiece, which
was the Burletta of Tom Thumb, the audience were
constantly disturbed by groans and yells "for the Lard
Mayor," hisses, and other noises, all froai the Upper
Gallery, until at length the aid of the tuition' wit*
resorted to, and several were again taken into.s!*4..
We were most att, to'*hat pissiegArlis*
can suite; positively,hat the entire or tMI rnfilludins
was acted by about fbrty fellows in the Galleries.
They were closely compacted tortber, and armed
with large sticks.—There was a third gang in the pit,
but, by the ease of coming at them there, and being ill
the general view of the House, they were rendered
comparatively innozious.
The Marquis Wellesley did not retire tin* the
close of the performances, when God save the King
was again sling py the whole company. Ile withdrew
amid the acclamations of the audience.
Of the numerous hand-bills which were scattered
through the House, in the course of the evening,- we
have seen several : none of them would deserve notice,
if they did not tend to show the foils, as well as •the
ferocity, of the party; we shall transcribe them, as.
they will 'speak " trumpet-tongued," aping. the Irish
Septerabriseurs.